The NBA regular season continued, and today the Lakers traveled to the road to challenge the Jazz, and they eventually lost to the Jazz 109:122. James and Davis continue to be sidelined due to injury in this game. Howard today as a starting center contributed 21 points and 12 rebounds on 9-of-13 shooting, while Westbrook had 24 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists, 9-of-18 shooting, and today Westbrook and Howard's combination of inside and outside lines contributed a combined 45 points and 18 rebounds.
Although the Lakers lost this game, Westbrook and Howard found their rhythm, which should be the most gratifying place for many Lakers fans. Howard contributed 21 points today, and he also scored 24 points and eight rebounds in the 28 minutes of the game against the 76ers not long ago. This proves that as long as Howard gets a steady playing time, he can help the Lakers.
Through today's game, we can clearly feel that Howard's finishing efficiency under the basket has not dropped significantly with age, and his finishing efficiency under the basket is still outstanding. More importantly, Howard seems to be more efficient when Westbrook holds the ball in his hand. And Wei Shao finally found his best partner after coming to the Lakers, and now it seems that it is Howard.
Many of The wester's assists today were given directly to Howard on the inside. It turns out that if you want To make Westbrook play, you have to give him a center player. Presumably, fans vaguely remember Adams in the Thunder era, when the two people worked together with amazing efficiency and impressive. Why is he more efficient on the court when he is equipped with a big center? This is largely determined by Wei Shao's playing style.
Most of Wei Shao's attack relies on breakthroughs, and once Wei Shao chooses to break through to the inside line of the opposing center player is bound to assist in the defense, at this time if there is a big center in the team, Wei Shao can directly stuff to the big center, the latter to complete the end. This is a very simple surprise point tactic, and it turns out that Westbrook is the best at scoring points in his career, so Vogel's employment strategy this season has stifled Westbrook's playing style to some extent.
Vogel has mostly used a five-small squad this season. There is no center stand pile in the inner line of the five small lineups, and Wei Shao can't play this kind of cooperation at all, and it will be very embarrassing on the court, because most of the balls are controlled by James when the Lakers play five small, and it is difficult for Wei Shao to play his own characteristics after no ball rights. So overall, Vogel's employment strategy this season is very confusing, and the five small ideas he insists on have really hurt the Lakers.
If the Lakers had chosen to reuse Howard this season, perhaps they would have received a different effect. James also won't get hurt by playing too much attrition as a center. But it's too late to say anything. The record is irretrievable.