On January 20th, Beijing time, the Lakers lost to the Clippers, ending their two-game winning streak. Although LeBron James, at the age of 40, performed well individually in the first three quarters, unfortunately, the Lakers' roster depth was far inferior to that of the Clippers. In the final quarter, James went on a 7-for-0 shooting slump, making it impossible for the team to catch up (he only made 1 of 8 shots in the fourth quarter). James finished the game with 25 points and 11 assists. Since December 30th, LeBron James has had an impressive three-point shooting percentage of 55.3%. Facing the Clippers' tight defense, he started the game by hitting two difficult three-pointers in a row. His third three-pointer was a Curry-style transition shot, but unfortunately, it missed. His fourth three-pointer also missed. After Redick's timeout, James hit a counterattack layup. In the first quarter, James made 2 of 5 three-pointers, scoring 8 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers. In the second quarter, James scored on a fast break layup and drew a foul on a drive. He also assisted Reeves in consecutive shots, helping the Lakers reduce the gap to 1 point. Unfortunately, Davis kept missing his mid-range shots, and the Clippers extended their lead to 12 points again. James' head was hit by Bamba once again, just like in the previous game against the Nets. At halftime, he had 7 shots, made 4, and made 2 of 5 three-pointers, scoring 13 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal. In the third quarter,…

Los Angeles is facing its most severe urban wildfire in history, with over 1000 acres of land razed to the ground. Thousands of people have lost their homes and personal belongings in this massive fire, including the luxurious mansions of Lakers head coach Redick and Clippers star Leonard. As aid efforts for vulnerable groups accelerate, Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has announced a donation of 15milliontothecause."WeloveLosAngelesandarecommittedtosupportingcommunitiesaffectedbythedevastatingwildfires,addressingurgentneedsforfoodandshelter,"saidBallmer."Wehaveallocatedaninitialemergencyfundof15 million to the cause. "We love Los Angeles and are committed to supporting communities affected by the devastating wildfires, addressing urgent needs for food and shelter," said Ballmer. "We have allocated an initial emergency fund of 15milliontothecause."WeloveLosAngelesandarecommittedtosupportingcommunitiesaffectedbythedevastatingwildfires,addressingurgentneedsforfoodandshelter,"saidBallmer."Wehaveallocatedaninitialemergencyfundof15 million to help the many people affected by the fires, especially the historic, racially diverse community of Altadena." Additionally, Ballmer expressed his intention to continue monitoring the recovery process in the Los Angeles area and pledged support for community rebuilding. The NBA previously announced a donation of 1milliontothedisaster−strickenareas,butBallmershowednomercy,splashingout1 million to the disaster-stricken areas, but Ballmer showed no mercy, splashing out 1milliontothedisaster−strickenareas,butBallmershowednomercy,splashingout15 million, making it clear that the Clippers deserve to win the championship. The Clippers' performance this season has been unexpectedly strong, with Harden and Powell holding down the fort even without Leonard. Unlike the Lakers, the Clippers have maintained stability throughout the season, consistently securing victories against weaker opponents. With their impenetrable defensive system, they can also compete with stronger teams. With Leonard's return, the Clippers have a chance to challenge for the championship. In hindsight, letting go of George during the offseason was a wise decision. The Clippers have only exceeded the luxury tax…

In the brutal arena of competitive sports, every match is like a move in a chess game, either exquisitely executed or leading to a complete loss with one wrong step. Recently, a game by the Lakers seemed to pour cold water on the hearts of all fans. Facing the Mavericks without Doncic, Irving, and Gafford, this seemingly "weak" opponent crushed the Lakers with an almost overwhelming manner, with the point difference once widening to over 20 points. This defeat was not only ugly in terms of score but also served as a significant wake-up call for the Lakers' overall attitude and tactical execution. The three missing key players from the Mavericks have a combined salary of as high as $97 million, accounting for more than half of the team's total salary. Even in such a "depleted lineup," they still demonstrated their strong overall strength and tactical quality. Especially considering that the Mavericks had previously experienced a five-game losing streak and this game was a back-to-back battle, the Lakers' defeat seemed even harder to accept. After the game, even Anthony Davis, the star player of the Lakers, left the court directly, refusing to be interviewed, showing the impact of this defeat on the team's morale. So, why did the Lakers suffer such a crushing defeat in a game that seemed like an easy win? Was it underestimating the opponent? Fatigue? Or a major tactical blunder? These questions may require the entire Lakers team to reflect deeply. However, judging from the game process, the Lakers appeared disorganized on both offense and defense,…

