The Lakers, 26-25, are in 9th place in the West. That record is enough to qualify for the Western Conference play-offs, but playoff prospects are still in doubt. For the Lakers, the playoffs are not the ultimate goal, and their eyes are more focused on the Finals or even the championship trophy. James is 39 years old and has a limited window of time to contend for a title. If he can't win the championship quickly, James' career championship may stop at four. The Lakers are also eager to surpass the Celtics as the team with the most championships in history. For them, the desire for a championship trophy is much more than a normal playoff game.
The championship is not an easy one. Judging by the current form of the Lakers, it will be difficult for them to claim this supreme honor this season. Let's look at the Lakers' performance with some specific stats. Averaged 116 points per game1 point, 14th in the league; Averaged 42 rebounds per game9 boards, 22nd in the league; Averaged 28 assists per game1 time, 8th in the league. In the advanced stats, the offensive efficiency is 1136 (21st in the league) and 114 defensive efficiency7 (14th in the league). The Lakers didn't do well.
In addition to the team's overall poor performance, the players' performance is also worrying. James is averaging 24 per game9 points 74 rebounds 76 assists, while Anthony Davis is averaging 24 per game7 points 122 rebounds and 37 assists. The Lakers are in dire need of a consistent third scorer, and the current performance of Russell and Reaves is not enough to sustain the Lakers' competition in the West. The Lakers had previously considered acquiring Murray in a trade, but it appears to have been rejected due to Russell's resurgence in form. This caused displeasure in James, who expressed his displeasure with the management through social ** and some actions in the game.
Lakers management seemed to be lacking in action, and James' dissatisfaction became more apparent before and after the game. Previous moments and actions before and after the game against the Knicks show James' dissatisfaction with Lakers management. For the Lakers to achieve James' championship aspirations, they need to make adjustments at the team level as a whole and at the player level. The current Lakers' roster configuration looks like it's not going to meet the demands of a championship. At this critical juncture, the Lakers need to act quickly, otherwise James' championship dream may come to naught. Fans, do you think the Lakers will make adjustments before the trade deadline? Welcome to speak freely and work together**!