Chapter 237: Only Theoretical Possibilities
On March 2, the official announcement of the Eastern and Western Player of the Month for February was announced, with the Cavaliers' LeBron James and the Warriors' Stephen Curry being selected respectively. Pen, fun, and www.biquge.info
James led the East with 248 points per game in February and tied for second in the East with 73 assists, and the Cavaliers had an 8-5 record in February, with an 8-4 record when James played.
In addition, James is averaging 74 rebounds and 17 steals per game while shooting 496 from the field.
Only James and Russell Westbrook in the league were able to average 2,077 per game in February.
In the past month, James has posted four double-doubles and contributed his first triple-double of the season in a big win over the Kings, with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
In February, the Warriors had a 9-1 record, and Curry was at the top of the league with 367 points per game. Curry's explosive performance allowed him to surpass Yi Feng's average of 32 points per game in February for the first time in scoring. Although there is still a gap between him and Yi Feng in the total scoring list this season, it can be regarded as a turnaround last month.
In addition, Curry is alongside 73 assists and 56 rebounds per game, and in the last month, he had two 50-point shows in a single game, shooting from the field and shooting from three-point range.
In the battle with the Thunder, Curry was even more shocking, he not only equaled the league's record of 12 three-pointers in a single game, but also killed the Thunder with a long-range three-pointer just over halftime! I don't know how many fans who were watching the live broadcast of the game at that time were scared by this lore.
Curry also became the first player in league history to make 10 three-pointers in two consecutive games.
In February, Curry broke his own league-high single-season record for 3-pointers made to 288 and improved his streak to 129 games.
In addition, the nominees are: Isaiah Thomas Celtics, Brooke Lopez Nets, Kemba Walker Hornets, Yifeng Lakers, Chandler, Parsons Mavericks, James Harden, Rockets, Chris Paul, Clippers, Anthony Davis, Pelicans, Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers, Kawhi Leonard, Spurs, Kyle Lowry, Raptors and John Walwizards.
At the same time, the official also announced the best rookie in the East and West in February, the Pacers' Myle Turner and the Los Angeles Lakers' Yi Feng were selected respectively.
Turner is the first Rookie of the Month award, after Kristaps Porzingis, who won the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for three consecutive months, did not win the award again.
In this month's game, Turner averaged the third-highest rebounds in the East among rookies. At the same time, he also has a whopping 51 shooting percentage, which ranks second among all Eastern Conference rookies.
In mid-February, Turner had two double-doubles and scored in double figures in nine straight games. He scored 16 points and grabbed a career-high six blocks against the Thunder on Feb. 19, and the Pacers won with his excellent play.
Yi Feng has been the most Western Rookie of the Month for four months in a row, and although he shared the honor with the Timberwolves' Karl Anthony Towns last time, anyone with a discerning eye knows that it was the league's consolation prize for Towns.
This month, Yi Feng scored 32 points, 61 assists and 133 steals, which topped all rookies. His stats are the best among the players nominated for Player of the Month, and the Rookie of the Month award is certainly handy.
He also ranked fourth among all rookies with 64 rebounds, ahead of Towns with 112, Porzingis with 83 and Turner with 66. As a guard, it's not easy to compete with interior players in rebounding statistics.
At the same time, the best coach of the East and West for February was also revealed. Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens and Portland Trail Blazers coach Tristotts were each elected.
Stevens led the Celtics to a 9-3 record last month that they had the best record in the East, including six wins at home. The Green Shirts have defeated the Cavaliers and the Heat, two strong opponents in the East, and in these 12 games, the Celtics have scored more than 100 points in 10 games, setting a record for the highest single-game scoring average in the East that month with 1,108 points.
Stotts led the Trail Blazers to a 9-2 record in February, and in their nine games, the Grizzlies, Warriors, Bulls and Pacers have been among the best players. The Trail Blazers averaged 1,106 points per game that month, ranking fourth in the league and second in the league with an average win of 8 points per game. The Trail Blazers won eight of the team's last nine games in February.
