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…

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…

In 2018, LeBron James made the decision to join the Lakers, which came as a surprise to many fans since the Lakers were a rebuilding team at the time. Following James' arrival, the Lakers quickly rose and successfully won the championship in 2020. Unbeknownst to many, James has now been with the Lakers for seven years. So, how do his accumulated statistics measure up in the team's history? His total points have yet to enter the top ten. When he joined the Lakers in 2018, James was surrounded by a group of young talents who, although gifted, lacked a cohesive system and mature playing style. At 34 years old, James' body had already started to decline, and he only played 55 games that year, averaging 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists per game. Due to not playing enough games, the team's record was not ideal, and they failed to make the playoffs in his first season. However, after the team traded for Anthony Davis, James switched to playing point guard in 2020, averaging 25.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game, becoming the league's assist leader and successfully leading the Lakers to the championship that year. The Lakers' peak was relatively short-lived, however, as injuries prevented the James-Davis duo from reclaiming the top spot. After trading for Russell Westbrook, the team struggled with compatibility issues, resulting in poor performance. After Westbrook's departure, the team managed to reach the Western Conference Finals but failed to advance to the NBA Finals. This year's Lakers are still not championship contenders, and…

Can a second-round draft pick truly carry the future of a team? When the Lakers spent 32milliontosignanobscuresecond−roundpick,almosteveryonefrowned."Fouryearsfor32 million to sign an obscure second-round pick, almost everyone frowned. "Four years for 32milliontosignanobscuresecond−roundpick,almosteveryonefrowned."Fouryearsfor32 million? Isn't that just throwing money away?" This was the immediate reaction of many fans. However, this contract that was once mocked as "garbage" has quietly turned into a trump card in the hands of the Lakers. Christie, this second-round pick, is now using his performance to silence all doubters. The story goes back to the 2023 offseason. At that time, Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka signed a four-year, $32 million contract with Christie under immense pressure. It should be noted that this was not a simple signing: Christie was the 35th pick in the second round of the 2022 draft and had no "superstar potential" before entering the league. Even his scouting report was mediocre, with only "has potential on the defensive end" standing out slightly. Despite this, the young man performed averagely in his rookie season, with hardly any noteworthy statistics. Therefore, signing such a "non-entity" level player naturally drew countless doubts. "Has Pelinka gone mad this time?" "Any veteran would be better than this," comments like these were everywhere. But if you are familiar with Pelinka, this general manager is known for his keen eye. He has never been one to follow the crowd but dares to go against the current. Back in 2020 when the Lakers won the championship, Pelinka signed undervalued players like Howard and Pope at low prices, ultimately helping the Lakers lift…

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…

For a player, the age of 40 is indeed a difficult hurdle to overcome. They either retire or wander around, but there are always some independent players who remain at the superstar level, such as 40-year-old Malone and 40-year-old James. These two are among the most disciplined players in NBA history. They are truly evergreen legends. 40-year-old Karl Malone Karl Malone was selected by the NBA Jazz in the 15th pick of the 85 season. He played for 19 seasons in the NBA, serving only two teams throughout his career: 18 seasons with the Jazz and 1 season with the Lakers. His attendance rate is astonishing, with 10 out of 19 seasons being full attendance and 17 seasons having an attendance rate of around 80 games. This is something even Jordan and James, such great players, could not achieve. Throughout his career, he averaged 25+10+3 stats. In his final year at the age of 40, he joined the Lakers in pursuit of a championship title, forming the F4 with O'Neal, Kobe, Payton, and Malone. Unfortunately, he did not win the championship and retired mercilessly. At the age of 40, Karl Malone still played 40 games for the Lakers, averaging 13.2+8.7+4 stats. 40-year-old James From 03 to 10, James played for the Cavaliers; from 10 to 14, he played for the Heat; from 14 to 18, he returned to the Cavaliers; and since 18, he has been with the Lakers. Over these 21 seasons, no matter which team he joined, he was always the core player and won championships for three…

On January 8th, Beijing time, the Lakers suffered a crushing defeat to the Mavericks, losing 97-118 and swallowing their second consecutive loss. In this game, the Lakers were leading in the first quarter, but after their defense declined in the second quarter, they were suppressed. The third quarter saw the gap widen to over 10 points, and in the fourth quarter, the Lakers were firmly controlled by the Mavericks, who were without Doncic and Irving. In the crucial moments, LeBron shockingly couldn't touch the ball and made consecutive turnovers that cost the game, finishing with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. Is this the 40-year-old LeBron James? Has he been in the league for 22 years? Facing a 2.16-meter-tall LeFlore, he swung his arms in mid-air for a windmill dunk, still able to fly so high and far? Even on the road, he ignited the Mavericks fans. In the first quarter, LeBron played for 8 minutes, shooting 4 of 3 plus 1 of 1 from three-point range, scoring 7 points, 1 rebound, and 1 steal, with 1 dunk and a 75% shooting rate. It's worth noting that in the past 11 games, LeBron averaged 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, which is truly terrifying. In the second quarter, LeBron clearly started to coast, missing one three-pointer and one mid-range shot, scoring only 2 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists in the quarter, finishing the half with 9 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. After halftime, James still hadn't found his rhythm, going 0 for 2 from…

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 game on January 7th, Beijing time, the Los Angeles Clippers faced unprecedented refereeing controversies, with five key whistle calls going against them, sparking widespread discussion and questioning. Compared to the controversy over refereeing issues that arose when the Lakers faced the Rockets previously, the Clippers' experience this time is undoubtedly more severe, being considered a true "black whistle" incident. Reflecting on the Lakers' game against the Rockets, LeBron James and his head coach expressed their dissatisfaction with the referees after the match, accusing them of targeting the Lakers and mocking the Rockets for flopping. However, the referee's report revealed no incorrect or missed calls, making the Lakers' complaints seem weak. In contrast, the Clippers' situation makes the Lakers' grievances seem insignificant. During the Clippers' game against their opponents, Harden became the "epicenter" of refereeing errors. He was called for three offensive fouls throughout the game, with the third being particularly absurd. At a crucial moment in the game, Harden's non-ball-carrying hand made slight contact with opponent Randle, and the referee immediately called an offensive foul. Prior to this, Harden had also been called for an offensive foul after a brilliant pass, at which point Leonard had already scored an open three-pointer, but the referee nullified the score due to Harden's offensive foul. This call not only left Harden feeling helpless and desperate but also cost the Clippers valuable points. Even more bizarrely, it seemed that the referee decided to call an offensive foul on Harden only after seeing Leonard open for a shot. This "watching the ball go…