The Lakers defeated the Hawks 119-102 and have now climbed to fourth place in the Western Conference. LeBron James scored over 30 points more times than Michael Jordan, making him the first in history. In the game, he played for 30 minutes, made 13 out of 20 shots, including 2 out of 5 three-pointers, scoring 30 points, 3 rebounds, and 8 assists. After the game, James finally regained his confidence, saying that he still has fuel in the tank and will continue playing without mentioning retirement again. Interestingly, at the beginning of this year when the Lakers were facing difficulties, James had talked about retiring. At that time, James was extremely exhausted because he felt responsible for his words. He had put himself in a difficult situation by saying that he would play all 82 regular-season games, including back-to-back matches. As a result of this statement, even when tired, James felt embarrassed to take a break. Eventually, he became cautious and was later criticized by J.J. Redick. In an interview, Redick directly stated that it wasn't good news for the Lakers if James played all 82 games. Redick also believed that an exhausted James could not help his teammates on the court. Ultimately, James was forced to rest by the Lakers, and after one game where Davis led the team to victory, James was still somewhat dissatisfied, saying that he wanted to play but the Lakers did not allow it. Looking back now, Redick's criticism seems to have been effective. Since Christmas, after resting, James' physical energy has recovered, averaging…

Tonight, after defeating the Blazers, the Lakers have chased their Western Conference record to sixth place. Initially, without Davis, the Lakers faced a tough challenge on the offensive end. However, with James' outburst, the Lakers easily overcame the Blazers in just the second quarter. James recently celebrated his 40th birthday and remains a popular figure in the league. Despite being the Lakers' second-in-command and a box office draw, James trails in the first phase of All-Star voting, not appearing on the starting lineup alongside Curry. His teammate Davis is on the starting list, so James must continue to work hard, performing well in upcoming games to gain enough votes and support from other channels. The Lakers hosted the Blazers, a young team lacking the presence of Lillard, resulting in a lack of intimidation. They resemble a group of scattered soldiers, capable of winning if they play well but prone to losing if Simmons performs poorly, making them an unstable underachieving team. The Lakers' second-in-command, James, was excited and fully engaged in attack mode from the start, seemingly looking forward to Finney-Smith's contributions off the bench after Russell's trade. In this game, Smith scored only single digits, shooting 1 for 6 and 0 for 4 from three-point range. He needs to adapt to the Lakers' basket and improve his shooting percentage to help James enhance the team's record. Davis was unable to play, but Reeves has been outstanding in recent games, especially with his buzzer-beater against the Warriors during Christmas Day. Reeves has become Redick's most reliable ace, apart from Davis…

Smith Asks Lakers for $100 Million Extension Contract, Decides to Opt Out of Contract, Puts Forward a Condition to Redick According to the latest report by journalist Jovan Buha from the "Los Angeles Times," newly traded Lakers small forward Finney-Smith has informed management that he plans to decline his player option at the end of the season and seek a renewal contract worth around $100 million over four years, with the hope of securing a starting position. The Lakers' acquisition of Finney-Smith is expected to aid in their playoff push, as he can significantly alleviate the pressure Davis faces in the paint defensively, allowing LeBron James to focus more on offense. In his debut game with the Lakers, Finney-Smith came off the bench for 20 minutes, contributing only 2 points, 2 assists, and 2 rebounds, not particularly impressive statistically. However, head coach Redick appreciates his performance on the court and believes he has the ability to switch and defend against opposing centers when necessary. Redick stated that Finney-Smith's defensive execution, physicality, and intensity are all excellent, making him a reliable role player. Redick has assigned Finney-Smith to come off the bench behind Hachimura, often playing alongside James, Davis, and Reeves, and has effectively defended against Jarrett Allen or Mobley while maintaining good foul control, not allowing the Cavaliers many free throw opportunities. It will take time for Finney-Smith to fully integrate into Redick's tactical system, and it will require more games to develop chemistry with James and Davis. Redick also plans to increase Finney-Smith's playing time. However, Finney-Smith is not…

The trade between the Lakers and the Nets has been completed, with the arrival of Finney Smith and Milton set to bring new elements to the Lakers. The team's playing style may undergo changes as a result. Today, Finney Smith spoke to reporters about his future role with the Lakers, discussing what he will bring to the team, which has left fans feeling very excited. Redick previously discussed Finney Smith, stating that he is a very versatile player capable of playing from one to five positions and possessing excellent three-point shooting ability on the court. Finney Smith believes that after joining the Lakers, he can play as a center in small-ball lineups at certain times, attracting defenses from the perimeter, creating space, and hitting three-pointers after screens to enrich the Lakers' tactics. It is clear that Finney Smith thinks that upon joining the Lakers, Redick can fully explore the team's playing style and try some small lineups. Finney Smith believes he can play the center position and has the ability to defend against some center players. In fact, the Lakers can completely accept Finney Smith's suggestion. Redick is also a very open-minded head coach in terms of tactics, constantly trying out new approaches. Moreover, the Lakers are currently very short on inside players. If Finney Smith can play the five spot and perform well, it could significantly reduce the burden on Davis. If Finney Smith plays the five spot for the Lakers, their offense might become faster, making it easier for them to execute defensive counterattacks. Additionally, they will have…

The Lakers completed a trade in the late hours of Beijing time tonight, ultimately trading away Russell to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Finney-Smith and Milton. This trade is considered very profitable for the Lakers, as Russell's role on the team has become quite minimal. Trading Russell for two 3D players is seen as an absolutely perfect move for the Lakers. With Finney-Smith and Milton joining the Lakers, how will Redick reorganize the lineup? This is something many fans are curious about. Both players can be heavily utilized upon joining the Lakers, with Finney-Smith even having the potential to enter the starting lineup. So, which player should be benched from the starting lineup? Many are considering whether to move Hachimura to the bench, as his lateral speed on defense is slow, and his three-point shooting efficiency is not as good as Finney-Smith's. However, if Hachimura is benched, there may be a significant decline in his performance, as such instances have occurred before. Therefore, it appears that Finney-Smith is likely to replace Christie in the starting lineup. On the bench, one player is likely to be benched, and that is Reddish. Compared to Reddish, Milton has a higher three-point accuracy and excellent defensive capabilities. As a result, Reddish's playing time should be very limited. Redick is not a coach who likes to excessively expand the rotation, and currently, Christie's performance is also outstanding. Considering his development, it is necessary to ensure Christie's playing time. This will make the Lakers' rotation very crowded, causing them to experience the happy trouble of…