Lakers go all out to prepare for G1: James stresses playing Nuggets is not a one-man battle Russell is ready to redeem himself

On April 19, Beijing time, the Lakers arranged team training to prepare for the first game of the playoffs against the Nuggets. James explained this matchup in detail, emphasizing that playing the Nuggets is not an individual battle, and last year's Western Conference final against Russell, who was in a sluggish state for the Nuggets, claimed to have been ready for this round of games for a long time.

Speaking about the first-round matchup against the Nuggets, James said: "I've been in the playoffs for too long in my career, and I know you can't get too excited about the first game, and you can't get too excited about the opponent you're playing against. You have to stay calm. There's going to be a lot of volatility throughout the game, throughout the series. It's all about how long you can stay calm and focus on what matters most. ”

James added: "If you turn it into a one-man battle, you're going to throw yourself off the game plan. The Nuggets are a great team. We know the strength of this time, but the outcome of the game is not on the paper, but on the field, and that is the most important thing. ”

At the heart of the Nuggets is Jokic, who has been a key factor in the Lakers' eight-game losing streak. Speaking about Jokic, James said: "When you have the ability to score as much as you want, your passing becomes more powerful. In the history of the league, we have had great passers. We've had great players who have been very selfless. Opponents will find ways to force you to score, thus depriving you of your passing ability. Players like Luka, Magic in the heyday, Jokic and me, we can still be very efficient if you try to take away our passes. That's where our energy lies. ”

Russell is the X-factor in this series. After all, his performance in the Western Conference finals last year was too bad, and if Russell could play normally in the Western Conference finals last year, the Lakers should not at least be swept. Statistics show that Russell only averaged 6.3 points, 2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in the Western Conference last year, shooting 32.3% from the field and 13.3% from three-point range.

Speaking about the series, Russell said: "I didn't have any extra preparation like I did against the New Orleans Pelicans, we were preparing for the playoffs all year, obviously, you want to turn it into a battle between Denver and Russell, but I'm ready to play." "For Russell, it's also a series of self-redemption.

Last season's Western Conference finals reduced Russell's value a lot, and in the end he took a salary cut to renew his contract, and his annual salary was only equivalent to 55% of last year's. This summer, Russell is eligible to jump out of his contract and become a free agent again, and the series against the Nuggets could affect his value again.

The first game between the Lakers and the Nuggets is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on April 21 and will be played at the Nuggets' home court. What can the Lakers do in G1?