Trade Completed! Lakers Trade Russell, Smith Might Not Be That Great After All! On December 30th, Beijing time, Shams, a well-known reporter, brought a piece of important news: the Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets have reached a significant trade. The details of the trade are as follows: Lakers receive: Dorian Finney-Smith, Shake Milton; Nets receive: D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, 3 second-round picks (2027, 2030, 2031, all from the Lakers). This is the second time Russell has been traded; he was selected by the Lakers and first traded to the Nets in June 2017. At that time, the Lakers were in a rebuilding phase, but due to Russell's inconsistent performance and poor relationships with his teammates, the Lakers management decided to send him away! On June 22, 2017, the Lakers officially traded with the Brooklyn Nets, exchanging D'Angelo Russell and Moisés Bamba for the Nets' overall draft pick, the 2018 second-round draft pick, and $1.79 million in cash. Now, Dillon has been sent to the Nets again, which is really liberating for him! In these years with the Lakers, as a point guard, he struggled on the court due to conflicts with James' playing style. Even when starting, he found it difficult to perform well without the ball. As a result, this season he was directly demoted to the bench, where his playing time was not guaranteed! Russell played his best game this season when James was absent. On October 9th, the Lakers played against the Trail Blazers at home, and James did not play in this game. Russell…

On December 31st, Beijing time, the NBA regular season saw the Warriors suffer a humiliating defeat at home to the Cavaliers. Stephen Curry had a tough night, shooting 4-of-14 from the field and 3-of-11 from three-point range, finishing with only 11 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists. He conceded defeat with a bitter smile 4 minutes and 39 seconds early. Dennis Schroder shot 4-of-11 for 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, with a negative plus/minus of -24. Draymond Green shot 1-of-10 for 2 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. The three key players combined for a dismal 9-of-35 shooting, including 5-of-17 from beyond the arc, scoring just 25 points, making them the culprits of the Warriors' crushing defeat. In the first quarter of the home game against the league-leading Cavaliers, all eight of the Warriors' rotation players scored, but they only led the Cavaliers by one point, 27-26. During this period, Curry shot 1-of-4 and missed all three of his three-point attempts, scoring only 2 points and 2 assists. In the second quarter, the Warriors struggled offensively, scoring only 3 points in nearly 7 minutes as the Cavaliers took the lead. The Warriors' offense remained lukewarm, and they trailed 38-46 at halftime. In the quarter, the team shot 4-of-24 overall and 0-of-8 from three-point range, scoring just 11 points. Curry went scoreless in two attempts and recorded no assists. In the first half, the Warriors' shooting percentage was only 30%, with a three-point shooting rate of 16.7% (3-of-18), setting a new low for the season. Despite the Cavaliers committing…

Golden State Warriors' Future Leader: Kuminga The Golden State Warriors recently defeated the Phoenix Suns with a score of 109-105, swapping their records and moving up to ninth place in the West, avoiding consecutive losses. With a current record of 16 wins and 15 losses, it seems unlikely for the Warriors to win the championship this year, as Stephen Curry is aging and Draymond Green was never considered a cornerstone player. This may explain why the Warriors are reluctant to trade away future draft picks; the management may be relying on Curry to sell tickets for a few more years, saving on luxury taxes, and then rebuilding through the draft after Curry's retirement. Kuminga, who was almost traded last season, has now become an indispensable asset for the Warriors. If the team decides to rebuild in the future, Kuminga could lead the team's resurgence. At just 22 years old and already in his fourth year, he is younger than some rookies. Kuminga was selected as the 7th pick in the first round of the 2021 draft. In December, Kuminga scored over 30 points three times, including a game against the Houston Rockets where he scored 33 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists, outperforming fellow top pick Jalen Green and leading the team to victory. He also scored 34 points in recent games against the Los Angeles Clippers and the Suns. In the game against the Suns, Kuminga played like a true assassin, scoring 34 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal in 34 minutes, shooting 12 for 20 from…

