On January 6th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season is in full swing. The Thunder defeated the defending champions with a 15-game winning streak, while the Lakers fell short against the Rockets due to key mistakes and missed opportunities for a draw. The Warriors also suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Kings, despite Curry's best efforts. Here's a brief summary of the games. ‌[Thunder - Celtics]‌ The game started with both teams showing equal strength, trading blows and responding to each other's plays. However, the Thunder's efficiency dropped in the second quarter, leading to missed shots and lost rhythm, which allowed their opponents to take advantage and fall behind by 10 points at halftime, trailing 55-65. In the second half, the Celtics struggled, unable to make their trademark three-point shots or generate enough offensive power, scoring only 20 points in one quarter and being reversed. Ultimately, the Thunder defeated the Celtics 105-92, setting a new team record with 15 consecutive wins, putting them at 30 wins and 5 losses, just a step away from the top of the league. Alexander contributed steadily with 33 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists. ‌[Lakers - Rockets]‌ The home team Rockets were in top form, with Jalen Green scoring 18 points in a single quarter and the returning Amen finishing strong under the basket. The team was full of fighting spirit, actively grabbing offensive rebounds and creating more scoring opportunities, building an 18-point lead at halftime with a score of 77-49. In the second half, the Lakers gradually recovered, hitting nine…

The Lakers made a good trade! Last week, the Lakers completed a trade with the Nets, trading Russell, Lewis, and three second-round picks to the Nets in exchange for Finney-Smith and Milton. The Lakers' goal is clear; they aim to enhance their wing height, defensive intensity, and shooting accuracy. With all three aspects in place, the Lakers can achieve a significant upgrade. Russell is indeed a decent ball-handler who can provide some playmaking ability. However, playing alongside James, being able to shoot and defend is crucial. The "one-star four-shooters" system has been practiced for years for a reason. Forcing Russell to stay would not benefit his personal statistics or contract, nor would it help the Lakers much. Indeed, after Finney-Smith and Milton joined the team, they quickly made an impact. Although their basic stats are not particularly impressive, their performances are genuinely commendable, with both defense and shooting capabilities fully present. Including today's close loss of 115 to 119, the Lakers have lost to the Cavaliers and Rockets - it's not shameful to lose to the league-leading Cavaliers, and the same goes for narrowly losing to the second-ranked Rockets in the West - but they have easily defeated the Trail Blazers and Hawks in succession, completely dominating on the court and winning steadily through defense. Reeves has become a solid ball-handler, while Christie and Knickert have become quality shooters. However, if the Lakers want to take another step forward and become contenders for the Western Conference championship, they may need to continue to strengthen their frontcourt. Davis alone is not…

On January 6th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued, with the Los Angeles Lakers visiting the Houston Rockets. In the first quarter, Jalen Green stepped up to help the Rockets seize the initiative, as the team scored an impressive 36 points in the opening period, quickly establishing a double-digit lead. In the second quarter, the Rockets extended their lead to 22 points at one point, before the Lakers' starters returned to the court and launched a counterattack. However, the Rockets still held an 18-point advantage at halftime. After the break, the game took a dramatic turn as the Lakers unleashed a 21-8 scoring spree to catch up. In the critical moments, Green and Amen worked together to stabilize the situation for the Rockets, who once again widened the gap to over 10 points. In the final quarter, the Lakers made a desperate comeback, closing the gap, but the game's suspense remained until the end. The Lakers made several crucial mistakes, allowing the Rockets to narrowly secure the victory. Ultimately, the Lakers fell short to the Rockets with a score of 115-119. The young and fearless Rockets, known for their aggressive play, were not intimidated by the Lakers led by James and Davis. They played to their strengths with full vigor! Throughout the game, the Rockets dominated the boards with a 49-39 rebounding advantage over the Lakers, including an 18-10 edge in offensive rebounds and a 52-40 lead in points in the paint. The Lakers, who went from trailing by 22 points to seeing a glimmer of hope for victory,…

On January 6th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued, and all the games for today have been completed. Although there were only 6 games, 5 strong teams from the Western Conference faced off. Due to the fierce competition in the West, the Western Conference landscape has changed after today's games. Although the rankings in the West haven't changed much, there has been a significant change in the number of wins between the teams. Let's take a look. Thunder's Momentum Continues The Thunder hosted the Celtics in this game, which the Celtics took very seriously, fielding their full core lineup. At halftime, they had established a 10-point lead thanks to their excellent performance. However, as the Thunder's defense began to dominate in the second half, the Celtics only managed to score 27 points in total for the entire half, ultimately being reversed by the Thunder. In this game, Alexander on the Thunder side scored 33 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. After the victory, the Thunder extended their winning streak to 15 games, becoming the second team in the league to reach 30 wins. They remain undefeated against Eastern Conference teams this season. In their next game, they will face the Cavaliers, who are first in the league and have yet to lose to a Western Conference team. This matchup is definitely worth looking forward to. Currently, the Thunder leads the second-place Rockets by 7 wins. Given their stability and strength, it seems that the top spot in the West is almost guaranteed for them this…

NBA action continues as the Lakers travel to Houston to face off against the Rockets. The teams are evenly matched in terms of strength, and the game starts with both sides trading blows. However, towards the end of the first quarter, the Lakers experience a power outage, allowing the Rockets to go on a scoring spree, resulting in a 14-point deficit for the Lakers by the end of the quarter. In the second quarter, the Lakers show some improvement, but their poor shooting from beyond the arc and weak rebounding efforts leave them trailing by 18 points at halftime. The third quarter sees LeBron James take charge of the offense, nailing four three-pointers and leading the team to within two points. The final quarter is fiercely competitive, with both teams exchanging blows and keeping the suspense alive until the very end. A crucial turnover leads to the Lakers' defeat, 115-119, ending their two-game winning streak. Let's examine the data to see who should be held accountable for the loss. LeBron James: His strong performance in the third quarter brought the team back into the game, but a missed forced three-pointer and an offensive foul in the fourth quarter put the team in a precarious position. He finished with 8 out of 16 shots made, scoring 21 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and dishing out 9 assists, with a plus-minus of -13. Anthony Davis: Despite delivering a full-court effort on both ends of the floor and giving Shengjing a tough lesson, the lack of victory overshadows his performance. He scored 30 points,…

