Chapter 1740 The Final Battle, This Is the Power of a Leader

With 69 wins and 12 losses, the Lakers once again had a record of 3 wins and 3 losses in the last 6 games. This not only caused them to lose the opportunity to hit the record they set two years ago, but also brought them to a crossroads of destiny. mouth.

Since the Lakers exchanged Gasol and Ji Feng in the 2007-2008 season to form this Galaxy battleship, the Lakers have achieved a record of more than 70 wins for three consecutive seasons, and in the 2008-2009 season, they won an incredible 75 games. The entire season was completed with 7 losses, and by the way, the best regular season record in history was included. While the Bulls won 72 games, the three extra wins also pushed this record to an incredible height.

This is not the end yet. One season later, the Lakers made a comeback. After an unfavorable record in the first 60 games, the Lakers made great efforts in the next 22 games and finally achieved a record of 70 wins again, making the Lakers the first and only team in history. A team that has won at least 70 games in three consecutive regular seasons.

It is not an exaggeration to describe this kind of achievement as shocking the past and the present.

This season, with three consecutive 70 wins and three consecutive championships, the Lakers, known as the most powerful dynasty in history, are still strong. Before the start of the season, they issued the slogan of four consecutive championships, and the regular season has once again proved it. Their strength is that they lost 2 games in the first 50 games and 6 games in the first 70 games.

The Lakers seem to be only one step away from winning 70 regular season games for four consecutive seasons.

But no one expected that the last 12 games would be so brutal!

In order to prevent the Lakers from achieving 70 wins for four consecutive seasons, other teams in the league seem to be going crazy. Whenever they encounter the Lakers, they will definitely use all their main players and then collectively explode!

"The temptation to beat the Lakers and prevent them from becoming legends is too great." Barkley said this after unexpectedly losing to the Kings, the second-last team in the Western Conference, on the road on April 2.

All season long, the Kings have been working hard for next season's No. 1 pick. They already have the inside core of Cousins ​​and the best rookie like Evans in the back position. They just need to continue to make progress in the draft. As a team, they have a good chance of replicating the Thunder's success trajectory.

So although they are good, they are still failing this season. However, in their penultimate game of the season, they faced the Lakers, who were already determined to be number one in the league, and they played a crazy battle.

Not to mention the return of Evans, Cousins ​​​​who used to like to play soy sauce also exploded on both ends of the offense and defense. At the last moment, the Lakers fell behind by 2 points, but when they had a chance to win, the Kings actually played their best game of the season. During one attack and defense, their defense forced the Lakers near the midline, which allowed Kobe's three-pointer to slip out of the basket. The Lakers unfortunately lost 109-107, a two-point difference, and once again missed the opportunity to win 70 games.

The way they lost this game was exactly the same as the way they lost to the Warriors a few days ago. These teams, which had no desire for anything, broke out with the highest energy and best form of the entire season when they played the Lakers.

That's why Barkley's exclamation came about.

Yes, this is the reality. Today's Lakers are the favorites in the eyes of fans, but they are also the public enemy of all other teams in the entire league, whether they are potential competitors in the playoffs or the big brothers in the Eastern Conference next door, or they have lost the season. Teams that have a chance in the playoffs want to make a name for themselves by defeating the Lakers.

Therefore, these last 12 games can be called the most difficult schedule for the Lakers in the past few seasons, if not one of them.

Now, they are at a crossroads. They won the last game and achieved 70 wins for 4 consecutive seasons. The Lakers will become the most unsolvable regular season team in history. No matter who they encounter in the playoffs, they will leave their opponents unprepared. Be timid before fighting.

If they lose, the Lakers' legend of 70 consecutive wins will be over, and they will fall at the last step. This will put them under greater pressure than anywhere before. The most serious thing is that they will have almost no time to adjust their mentality. .

Entering the playoffs with 3 wins and 4 losses in 7 games will also allow other teams to see the opportunity to counterattack and defeat the Lakers. The Lakers' playoff journey will undoubtedly be more thorny.

In fact, even if it is 69 wins and 13 losses, this is already the fifth best record in the history of the league. Before the Bulls came out in 1996, this was the best record in the league. Only four 70-win teams could achieve this result. Apart from the existing teams, there are only three other teams: the Lakers, Celtics and Bulls.

But there was no way. In the 1997 season, the Bulls had the league's first record of 69 wins and 13 losses, and the Jazz had 64 wins and 18 losses, the first record in the Western Conference. However, in the 1996 season, the Bulls won the first record at the time of 72 wins and 10 losses. , although 69 wins in the second year is amazing enough, the media will think that Jordan in 1997 has declined compared to 1996.

This directly led to Jordan's loss to Malone in the regular season MVP selection with averages of 29.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game, as well as the team's second-best record in history of 69 wins and 13 losses.

It can only be said that Jordan spoiled everyone. His data would have been impressive enough for another person, but because he is Jordan, it seems so "bland".

This is also a problem faced by the Lakers and Ji Feng.

Therefore, in the last game, the Lakers have countless reasons not to lose.

However, the situation of the Lakers is not very good. After days of high-intensity confrontation, Bynum's knee is showing signs of recurrence. This is definitely not good news for the Lakers. As the Lakers' internal gate and defensive barrier, Bynum's knee is showing signs of recurrence. There is no doubt about his role, but the glass properties of his knees forced Jackson to decide that he would miss the last game.

"Coach, I can play!" Bynum took the initiative to find Master Zen. He didn't want to miss such an important game. If he lost because of his absence, he would probably regret it for the rest of his life. This may be the true thought of most athletes.

The other person who had to take a rest was Lao Yu. He was replaced in the last game due to thigh muscle cramps, which also made him miss the last game. After all, although Lao Yu's condition has declined seriously this season, Zen Master I really trust this old guy who has worked with him for many years, and at critical moments, Lao Yu is indeed worthy of trust, which is crucial in the playoffs.

But Lao Yu also said: "Isn't it just a cramp? I've had it too many times in the past ten years. This is no reason. Let me play or be a substitute."

Apparently, he had the same idea as Bynum.

However, Jackson could only regretfully say: "Listen, man, 70 wins is very tempting, but our goal is still the playoffs and even the finals, so, to be honest, if possible, I hope everyone who is injured will be injured." Denver is too far to stay in Los Angeles.”

The implication is that even Kobe has thought about taking a rest.

At this time, Ji Feng stood up: "I promise, I will bring victory back from Denver, I promise."