On January 6th, Beijing time, the Rockets defeated the Lakers 119-115 at home, refusing a 22-point comeback and maintaining their second place in the Western Conference. LeBron James had 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 9 assists, while Anthony Davis contributed 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocks. The Rockets led by as many as 22 points, but the Lakers made a strong comeback in the second half, narrowing the gap before ultimately falling short against the Rockets. In the crucial moments, the Lakers made consecutive turnovers. Jalen Green scored a team-high 33 points for the Rockets. Amen Thompson returned from suspension and contributed 23 points and 16 rebounds, setting a new season-high in points and breaking his career record in rebounds. Statistical Highlights Lakers: Anthony Davis with 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocks; LeBron James with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 9 assists; Austin Reaves with 21 points and 10 assists; Rui Hachimura with 13 points; Lonnie Walker IV with 14 points and 6 rebounds; Dorian Finney-Smith with 13 points, 2 assists, and 2 steals. Rockets: Jalen Green with 33 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists; Amen Thompson with 23 points and 16 rebounds; Alperen Sengun with 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists; Fred VanVleet with 15 points; Dillon Brooks with 5 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists; Kenyon Martin Jr. with 8 points and 4 rebounds; Jaxson Hayes with 8 points and 9 rebounds. Player of the Game Jalen Green and Amen Thompson played outstandingly, helping the Rockets withstand the pressure and secure a victory over the…

According to NBA insider Shams, the Clippers are attempting to pursue All-Star point guard D'Angelo Russell, who was recently traded to the Nets, in order to find a backcourt partner for Harden and Leonard. Russell will not be part of the Nets' future plans after leaving the Lakers, and the Clippers can take this opportunity to trade for this excellent point guard with Mann and Tucker. This would allow Russell to play a sixth man role for the Clippers, helping to alleviate the pressure on Harden. Despite Russell's defensive shortcomings, it is believed that he can fully leverage his offensive strengths alongside defenders like Leonard, Little Jones, and Dunn. After all, Russell broke the Lakers' team record for three-pointers made last season. The Clippers currently need a versatile point guard who can handle Harden's ball distribution, initiate his own offense, and organize the team. Tyronn Lue can place Russell in the transition phase or pair him with Harden in the decisive moments. If Russell joins the Clippers, will he be able to help Harden and Leonard return to the Western Conference Finals? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below!

On December 30th, Beijing time, the Lakers gave James a big gift for his 40th birthday, trading Russell + Lewis + three second-round picks to the Nets for Smith and Milton, upgrading their guard and forward positions. With the addition of Smith and Milton, here is a full list of the Lakers' team contracts! I. Main Players James: 40 years old, 2-year contract worth 101 million, averaging 23.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 9.0 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.6 blocks this season, with shooting percentages of 49.6%, 35.7%, and 76.7%. He is the second-in-command of the Lakers, an all-around veteran. Davis: 31 years old, 3-year contract worth 175 million, averaging 26 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.0 blocks this season, with shooting percentages of 52.7%, 31.3%, and 77.6%. He is the leader of the Lakers, both offensively and defensively. Rivers: 26 years old, 4-year contract worth 53.83 million, averaging 17.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.0 steal, and 0.2 blocks this season, with shooting percentages of 44.4%, 36.3%, and 79.4%. He is the third-in-command of the Lakers, a key player. Hachimura: 26 years old, 3-year contract worth 51 million, averaging 12.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steal, and 0.7 blocks this season, with shooting percentages of 48.4%, 45.2%, and 83.3%. He is the fourth-in-command of the Lakers, with the highest three-point shooting percentage. Smith: 31 years old, 4-year contract worth 55.56 million, averaging 10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.6 blocks this season, with shooting percentages of 45.9%, 43.5%, and 62.5%. He is a forward…

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…

In the home game against the Hawks, LeBron James delivered a historic performance, not only leading the Lakers to a 119-102 victory but also achieving a milestone by surpassing Jordan's record, which sent the Staples Center into a frenzy. James played an extremely efficient game, making 13 out of 20 shots, including 2 out of 5 three-pointers, scoring 30 points, 3 rebounds, and 8 assists. This performance brought his career total of 30+ point games to 563, officially surpassing Jordan's record. This record-breaking moment was not a fluke; from the moment James entered the league, he has demonstrated his dominance on the offensive end. He consistently scores through fast breaks and drives, maintaining a stable and efficient performance over the years. James' performance in this game was impressive; he scored continuously through fast breaks and drives in the first half, and in the second half, he hit consecutive three-pointers from outside, helping the team maintain a lead. The breakthrough of this record makes one marvel at James' endurance and dominance; in his 21st season, he still maintains such an outstanding state, which is a miracle in itself. Anthony Davis showcased his versatility in this game, although his shooting percentage wasn't particularly high, his performance in rebounding and defense was outstanding, finishing with a comprehensive stat line of 18 points, 19 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. In the first half, Davis became the most stable scorer for the Lakers, with a high efficiency in strong inside play, and he also did an excellent job in rim protection and rebounding on…

This season, the Lakers' bench averages 24.8 points per game, which is only better than the Knicks' 20.3 points in the league. The lack of offensive firepower from the bench is largely due to the strong offensive performance of the starters, who average 87.2 points per game, second only to the Knicks, Nuggets, Celtics, and Kings. How can the Lakers improve their bench scoring? Currently, the best solution would be to move Reeves back to the bench. On one hand, Reeves can handle the ball and organize the offense; on the other hand, last season when he played off the bench, the Lakers' bench averaged more points than strong teams like the Nuggets, Timberwolves, and Celtics. However, with Russell being traded, it's highly unlikely that Reeves will return to the bench. Point One: Development. In the last two games against the Cavaliers and Trail Blazers, Reeves averaged 70 passes, leading the team by a wide margin. It's clear that the Lakers management wants to groom him as the main playmaker. Of course, his average of 10.5 assists in the last two games also shows a certain level of versatility. Point Two: James. With Russell gone and Reeves potentially moving back to the bench, almost all the passing and controlling pressure would fall on James. If he were five years younger, it wouldn't be a problem, but at 40 years old, too much ball handling would definitely be detrimental to conserving energy. When it comes to the Lakers' bench scoring, Knickert is a good choice. Although there are issues with inconsistency,…