After the Lakers acquired wing players Finney-Smith and Milton, the team did put up some impressive performances, but they were still unable to stop their losing streak, especially when facing two teams from the Southwest Division, the Rockets and a weakened Mavericks lineup, where they were thoroughly exposed. Although it takes time for new players to integrate, it does not mask the dissatisfaction of the Lakers' star player, Anthony Davis. After suffering two consecutive losses, the team refused to participate in post-game interviews, with their behavior clearly expressing their emotions. As the head coach's designated tactical core, Anthony Davis' good days have not changed due to the arrival of Redick; instead, he has become the team's "clean-up" player, filling in wherever there is a gap. On the offensive end, as the team's tactical finisher, he not only has to use his proficient skills for close combat but also fight tooth and nail for second-chance rebounds. During the transition back on defense, Anthony Davis must also try his best to guard the opposing team's center, which undoubtedly consumes his energy. Due to the lack of an outstanding and stable center to replace Davis, his average playing time this season has reached 35 minutes, ranking 26th in the league. However, the two-way player Koloq in the roster seems to have fallen out of favor with the head coach. After coming off the bench for 21 games, he gradually disappeared from the team's active list, with his last appearance for the Lakers dating back to January 3, 2025. Therefore, strengthening the team's frontcourt…

In the free market, it seems that the Lakers' desire to acquire a backup center has become an open secret. However, the Lakers have had other ideas and are set to abandon traditional centers. Currently, apart from Davis, the Lakers' other frontline players are unable to provide any assistance in critical moments. In the last two games, the Lakers lost due to rebounding issues, suffering two consecutive defeats. After acquiring Finney-Smith, backup center Hayes was clearly benched in the game. Although he started after Davis was injured and absent, his role has been continuously weakened since then. As for Collocco, his playing time is completely gone. In fact, when discussing the trade for Finney-Smith with the Nets, the Lakers wanted to package Sharp as well. According to Lakers beat reporter Anthony Irwin, league sources revealed that during the trade in which the Lakers acquired Finney-Smith, the Lakers inquired about the possibility of obtaining center Sharp but were told that this would require additional draft pick compensation. Therefore, the Lakers turned to Milton. However, it is expected that Pelinka will continue to communicate with the Nets regarding Sharp, so this situation is definitely worth paying attention to. Additionally, the situation with Nick Richards of the Charlotte Hornets is also noteworthy. Deron Sharp averages 19.6 minutes per game this season, scoring 7.3 points, grabbing 6.1 rebounds, and dishing out 1.5 assists, with a shooting percentage of 44.8%, a three-point percentage of 15.0%, and a free throw percentage of 87.0%. In fact, the Lakers have always been interested in the Wizards' starting center,…

Today, the Lakers went on the road to challenge the Mavericks, but ultimately lost to a weakened Mavericks team, suffering a big defeat with a final score of 97:118. The Mavericks scored 118 points without Doncic and Irving, which clearly shows that the Lakers contributed another poor defensive performance. Many fans are dissatisfied with Redick's player selection today because he did not use good players and instead used some ineffective ones. For example, Vincent played 24 minutes today, shooting 0-for-4 with no achievements, unable to defend or score. Many fans wonder why Redick doesn't use Milton, as his three-point shooting ability is something Vincent lacks, and he is a taller player with no worse defensive effect than Vincent. After joining the Lakers from the Nets, Milton was eager to make a difference, but he was abandoned by Redick after only playing four games, which is really inappropriate. Many fans have always believed that Milton is much stronger than Vincent, and large samples can explain many problems. This season, Milton had a three-point shooting percentage of as high as 39% in the Nets, at least he could make three-pointers when on the court, but Redick overestimated Vincent's defensive capabilities. Although Vincent tries hard defensively, it's just a facade, and the actual effect is very poor, with a height disadvantage that cannot be reversed. Therefore, Redick needs to carefully plan how to use players next. Milton must be guaranteed playing time. Although Vincent has had a few good performances this season, the overall sample is too poor, and such a player might…

