The Lakers team has had a poor record recently, and recently suffered an embarrassing situation of four consecutive losses, and the morale of the team is low and anxious. In order to stop the loss, head coach Ham decisively adjusted the starting lineup, moved Russell to the bench, and sent a new starting five tigers into the field. The effect was immediate, and the Lakers defeated the Thunder in yesterday's game, and finally saved themselves from the quagmire of losing streak.
However, while Lakers fans were cheering, some people questioned the new starting lineup. Just after the game, Jovan Buha, a Lakers reporter for The Australian, wrote an article bluntly saying that the Lakers' new roster has obvious flaws. The article pointed out that the overall ball control and projection ability of this lineup are relatively lacking, and almost all the ball is in the hands of James and AD. Enemy defenders can safely target our substitute open defence, forcing Zhan Mei to shoot hard in the crowded penalty area.
That being said, Hamm was happy with the win, as well as Russell's performance. In his post-match press conference, the boss publicly praised the attitude and style of play of the starting guards: "Russell is a very professional player. He was able to take it with all his poise and did a great job today and helped us a lot from the bench. ”
Yes, Russell did score 14 points for the Lakers, including 3-of-4 three-pointers. It was his consistent projection that set the stage for the team's victory.
However, the Thunder, the second-place opponent in the West, is slightly comforting, but the Lakers still have a lot of problems to overcome if they want to beat the Green Shirts in the playoffs. As a team leader, James must take the lead in tackling these challenges:
First, protect the rebound. This is a tough injury that the Lakers have faced all season. Whenever Zhan's eyebrows are on the scoreline, the opposing forwards and centers will take advantage of the players' missed openings to grab rebounds and get extra offensive opportunities again and again. This was especially true against the Celtics. In the last Lakers home matchup, the Green Army fell into this passive situation, and finally lost by only one goal.
Second, reduce mistakes. The ball in your hand is your score. This is a truth that all professional leagues enshrine. The Celtics are a team that is good at defending and counterattacking, and if they make as many mistakes as before and send the ball directly to Tatum and Brown, the consequences will be unimaginable.
Thirdly, Lebram has to play consistently. In the latest four-game losing streak, James's performance has been a bit repetitive. Although the overall statistics are good, and even won a big three, the stability and efficiency of the key moments are lacking. In the game against the Thunder, Zhan Mei stepped up at the last moment, which saved the victory. If you want to beat the old opponents of the Green Army in the playoffs, you also need a more stable and calm Super James.
The Lakers' predicament won't be solved so easily. The new version of the first five small may have its flaws, but it may be the right attempt. We need more time to test how effective it is. As the leader of the team, James's task is to take the lead in overcoming various problems, so that the Lakers can regain their courage and march towards the championship!