The Western Conference rankings are set to be thrown into chaos as the top five teams are plagued by injuries! The Lakers are poised to challenge for a top-three spot! Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. suffered a right hand fracture during shooting practice and is expected to miss at least 4 to 8 weeks. According to the Rockets' head coach, Smith was hit on the hand during training, leading to the fracture. This season, Smith has been averaging 31 minutes per game with the Rockets, scoring 11.9 points, grabbing 6.5 rebounds, and blocking one shot per game. Additionally, Rockets forwards Ethan and Amen Thompson, two key defensive players, are also out due to injuries. Currently, the Rockets hold a record of 22 wins and 11 losses, placing them third in the West. On the other hand, the Mavericks have suffered three consecutive losses due to Luka Doncic's injury. Today, facing the Eastern Conference-leading Cavaliers, Kyrie Irving is also out due to injury. As a result, the Mavericks are likely to suffer their fourth consecutive loss. They currently have a record of 20 wins and 14 losses, ranking fifth in the West. The second-placed Grizzlies saw nine players sidelined due to injuries in yesterday's game. There were more players on the bench wearing team training uniforms than those in casual attire! Meanwhile, the Lakers, currently sixth in the West, have an opportunity. They are only half a game behind the fourth-placed Nuggets and three games behind the third-placed Rockets! With key players from the Rockets and Saturnians expected to be…

On October 27th at 10:30 am Beijing time, the NBA regular season saw a match between the Lakers and the Kings. Prior to this game, the Lakers had just won their first two games of the season, while the Kings had yet to secure their first victory after losing to the Timberwolves. This match was particularly interesting as Davis faced his nemesis Sabonis once again. The game started with the Lakers taking the lead by aggressively attacking the paint, resulting in a dream start with a 16-8 lead. However, the Lakers' shooting cooled down, allowing the Kings to catch up with a combination of inside and outside scoring. Monk and Murray's consecutive baskets helped reduce the gap to just 2 points, and the first quarter ended with the Lakers leading 28-26. In the second quarter, the Lakers regained their touch with a 12-0 scoring run, giving them a double-digit lead. The Kings fought back with a 10-0 run, but the Lakers managed to stabilize the situation. At halftime, the Lakers led the Kings by 4 points with a score of 64-60. The third quarter saw a change in momentum as the Lakers struggled on both offense and defense. Their poor shooting from beyond the arc (1 out of 10) and weak defense made it difficult for them to maintain their lead. On the other hand, the Kings had multiple players contributing, and Fox's two consecutive three-pointers at the end of the third quarter helped the Kings take a 94-87 lead over the Lakers. In the final quarter, it was the…

Overnight! Lakers' James Celebrates Double Joy, Leonard Confirms Return, Butler Officially Suspended On January 4th, Beijing time, the latest round of NBA regular season games have all concluded. In addition to the thrilling matches on the court, several significant off-court developments have emerged overnight in the league, including double joy for the Lakers and James, Leonard's confirmed return, and Butler's official suspension. For the Lakers, they defeated the Hawks 119-102 under the leadership of James, successfully overtaking the Mavericks and Nuggets to rise to fourth in the Western Conference. In addition, the team's new backcourt duo, Reeves and Christie, have been performing exceptionally well in recent games. Notably, Christie has scored 16 points against the Warriors, 16 points against the Kings, 28 points against the Blazers, and 9 points against the Hawks in his last five games, except for a less-than-ideal performance of only 5 points against the Cavaliers. Christie has now become an important contributor to the Lakers' quest to return to championship contention. Regarding James, he scored an impressive 30 points, 3 rebounds, and 8 assists in the game against the Hawks, marking the 563rd time in his career that he has scored over 30 points, surpassing Jordan to become the undisputed historical first. With time, James is very likely to refresh this record to 600 games, making it one of the hardest records to break in NBA history. It can be said responsibly that James, both in terms of statistics and honors, has now surpassed Jordan to become the undisputed greatest player in history. As for Leonard,…

On January 4th, Beijing time, the Lakers hosted the Hawks. The game started with Davis scoring two points for the Lakers to take the lead, and then both teams were locked in a tug-of-war, with the scores alternating. At the end of the first quarter, the Lakers led by 3 points; in the second quarter, Trae Young was called for a technical foul, and the Lakers took advantage of this to suddenly increase their efforts. Rookie Knick scored 11 points in a single quarter, James continuously attacked the inside to create damage, and the Hawks relied on Capela's two-point shot to stop the bleeding, trailing the Lakers 57-65 at halftime; after changing sides, the Lakers continued to play steadily, Rivers continued his excellent performance from the previous game, scoring 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in a single quarter through inside and outside shooting, and the point difference remained in double digits; in the final quarter, the Lakers firmly controlled the initiative on the court, and James continuously scored to seal the game, and the Lakers finally won a decisive victory over the Hawks 119-102 without much effort. In this game, the Lakers' new recruit Finney-Smith gradually integrated into the game, scoring 8 points and 5 rebounds in 23 minutes with 3 shots and 2 hits, with a plus-minus value of +12. After the game, Davis talked about his teammate Finney-Smith's performance: "It's obvious that he did very well in shooting tonight, and his defensive performance has always been online. Smith has been learning our system, our defense, our…