The 5-8th place in the West are the Timberwolves, Lakers, Trail Blazers, and Grizzlies.

Although the Trail Blazers lacked Zach Randolph, they also achieved 48 wins with a group of veterans, and insisted on not showing off their bad performance.

The Grizzlies have 47 wins and have made it to the playoffs for the first time since their founding. Looking back at the team's growth process, it has to be said that they have made their current achievements step by step and have achieved their current achievements down-to-earth, only winning two fewer games than the defending champion Lakers.

The 9-14th place is the Jazz, Rockets, Supersonics, Warriors, Clippers, and Nuggets.

The first round of the Western Conference matchup was released, with the Spurs vs. Grizzlies, Suns vs. Trail Blazers, Mavericks vs. Lakers, Kings vs. Timberwolves.

This time, there were two strong dialogues in the first round of the Western Conference. The Timberwolves drew the draw. If the Kings had not been injured in the regular season, they would have been able to compete for the league's first place. It would be very difficult for the Timberwolves, who had won 50, to enter the second round.

The Lakers barely made it to the playoffs with their efforts in the second half, but it was difficult for the Mavericks to advance to the second round against the first round. The lineups of both sides were against each other, and the Mavericks could not defend against the OK combination, the Lakers could not defend against Nash and Nowitzki, and experts predict that both sides would play seven games.

Starting this year, the first round of the NBA playoffs has been changed to a 7-game 4-win system. Before the game started, the situation of the Lakers was a little bad, and everyone in the team was questioned, including "Zen Master" Phil Jackson and Kobe, who played the peak career statistics.

Just like before, he has a "blind fight" tactic. The famous coach Jackson has become an ordinary coach with poor on-the-spot response this season.

Kobe was judged by experts not as the core of the Lakers' tactical skills. He is only good at singles and cannot lead his teammates.

Kobe's personal ability is unquestionable. In February, he scored 40+ in 14 games in a single month, including 9 consecutive games and 50+ in 51 games. He finally played for 41.5 minutes, scoring 30.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.2 steals. However, he was not very weak. The Lakers only won 49 times, and he did not win in all his data. The only gain in the regular season was that he attracted a group of fans who like to watch the score.

The Lakers completely dominated the league in the first two seasons, and even this season, they had to fight for the first round, and the players felt uncomfortable. Even if they advanced to the second round, they were not sure to win against the Suns, and it was also embarrassing to be eliminated by Guo Xu's team.

The Eastern Conference team's record is much worse. The Pistons ranked first with only 50 wins. The 2-8th place is the Nets, Pacers, 76ers, Hornets, Celtics, Bucks, and Magic.

The 9-15th place is the Knicks, Wizards, Hawks, Bulls, Heat, Raptors, and Cavaliers.

The Wizards are the most disappointing team in the regular season. Michael Jordan retired in disgrace and would not make a comeback.

The Knicks have not made it to the playoffs for nearly 100 million yuan, so they will definitely have to undergo a major change in summer. The evaluation received by star point guard Marbury is one level lower. There is no way. Who told him to rise immediately as soon as he leaves which team? Now, no one in the league can do this except him.

The regular season data king was released, McGrady won the scoring champion, averaging 32.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game, and ranked first in the efficiency value of 30.3.

Guo Xu got the assist king, averaging 26.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 11.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game. His star's post-match data has improved again, with an efficiency value of 29, slightly inferior to O'Neal's 29.5, ranking third in the league.

Pistons center Ben Wallace won the rebounding champion and blocking champion for the rest, averaging 6.9 points, 15.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 3.2 blocks per game, and the fighter among the blue-collar workers.

Allen Iverson of the 76ers won the steals for the third consecutive year, averaging 2.7 per game.

The Suns rested for three days and the coaching staff determined the 13-man roster in the playoffs.

Center: Nene, Sgerter Williams, Stadamier.

Power forwards: Gugliotta, Tony Kukochi, Haslem.

Small forward: Sean Marion, Kirisek.

