Reaves Affirms Lakers’ Revenge Mission
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves recently stated in an interview, “The Lakers are here for revenge!” On Wednesday, in Taiwan time, at 8:30 a.m., the Los Angeles Lakers are set to face the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets, on the road. Despite past speculation of “conspiracy theories” suggesting that the Lakers might intentionally lose to the Pelicans in the Play-In Tournament to avoid facing the Nuggets, Austin Reaves, nicknamed the “Rural Mamba,” expressed that the team never entertained such thoughts and is solely focused on seeking revenge.
Reaves’ Determination for Revenge
Following the conclusion of a practice session, Austin Reaves spoke about the formidable opponent, the Nuggets, in the first round of the playoffs. He stated, “We are solely focused on seeking revenge. The Nuggets have defeated us countless times, and last season, they even eliminated us from the playoffs. We absolutely want revenge. We aim to prove everyone wrong in the highest level of competition.”
No Consideration of Avoidance
Continuing his remarks, Reaves emphasized, “Losing the Play-In Tournament and aiming to face the Thunder, we never discussed such thoughts in the locker room. Our primary goal is to ensure qualification for the playoffs first. Regardless, you will eventually encounter the Nuggets at some point. So, no matter what, we must be able to defeat them. That is our top priority, to deliver top-level performance and strive to win.”
Nuggets’ Dominance and Lakers’ Desire to Overturn History
Last season, the Nuggets swept the Lakers 4-0 in the Western Conference Finals and advanced to the NBA Finals, ultimately defeating the Miami Heat 4-1. In the current regular season, the Nuggets have won all three matchups against the Lakers. With an impressive recent streak of eight consecutive victories against the Lakers, the Nuggets undeniably hold a significant advantage in head-to-head encounters.
Coach Malone’s Perspective
Regarding the first-round matchup against the Lakers, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone remarked, “Last year, we swept them, and this year, we swept them again. They have been playing well recently, showing a desire to win games. They want to reverse the script of being swept, and the players on their team understand that.”
Conclusion
As the Lakers prepare to face the Nuggets in the playoffs, their determination for revenge and the Nuggets’ historical dominance set the stage for an intense and highly anticipated matchup. (Jilikoa)