The recent trade rumors surrounding the Lakers remind me of a statement made by James during a press conference, where he emphasized the need for more reliable rotation players capable of performing in the playoffs. The proposed three-team trade deal addresses this issue, aiming to create a more balanced and competitive roster. Under Coach Redick's leadership, the Lakers have achieved unexpected success, solidifying their position in the Western Conference. However, the lack of depth on the bench has been a persistent challenge hindering the team's progress. During recent games, when James and Davis were rested, the team's offensive power significantly diminished, prompting the coaching staff to reconsider the rotation strategy. The arrivals of Finney-Smith and Milton have indeed revitalized the team, but relying solely on these two players over the course of a long season is insufficient. The Lakers now face the challenge of enhancing their immediate playing strength without compromising their core lineup. The team requires a center who can complement Davis in the paint and a guard capable of alleviating James' ball-handling pressure. Currently, the rotation lineup features inconsistent performances from players like Hachimura and Vincent, who have yet to fully adapt to the team's tactical system. When the starting lineup takes a break during matches against other teams, the Lakers often struggle to score. The proposed three-team trade deal appears highly reasonable, with Bruce Brown's addition expected to bring versatility to the backcourt. While Richards' statistics with the Hornets were not outstanding, his defensive prowess and rebounding skills are precisely what the Lakers need. Abekar's multifunctionality allows…

On January 6th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season saw the Lakers challenge the Rockets on the road. The Lakers' starting lineup for today's game was Reeves, Christie, Hachimura, James, and Davis. The Rockets started with VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon, Amen, and Shen Jing. This game was crucial for the Lakers as it would test their team. The Rockets were ranked second in the West, undoubtedly a strong team. If the Lakers could defeat the Rockets, it would indicate that their lineup had the potential to compete for the championship. In the first quarter, the Rockets' Amen scored continuously after being suspended for two games. Upon his return, he was in scorching form with a strong offensive desire, suggesting that the days without playing had left him raring to go. The Lakers also responded well, with Little scoring layups and three-pointers. Hachimura was also hot today, making two consecutive three-point shots with great determination. The teams exchanged blows, with the score leading each other. During the stalemate, the Rockets' Green began to show his prowess. In a single quarter, Green shot 8-for-7, including 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, scoring 18 points. His hot hand just wouldn't stop. Amen defended LeBron today, causing Old James considerable discomfort. In the first quarter, he only attempted two shots, making one, not having much presence. Old James still needs to shoot more. The Rockets went on wave after wave of scoring, successfully widening the gap. At the end of the first quarter, the Lakers trailed the Rockets by 14 points with a score of…

The Rockets faced off against the Lakers in a game where they once led by 20 points but almost suffered a comeback at the end. One player on their team could be considered a mole, and that is their center, Shen Jing. In this game, he scored 14 points, but his plus-minus was the worst on the team. His defensive capabilities were virtually non-existent, as he was completely dominated by Anthony Davis. Moreover, he often showed no initiative on defense and even missed free throws, appearing weak and lacking spirit on the court. Fortunately, two tough players, Jalen Green and Adams, performed exceptionally well today. The Rockets' head coach, Udoka, gave them special praise, stating that these two players are like a miniature version of the OK duo in the game. Especially Jalen Green, who really unleashed his offensive firepower. Despite being called for five fouls in the first three quarters, he returned like a king in the fourth quarter, scoring six points in a row at a critical moment to stabilize the situation for the team. Adams, on the other hand, played extremely aggressively in the game. As an interior tough guy, his strength is considerable, and he is also very tough defensively, leaving Davis with no temper. He can be said to be the stabilizing force in the Rockets' interior. Honestly, the Rockets should not let Shen Jing guard Davis in future games against the Lakers; he was treated like a toy by the opponent. They should let tough guys like Adams face off against Anthony Davis, as…

On January 6th, Beijing time, in an NBA regular season game that has already ended today, the Lakers lost to the Rockets 115-119 away from home, missing out on a three-game winning streak. This game was very dramatic, with the Lakers once trailing by a large margin in the first half, but then making three consecutive turnovers in the final moments of the fourth quarter to lose the game. At the beginning, both teams were back and forth, with the scores tied together. In the middle section, Green's big explosion helped the Rockets quickly take a double-digit lead; in the second quarter, the Rockets always controlled the situation on the court, maintaining a double-digit lead, with a maximum lead of 22 points; but in the second half, the Lakers' three-pointers suddenly opened up, and under James' leadership, they continuously hit three-pointers to narrow the gap. At the end, they relied on Davis' inside advantage to reduce the gap to only 2 points. In the fourth quarter, the Rockets scored 10-0 again to extend the lead to 12 points; then after Davis came on, the Lakers continued to make a wave of high tide to reduce the gap to only 2 points; at the critical moment, Green and VanVleet stood up to score, followed by Davis' three-pointer and James' breakthrough layup as well as Shen Jing's 2 free throws and 1 made gave the Lakers a chance, but in the last 6 seconds, the Lakers made the most fatal mistake: Christie made a turnover when throwing the sideline ball, and VanVleet…

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,…