On January 8, 2025, Beijing time, the Los Angeles Lakers challenged the Dallas Mavericks away. Before the game, the Lakers played with a full squad, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the double-core lineup. Facing the Mavericks without two superstar players Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the Lakers were widely regarded as the favorites to win. However, the result of the game was unexpected, with the Lakers suffering a crushing defeat of 97-118, which not only dealt a significant blow to the Lakers but also had implications for the overall landscape of the Western Conference. At the beginning of the game, the Lakers performed well under James' leadership. In the first quarter, the Lakers held a slight lead, ending the quarter with a 27-24 score, leading the Mavericks by 3 points. However, in the second quarter, the Lakers failed to maintain their lead and instead encountered problems on the defensive end. The Mavericks launched a scoring spree of 31-23, overtaking the score and leading the Lakers by 5 points (55-50) at halftime. At this point, the Lakers' defensive vulnerabilities became apparent, especially when facing the Mavericks' offense, as they were unable to make effective adjustments. In the second half, the Lakers' performance further deteriorated. In the third quarter, the Mavericks stepped up their game, scoring 34 points while the Lakers could only manage 26. As the gap in the score widened, the Lakers still failed to find an effective counterattack in the fourth quarter, although they did reduce the deficit to single digits at one point, they were never…

NBA regular season continues to play, the Lakers lost 97-118 to the Mavericks on the road, suffering a two-game losing streak. In this game, the Lakers started off well, but they still did not perform well in rebounding and defense was not strong enough. In the first quarter, the Lakers only led the Mavericks by 3 points with a score of 27-24. In the second quarter, the Lakers took the lead first, constantly launching counterattacks and once leading by 6 points. However, in the last 2 minutes of the half, the Lakers' power went out, allowing the Mavericks to hit three-pointers continuously, resulting in an 11-0 run, leaving the Lakers trailing at halftime. In the third quarter, the Lakers' zone defense collapsed again, with the Mavericks raining down threes, leading by as much as 15 points at times. Although the Lakers made a comeback in the fourth quarter, they could not stop the Mavericks, ultimately suffering a surprising defeat to the Mavericks without Doncic, Irving, and Gafford. After the loss, the Lakers' record stands at 20 wins and 16 losses. So where exactly did they lose in this game? Perhaps the data can give us some answers. James, shooting 12 for 6, 4 for 1 from three-point range, and 6 for 5 from the free-throw line, scored 18 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers. James played well overall today, but his offense lacked aggression, and he wasn't particularly eager to attack with the ball. Perhaps the absence of Irving and Doncic affected James' mentality. Moreover, in…

The Lakers have maintained a strong momentum this season, despite James' advancing age, with the team firmly in the top five in the West. Especially after trading Russell for D'Angelo Russell, the team's lineup looks more balanced. Now, their biggest weakness lies in the frontcourt, especially after last season's playoff shortcomings, they are more eager to strengthen their frontcourt. According to Evan Sidery, the Lakers have also started to make moves, with one of the big fish being Bulls starting center Nikola Vucevic. The Bulls, due to their unsatisfactory current record and lack of young talent, have begun dismantling the team and are about to enter a rebuilding phase. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Lakers can make a significant reinforcement. Vucevic, now 34 years old, has once again played at the second peak of his career this season, with an average of 20.5 points and 10.2 rebounds, a significant improvement over last season. In terms of advanced statistics, on/off values, PER, and offensive efficiency per 100 possessions have reached new highs in five years, making him a pillar of the Bulls this season. More notably, Vucevic's offensive performance this season is impressive, with a shooting percentage of 55.3% and a three-point shooting percentage as high as 42.4%. Such offensive efficiency and panel data can be compared to super-tier offensive centers like Towns and Jokic. According to Sidery, the Lakers are willing to offer Kristaps Porzingis, Kendrick Nunn, and a future first-round pick to acquire Vucevic. Compared to what the Bulls gave up to get Vucevic, this is considered a…

