Jarred Vanderbilt, a name you may not be familiar with, but in the Los Angeles Lakers' defensive lineup, he is the indispensable brick. Then you just wait and see, because this "Van der Biao" we commonly call is about to make a comeback, and he will be the sword of the Lakers in the playoffs!
This season, the Lakers' performance has been a roller coaster, with one moment high on the top and the other at the bottom. But now, the good news is that our defensive big man Vanderbilt is finally back from injury and the playoffs are about to begin, and no, he's already quietly warming up. As soon as this news came out, the mood of Lakers fans probably changed from 50 degrees of gloom to 90 degrees of sunshine!
But don't get too happy, we have a small problem to solve. It's this run-in, oh my god, it's a headache! Imagine a machine that's getting to its best, and all of a sudden you have to stuff a new part in, and even though it's sparkling, the machine has to be re-tuned. It's the same with the team, and while Vanderbilt is a big killer, when he comes back, the rest of the team has to revolve around him to reposition and adjust his tactics, and the chemistry is even more complicated than in a high school lab.
Now, the Lakers are eighth in the West and are gritting their teeth to rush forward. Every game is tense like a tightrope dance on a rope. Come to think of it, the tail of the regular season is so suspenseful, so wouldn't the playoffs be even more thrilling?
As for Vanderbilt, his right foot injury is almost healed and he can run around the court, but don't worry, he won't play on Sunday. Coach Hamm said he hadn't done contact training yet, so he'd have to wait. However, I heard that if all goes well, we may be able to see him in the first round of the playoffs.
Imagine that when Vanderbilt returns, the Lakers' defense will immediately escalate, and LeBron James and Anthony Davis will have a lot less pressure on their shoulders. When the Lakers face opponents like the Timberwolves, Thunder, Nuggets or Suns, they always feel like they are missing a tall guy on the backline. With Vanderbilt, these nightmares can really turn into dreams.
But then again, if Vanderbilt doesn't return as scheduled, the Lakers' playoff road won't be easy. Our defenders D'Angelo Russell and Reeves are technically good, but they always feel that they are lacking in front of tall opponents. No, the battle on the basketball court sometimes has to rely on height and strength to speak.
However, let's remain optimistic and hope that Vanderbilt's feet can withstand the pressure and not let injuries get in our way. The basketball game is not only a contest between players, but also a collision of wisdom and will between teams. Let's wait and see how far this team can go, and at the same time look forward to what kind of surprises the return of "Van der Biao" can bring us!