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…

A crushing defeat by 41 points! This is no laughing matter; such a margin could rival the score of a small basketball game! The Lakers suffered a humiliating loss to the Heat, leaving them stripped bare. Despite LeBron James' impressive performance with 29 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists, these numbers seem insignificant against the gaping 41-point deficit. This match was akin to a tragicomedy, where LeBron's individual brilliance brought joy, while the Lakers' defeat brought sorrow. The experience was like chewing on durian-flavored gum—initially sweet but ultimately leaving a strange aftertaste. However, today we're not just discussing victory or defeat; let's delve into something more human. As the final 8 seconds ticked away and the outcome was sealed, everyone thought LeBron should take a break. But he didn't. Instead, he casually strolled over to the Heat's bench. What was his purpose? To catch up with an old comrade! He embraced Kevin Love with such warmth, as if reuniting with a long-lost brother, a scene that moved fans to tears. Back in their days with the Cavaliers, these two were a force to be reckoned with, winning championships and carrying the team together. Their bond was as cold as a Northeastern winter and as hot as a Hainan summer—undeniably strong! Their embrace was not just a casual greeting; it encapsulated countless stories. It embodied the countless nights of fighting side by side and the numerous critical moments of supporting each other. This was not an act; it was a genuine outpouring of emotion, a true reflection of LeBron's character! After…

On January 1st, Beijing time, the NBA was bustling with six regular season games. Once these matches concluded, the latest rankings were officially unveiled. Let's talk about the Bucks and Pacers game, where Giannis Antetokounmpo made his return. However, what was unexpected was Damian Lillard's poor performance, shooting only 3 out of 14 for a total of 9 points. The Bucks were once down by 19 points, which had me quite anxious. Fortunately, Giannis Antetokounmpo played exceptionally well, and with the support of Lopez and Trent, they managed to pull off a great comeback. By the end of the game, Giannis Antetokounmpo's stats were impressive, scoring 30 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and dishing out 5 assists. This victory ended their two-game losing streak, propelling them to fifth place in the East, while the Pacers settled at eighth. I'm the Celtics, and recently, I've been criticized for my excessive three-point attempts in games, with Jayson Tatum's lackluster performance also drawing harsh criticism. However, today, I finally rose to the occasion with an excellent performance! Tatum also showed signs of recovery, shooting 6 out of 13 for 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists. Ultimately, we defeated the Raptors by a record-breaking 54 points, setting a new high for the season. This 54-point margin is the largest of the season, surpassing the Grizzlies' 51-point win over the Warriors on December 20th. After this victory, we remain firmly in second place in the East, while the Raptors suffered their 11th consecutive loss, remaining at the bottom of the East in 14th place. Today,…

Despite the fact that Kobe Bryant has passed away, his devoted fans remain unwavering in their affection for him, primarily due to the aesthetic appeal of his technical moves and his passionate playing style, which always evokes a sense of excitement and fervor. His five NBA championship titles are a testament to his greatness, but the greatest regret is that he was unable to achieve a second three-peat, which would have allowed him to stand shoulder to shoulder with the "Basketball God" Michael Jordan. So, what were the reasons that prevented Kobe from achieving a second three-peat? Was it a lack of skill or simply fate? Today, let's revisit Kobe's peak years and analyze the reasons behind this. Many fans believe that Kobe's prime was during the championship-winning seasons of 08-09 and 09-10, but this is not the case. Kobe's true prime was actually during the 2007-2008 season. During this season, both his skills and mentality reached a level of perfection, and the arrival of Pau Gasol only added to his prowess, leading the team to a record of 57 wins and 25 losses, securing the top spot in the Western Conference. With an impressive average of 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, he was awarded his first regular-season MVP title. Compared to the more intense playoffs, Kobe's regular-season performance was just an "appetizer." In the first round of the playoffs, against the Denver Nuggets led by Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony, Kobe averaged a staggering 33.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.5 steals, and…