The Los Angeles Lakers faced off against the Dallas Mavericks on the road, with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving both absent from the Mavericks lineup. The Mavericks started with Dinwiddie, Clay, Marshall, Washington, and Leffley; while the Lakers had Reaves, Christie, Hachimura, James, and Davis. In the first quarter, the Mavericks took an early 7-3 lead, but the Lakers quickly responded with a 9-2 run to take the lead. LeBron James made a spectacular dunk, and after a timeout at 12-11, Hachimura scored inside, followed by Davis' 2+1 and mid-range jumper, keeping the Lakers ahead. Grimes drew a foul for two free throws, leading to another timeout. After the break, Grimes hit consecutive free throws and a three-pointer to tie the game, with James hitting a buzzer-beating three-pointer to end the quarter with the Lakers leading 27-24. In the second quarter, during the rotation phase, the Mavericks' outside shooting opened up, going on an 8-2 run to take the lead. Knecht drew a foul for two free throws, but Kidd's challenge failed. Both teams then engaged in a flurry of fouls and free throws, making the game ugly. Christie hit a three-pointer and a dunk, helping the Lakers slightly increase their lead to 50-44, prompting a Mavericks timeout. Upon returning, Clay hit three consecutive three-pointers, and Dinwiddie finished with a buzzer-beating dunk, leaving the Lakers trailing 50-55 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Mavericks continued their outside shooting to expand their lead, going on a 10-3 run to lead by 12 points, forcing a Lakers timeout. After the timeout,…

In a formal and detailed narrative, let us jointly examine the sparkling new star of a basketball feast, whose potential value to the Lakers is self-evident. The date is fixed on January 7th, Beijing time, in a game where a player contributed an astonishing 13 rebounds in just 22 minutes of playing time, with as many as 9 offensive rebounds. This player is undoubtedly the powerful reinforcement that the Lakers have been longing for. Mr. Pelinka, perhaps this is the perfect opportunity for you to act quickly and add a capable assistant to James' championship journey. Looking back at the Lakers' loss against the Rockets, the uncontrollable rebounding became their unavoidable pain. The opponent took advantage of 18 offensive rebounds and led the Lakers by double digits in rebounding statistics. Even with Anthony Davis, such a top-notch interior player, they could not avoid this embarrassing situation. Fundamentally, the lack of a center position has become the shackle that restrains their progress. Although Davis is talented, playing as a center is not his wish nor his strength. This move not only affects his game efficiency but also increases the risk of injury. Therefore, the call for the Lakers to strengthen their No. 5 center position is growing louder, which is not only the expectation of fans but also the inner desire of Davis. At this moment, a low-key yet superbly skilled player quietly entered our field of vision. He is De'Andre Sharpe, the 2.06-meter-tall center of the Nets. Sharpe, who averaged 7.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists this season, has…

The Lakers are rumored to be going all-in with a massive 15-player trade that has set the NBA world ablaze. It's said that they're planning a "four-team trade" involving the Lakers, Hawks, Nets, and Trail Blazers, with the ultimate goal of acquiring key players to build a team centered around Trae Young and Anthony Davis, while also transitioning LeBron James into a supporting role as the "third man." This news has sparked intense debate among fans: Is this a life-or-death gamble for the Lakers, or a strategic move? It's undeniable that such a large-scale trade carries significant risks and pressure, and one misstep could turn a bold bet into a costly loss. To understand the logic behind this potential trade, we must first consider the Lakers' current situation. The team has long struggled with roster issues, and this season has been another harsh lesson. Their mediocre record, limited salary cap space, and the looming end of James' career have pushed the management to take a big swing. However, this rebuilding demand didn't come from the management alone but was commissioned by the team's dual-core leaders. LeBron James and Anthony Davis are the cornerstones of the team, but their current state is concerning. James, at 38, remains formidable but is showing signs of strain from carrying the offensive and organizational load. He urgently needs a young, creative backcourt player to share the burden. Davis, on the other hand, has requested a teammate who can bolster the frontline and reduce his physical toll (not to mention his injury-prone physique). For James and…

On January 6th, Beijing time, the game between the Lakers and the Rockets sparked the biggest controversy, which is quite rare. After the game, James, Davis, and Redick, the three giants of the Lakers, teamed up to fiercely criticize the referees and the Rockets team, as they were not willing to accept this loss. James and the Lakers have always been gracious in defeat, but after this game, they could no longer tolerate it. The three superstars criticized the referees together, which is a very rare situation for the Lakers this season. Redick, as the team's coach, was the first to lead the charge against the referees, believing that there was a major controversial call. He said that the foul on Davis' screen was due to a Houston player flopping. At the time, Davis knocked down Houston's Holiday, and Redick claimed that Holiday flopped, questioning the referee's decision. What's more amusing is that after Davis committed the foul on the screen, James actually made the three-pointer. However, because of the early foul, the referees did not count it. The Lakers would have been within one point with that three-pointer, so it's not like they didn't have a chance. But once that play happened, it really was no longer an opportunity. Not only that, but Davis also came out to say that when he knocked down Aaron Holiday, it wasn't his offensive foul; it was the other side flopping. He said that Holiday grabbed his arm and then fell to the ground, making it look like he was pushing someone, but…

