On April 17, Beijing time, the Lakers defeated the Grizzlies 128-112, leading the series 1-0. In this issue of the "Data Don't Lie" column, let's talk about this highly watched competition. The Grizzlies thought they were facing the seventh-best Lakers in the West, but in reality it was the No. 1 Lakers in the West. With the victory in the first game, the Lakers activated the 24-game winning streak law, breaking through the first round steadily?
New Lake talent is the first in the West?
Looking back at the game, the two sides alternated 11 times, with the Grizzlies leading by as many as eight points, while the Lakers went on a 15-0 run late in the fourth quarter to take the game away. The Lakers won by 16 points, the final point difference between the two teams. The Grizzlies, second in the West, were defeated by the Lakers, who finished seventh in the West. Did they really lose to West seventh? No, the Lakers they lost to were number one in the West.
After the trade deadline, the Lakers were 18-9, the best Western Conference team in the same period. In other words, since the Lakers switched to their current roster, they have the highest winning percentage in the West.
By the way, since the trade deadline, the Lakers' defensive efficiency of 110.9 ranks third in the league, only below the Bulls and Celtics in the same period. In other words, the defensive efficiency of the new version of the Lakers is also the first in the West!
The Lakers' 24-game winning streak is online
With the Lakers winning the playoffs G1, the forward signal gave the 24-game winning streak for the first time. In the 7-game best-of-4 series, the Lakers have won the series 24 times in a row after winning G1, the longest in NBA history. From this point of view, the Lakers' promotion to the next round seems to be really stable.
Looking at the basic data comparison of this game, the Lakers have a better shooting percentage and three-point shooting percentage than the Grizzlies, and the rebounding 53-40 also has an absolute advantage. The most powerful is the block comparison, the Lakers have 11 blocks in the game, and as the hot pot army in the regular season, the Grizzlies have only two blocks in the game! James nailed the board big hat 3 times, thick eyebrows 7 blocks set a new career high in the playoffs, this hot pot meal invited by James, just ask the grizzlies if it is fragrant?
If only James and thick eyebrows are relied on, the Lakers may not have enough confidence, and the outbreak of the two G1 shockers has made the Grizzlies' prospects bleak.
Hachimura was bursting in this game, he shot 11 of 14, 5 of 6 from three-point range, 29 points and 6 rebounds, setting a record for the scoring of bench players in the playoffs in Lakers history, and the first player in Lakers history to score at least 15 points in a single game in the playoffs, and hit at least 5 three-pointers!
Reeves also exploded, shooting 8-of-13 (5-of-5 in the final quarter), 3-of-5 from three-point range, 4-of-4 from the free throw line, and finished with 23 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists. After the game, NBA reporters lamented that he was worth a four-year, $99 million contract.
Of course, how far the Lakers can eventually go is closely related to James' health. According to statistics, in the playoff games where James and Thick Eyebrows played at the same time, the Lakers achieved a 19-7 record. Therefore, the injury and horror of the thick eyebrows really scared the Lakers fans.