On the morning of December 24, NBA regular season continued with the Warriors hosting the Pacers. The Pacers have been in hot form recently, winning 5 out of their last 6 games. The Warriors, on the other hand, have been performing averagely, with somewhat insufficient overall competitiveness. In the first half, neither team managed to pull away, with the Pacers holding a slim 8-point advantage. In the second half, the Warriors' comeback attempt was mediocre, as they only managed to close the gap by 4 points in the third quarter and fell further behind in the fourth, ultimately losing 105-111. Curry had an average game, shooting 2 for 13 from the field, scoring 10 points with 5 rebounds and 7 assists. Kuminga came off the bench to shoot 9 for 16, scoring 26 points with 8 rebounds and 4 assists, the highest scorer for the team and the only player to score over 20 points. The Lakers hosted the Pistons, where despite a clear difference in overall strength, the Lakers lacked overall competitiveness and a stable offensive output. At halftime, the Lakers held a slight 2-point lead, but the fourth quarter saw a thrilling climax with suspense building! In the final moments, James attempted a buzzer-beating three-pointer that bounced off the rim a few times before missing, which could have potentially sent the game into overtime. The final score was 114-117. James scored 28 points with 11 rebounds and 11 assists, while Christie scored 17 points. The Pistons won due to strong bench performances from players like Beasley, Fontecchio, Osar,…

The Cavaliers defeated the Lakers with a score of 122-110. LeBron James, in his first game against his former team, had a record of 19 wins and 4 losses against the Cavaliers. He started the game with a series of three-point shots that penetrated the Cavaliers' defense and led the team to catch up. The older players took the lead, and the younger players followed suit, with electric fans and Milton scoring their first points for the Lakers through dunks and corner threes. After the departure of Rondo, Schroder naturally took over the output on the guard line, making mid-range jump shots, driving layups, and breaking through to shake off the defense for easy baskets. With LeBron's one-handed dunk, the Lakers launched an 8-0 counterattack wave! At 40 years old, he can still move quickly and use his strong body to open the way and punish opponents, which is unprecedented and probably will not be seen again in history. However, the Lakers' glory was short-lived as the Cavaliers gradually recovered from being stunned and showed their strength as the top team in the East; they combined inside and outside play to take back the lead with a 9-0 run. Allen performed various moves under Davis' watchful eye, continuously scoring to stop the Lakers. In the third quarter, the Cavaliers expanded their lead, with Strus setting up a platform for a continuous downpour of three-pointers. As the Lakers were about to experience another third-quarter collapse, Davis stepped up in time to regain control, hitting a three-pointer at the top of the…

On December 31, it was reported that the Lakers and the Nets had reached a trade agreement, sending Russell to the Nets for the second time in exchange for Finney-Smith and Milton. In response, Yang Yi, a well-known domestic basketball commentator, expressed during a live broadcast that Lakers fans would soon regret the decision, asking, "Why did we trade away Russell?" Recently, the Lakers sent D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round picks to the Nets in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Milton. Famous basketball commentator Yang Yi commented: "It is expected that it won't be long before Lakers fans start shouting, 'Russell is great, why did we let him go?' Russell is an athlete who, when he was with the Lakers, many athletes were like this, especially in such a high-traffic team. When he was on your team, you didn't think he was good, you thought he wasn't that great, and you even scolded him frequently. After he left, you realized that he was actually quite important. People in Brooklyn still consider him an All-Star, it's all about psychology. Just as James mentioned earlier, now you've traded for Milton, who is a shooter, and Finney-Smith, who is known as a 3D player but is actually just average at 3-point shooting. The Lakers have always had the problem of having players who can defend but not shoot, or shooters who can't defend. Why are they unbalanced? It's because those who can shoot can't defend, and those who can defend can't shoot. So by bringing in two such players, especially one…

