Chapter 264 The playoffs are over, the best lineup is announced
The Lakers eliminated the Thunder with a total score of 4:2, which was considered a minor upset.
After all, before the start of the first round of the series, more people were generally more optimistic that the Thunder, equipped with the Big Three, would be able to advance. They were also very much looking forward to seeing the Warriors' Big Four VS the Thunder's Big Three, and the showdown between Durant and Westbrook's former brothers.
But obviously the Lakers are the better team, or Wang Feng's performance is stronger than the Thunder's Big Three.
In the 6-game series, Wang Feng averaged 38 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, with a shooting percentage of 53% and a three-point shooting percentage of over 45% as always. The high-intensity defense in the playoffs did not have any impact on him.
.
In the entire first round of the series, there were only two players who could compete with Wang Feng in terms of personal performance. They were the Cavaliers' star James, who had to fight the Pacers in seven fierce battles in the Eastern Conference to win and advance to the second round.
In 2018, Thanos James really earned his reputation in vain. He almost single-handedly dragged the Cavaliers to win the tiebreaker. In the 7-game series, he averaged 34.4 points, 10 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game, and his 55.3% shooting percentage was even higher than
Wang Feng is even taller.
The other is the New Orleans Pelicans. Anthony Davis, the big-browed brother, has shown strong inside offensive capabilities in the playoffs, averaging 33 points and 11.8 rebounds per game, with a shooting percentage of 57.6%.
However, the Pelicans' record in the first round of the playoffs was 0:4, and they were directly swept out.
There is no way, they are facing the strongest Warriors team in the entire league.
The failure of last season's finals made the Warriors players pay more attention to this playoffs. And now that the Cavaliers have disintegrated, they are the strongest in the league!
After easily sweeping the Pelicans led by Anthony Davis, their opponent in the second round was the Lakers who eliminated the Thunder.
…
"I must admit that this season's Lakers have brought us too many surprises. Not only did they enter the playoffs with the third-best record in the Western Conference, they also eliminated the Thunder led by the Big Three and entered the conference semifinals."
"But unfortunately, their playoff journey ends here. The strength of the Warriors and Lakers is not at the same level. There will be no suspense in this round of showdown. Even Wang Feng cannot bring a miracle. After all, the strength of both sides
The gap is too big.”
Charles Barkley, a famous American basketball commentator who once suffered big losses from Yao Yao and Wang Feng, said frankly to the camera.
And this time, O'Neal, who always opposed Barkley, could not refute.
"Unfortunately, you are right. The gap in player configuration between the two teams is too huge. The Lakers' salary this season is just over 113 million US dollars, which also includes Luol Deng, who is earning 17 million US dollars in free salary. Golden State
The Warriors' salary is as high as 135 million, and they have four All-Star players."
"What the Lakers need to consider now is how to recruit another top superstar in the free market to further strengthen the team's strength and make it qualified to win the championship."
Facts have proven that they were right.
The Warriors defeated the Lakers 4:1 in the second round and successfully advanced to the Western Conference Finals, while the Lakers stopped in the Western Conference Semifinals and were eliminated.
This result is not surprising to everyone, but in the five-game series between the two teams, Wang Feng once again surprised everyone with his skills.
In 5 games, Wang Feng averaged 40.2 points, 13 rebounds and 3 steals per game. Although he was chased and intercepted by defensive players such as Green, Yingodala, and Thompson throughout the game, his shooting percentage dropped from 53% in the first round to only 41%.
left or right, but his super scoring ability still conquered everyone.
The words "glory despite defeat" cannot be overstated when applied to Wang Feng.
It's just that no matter how you brag, it is an indisputable fact that Wang Feng and the Lakers' playoff journey has ended here, and the subsequent playoffs have nothing to do with them.
After the last game, at the press conference.
"Mr. Wang Feng, this season is the first time in your career that you have missed the conference finals and even the finals. How do you feel about this?"
Facing reporters' questions, Wang Feng smiled and shook his head.
"As for my feelings... I feel a little complicated. It would be false to say that I am not disappointed. After all, this is the first time I have lost a playoff series. But while I am disappointed, I also feel a little sense of accomplishment."
"Although I have won championship rings in the first three seasons, in the final analysis, they were not obtained with me as the core. Now my pursuit is not just as simple as championship rings. I want to get more.
Many, such as regular season MVP and finals FMVP."
"Obviously only by coming to such a team and becoming the core leader of the team can I have this opportunity! So here I am!"
"Although we lost this season, we will come back next season and become stronger and better. Sooner or later, the championship trophy will still be mine!"
Not long after, Wang Feng's speech at the press conference was confirmed.
On May 25, with the Eastern and Western Conference finals still in full swing, the league announced the selection results for the best team of the season and the best defensive team.
Wang Feng was undoubtedly selected for both the All-NBA First Team and the All-Defensive First Team.
The players who were jointly selected to the All-NBA Team with him include Lillard of the Trail Blazers, Harden of the Rockets, James of the Cavaliers and Davis of the Pelicans.
The five spots on the best second team are Thunder's Westbrook, Denver's DeRozan, Bucks' Antetokounmpo, Thunder's Durant and 76ers' Embiid.
The best three teams are Curry of the Warriors, Oladipo of the Pacers, George of the Thunder, Butler and Towns of the Timberwolves.
This is the first time in Wang Feng's career that he has been selected to the All-NBA First Team. Previously, he only won the Best Third Team and Second Team with the Warriors and Cavaliers respectively.
Although they are both the best team, the first team is obviously much more valuable than the latter. After all, the players selected for the first team represent the best performance in their respective positions in the current season.
If Wang Feng continues to stay with the Cavaliers this season, he may still not be selected for the All-NBA Team, because with James in the Cavaliers, he will not be able to get so many ball rights and average more than 24 shots per game.
Being selected for the best team is just an appetizer for Wang Feng.
Because there is also the league's most valuable honorary award, the regular season MVP has not yet been announced.
The NBA Awards Ceremony of the 2017-18 season is scheduled for June 26, and before then, the NBA playoffs will end first.
Speaking of the Eastern and Western finals, they are the Western Warriors VS Rockets and the Eastern Cavaliers VS Celtics.
The trend of the game is actually exactly the same as the historical process in another time and space.
Both the East and West played seven games and fought to the last minute, with the Warriors and Cavaliers winning in the end respectively.
The Warriors and Cavaliers will meet in the Finals for the fourth consecutive year.