The Spurs were swept 4-0 by the Lakers, and their fig leaf was torn off at their home court!
Before the series showdown between the two teams, no one could have imagined that such a situation would arise.
Many experts and the media once thought that the experienced Spurs would teach the seemingly immature Lakers a lesson, but the result was that the Spurs were counter-educated.
In the locker room, Popovich looked at the TV with a tired look. The score difference was too big, which caused his own mentality to be unbalanced. The result of competing with the referee was that he lost all face.
The current Lakers are incomprehensible to Popovich. He doesn't know how the Spurs will build a team to defeat such an opponent in the future.
The Lakers' new style of play gave him a headache. For the first time, Popovich had the idea that he couldn't keep up with the times.
After shooting so many three-pointers, the distance is still so far.
...........
On the sidelines, Zhao Chen also politely approached Ginobili, Parker, Duncan and others for high-fives and hugs.
"You have always been my idol, Tim." Zhao Chen said after hugging Duncan.
What Zhao Chen respects is Duncan's career.
Duncan has stayed with the Spurs since he entered the league and has always been consistent. No matter what difficulties the Spurs go through, he stands behind and supports the Spurs.
Duncan rarely participates in business activities and is more dedicated to basketball than many superstars.
This kind of will and persistence are rare.
"Get out!" Duncan cursed with a smile and pushed Zhao Chen away.
Despite losing in the playoffs, Duncan didn't show too much concern.
For him, he has no shortage of regrets.
After Zhao Chen said goodbye to Duncan, he waved to the Lakers fans who came from afar, and then walked towards the locker room.
The first round of the playoffs is over!
"The Lakers won because Zhao Chen's destructive power in the playoffs was so powerful."
"The Spurs have not found a way to limit Zhao Chen in four games."
"When Zhao Chen wants to score, he can score, which is devastating to the Spurs' defensive system."
"The fourth game was the epitome of the Spurs team being psychologically beaten to the point of collapse by Zhao Chen."
"Yes, the Spurs tried to fight the Lakers in the first three games, but every time the Lakers won the final victory. In the fourth game, they gave up without even a last-ditch struggle. Zhao Chen and the Lakers were beaten until they couldn't breathe."
Fans who watched the first three games know clearly that it's not that the Spurs didn't think of a way, but that they tried all kinds of ways to no avail. The Lakers' offense led by Zhao Chen defeated the Spurs' defense like a torrent.
The Spurs' offense lacked talent, and their offensive talent simply couldn't break through the Lakers' defense.
The Spurs have a lot of mid-range shots, but in this series, every time they miss a mid-range shot, the Spurs face a crazy counterattack.
Zhao Chen's four-game statistics are not much different from those in the regular season, but his dominance is even better than in the regular season.
Zhao Chen's scoring time is more focused on critical moments, which is even more fatal for the Spurs.
Barkley and Smith were also disappointed when summarizing this series.
The Spurs' lineup looks like a strong team, but they are vulnerable to the current Lakers.
The Lakers' lineup depth looks scarier than they expected.
...........
at the post-match press conference.
The reporter asked Zhao Chen about the difference between this series and the regular season.
Zhao Chen said: "There is not much difference. For me, it is just a game."
The reporter continued to ask: "In the next round, do you prefer to play against the Clippers or the Thunder?"
The Lakers' next-round opponents will come from these two teams.
Zhao Chen said: "It doesn't matter who the opponent is, we will defeat them anyway."
The Clippers and Thunder are now tied 3-1, with the Clippers leading.
It's not that the Thunder are weak, but that Thunder's Westbrook is injured.
In the early and middle stages of the regular season, Brooks used Westbrook excessively, which led to Westbrook's frequent injuries in the later stages. Westbrook played injured in the first game of the playoffs, and ended up leaving the game midway...
Although countless Thunder fans are saying that if Zhao Chen was here, the Thunder would not be in this situation.
But for Zhao Chen, Thunder's matter is none of his business anymore.
Zhao Chen now belongs to the Lakers. Zhao Chen will not stay in the past forever. He pursues his own future.
The reporter asked: "The Spurs lost by 53 points, which was their largest loss at home. Do you have anything to say to them?"
Zhao Chen shook his head and said: "No."
Zhao Chen often makes such confident remarks when facing reporters.
The Spurs are a past opponent for Zhao Chen, and he will not make remarks that disdain his opponents.
The reporter asked: "The regular season MVP will be announced tomorrow. Do you think you will be elected?"
Zhao Chen said confidently: "Whether I am elected or not, I will prove that I am the best basketball player on the planet."
............
"The Lakers sweep the Spurs and advance to the second round!" 》
"Destroying the odds and showing no mercy, the Lakers take revenge on the Spurs!" 》
"Who says the Lakers are not a championship-level team? 》
"The Lakers became the first team to advance to the second round. 》
"Is the next round a city matchup? The Clippers have the advantage over the Thunder. 》
"Zhao Chen is awesome!!"
"Zhao Chen's leadership ability is second to none."
"Every game is very stable and there are no surprises."
"Sweep the Spurs, 6666"
"Watching the Lakers games is so exciting. It brings back the passion I had when watching the Rockets."
"Zhao Chen's dominance is even more impressive than in the regular season."
"Last year, I saw Zhao Chen was immature and impulsive when handling the ball. In this year's playoffs, Zhao Chen can only say one word, stable!"
"Congratulations to the Lakers for finishing the first round!!"
"Go for it, Lakers championship."
"As a San Antonio player, I saw in this series that the tactical system and the strength of the stars are overwhelming. GDP is getting old. The Spurs need to rethink the direction of team building. Popovich's approach is a bit outdated."
Domestic fans have left messages and comments on Hupu and Live Broadcast.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Lakers basically did not experience much challenge, and the Spurs lost cleanly.
.....................
"Zhao Chen showed his MVP ability in the first round. If I had the right to vote, I would vote for Zhao Chen!"
"The value of the Lakers' rookies and new players has soared, and the Lakers may trade them to strengthen them in the summer."
"The fact that the Lakers passed the first round does not mean success. The playoffs are still very long, and the Lakers cannot be careless yet."
"The regular season MVP candidates will be announced tomorrow, and Zhao Chen has a high probability of being elected!"
On the plane back to Los Angeles, all the news about the Lakers was spreading overwhelmingly.
The playoffs will focus the media's attention even more on these playoff teams, and everything will be magnified.
After returning to Los Angeles, Scott announced a two-day holiday. Regardless of whether the Clippers or Thunder advance next, the Lakers still have at least four days to adjust.
Zhao Chen also returned home, preparing to wait for the announcement of the MVP award the next day!
