Wuqing advanced 4-1, got out 1-4! The tide faded and found out who was the worst team in the playoffs

This season's NBA division final is coming to an end, and the Western Conference champion is the first to be released. The Thunder eliminated the Timberwolves 4-1 with no suspense. From the big score to the process, they are ruthless, and the two teams are not at the same level. According to the prediction given by the US media "BR", the probability of the Thunder winning the championship is 95%, which is even higher than the probability of winning the championship with the Warriors' Big Five winning players in the group of Champions League! In addition, the Thunder won 8 wins and 1 loss at home in the playoffs. Except for the second round of G1, Gordon won three-pointers and won the rest, with a net win average of 27.9 points! The US media launched a voting survey to select the team with the worst performance in the playoffs this season. To be honest, the Timberwolves were indeed vulnerable in the series of the Western Conference Finals, but at the same time they also tested who was swimming naked in the West.

First of all, the Eastern Conference Finals were finalized by the Knicks and Pacers, which is no problem. All the top four in the Eastern Conference advanced in the first round, and the Cavaliers Garland and Mitchell were plagued by injuries in the second round, and the Celtics' strength declined + Tatum's Achilles tendon ruptured and seriously injured. The Knicks and Pacers are the two best teams in the East. Like the Heat, Magic, Bucks and Pistons who were eliminated early, they do not have the ability to make a second round yet, but the West is different. In the first round of four matches, the Thunder 4-0 Grizzlies, and then there was 9 days of rest. The Nuggets defeated the Clippers 4-3 and only had 46 hours of rest to beat the Thunder. In addition, the referees' favoritism for the Nuggets in the series are also very controversial. If it weren't for Gordon's buzzer-beating dunk, perhaps the Clippers would have advanced.

Using the Thunder's follow-up reporter's feelings, except for the Grizzlies, the remaining three teams in this half area have the strength of the West Finals. The result is the same, and the Thunder and the Nuggets also fought for a tiebreak. If it weren't for the Nuggets who had only 6 people rotated and fought all the bullets, and even Gordon had to keep fighting for more than 20 minutes with a second-degree hamstring injury, it was hard to say! The other half of the zone is very interesting. The Warriors defeated the Rockets 4-3 in the first round, but Butler was accidentally injured, Curry was over-consuming by several Rockets defensive elites. The Rockets did not have an offense, but they were too capable of running, and the height and confrontational advantages were also obvious. The Rockets still have a high ceiling in the future. The Warriors, led by two veterans Curry and Butler, finally advanced to the semi-finals with difficulty.

As a result, Curry suffered a hamstring injury in the game against the Timberwolves G1. Although the Warriors finally won the G1, they lost four consecutive games. Even the boss Ragbu was not convinced: If Curry stayed healthy, we would definitely stand on the stage of the Western Conference Finals. After talking a lot, only the Lakers were left. Like the Rockets, they were beaten by the following in the first round, but the Rockets' young man fought to the last game, and the Lakers were eliminated 1-4, and they didn't even have the ability to resist the Timberwolves! After the Lakers were eliminated, from players to coaching staff, including the US media, all blamed the management, actively stopped the transaction about Ma Wei, and was unwilling to take out the embarrassing situation of 31 years of picks without the center. It seemed that it helped the Lakers' Big Three push the responsibility, but this was just the tip of the vulnerable iceberg of the Lakers' playoffs!

Let's look at three data. In this year's playoffs, the Lakers' Big Three advanced efficiency is as follows. When James is on the court, the Lakers' offensive efficiency in 110.7 in 100 rounds, the defensive efficiency is 121.8, and the loss of 11.1 points in 100 rounds; when he is not on the court, the Lakers' offensive efficiency in 108.2 in 100 rounds, the defensive efficiency is 97.3, and the opponent's 10.9 points in 10 rounds; James' On-Off value is -22. Reeves' On-Off value is -13.8, Doncic is better. When he is on the court, the Lakers lose 6.1 points in a hundred rounds, and when he is not on the court, the Lakers lose 16.8 points in a hundred rounds, and the On-Off value is +10.7. It seems that Doncic's irreplaceable value is positive, but when he is on the court, the Lakers' defense efficiency is as low as 119.2, and the Big Three are not defending! Even if Doncic is given a center that can pick-and-roll, the result will not change, and the process may be a little difficult.

Reeves will pursue a maximum salary contract next summer, and the Lakers trade this summer is a foregone conclusion. In the words of US media, the Lakers are expected to pursue inside players of the Big Lopez, Clarkston, and Gafford, and partner with Doncic. But in Charania's words, James is expected to execute a $52.63 million player option contract next season, and is likely to achieve the final dance. Because of the middle class trap (there are 6 players with teams with annual salary of 10 million to 18 million), the Lakers cannot help in the playoffs and the transaction value is extremely low. James and Doncic also occupy $100 million in salary space. Even if the Lakers want to strengthen, they have no bargaining chips, let alone pursue super giants of Antetokounmpo, and there is no possibility of theory.

At the end of James' career, the Lakers could not move. It is impossible to expect James to take the initiative to cut his salary. The Lakers did not continue to build the team's capital with the luxury tax + James' salary of 52 million. This is the only way! The regular season was as fierce as a tiger, but it was beaten to pieces by the playoffs. Only the Lakers performed the worst in 16 teams in the playoffs! They and the Warriors without Curry pushed the Timberwolves to a height they shouldn't have, but when they touched the Thunder, the wall collapsed instantly. Can even have a center next season change completely? If it is the last season of James' career, others will have to temporarily play supporting roles. If not, the situation might be worse.