On December 31, 2024, Beijing time, the NBA regular season saw the 5-win and 27-loss Pelicans host the 18-win and 13-loss Clippers. On paper, the Pelicans were not considered strong opponents for the Clippers. Could the Clippers secure a stable victory? The Pelicans were without Ingram and Zion, with their starting lineup consisting of Murray, McCollum, Herbert Jones, Murphy, and Missi. The Clippers were missing Leonard and Mann, with their starting lineup featuring Harden, Dunn, Powell, Derrick Jones, and Zubac. In the first quarter, Murray made a mid-range shot, to which Derrick Jones responded with a three-pointer. Murphy and Herbert Jones scored four points in a row, giving the Pelicans a 6-3 lead. Zubac then scored four points, followed by five points from Herbert Jones and a layup from Murphy, extending the Pelicans' lead to 13-7. Harden hit a three-pointer, and Dunn made a steal and dunk, reducing the gap to one point. McCollum responded with a three-pointer, but Harden countered with a 3+1, leveling the score. Herbert Jones made a layup, but Zubac and Derrick Jones responded, allowing the Clippers to take a two-point lead. Murray and Missi scored, while Powell and Harden responded, keeping the difference at two points. Green, McCollum, and Murphy then hit consecutive three-pointers. Although Porter and Coffey responded, the Pelicans managed to regain a five-point lead. Coffey made two free throws, and Hawkins hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer, ending the first quarter with the Pelicans leading 37-31. In the second quarter, Ties made a jump shot, extending the Pelicans' lead to eight points. Powell and…

Victory! Hart with 23+15+10, Towns 19 out of 13, a new record is born, the Eastern Conference landscape changes On December 31, 2024, Beijing time, in an NBA regular season game, the Wizards, with a record of 5 wins and 24 losses, faced off against the Knicks, who had 22 wins and 10 losses, at home. Just two days prior, the two teams had met, with the Wizards nearly defeating the Knicks. The game went into overtime before the Knicks managed to secure the victory, with Brunson scoring an impressive 55 points and 9 assists. Today, can the Wizards continue to pose a challenge to the Knicks? The Wizards were without Beal, but Kuzma returned from injury and came off the bench. The Wizards' starting lineup was Brogdon, Karlington, Shampagnie, Culibali, and Sar. The Knicks started with Brunson, Bridges, Hart, OG, and Towns. In the first quarter, Sar hit a three-pointer, followed by a dunk from Bridges. Sar made one of two free throws and Shampagnie added another three-pointer, giving the Wizards a 7-2 lead. Towns and Brunson scored for the Knicks, but Brogdon responded, keeping the Wizards ahead by 2 points. Bridges and Towns then took the lead by 4 points. Culibali and Valan scored for the Wizards, but OG, Brunson, and Towns responded, maintaining a 4-point lead. Kuzma, Culibali, and Kispert helped the Wizards regain the lead by 3 points. Brunson made a free throw, but Valan and Kuzma responded, extending the Wizards' lead to 5 points. Brunson finished the quarter with a layup, leaving the score at…

On December 31st, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued. In today's Western Conference matchup, the Nuggets defeated the Jazz 132-121 on the road, securing their second consecutive victory and improving their record to 18 wins and 13 losses! The Nuggets' victory today was directly related to the outstanding performances of their star player Jokic and new addition Westbrook for the season. Both players achieved a triple-double in the same game, creating the 16th feat in NBA history where teammates achieve triple-doubles together. Jokic had an excellent performance, playing 38 minutes and 18 seconds, shooting 14 of 34, making 3 of 9 three-pointers, and 5 of 6 free throws, scoring a massive triple-double with 36 points, 23 rebounds, and 11 assists, along with 3 steals and a plus-minus of +20. This is Jokic's 143rd career triple-double, ranking third in NBA history; his 13th triple-double this season, ranking first in the league! It is also the fifth time in Jokic's career that he has scored at least 30 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists, surpassing Elgin Baylor to become the third in NBA history, behind only Chamberlain (16 times) and Oscar Robertson (7 times). Westbrook continued to start today, playing a total of 32 minutes, shooting 7 of 7, making both free throws, scoring 16 points, 10 rebounds (3 offensive), 10 assists, 4 steals, and no turnovers, with a plus-minus of +21! This is Westbrook's 201st career triple-double, continuing to rank first in NBA history. It is also his second triple-double this season, with his last triple-double being the 200th of…

Zhou Qi's thighs, Yao Ming's thighs, LeBron James' thighs, no comparison, no embarrassment! As we all know, lower body strength is crucial for basketball players. Without strong leg muscles, it's difficult to stand firm in the intense competition of the game. To illustrate this point, let's take a look at the leg muscles of top domestic and international basketball players. After seeing them, you'll understand where the gaps lie. Zhou Qi At the center position, Zhou Qi possesses outstanding physical talent, including his height, wingspan, speed, jumping ability, and coordination. However, the reason why Zhou Qi couldn't establish himself in the NBA is largely due to his lack of muscle strength and poor ability to compete physically. It's worth noting that even against some guards, he couldn't effectively inflict damage. As can be seen from the picture, Zhou Qi's thighs have almost no muscle lines, and their dimensions are not much different from those of ordinary people. For a professional basketball player, this is clearly unacceptable. Yao Ming When Yao Ming first entered the NBA, he also had a "skeletal" physique. However, he knew that to succeed in the league, he had to strengthen his power. In less than two years, Yao Ming built up a muscular physique, and his level of competition reached the top of the league. Even when facing superstars like Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard, he didn't fall behind. What Yao Ming is most praised for is his lower body strength. Yang Yi once described it this way: Yao Ming's thighs are as solid as tree…