The Lakers played against the Hawks at home. The game started with AD scoring two points for the Lakers to take the lead, and then both teams were locked in a tug-of-war, with the scores alternating. At the end of the first quarter, the Lakers led by 3 points; in the second quarter, Trae Young was called for a technical foul, and the Lakers took advantage of this to suddenly increase their efforts, with rookie Knickert scoring 11 points in a single quarter, James continuously attacking the paint to cause damage, and the Hawks relied on Capela's two-point shot to stop the bleeding, trailing the Lakers 57-65 at halftime; after changing sides, the Lakers continued to play steadily, with Rivers continuing his excellent form from the previous game, scoring 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in a single quarter through inside and outside shooting, keeping the point difference in double digits; in the final quarter, the Lakers firmly controlled the initiative on the court, with James continuously scoring to seal the game, and the Lakers eventually won a decisive victory over the Hawks 119-102 without much effort. In this game, the Lakers' new recruit Finney-Smith gradually integrated into the game, playing 23 minutes, shooting 2 out of 3 for 8 points and 5 rebounds, with a plus-minus value of +12. After the game, AD talked about his teammate Finney-Smith's performance: "It's obvious that he did very well in shooting tonight, and his defensive performance has always been online. Smith has been learning our system, our defense, our tactics, etc.…

NBA regular season continued with the Lakers losing 115-119 to the Rockets on the road, ending their two-game winning streak. In this game, the Lakers started with low intensity and were quickly overwhelmed by a 5-21 run in the first quarter, trailing by nearly 15 points. In the second quarter, the Lakers' defensive intensity only lasted for the first half, and when they managed to close the gap to about 10 points, they were again hit by two three-pointers, leaving them trailing by nearly 20 points at halftime. In the second half, the Lakers made adjustments, with DFS replacing Hachimura as the starter. This change had an immediate impact, as the Lakers quickly narrowed the gap and held off the Rockets' offense. By the start of the fourth quarter, the Lakers were only down by 2 points. In the final quarter, both teams exchanged blows, but the Lakers were unable to reverse their downward trend. At a critical moment, the Lakers had a chance to close the gap, but James committed an offensive foul, and Christie made a turnover on the inbound pass, wasting their opportunity. After the loss, the Lakers' record stands at 20 wins and 15 losses. So where exactly did they lose this game? Perhaps the data can provide us with some answers. James shot 8 for 16 from the field, 4 for 6 from beyond the arc, and 1 for 2 from the free-throw line, scoring 21 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, dishing out 9 assists, making 1 steal, and committing 2 turnovers. Today, James was in…

Young is good! Rockets beat Lakers, scoring! Jalen Green is too fast, Amen can jump too much!‌ Beijing time January 6th, the NBA regular season continued to be held, the Rockets played at home against the Lakers. The two teams had a match in January this year, when the Rockets defeated the Lakers and took the lead by double digits in the first quarter. In this game, the Lakers had a major change in personnel. The two teams met again. Throughout the game, the Rockets established a 14-point lead in the first quarter. At the end of the first half, the Rockets extended the gap to 18 points. In the third quarter, the Lakers chased 16 points. In the crucial fourth quarter, the Lakers once narrowed the gap to only 2 points, but finally Jalen Green exploded again and won the game. The Rockets eventually defeated the Lakers 119:115. Let's take a look at the game review, player performance and player ratings.‌ Game starters Rockets starters: VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon, Amen, Shen Jing.‌ Lakers starters: Reeves, Christie, Hachimura, James, Davis.‌ Game review First quarter: As soon as the game started, the Rockets were hot, Jalen Green led the team to score continuously, leading the Rockets to a scoring climax of 18:2. Amen grabbed offensive rebounds consecutively, followed by Dillon and VanVleet with three-pointers, and the team was in full bloom. However, Hu Renezhe's offense broke down, and no one scored for a long time. The Rockets led the Lakers by 14 points in the first quarter with a score of…