By the way, Russell was also injured in the game against the Menglong, which means that including Nick Young in front, the Lakers bench directly injured two players who could contribute to the team.
Russell averaged 12.3 points and 4.5 assists per game this season. He is the core of the bench, offensive initiator and organizer. On the bench, Russell plays the role of the main Li Hao.
However, the technical characteristics of the two are completely different, so the tactical play will be very different, but no matter what, the points and assists per game are there.
Without Russell, the threat of the Lakers' bench lineup will inevitably be greatly reduced. This is also directly reflected in the subsequent games. After the game with the Menglong, the Lakers immediately flew to Memphis, and then the Lakers suffered two consecutive losses in Memphis.
Although the Grizzlies were not well-organized and neither Randolph nor Conley made the roster, the Lakers still lost.
There is no way, the Lakers are not only short of major generals, Wade, Russell, Nick Young, and other players who can play are not in good condition.
In fact, this is understandable. Playing four games in five days is too intense, and the Lakers themselves have many young players. Ingram and Zubac only entered the league this year.
It is normal for the state to fluctuate, but not everyone is like this. For example, Li Hao was as stable as ever in this game, scoring 36 points, but this 36 did not help the Lakers win the game.
Fortunately, after the game against the Grizzlies, the Lakers can return to Los Angeles and have a day of rest.
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Two consecutive losses have not had a big impact on the Lakers' morale, so when they return to Los Angeles, they should take a vacation and go out for fun.
Li Hao, who returned to Los Angeles, took advantage of the holiday to go to the hospital. Vanessa's due date was within these two days. When Vanessa was admitted to the hospital, Li Hao received a call from Kobe.
So taking advantage of just having time today, Li Hao went to see Vanessa.
After arriving, it was Kobe who picked up Li Hao. Compared with Vanessa, who was giving birth for the third time, Kobe, who was accompanying Vanessa for the entire delivery for the first time, was more nervous.
Li Hao didn't stay in the hospital for long. He left shortly after meeting Vanessa, and Li Hao went home directly after leaving the hospital.
Next, Li Hao went to a Chinese restaurant for dinner. Other than that, he stayed at home. After such a relaxing day, the team gathered again.
The Lakers, who have had a day off, will welcome the well-staffed Jazz at home. Due to recent injuries, everyone was not optimistic about the Jazz before the game. After all, they lost the last game against the remnant Grizzlies.
However, the outcome of sports competitions is so easy to guess. Facing the Jazz lineup, the Lakers, who were in a weak lineup, dominated their opponents from the beginning of the game.
Facing the former No. 5 pick in the same class, Li Hao directly pressed him against him. In the game, Li Hao made 14 of 22 shots, 5 of 9 three-pointers, 7 of 7 free throws, and scored 40 points. helped the team defeat the Jazz.
Exum has talent, but it's a pity that when he met the Jazz, coupled with his own injuries, Exum was idle for the whole season last season.
Among the 2014 rookies, Exum's time lying down was second only to Embiid, but this can also be seen from this, the emperor's terrifying talent.
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Back on the winning track?
No, the Lakers did not have a winning streak like before. They basically won one game and lost one. Two days after the game against the Jazz, the Lakers visited the Aerospace City.
This time the Lakers did not take away another victory. The Rockets led by Harden were in full bloom in this game. Seven players scored in double figures, and Harden even had a 30+ triple-double performance.
It was precisely with Harden's connection that the Rockets launched a mercury-dropping offensive.
However, the Lakers did not play badly in this game. Although they were suppressed by the Rockets in the front, they almost won the game at the last moment with Li Hao's divine performance.
Harden scored 31 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds. Li Hao performed no worse than Harden, scoring 38 points, 10 assists, and 12 rebounds.
Especially at the last moment, Li Hao made three of three three-pointers, chasing the score to only 1 point. Then Harden made one of two free throws, and the Lakers had a chance to take the lead.
And Li Hao did not disappoint his teammates and fans. He hit a buzzer beater. No, more accurately, it was a quasi buzzer beater. When Li Hao hit the final three-pointer, there was 1 second left in the game.
The Rockets had one last chance. If they didn't score, Li Hao made a buzzer-beater and the Lakers went ahead by one point. But if they scored, it was all in vain.
Precisely because they knew this, the Lakers were very focused on defense in the last two seconds, and Li Hao followed Harden closely, but the Rockets coach feinted a shot, and the final shot was not given to Harden.
In fact, the Rockets also know that the last shot will definitely prevent Harden, so Harden is just a bait, and someone else will actually make the last shot.
Eric Gordon, the Rockets' second-leading player in the game behind Harden, scored the Rockets' second-highest 23 points before making the final shot.
When Eric Gordon hit the last buzzer beater, Ingram had done everything he could, but the buzzer beater depends not only on strength, but also on luck.
Today, lady luck is obviously not on the Lakers' side, because Gordon's last shot, let alone another chance, may not be possible if given a few more times.
But this time Gordon scored. This is sports competition and basketball.
131:133
The mercury-like offense is really no joke. Both sides performed extremely well in this game, except Howard.
This was Howard's first game after leaving the Rockets. Before the game, Warcraft was sharpening his skills. However, the game did not develop according to Howard's plot. Not long after the start, Howard fell into the Rockets' foul trap.
The relationship between Howard and Harden in the Rockets is not good, and in terms of the choice between Harden and Howard, the results have said everything. It is precisely because of this experience in the Rockets that Howard understands and understands Kobe.
Li Hao deserves credit for the reconciliation between Kobe and Howard, but the real hero is Harden.
So facing the Rockets and Harden this time, Howard was determined to win, but the fact is that Howard played 8 minutes in the entire first half. Howard restrained himself in the second half, but it was of no use.
Howard played 20 minutes in this game, scored 10 points, 10 rebounds, and committed 6 fouls.
Yes, Howard committed six fouls in this and that game. This is also the reason why Li Hao scored a triple-double again.
In the past, part of the reason for double figures in rebounds was that the Lakers' inside line was weak, and Li Hao had to rush inside to grab rebounds, but it is different now. The Lakers have Howard under the basket.
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"We will definitely win next time." Li Hao did not forget to comfort Howard and Ingram when he returned to the locker room.
Ingram fell into deep self-blame for Gordon's buzzer-beater.