The trade between the Lakers and the Nets has been completed. In yesterday's game against the Cavaliers, newcomers Finney-Smith and Milton made their debuts for the Lakers, performing well enough to satisfy the fans. Today, in the game between the Nets and the Raptors, Russell also made his return debut with the Nets, delivering an even more impressive performance. In this game, the Nets achieved what they wanted: to keep the score close in the first three quarters to attract fans, then suddenly collapse in the fourth quarter, losing 113-130. The Nets' goal is clear: to tank, secure a higher draft pick, and focus on the future. How to lose in a spectacular way is an art. Russell doesn't care about that. His goal is to get better stats so he can get a better offer after his contract year and make more money. In this game, Russell came off the bench for 26 minutes, shooting 9 of 13 from the field, including a perfect 7 of 7 from two-point range, efficiently contributing 22 points, 8 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 blocks, a very eye-catching performance. The last time Russell was traded from the Lakers to the Nets, he went all out, making it directly into the All-Star Game lineup, which was also his only All-Star Game appearance in his NBA career so far, and the source of his first big contract. This time, back with the Nets again, will Russell be able to make it to the All-Stars again? Coincidentally, Russell met an old acquaintance on the Nets' bench:…

NBA regular season games continued today, with the Brooklyn Nets visiting the Toronto Raptors. Prior to this, the Nets had completed a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers, sending out Finney-Smith and Milton in exchange for Russell. This trade was actually driven by the Nets' interest in the Lakers' second-round draft picks, as well as acquiring Russell's expiring contract, with the intention of furthering their rebuilding efforts. For the remainder of this season, the Nets' goal has been to lose in an attractive manner, such as keeping the score close before collapsing in the final quarter, thus losing gracefully and aiming for a higher draft pick in the summer. Today against the Raptors, the Nets followed this strategy, staying competitive through the first three quarters before being overtaken in the fourth. Ultimately, the Nets lost to the Raptors 113-130, successfully accomplishing their task. Yesterday, in the game between the Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Finney-Smith and Milton made their debuts, and today Russell also made his return debut with the Nets, performing quite well. Throughout the game, Russell shot 9-for-13, scoring 22 points, 2 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal, showcasing a comprehensive and impressive performance. Among these, Russell was 2-for-6 from beyond the arc, but he achieved a perfect 7-for-7 on two-point shots, boasting a 100% shooting rate, which was very dominant. This marks the second time Russell has been traded from the Lakers to the Nets, but he isn't particularly saddened by it, as playing for the Nets allows him to pad his stats. Last time,…

As the Lakers lose to the Cavaliers and the Suns narrowly defeat the Grizzlies! The Western Conference is in a mess, and the latest rankings are as follows Beijing time January 1, 2025, the NBA regular season continues to be exciting. The Lakers lost at home to the Cavaliers with a score of 110-122, ending their winning streak. And the Suns lost at home to the Grizzlies with a score of 112-117, suffering three consecutive defeats, and their playoff spot is precarious. After these two key games, the Western Conference has undergone significant changes again. The Suns narrowly lost to the Grizzlies at home, and three consecutive defeats fell into crisis In the first half, the Grizzlies showed strong offensive firepower. In the first quarter, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Bane worked together to lead the Grizzlies to a 36-26 victory in a single quarter, quickly establishing a double-digit lead. In the second quarter, the Grizzlies' fiery state continued, with Jaren Jackson Jr. scoring 25 points on 9-of-12 shooting in the first half, completely suppressing the Suns' interior, and Bane also contributed 17 points, leading the Grizzlies to a 14-point lead over the Suns at halftime. On the Suns side, Durant carried the team alone, scoring 16 points in the first half, while Booker scored 11 points. However, the team's defense was riddled with problems, making it difficult to contain the Grizzlies' multi-flower attack. Even worse, Bradley Beal left the game early due to a hip injury, scoring only 3 points, casting a shadow over the Suns' comeback. In the second…