LOS ANGELES – Virtually a yr after profitable the primary event within the NBA season and the sluggish play that adopted, it turned frequent to marvel what the Lakers’ strategy could be of their quest to win the NBA Cup once more.
What if they’d comparable motivations to final yr.
Up to now, it seems to be the case.
‘We would like cash,’ mentioned striker Rui Hachimura after the group’s house win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday evening. “Final yr we have been very motivated. Now we have prime greenback. This event someway motivated us to take part [to a] completely different stage. »
The “grand prize” that Hachimura is referring to is the $500,000 bonus that every Lakers participant gained as financial reward for profitable the primary NBA Cup.
The prize cash elevated to $514,971 for gamers on the group that wins the NBA Cup, with runners-up, semi-final individuals and quarter-final individuals additionally being financially rewarded.
The Lakers went undefeated in group play ultimately season’s event earlier than beat the Phoenix Suns within the quarterfinals, the New Orleans Pelicans within the semi-finals and the Indiana Pacers within the closing.
They may play the primary of their 4 group video games this yr towards the San Antonio Spurs on Friday evening at Frost Financial institution Middle. As a part of West Group B, the Lakers may also host the Utah Jazz (Tuesday), play the Suns (Nov. 26) and host the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (Nov. 29) in group stage matches.
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama exits the primary 50-point recreation of his profession in Wednesday’s win over the Washington Wizards.
“One recreation at a time,” Anthony Davis mentioned. “I do know it was a little bit of a hype round us final yr, however we strategy each recreation – common season recreation or Cup recreation – the identical manner. I do not assume simply because it is a cup recreation we must always change our strategy. Now we have to strategy each recreation the identical manner and that is how we’ll strategy it.
Together with final yr’s NBA Cup Finals and common season video games sandwiched round group stage matchups, the Lakers went 12-4 throughout a span of 1 months the place it was clear that their focus was taken to a distinct stage.
However the Lakers misplaced 10 of their subsequent 13 video games after profitable the event. a disappointing stretch of play that was an element within the firing of former coach Darvin Ham shortly after the tip of the common season.
New coach JJ Redick would not anticipate the Lakers’ strategy to vary for Cup video games.
“I anticipate our guys to be very aggressive,” Redick mentioned. “I mentioned this many instances final yr, you need not give opponents a motive to compete. They get up within the morning, they wish to compete. And the video games depend in direction of the common season. All of us acknowledge how troublesome the Western Convention is. And each match will depend.
LeBron James, who was final yr’s event MVP, had Spurs coach Gregg Popovich in thoughts earlier than the group traveled to San Antonio on Thursday. The Spurs introduced Wednesday that Popovich suffered a gentle stroke at his stage on November 2.including that the Corridor of Famer has already begun a rehabilitation program and is predicted to make a full restoration.
“There’s some a lot greater information popping out of San Antonio proper now and that is my pricey good friend Coach Pop,” James mentioned. “I’ll consider him so much throughout my journey there. And I want him one of the best of well being. And I hope I see it quickly. It would not even need to be on the fringes. I hope I see him once more quickly. That is an important for me.
LAKERS AT SPURS
When: Friday, 4:30 p.m.
Or: Frost Financial institution Middle, San Antonio
Tv/radio: ESPN, Spectrum SportsNet/7:10 a.m.
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