Well, Lakers fans, you can breathe a sigh of relief! Wood is finally coming back! He hasn't been able to play since mid-February with a knee injury, and the Lakers' interior defense and scoring ability have been significantly impaired. But now, just before the G3 game against the Nuggets, the big man is finally back. That's great news for Bushy Eyebrow, because his recent minutes have been insane — imagine, 44 minutes! That's exhausting.
Wood's stats this season aren't very impressive, averaging 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting 46.6 percent from the field, but don't underestimate those numbers, the key to his return is that it can give the Lakers more rotation options, especially on the inside. Brother Thick Eyebrows no longer has to support the overall situation alone, and can have more opportunities to rest. After all, the body is the capital of the revolution, isn't it?
Let's take a look at the opponent Nuggets, their interior strength should not be underestimated. In the first game, the Nuggets' Porter and Aaron Gordon teamed up to cause a lot of trouble for the Lakers. Porter was really fierce, slashing 19 points plus 8 rebounds and 2 blocks, and Gordon was even more versatile, with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists.
Lakers coach Ham seems to be a bit stubborn in terms of tactical adjustments, and he is still using the same set as last season's playoffs, but what happened to G1 was taken away by the Nuggets. It seems that Ham has to figure out how to not always go all the way to the black, right? For example, adjust the lineup and not always wait until the last few minutes to remember how to play.
However, the Lakers' problem is not just a roster problem, but also the overall strategy. In the face of such a strong interior and rebounding ability of the Nuggets, the performance of the Lakers' guard group must also be strengthened. Russell in G1 is really sweaty, and he can't even hit the iron on the offensive end. On the Nuggets side, Porter hit the nail on the head from the three-point line, and Gordon showed what it means to be "physically crushed" under the basket.
Therefore, Wood's return is not only to add a scoring and defensive point to the Lakers' interior, but more importantly, his return can give the Lakers more tactical flexibility and rotation leeway. If the Lakers want to turn the situation around in the next game, in addition to the strengthening of the interior line, the performance of the guard line cannot drop the chain.
After G1, a reporter asked Ham if he would consider changing the lineup, and Ham was adamant that he would not change Russell's use just because of his performance. But really, Hamm, stubbornness also depends on the occasion, and blind persistence will only make the situation worse. Hopefully, Wood's comeback will allow the Lakers to regain some form in G3, at least not to worry fans so much.
Finally, to sum up, Wood's comeback is a shot in the arm for the Lakers. But if the team wants to go far in the playoffs, Wood alone is not enough, coach Ham Ham's tactical intelligence and the teamwork ability of the players are the litmus tests. In the next game, we will wait and see if this veteran powerhouse can regain their winning feeling under Wood's leadership.