On February 4, Beijing time, the Lakers defeated the Eastern powerhouse Knicks 113-105 away, ending the latter's nine-game winning streak. Reaves once again performed well, contributing 22 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists, including 14 points in the final quarter, and became the hero of the Lakers' victory. James had 24 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 1 block. He had a poor hand and only scored 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting, but he was excellent on the defensive end, contributing 18 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal and 4 blocks. Laker Vanderbilt has suffered a serious foot injury that could be out for the season, casting a shadow over the team's prospects. However, in this game, the team was all soldiers, and the team scored 6 points and double-doubles, defeating the Knicks, who are firmly in the top four in the West. Reaves had a strong resurgence in form, finishing with 28 points and six assists in a Jan. 31 loss to the Hawks and 32 points on 7-of-10 three-pointers in a Feb. 2 win over the Celtics. Reaves scored more points alone than Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined (31 points). In this game, Reaves hugged and greeted Knicks defensive stalwart Hart before the game, and the two represented the U.S. men's basketball team together in the men's basketball World Cup last offseason.
In the first three quarters of this game, Reaves played mediocre and scored only 8 points. The Lakers trailed by six points 80-86 heading into the final quarter. The Lakers rebounded strongly in the final quarter, with Reaves assisting James for a layup. James assists Prince on a three-pointer. James basketed up Delfino and Reaves scored on a layup. The Lakers started the final quarter with a 9-0 run to overtake the Knicks in one fell swoop. Knicks Hart and Brunson scored, and Reaves responded with a three-pointer and a mid-range shot. Reaves hit another three-pointer with 3:11 left in the final quarter to give the Lakers a seven-point lead at 103-96. In the final moments, the Knicks fouled and Reaves scored four free throws. Reaves' 14 points in the final quarter was too crucial, while the Knicks scored 19 points in the final quarter. Reeves, who was efficient on offense and liked to play crunch time, is back. In last season's playoffs, Reaves repeatedly made contributions in key moments, and he was more of the Lakers' third star than Russell. At a time when Russell was in a slump, Reaves stepped up as the third-best player on the Lakers team in the playoffs last season.
It is precisely because of his heroic performance in the playoffs that Reaves had an excellent market last summer, and was once thought to be able to get a big contract of 80 million to 100 million US dollars. However, the Lakers said they would match any team that offered Reaves a contract, scaring off other teams. The Lakers eventually signed Reaves to a four-year, $56 million extension. Reaves has performed well in the Men's Basketball World Cup and is an important rotation player in Kerr's hands. However, Reeves has endured a slump this season, with his form up and down. Thankfully, Reeves has seen a strong resurgence recently. According to coach Darvin Ham, his talk to Reeves made a difference. The Lakers showed great defensive prowess against the Knicks, limiting the Knicks' scoring in the final quarter and allowing their opponents to score just 19 points. In this game, the Lakers' defense played well, especially in key moments, and they were even more outstanding. Steals and steals became key factors for the Lakers to win. The Knicks didn't score a point for more than six minutes, and that was the key to the Lakers' eventual comeback.
It's worth mentioning that the Lakers have an excellent record this season against opponents who score 105 points or less, and they have a 10-1 record in such games. It also proves once again the importance of defense in the Lakers' victory. Head coach Darvin Ham has focused on defensive training over the past few days, which has been the key to the Lakers' victory. Defense has always been considered an important part of the game of basketball, not only limiting the opponent's scoring, but also creating more offensive opportunities for your team. As the expert says, "Offense wins the game, but defense wins the championship." "The Lakers, through their strong defensive prowess, not only limit the opponent's scoring, but also provide more opportunities for their own offense. And in this game against the Knicks, the defensive strength of the Lakers has been verified again. They limited their opponents' scoring in a team style and put a lot of pressure on the Knicks. Especially in the final quarter, the Lakers' defense reached its peak, so that the Knicks could never find a way to break the Lakers' defense. In addition to their strong defensive prowess, the Lakers also excelled in steals and boards.
By making frequent steals and scrambling for rebounds, they effectively weakened their opponents' offensive capabilities and provided more opportunities for their own offense. Especially in the critical moments of the game, the Lakers' steals and steals became the key factors in their reversal of the game. Lakers head coach Darvin Darvin Ham's emphasis on defense is evident. He has focused on training defensively over the past few days, hoping to get more wins by improving his defensive strength. And this game against the Knicks is a reflection of the results of their training. The Lakers have done an excellent job of limiting their opponents' scores, while also showing good teamwork and chemistry. Defensive improvement is not only achieved through training, but also requires tacit understanding and teamwork between players. The Lakers have done an excellent job of this, effectively limiting their opponents' scoring by cooperating and communicating with each other, creating more opportunities for their own offense. To sum up, the Lakers showed strong defensive strength against the Knicks, and they managed to turn the tide of the game by limiting their opponents' ability to score, steal and steal.
This game once again proved the importance of defense in the game of basketball and also showed how good the Lakers team is on defense. Through defence-focused training and teamwork, the Lakers won the game. Defense is not only a technique, but also a belief and attitude, and only through team efforts and tacit understanding can we achieve more victories.