In addition to the Christmas game, which presents fans with a gunpowder flavor and full of topical topics, the "training" of each team against the imaginary opponent of the playoffs also has important reference value for the team.
In the answer sheet of "testing the quality of the championship", the 2 teams in the West that aim to hit the championship 2023 post sprint game are not performing well: the Lakers' tactics were easily broken by the Celtics, and the Suns, first rumored that Durant was frustrated with the current situation of the Suns, and in the face of Luka Doncic's personal attack, he was bombarded with 50 points on Christmas night and ranked 11th in the West.
Kevin Durant and LeBron James, from the league's big and small kings to veteran leaders, are facing new troubles in the closing chapter of their careers.
Los Angeles Lakers: Trade, don't do it.
The problem with the Los Angeles Lakers now is that they are not sure about playing high-end games.
Through the midseason championship and the losing streak after winning the championship, thick eyebrows are undoubtedly the basic plate of the Lakers at this stage. With a healthy situation, the team can still make it all the way with Davis. But once Davis played well and the Lakers struggled to win, the Lakers were helpless.
This game is a classic case: the Celtics' defense couldn't stop Davis, and the thick eyebrows played 38 minutes, with 40 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists. The Lakers couldn't ask him to do better.
The protection of rebounds has now become the biggest problem for the Lakers. In the Christmas game, they grabbed nine fewer rebounds than their opponents in the second half. The Lakers have played so far, and their tactics and advantages have been clear. Davis, who couldn't stop it, grabbed the rebound, and led the tall wings of the Lakers to start a defensive counterattack with the power of James' tank impact.
In the finals of the midseason tournament, they used this impact to crush the Pacers.
But when the Lakers' rebounds were lost and there was no second-strongest point on the inside other than Davis, they couldn't stop the Celtics' multi-point offense, and the "big unicorn" Porzingis also had an excellent performance in this game. With a performance of 28 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks, the Celtics, who blossomed in multiple points, played a Optimus Prime-level performance.
Phoenix Suns: A deal, the sun is not far away.
With the Phoenix Suns, they could be in even more trouble. Because judging by strength, the Dallas Mavericks are not a first-tier team in terms of strength, even so, in the face of Irving's absence and the Mavericks, who lack a core of two cores, the result is completely unstoppable and swallows another defeat.
After Beal's trade, the Suns have been stuck in a quagmire of a poor roster since the beginning of the season.
In the first 30 games of the 2023-24 season, Beal played just six games for the Suns, averaging 25 games per game7 minutes to get 147 points 32 assists, which reminds people of him and John Wall, another former teammate of the Wizards, who also fell from the former No. 1 guard in the East because of injury problems.
In order to build a super offensive triumvirate, the Suns are willing to spend heavily in the offseason. Trading Paul, Dunbao, and the Wizards' "one man, one city" Beal is all a "crazy plan" of the new Suns owner Matt Ishbia.
But now, because of Beal's injury, the plan is in danger of going bankrupt early.
What's more, the Suns' offensive thinking is completely "unproven". Like the crazy offense once led by Nash, this Suns team completely ignored the defense, and in the last 11 days, they have been hit by Jalen Brunson and Doncic twice for 50-point performances.
And mentality is an important factor that affects Durant's state.
In the last 12 games, the Phoenix Suns have only won 3 games, and the ranking has dropped to 11th place in the West. Durant played 42 minutes in the Christmas game, only hitting 4-of-11 shooting, 16 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists, and 6 turnovers even exceeded his goal tally.
Obviously, it's time for the Suns to reflect, starting with Booker and Durant. If they can't turn their mindset around, what awaits the Suns could be a sun-scorching end.