I have to admit that the alliance has mastered the traffic password.
If the schedule is arranged according to the situation of last season's playoffs, the Christmas Day battle should be the Warriors VS Rockets. After all, the two sides collided with each other in the Western Conference finals. The Rockets, who were the first to get the match point, almost overturned the Warriors.
The Rockets, who lost the game, were also very unconvinced. After all, their core point guard Paul missed the next two games due to injury. If Paul was still there, it might be the Rockets who would enter the finals and win the championship trophy.
But the league finally decided that the Christmas Day game would be the Warriors VS Lakers, and the Rockets’ Christmas game opponent would be another Los Angeles team, the Clippers led by James.
Why is this arranged? The reason is very simple. The Lakers and Warriors are currently the most popular and watched teams in the league. Considering the ratings, it is the most appropriate choice for these two teams to meet.
I'm afraid even the league didn't expect that the Lakers would take off directly in the new season, and now lead the league in record, even worse than the Warriors.
This can be regarded as a coincidence. The meeting between two teams with the top three records in the league can be regarded as a collision of stars. Especially after strengthening Jimmy Butler, the Lakers are officially qualified to compete for the championship.
Just whether there is a chance to win the championship, the most important thing is whether it can pass the Warriors level!
…
On December 25th, in the visiting team’s locker room at Oracle Arena in Oakland.
"Guys, this game, for us, is probably the toughest game since the start of the regular season."
Wang Feng said to his teammates. "Our goal this season is the championship! If we want to win the championship, the Warriors are a big mountain we must cross. If we can't defeat them, everything will be empty talk."
As he said that, Wang Feng smiled. "Don't be frightened by the Warriors' three championships in four years. It sounds impressive, but two of their three championships were won with my help."
, and the only championship they lost in the finals was also lost to me."
There was a burst of laughter from the teammates.
Although Wang Feng's words were slightly exaggerated, he was not bragging.
Whether it is two championships with the Warriors or one championship with the Cavaliers, although Wang Feng is not the first core, he still plays an extremely important role. It is unceremonious to say that without him, would these championships have been real?
It's hard to say.
The Lakers are now strong and leading in record, so what do they have to fear? Just do it!
"The key to winning this game is how to contain the performance of Curry and Durant."
Head coach Walton added: "Wang Feng, I leave Durant to you. As an old rival, I believe you know how to deal with him."
"As for Curry, if necessary, we have to double-team him just like we did against Harden of the Rockets. Depending on the situation, we can let their power forward Draymond Green shoot from the three-point line or even from mid-to-long range."
In fact, more important than the tactical arrangements before the game is the on-the-spot performance on the court.
During the two years when the Warriors were invincible in the league, all teams have carefully studied their tactical characteristics and styles of play. I think I almost vomited watching the game videos, but there are only a few teams that can beat the Warriors.
?
If you want to win, you still have to look at the performance of your own players, especially the star players.
…
The game officially started soon.
The Lakers' starting lineup is still the same as Rondo, Butler, Ingram, Wang Feng and Lopez.
The Warriors' starting five are Curry, Thompson, Durant, Green and Kevon Looney.
The aftereffects of the Warriors signing Cousins are already starting to show.
Cousins was injured and suspended, and the Warriors released blue-collar insider Pachulia. Inside frame protection became a problem. In many cases, Looney, a forward, could only be used as a guest center.
The two sides jumped the ball in the middle circle. Facing Looney who was 2.06 meters tall, Lopez, who was 2.13 meters tall, rarely won.
The Lakers had the ball. Rondo dribbled the ball across half court and passed it to Wang Feng. The Lakers' first ball was still played by Wang Feng.
Facing Green's defense, Wang Feng used the First Step Master Badge to quickly break through the opponent, and then shot an 18-foot jumper from the basket, making a solid hit with the basketball.
2:0, Wang Feng took the lead for the Lakers.
"Why are you moving so slowly? Didn't you eat today?"
Wang Feng, who made the shot, turned his head and laughed at Green.
The relationship between Wang Feng and Green has not been very good since the Warriors days, and the relationship has become even worse later. Green criticized Wang Feng more than once in interviews or various TV programs.
In each match, Wang Feng would defeat Green on the offensive end. Anyway, Warriors head coach Kerr would definitely want Green, the strongest defender, to deal with him.
This game is no exception, it is still Green who defends Wang Feng.
Most forwards in the league will have a headache when facing Green. After all, this is a defensive player with great strength and speed, who is not afraid of confrontation, has outstanding defensive awareness and is very clever in his attacks.
But Wang Feng is not afraid of Green.
Wang Feng's strength of 88 is even slightly stronger than Green's. His speed of 93 and agility of 94 plus the first step master completely beat Green in speed.
Of course, not being afraid of Green does not mean that the other party is completely unable to influence him.
It is true that Green cannot weaken Wang Feng's offensive efficiency, but his defensive entanglement and various annoying little moves can in the end consume more of Wang Feng's physical energy.
In the playoffs and conference semifinals last season, Wang Feng played the entire series with Green harassing him throughout the entire series. Although his personal statistics were very luxurious, often by the fourth quarter of the game, his physical fitness was already exhausted by Green.
The cost of living and living has bottomed out.
The result of lack of physical strength is that the efficiency of the offensive end is reduced, and the defensive end does not have more energy to mark enemy offensive arrows like Durant.
Wang Feng had used this type of move against Durant when he was still with the Thunder, and he never thought that he would fall into the same situation.
It's just that that was last season. In the new season, Wang Feng's physical fitness has been enhanced by elite enhancement points and has reached 97, allowing him to compete longer on the field.
More importantly, Wang Feng has a new purple Hall of Fame badge - a key shooter.
This badge, which will only take effect in the last 2 minutes, is currently Wang Feng’s secret weapon, specially prepared for the Warriors!
Hearing Wang Feng's ridicule, Green retorted with a dark face: "This is a basketball court, and the basket is right there. Anyone can score a few balls with their eyes closed. If you want to make a noise, wait until you win the game."