On December 31st, Beijing time, the NBA regular season saw the Denver Nuggets face off against the Utah Jazz on the road. Despite trailing by 7 points at one point, Nikola Jokic delivered a massive triple-double to lead the Nuggets to a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. The Jazz managed to close the gap to just 2 points, but Jokic's combination of scoring and passing helped the team pull away once again. Ultimately, the Nuggets secured a 132-121 victory over the Jazz, marking their third win against them this season and their second consecutive win overall. This win propelled the Nuggets past the Los Angeles Lakers to claim the sixth spot in the Western Conference standings, while the Lakers dropped to seventh after being overtaken by both the Clippers and the Nuggets. The Jazz, on the other hand, suffered their fourth consecutive loss. Statistical Highlights Nuggets: Nikola Jokic with 36 points, 23 rebounds, and 10 assists; Russell Westbrook with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists; Bruce Brown with 20 points; Michael Porter Jr. with 21 points; Jamal Murray with 20 points and 10 assists; and Bones Hyland with 13 points. Jazz: Collin Sexton with 24 points; Lauri Markkanen with 17 points; Walker Kessler with 12 points and 13 rebounds; Malik Beasley with 22 points; and Rudy Gay with 14 points. Notably, Jokic recorded his 13th triple-double of the season, maintaining his league-leading position. In his career, Jokic has now amassed 144 triple-doubles, ranking him third in NBA history behind only Westbrook (201) and Robertson (181). Westbrook, with 201…

On December 31st, Beijing time, the Clippers made a comeback against the Pelicans with a score of 116-113, securing their third consecutive win. Harden had a high efficiency in this game, but unfortunately, he had more turnovers. In the final quarter, while Harden was on the bench, Powell exploded and led the team to overtake. After Harden returned, he controlled the rhythm, making four crucial free throws and committing a decisive foul, ultimately leading the Clippers to victory. Powell scored 35 points, while Harden had 27 points, 4 assists, and 6 turnovers. The Pelicans also employed the Box One defense strategy against Harden, with Murphy following him throughout the game, from the backcourt, sticking to Harden. It's worth noting that Murphy stands at 2.03 meters tall with a wingspan of 2.16 meters, which proves that Harden is a top superstar in the league. Previously, when the Clippers faced the Warriors, Kerr also used the Box One strategy to defend against Harden. Despite the tough circumstances, Harden was still able to score, breaking through the double-team for a 2+1 in the first quarter. He shot 6 for 3, 4 for 2 from three-point range, and 2 for 2 from the free-throw line, scoring 10 points and 1 rebound. In the second quarter, after resting for 6 minutes, Harden's shooting dropped, going 0 for 2 and only getting 2 assists, ending the half with 10 points and 2 assists. In the second half, Harden hit a difficult step-back three-pointer against Dejounte Murray, followed by another three-pointer from the corner off a pass…

On December 31st, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued with the Clippers visiting the Pelicans. The Pelicans started hot and took control of the game, with a 18-2 run in the second quarter to open up the lead. Powell scored consecutively to narrow the gap, and in the second half, both teams were locked in a seesaw battle. The Clippers caught up in the final quarter, and at the critical moment, Harden made four free throws in a row, helping the Clippers defeat the Pelicans 116-113 and secure their third consecutive win. In this game, both teams were initially locked in a seesaw battle. The Pelicans had good shooting and took the initiative with both inside and outside scoring. Harden hit consecutive three-pointers to help his team catch up, but the Pelicans responded with more outside shots to regain the lead. Hawkins even hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer at the end of the first quarter, giving the Pelicans a six-point lead. In the second quarter, the Clippers' offense suddenly slumped, while the Pelicans continued to score from both inside and outside, launching an 18-2 run to extend the lead to 14 points. Powell scored consecutively to reduce the gap, and by halftime, the Clippers had successfully narrowed the gap to 56-62 behind the Pelicans. In the second half, the Pelicans maintained their excellent offensive form and continued to suppress the Clippers. Harden scored consecutively, and Xiaoqiongs performed consecutive dunks, successfully reducing the gap. By the end of the third quarter, the gap was down to only three points. In the…