Not many people are optimistic that the Lakers can defeat the Warriors, and even if there are, they are only a handful. This view is even shared within the Lakers, including the management and coaching staff.
Wang Feng could even see that head coach Luke Walton and general manager Earvin Johnson were all smiling brightly in the days before the start of the Western Conference Finals.
For them, the Lakers' current achievements are enough to prove their ability.
This is the third year of Walton's coaching career. Except for the last season in the league in the 16-17 season, he led the team back to the playoffs and reached the conference semifinals in the second year. This year, it ranked first in the league.
Reached the conference finals.
Not surprisingly, this year's league's best coach award must go to him.
And general manager Earvin Johnson has even less pressure. In the two years he has been general manager, the Lakers' record has been better than in the past ten years!
Of course, although they thought so in their hearts, they did not say these words directly. On the surface, they still wanted to go as far as they could. If they could really overturn the Warriors and reach the finals or even win the championship, wouldn't it be so?
Better ideas continue to inspire Lakers players.
But it can be seen from their tone and demeanor that even if the Lakers lose the game, they won't care much.
Losing to the Golden State Warriors, is this a shame?
Ingram, Kuzma and other young players are easy to deceive. They are all stupid. After some words of encouragement, they are like chicken blood. They scream and scream, and they dare to drag the emperor to death.
The appearance of dismounting.
But the veterans with a little experience in the team were indifferent. They had already judged what they were thinking from the attitude of the head coach and general manager.
Fortunately, this is limited to a few veterans, such as Rondo, Rose, Lopez and McGee.
For them, it's good to win, but it's not worth it to try their best to win an unlikely victory and risk injury. After all, compared to winning, they can extend their careers as much as possible.
Length is their most important thing right now.
In contrast, Wang Feng pays more attention to Jimmy Butler's attitude.
The toughest player in the league obviously has no intention of giving in in advance.
I have been very serious in training these days, and even practiced three-point shooting to be ready for everything.
Seeing Butler like this, Wang Feng was relieved. After all, he was really ready to overthrow the Warriors and win the championship trophy! If the second-in-command of the team has a bad attitude and holds him back, that would be trouble.
…
Before the start of the Western Conference Finals, the selection of the league's best lineup was finally released.
There is no suspense about Wang Feng, and he was also selected as the best first-team defense for the second consecutive year.
The five players on the best team include Wang Feng, who averages 38.6 points, 12.4 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game, Antetokounmpo, who averages 28 points, 12.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists, and Stephen Curry, who averages 27.3 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds per game.
, James Harden averaged 36 points, 6.6 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game, and center Nikola Jokic averaged 20+10.8+7.3 per game.
What Wang Feng squeezed out was Thunder forward Paul George, who originally averaged 28 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4 assists in another time and space.
George, who was pushed out of the first team, was selected to the All-NBA Second Team. He was also selected to the All-NBA Second Team along with Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid, Kyrie Irving, and Damian Lillard.
Kevin Durant, who averaged 26 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game, was therefore squeezed into the All-NBA third team, tied with LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Kemba Walker and Rudy Gobert.
As the year 2020 approaches, the forward position has become increasingly crowded. There are too many strong forward players. In the next few years, strong forwards such as Luka Doncic and Zion Williamson will continue to emerge.
The five players on the All-Defensive First Team are basically new faces.
In addition to Wang Feng and Gobert, Antetokounmpo Antetokounmpo, Bucks guard Eric Blessed and Celtics guard Marcus Smart were all selected to the All-NBA Team for the first time in their careers.
Defend.
The most unlucky person is Paul George. He was supposed to be selected for the All-NBA first-team defense this season. Because of Wang Feng's emergence, both the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams fell down a notch. He could only squeeze in tears.
Draymond Green was removed, and four others, including Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid, Clay Thompson and Jrue Holiday, were selected to the All-Defensive Second Team.
The announcement of the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams aroused heated discussion in the league, but the heat did not last long because the Eastern and Western Conference finals were about to begin.
Over in the East, just like another time and space, the two teams that entered the Eastern Conference Finals were the Toronto Raptors and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Without Jimmy Butler, the 76ers could not create many difficulties for the Menglong in the conference semifinals. The series did not reach a tiebreaker and was resolved within six games, 4:2.
When the Menglong and Bucks teams faced off in the Eastern Conference finals, most fans were more optimistic about the Bucks winning.
Antetokounmpo's dominance this season is really strong, and the Bucks are also the only team in the league to achieve 60+ wins in the regular season.
Perhaps no one would have thought that it was the Menglong who had the last laugh, and the total score of the two teams in the Eastern Conference Finals was 4:2.
This is just like how most people predict that the team that will ultimately win the Western Conference Finals is the Golden State Warriors.
Of course, the situation in the Eastern and Western Conference finals is still a little different.
Although many people in the East are more optimistic about the Bucks, overall it is still a strong matchup.
But here in the West... I'm not looking down on the Lakers. The Warriors' current lineup is a dimensionality-reduction blow against any team in the league.
On May 14th, G1 of the Western Conference Finals series started.
At the Staples Center, home of the Lakers, fans filled the entire arena early, and the noise resounded throughout the venue.
"This moment has finally arrived, and it is also the part I am most looking forward to!"
In the studio, O'Neal smiled and said: "Charles, the Western Conference Finals are here. Just as I thought, the Western Conference Finals is indeed a showdown between the Warriors and the Lakers. Do you still remember the topic we talked about in the first round a month ago?
"
"Of course I remember!" Barkley looked particularly excited. "This month I have thought carefully about how to make you look embarrassed, and now I have thought about it! Whoever loses will have to wear the same clothes for the next week, including the live broadcast of the finals.
Women’s clothing in progress!”
After finally seizing an opportunity for revenge, Barkley took it all in. Before today's live broadcast, Barkley had communicated with TNT's senior management in advance, so he dared to say this directly.
"Okay! Have courage!"
O'Neal gave Barkley a thumbs up, "I'll make this bet with you! I bet the Warriors will win!"