basketball hero

Chapter 324 Mavericks VS Lakers
After the first round of the playoffs is over, the strong teams have entered the next round.But in the Western Conference, the Spurs, ranked No. [-] in the regular season, were "black eight" by the Grizzlies and were eliminated in the first round, breaking the biggest upset so far in the playoffs.The elimination of the Spurs is naturally good news for other strong teams in the West, after all, there is one less competitor to win the championship.But they were shocked at the same time that the Grizzlies' black and white bears were so terrifying that they were able to pull the Spurs down. If their team met them in the first round, even if they could finally pass, they would be stripped of their skin.

For the Mavericks, if they want to enter the Western Conference Finals or the Finals, the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers cannot get around.The strength of the Lakers is naturally not much to say, the main members of the two consecutive championships are there, and Kobe Bryant is still the best 2 player in the league. Such a team is quite terrifying in the playoffs.Whether it is superstar, experience or strength, they have it all.It is really difficult to beat such a team.

Before the start of this round of the series, in related predictions, as many as 80% of people believed that the Lakers would win and the battle would end within 6 games at most.The Lakers have won two consecutive championships. With the same lineup structure, they still have the ability to win the championship.Compared with them, the Mavericks have no advantage on paper.

Whether it is the strength of superstars, the number of stars, or the level of coaches, the Mavericks can't take advantage.Not to mention the Lakers still have home court advantage.

The one-sided predictions before the game also stimulated the Mavericks. Everyone was unwilling to be underestimated, even though on paper, their side was indeed at a disadvantage.

Ying Xiong is very happy to be able to meet the powerful Lakers and the great Kobe Bryant in his first trip to the second round of the playoffs.He is lucky to be able to play against the best 2 player in the league in this game.He knew that he couldn't completely guard against Kobe, but he would definitely do his best to limit him and help the team win the game.

Both Kobe and Nowitzki are 32 years old, but they are still in excellent condition. Since the start of the playoffs, they have been the absolute core of their respective teams.

Comparing the players of the two teams, it can be found that the lineups of the two teams are somewhat similar.As for centers, Andrew Bynum of the Lakers and Tyson Chandler of the Mavericks are both big men over 213cm tall. The former is good at attacking and the latter is good at defending. In terms of forwards, the power forwards of the two teams are all European players. Gasol of the Lakers is from Spain, and Nowitzki of the Mavericks is from Germany. Both are excellent offensive big men. In comparison, Gasol The inside offense of the team is better, and Nowitzki's attack range is wider; as for small forwards, Ci Shiping of the Lakers and Marion of the Mavericks are both defensive strikers. Both are rookies in 99. Ci Shiping is The 16th pick in the first round, while Marion was the 9th pick in the first round; as a shooting guard, Kobe of the Lakers is currently the best No. 2 in the league, even in the entire NBA history, it may be second only to Jordan As the No. 2 person of the Mavericks, Ying Xiong of the Mavericks is a third-year rookie. The two are not in the same era, nor are they at the same level; Kidd, a 3-year-old and a 36-year-old, are both older point guards. Fisher is more 37D, while Kidd is more organized; both teams have a "Super 3" on the bench, and the Lakers Odom on the team's side, and Terry on the Mavericks' side.

Comparing the lineups of the two teams, it is obvious that the Mavericks are at a disadvantage.If the Mavericks want to win, first of all, the core Nowitzki cannot be "exchanged" by the opponent's Gasol; Win the Lakers' 3nd team.If at least two of the above three points are achieved, the Mavericks will have a chance to win.

Although the two teams have been strong teams in the Western Conference as a whole in the past ten years, they are far apart when comparing the history of the teams.The number of championships the Lakers have won is second only to the Celtics, and the Mavericks have never won a championship in team history.

For the Mavericks, it seems that in all aspects, the probability of winning this series is not as good as that of the rival Lakers.But in competitive sports, everything is possible. The strength gap between the two teams is not that big. It is not that they have no chance at all.

Although the two teams have been frequent visitors to the playoffs in the past 10 years, they have never met. This matchup is the first time the two teams have faced each other in the playoffs in 23 years.Back then, when the Mavericks held high the banner of offense under the leadership of Nowitzki and Nash and the Lakers "OK combination" swept the world, the two teams failed to meet in the playoffs.The two teams have played against each other 3 times in the regular season this season, and the Lakers have won 2 of them.

Of course, the record in the regular season does not have much reference value. As we all know, the main core players of the two teams are all veterans, and it is impossible to play with all their strength in the regular season.

At 5:3 on May 10, another set of contests in the Western Conference semifinals will be held between the defending champion Lakers and the Mavericks.Since the Lakers ranked second in the Western Conference during the regular season and the Mavericks ranked third, the Lakers have home court advantage. The first matchup between the two teams will be at the Lakers' home stadium, the Staples Center.

Los Angeles is located in Hollywood, the most famous city in the entertainment industry in the United States, and the most prosperous metropolis on the West Coast.Before the game started, the Staples Arena was already full of seats.There are many people who come here to watch the game, those who sit in the front row are either rich or expensive.There are often some big directors, movie superstars and pop music stars come to watch the game, which makes people fully aware of the unusualness of big cities.

The fans in the stands at the Staples Center are full of enthusiasm, and they will share the next feast of the basketball world.There are quite a few black-haired and yellow-skinned East Asians among the fans, and most of them are here for one person, who is not in the home team, but in the visiting team.

—— Ying Xiong is that person.

This is not the first time Ying Xiong has played at the Staples Center, but it is the first time in the playoffs.The fans here are very enthusiastic, and there are many familiar faces, some are stars, and some NBA players and retired stars.

"Star-studded" is the best way to describe the Staples Center.

Ying Xiong rarely sees fans wearing his No. 25 jersey away from home, but he often sees them at the Staples Center.It is undeniable that in Los Angeles, the number of Asian fans is very large.

(End of this chapter)