Chapter 313: Lock the first in the west in advance
The 2019 All-Star Weekend ended like this. Although Wang Feng unexpectedly lost the Skills Challenge Championship, he still successfully won the three-point contest, dunk contest and All-Star Game rewards. Overall, he still gained a lot.
Full.
After the All-Star Weekend, it is the final sprint stage of the regular season.
Before the trade deadline, several transactions took place in the league, most of which were insignificant and small transactions. The only one worth mentioning was the transaction between the Toronto Raptors and the Grizzlies.
The Mongols sent Valanciunas and other bargaining chips to acquire center Marc Gasol from the Grizzlies.
Gasol's form has further declined this season. He averaged only 15+8 per game for the Grizzlies this season. It is difficult for a heavy center like Gasol to integrate into the tactical play of the small ball era.
The reason why the Mongols chose to trade for Gasol was mainly because of Gasol's ability to protect the frame and organize and support. They were preparing for the upcoming playoffs.
In fact, it was precisely because of the acquisition of Gasol that the Menglong team could easily defeat the Bucks 4:2 in the future Eastern Conference finals and successfully advance to the finals.
The Lakers did not make any trade reinforcements on the trade deadline because the Lakers' lineup is now complete and there is no position that needs reinforcements. In other words, even if there is, the price to pay for the players they want is enough to prohibit the Lakers.
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After the All-Star break, the Lakers' remaining three games in February are against the Houston Rockets, New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies.
Facing the Rockets again, the Lakers struck hard. Wang Feng scored 34 points and 12 rebounds, Jimmy Butler scored 27 points, and Ingram scored 18 points, defeating the Rockets 111:106.
Harden made 11 of 24 shots in this game, scoring 30 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. He failed to score higher than Wang Feng and failed to win the game.
Then, the Lakers defeated the Pelicans, whose big-browed brother Anthony Davis was absent due to injury, and the Memphis Grizzlies, whose strength was improved after the trade, ending the final journey of February with a winning streak.
At the end of February, the Lakers have played 61 games in the regular season. In these 61 games, the Lakers have achieved a record of 48 wins and 13 losses, with a winning rate of 78.7%, continuing to lead the league.
However, due to the decline in performance in January and February, the Lakers' lead is no longer as huge as before.
On March 1, the Lakers lost to the Milwaukee Bucks 120:131 at home.
In this game, Antetokounmpo Antetokounmpo's performance was not very good. He made 7 of 14 shots from the field and only had 16 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists. However, he could not withstand the hot state of the Bucks.
Eric "Blooded Cloth" Blessor scored 31 points on 12-for-24 shooting.
Malcolm Brogdon scored 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting in just 28 minutes. In addition, players such as Khris Middleton and Nikola Mirotic also performed well.
With the victory in this game, the Bucks successfully reduced the victory difference between the two teams to only 2 games.
However, the Lakers won the next five games against the Suns, Clippers, Nuggets, Celtics and Bulls, winning five consecutive games and stabilizing their record.
On March 14, the Lakers challenged the Toronto Rams away from home.
This is Wang Feng’s first head-to-head confrontation with Kawhi Leonard this season, or in recent years after his injury.
When Wang Feng was still with the Warriors, he was simply not qualified for Leonard to defend. But when he came to the Cavaliers, Leonard was also the one responsible for defending James, and Wang Feng also had no turn.
Many fans have always been curious. As the top perimeter defender, can Leonard effectively limit Wang Feng, who is currently the most powerful scoring player in the league?
As a result of the direct match between the two, Wang Feng scored 29 points and 10 rebounds. His shooting percentage was indeed affected, with 48% lower than his usual average of 53% per game.
But at the same time, Wang Feng is also a top perimeter defender, and it didn't make Leonard much easier.
Under Wang Feng's defense, Leonard made 8 of 20 shots, with a shooting percentage of only 40%, and scored 21 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists.
Wang Feng was obviously better in individual confrontations, but the Lakers lost the game.
Playing at home, the Menglong team's two insiders, Marc Gasol and Pascal Siakam, dominated the game, with the final score of 119:107.
The away game against the Mongols was the second of five consecutive away games for the Lakers in their March schedule. The Lakers then defeated the Detroit Pistons 122:97, and then defeated the New York Knicks 124:120 on the road in the fourth consecutive game.
However, in the last away game, the Lakers once again met the Bucks.
The Lakers were already exhausted from the long journey in consecutive away games. Facing the Bucks who were just waiting to work, they lost the game again.
This is the second time the Lakers have been double-killed by an Eastern Conference team this season. When they faced the 76ers before, the Lakers also lost both home and away games.
Fortunately, this loss did not disappoint Lakers fans too much.
In other words, the Lakers' ability to achieve their current results has made fans very satisfied.
After losing to the Bucks, the Lakers' record is 55 wins and 16 losses. In the remaining 11 games of the regular season, the only strong opponents left are the Warriors, Jazz, Clippers and Trail Blazers. They are very likely to win this season.
60 wins record!
Going back to the last time the Lakers achieved a 60+ record, it was the 2008-09 season. At that time, the Lakers were still led by Kobe Bryant at his peak, and the team also included Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar.
Odom and other outstanding players.
That year, the Lakers, who won 65 and 17 games in the regular season, made it through the playoffs and finally won the championship trophy.
Time flies by and it is already 10 years later.
Who would have thought that the Lakers, who were at the bottom of the league two seasons ago and were competing for the No. 1 pick in the draft, would actually have a chance to win 60 games in the regular season?
On March 22, the Lakers finally ended their five-game away streak and returned to their home court to face the Brooklyn Nets, easily winning 129:115. They then defeated the Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards at home, bringing their win count to 58.
win.
On March 27, the Lakers challenged the Utah Jazz away from home and lost 115:106.
On March 29, the Lakers defeated the Charlotte Hornets 121:110 at home and achieved 59 wins.
Then, on the last day of March, the Lakers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 130:102 in an away game. The number of regular season wins officially reached 60! They secured the first place in the Western Conference record in advance!
At this point, the Lakers only have 5 remaining games, and their opponents are the Thunder, Warriors, Clippers, Jazz and Trail Blazers.
These five teams are all playoff-level teams. Among them, the Jazz, Thunder and Clippers have very close records, and they are still competing fiercely for the playoff rankings.