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…

Los Angeles Lakers Face a Dilemma in Handling Anthony Davis' Ankle Injury Amidst a Packed January Schedule The Los Angeles Lakers were set for an exciting matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 3, 2024. However, one factor was sure to complicate the mood for Lakers fans—Anthony Davis did not take the court! Everyone knows that "Big Brow" has been the pillar of the team this season, but he missed the game due to an ankle injury. The question arises: why is the Lakers team being so cautious about an ankle sprain? It's worth investigating. Coach Redick of the Lakers provided some answers during his pre-game interview. He clearly stated that the team would handle Davis' injury intelligently, especially during this dense January schedule. Think about it; there are 16 games in January, packed so tightly that they barely allow the players to catch their breath. The Lakers obviously do not want Davis' condition to worsen, as he is the backbone of the team. Without him, the team's impact on both offense and defense is significantly reduced. This decision also left many fans feeling uneasy. Davis' health issues have never been completely reassuring. His physical condition has always been a major concern for the Lakers. If his injuries don't recover well, upcoming games could become even more challenging. With such a dense schedule in January, how should the Lakers weigh the relationship between games and player health? It's a tricky issue. Some netizens commented on social media: "This is troublesome; Big Brow is injured, how will the Lakers play?"…

On January 6th, Beijing time, the Los Angeles Lakers narrowly missed victory, chasing points to the end but ultimately lost to the Rockets. After the game, Redick directly expressed his anger, making it clear that everyone on the Lakers should be criticized except for James. Facing the Rockets, the Lakers launched a super comeback after trailing by as many as 22 points, eventually closing the gap to just 4 points, but they still lost. The Rockets won largely due to their rebounding advantage, with a difference of 10 rebounds between the two teams, mainly in offensive rebounds where the Rockets grabbed 18. After the game, Redick was furious and directly criticized the entire team, saying, "We can't even grab defensive rebounds." How could the Lakers not lose when they allowed the Rockets to grab 18 offensive rebounds? This is equivalent to giving the Rockets 18 more scoring opportunities. In fact, the Lakers had a higher shooting percentage than the Rockets, but the Rockets took 21 more shots, aggressively grabbing rebounds and immediately attacking, continuously shooting and grabbing rebounds. It was this tactic that overwhelmed the Lakers. However, who exactly was Redick criticizing when he said the team couldn't grab defensive rebounds? Obviously, he was referring to the other nine Lakers players besides James. There is a very direct statistic: in this game, the Lakers had 29 defensive rebounds, of which James grabbed 12 alone. He had a total of 13 rebounds, 12 of which were defensive rebounds. Therefore, when Redick said there was a problem with our defensive rebound protection,…

James scored 30 points in the Lakers' game against the Hawks, which may seem like an average performance, but he broke Jordan's historical record and stated that he could continue playing. This reminded me of his earlier statement about retiring at the start of the season. At that time, James seemed eager to prove himself, saying he would play all games including back-to-backs. Once such words are spoken, they can't be taken back, even if he is exhausted. Later, Redick criticized him, saying it was not beneficial for the team. James was really cornered then, having to play every game with insufficient energy but unable to admit his incapacity. In such a situation, his performance was bound to suffer. The Lakers management couldn't bear to see this and forced him to rest. James initially resisted, claiming he could play, but now it seems the decision was right; he needed proper rest. Although Redick's words were harsh, they hit the nail on the head. James needs to manage his energy and cannot keep pushing himself without considering the consequences. Since Christmas, James' statistics have been impressive, averaging 30.5 points with a 56% three-point shooting rate, which is rare for his age. Davis wasn't surprised by James breaking records but was amazed by his recent vitality, indicating that rest has indeed helped him. Redick also mentioned James' recent efforts in defense, showing his improved energy levels, a stark contrast from his previous fatigue. In the game against the Hawks, the Lakers' first-half defense was poor, allowing 20 fast-break points, but they improved…