Scoring guards: Joe Johnson, Casey Jacques Bson, Morris Evans.

Point guard: Guo Xu, Raf Alstom.

Excluded power forward Chris Crawford made 10 appearances, averaging 3 minutes per game, and was pure marginal.

His contract expires in 2004, and management did not expect him to play well, just clearing up the salary space for the future and sending away Hardaway, who had a high salary and long appointment.

The Suns have made money. This season, Hardaway has been fighting with the Hawks and the "Big Dog" Robinson for more than half a season, and then was injured. Colangelo and his son shouted for luck. If Hardaway is left, I don't know how much trouble it will cause.

On April 19, the first match between the Suns vs. the Trail Blazers started in Phoenix City. The home team led from beginning to end and finally got a good start 106 to 87.

Stadameier scored 24 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists in his first playoff appearance, not inferior to Trail Blazers core Rashid Wallace, who scored 26 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists.

Guo Xu and Xiao Si became very tacit after running in the regular season. As long as Guo Xu attracts Rashid to defend the pick-and-roll, he can hit the basket by passing the ball to Xiao Si. Veteran Davis only played 22 minutes and made five fouls.

Davis, 34, is not as athletic as before, and was crushed by Sir S's talent. When the Suns played small ball tactics, it was also very difficult for Davis to defend Marion. He is a 211cm big man, and his speed is even worse than Marion.

Veteran Sabonis is an excellent meat shield, with a high man and a big horse and good at defending the penalty area, but as soon as he appeared on the court, the Suns did not go into the basket, and the two defenders relied on cover to get rid of the defenders and threw them when they caught the ball.

The Suns did not do badly on the defensive end. Guo Xu faced "Flying Squirrel" Stardameier and defended the face frame to break through.

Last season, the speed of "Little Flying Squirrel" was as fast as Guo Xu. He was in poor form after being injured this season and was in a daze for most of the season. Guo Xu was obviously a little faster than him in the playoffs.

Pippen is old and has suffered serious declines on both ends of offense and defense. He just plays based on experience. Scoring guard Bunch Wells is in good health and shooting averagely. They have no advantage in fighting against Joe Johnson, and Marion has a low shooting percentage.

The substitutes were in equal measure, and the Trail Blazers scored with McGinnis, Derek Anderson, Ruben Patterson, and the Suns Nene, Kukoc and Alstom also performed well.

The Suns won the second battle more easily, with a big victory of 115 to 90.

Guo Xu was in a dizzy way, making 8 of 14 three-pointers, scoring 40 points, 3 rebounds, 11 assists and 3 steals in the whole game. The terrifying double-double "Little Flying Squirrel" who scored 15 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists.

Guo Xu can shoot when he draws the wind and faces the small guard. He can't do it without double-teaming. He can make a free pass if he passes the ball with one double-teaming. Three of his four starting teammates can shoot three-pointers, and most of the substitutes have a range.

In Portland, Guo Xu continued to show his strength in the third game, making 11 of 20 shots, 5 of 10 three-pointers, 6 of 7 free throws, scoring 33 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals, and 5 players in the team scored in double digits.

Although the Trail Blazers also scored in double digits, they lacked super scorers. The one who scored the most was the substitute swingman Patterson scored 19 points and lost 96 to 105 at home.

In the fourth game, the Trail Blazers finally won a game at home, and the Suns players were collectively in a downturn, with only Guo Xu and Xiao Si scoring in double digits and losing 88 to 98.

However, NBA never has a team that can turn the tables behind 0-3, so the ending is decided. The Trail Blazers players who play at home in the Suns are under great pressure and perform poorly, losing 95-108.

Guo Xu and Marion scored 20+, and there were two substitutes showing their strength.

Swinger Jacques Bson also had a draw, making 6 of 10 shots, 3 of 5 three-pointers, and 2 of 2 free throws. He scored 17 points in just 22 minutes.

Nene played for 25 minutes, made 8 of 9 shots, 3 of 4 free throws, scored 19 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks.
Chapter completed!