Currently, they are tied with the Memphis Grizzlies for sixth place in the West. The Trail Blazers are so strong that the Lakers feel a chill in their backs, and they feel more and more that their fifth position is not guaranteed.
Also nominated for February's best coach of the month are: Charlotte Hornets coach Steve Clifford, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, San Antonio Spurs coach Greg Vic, and Toronto Raptors coach Dwayne Casey.
After the Lakers played on the road in Denver, they had an extremely comfortable period of play. In the next more than half a month, the Lakers will have 8 consecutive home games! After the devilish eight-game away game in December last year, they finally ushered in the compensatory eight-game home game!
On March 4, the Lakers welcomed the Atlanta Hawks.
Coincidentally, the Lakers' first meeting with the Hawks this season was during their terrifying eight-game road streak. That time the Lakers lost unsurprisingly. And back at home against the Hawks again, the Lakers seized this opportunity for revenge.
The Hawks have been called the Spurs of the East by many because their coach of the year last season, Mike Budenholzer, studied under Vic, and the team's tactical system and even team culture are quite similar to the Spurs.
The Eagles advocate a disciplined and holistic style of play, there are no big names in the team, and the score is very average at the end of a game. The advantage of this is that you can win against weak teams consistently, but when you play against strong teams, there is always a lack of players who can execute key balls at key moments. The Eagles, who do not have the ability to strike a fatal blow, do not have a high win rate against strong teams.
Coming to Los Angeles tonight, the Hawks also had six double-doubles in a game, and their team basketball was played, but no one could score hard and effectively in the last minutes of the game, and finally had to lose to the Lakers.
In his post-match press conference, Mike Budenholzer repeatedly mentioned Yi Feng's performance on the court. Every time I mention it, I always praise it. You can see his desire for star players.
Although he studied under Vicky and inherited the team-first basketball philosophy, even the Spurs have no shortage of star players such as the combination and the current Shuangde combination. To have a team, to have a star, to have a star, so that you can be invincible.
The reason the Hawks are the Spurs is because they don't have that star player who can make a final decision. The team foundation is there, but there is no way to get a star player who can sublimate the team as a whole.
On March 6, the Lakers host the Golden State Warriors.
This season's Warriors is a team that has scared many teams. They currently have a 55-5 record and have played 60 games and only lost five, which is an exaggeration!
He is seen as the strongest challenger to the Bulls' record for the best regular season record set by the Bulls in 199596. Because of the Bulls' 72-10 record that season, the winning rate is only 878, and the current Warriors' winning rate is as high as 917!
Although it becomes more difficult to maintain a win rate as you get to the end of the season, it is not a problem with the Warriors' experience of winning multiple comebacks!
For tonight's game, people think it's a game for the Warriors to pull off a win. Although the Lakers have risen rapidly this season, they are only fifth in the West, which is not too strong for the league's first place.
And the Warriors themselves don't see it that way, they are such a Lakers team, but they are a thorn in the heart of the Warriors who swept the league this season, and a stain on their glorious resume!
Because in the last three meetings with the Lakers, the Warriors have only won one of them! The 1-2 record makes them really not take it lightly.
As the only team to have lost twice this season and have suffered a losing streak because of it, the Warriors will be in the best shape to take on the enemy!
At the beginning of the game, the Warriors, who were more serious about the game, took the initiative on the court and dominated the game. They still had a four-point lead at the end of the first quarter, but then the Lakers relied on sharp offense to quickly pick up, while the Warriors' offense suddenly went silent. The long-term scoring drought allowed the Lakers to widen the gap in one fell swoop.
The Warriors were anxious to close the gap, but the weather didn't work out, the Warriors still felt cold, and they also made many mistakes due to their unbalanced mentality. In doing so, it gives the Lakers the opportunity to continue to extend their lead.
After that, the Warriors' hand still couldn't recover, while the Lakers continued to maintain their offensive feel. In the last minutes of the game, the Lakers still had a huge advantage of more than 20 points, and Steve Kerr had no choice but to replace the main players and surrender.
In the end, the Warriors lost to the Lakers again by 101118, further achieving the prestige of the Lakers Warriors killer.
Although the Lakers scored double-doubles with 7 players, and Yi Feng was close to those 30 big triple-doubles, the biggest problem for the Lakers to win this game was the Warriors themselves.
Curry shot 6-of-20 from the field, 1-of-10 from three-point range, and finished with just 18 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and a glaring 5 turnovers!
Klay Thompson made 7 of 20 shots and 8 three-pointers for 15 points!
Draymond Green was the least out of shape, shooting 2-of-7 from the field, not to mention, although he had 9 assists, he had 8 turnovers! 9 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists and 8 turnovers, almost made up a quadruple-double!
It stands to reason that the Warriors' last game was at home to the Thunder on March 3, and they 121106 won the game comfortably on that night, and they can't afford to get lost in Los Angeles tonight, three days later.
With such a big score defeat, the Warriors lost all face.
Playing like this, still want to break the record?
At this level, you still want to defend the championship?
For a while, the overwhelming criticism poured towards them.
However, whether the Warriors are doing well or not, the Lakers don't care. Although this is all due to the Lakers, they should pay a price for their beauty this season for so long.
March 8, International Women's Day. This festival has nothing to do with the big guys.
The Lakers, who are enjoying a five-game winning streak, welcome the Orlando Magic at home. The Lakers are playing at home, but the Magic aren't so comfortable. They only played 300 rounds on the Warriors' home court yesterday, and today they are coming to Los Angeles to continue to challenge strong opponents!
Away back-to-back or something, the most tormenting!
The Magic, who are 26-37 so far this season, have a winning percentage of only 413, ranking 11th in the East. As the clock ticked down and the season drew nearer, their playoff hopes were slimmer. Based on the current level of competition for a playoff spot in the East, it is unlikely that 45 wins will make the playoffs.
45 wins, for the Wizards in front of the Magic, is quite difficult. The Wizards currently have a 30-32 record and a 483-win percentage. To reach 45 wins, in the last 20 games, you have to win 15 out of 20 games!
And 45 wins for the Magic means winning all 19 games of the season!
This kind of possibility, which only exists in theory, has too little chance of being realized. As a result, the Magic's players have looked away, and their attitude towards the late season has shifted to being the number one game. After all, what matters to one's own interests is the most important thing.
In this game, Kobe Bryant was suspended, and Nick Young took the starting No. 3 position.
At the beginning of the game, the game was unexpectedly anxious.
The Lakers sat on the home court and quickly got into the game, but the Magic knew that they had no hope of making the playoffs, and they played very openly, and they felt comfortable doing all kinds of technical moves.
Victor Oladipo faced Yi Feng, but also shot confidently, and the shooting rate was still very high, and Aaron Gordon also showed a physical fitness, after teammate Elfrid Payton made a successful steal, he followed the fast break, Payton threw the ball high, he jumped up, and came to a two-handed small windmill dunk.
However, after a period of tug-of-war, the Lakers' stronger strength is slowly revealed.
Better tactical execution after a timeout, fewer turnovers when teammates work with each other, and better protection for rebounds in the backcourt.
Of course, the most important thing is that the Lakers have super capable stars who can bring a wave of rhythm!
Yi Feng scored 11 points in a row in the second half of the third quarter and scored 18 points in the whole quarter, leading the team to a 21-point lead over the opponent after the end of the third quarter!
Those 21 points were enough to splurge the Lakers bench for several minutes. In the fourth quarter, the Lakers benches were also competitive, directly letting the main players clock out in advance.
In the end, the Magic lost the game by 101113.
Although Oladipo had 27 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, it was difficult to win. The young people on the Lakers' side performed very well, with six players scoring double-doubles, Yi Feng got 35 points, 6 assists, 7 rebounds and 3 steals, Clarkson got 24 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, and Randle got 23 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks. To be continued.