Records: Lakers 43-37 (8th in the West), Spurs 58-21 (2nd in the West)
Offensive ratings: Lakers 105.8 (8th in the NBA), Spurs 106.5 (7th in the NBA)
Defensive ratings: Lakers 103.9 (19th in the NBA), Spurs 99.0 (3rd in the NBA)
Projected Starting Lineups: Lakers: Steve Blake, Jodie Meeks, Metta World Peace, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard
Spurs: Tony Parker, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Tiago Splitter, Tim Duncan
Injuries: Lakers: Kobe Bryant (out for the season), Steve Nash (out), Jordan Hill (out for the season); Spurs: Manu Ginobili (out), Boris Diaw (out)

Spurs Blogs: 48 Minutes of Hell is a great site. Give them a moment of your time.

Talking Points: The first game without Kobe Bryant will be a tough test for these Lakers. Steve Nash may or may not play, Metta World Peace (who may or may not start) is on the mend, and one of the best teams in the league is coming into Staples with something to play for. San Antonio has slipped behind the Thunder for the West’s top spot and, with either the reeling Lakers or the Jazz vying for the 8th spot, that number one seed has never looked nicer. The Spurs also have Tony Parker back in the fold to reek havoc on the Lakers’ now even more depleted backcourt. And while it’s nice to hear that Andrew Goudelock will be signed as another body to help, I doubt he does much in this game (and even if he does see time, he’s not exactly known for his defense).

That said, as disheartening as it is to think of a post-Kobe Lakers’ team, this is also a moment of opportunity. Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard have a chance to fill the leadership and production void. Fringe rotation players like Darius Morris, Chris Duhon, and Goudelock may get an opportunity to see minutes and they need to seize the moment and perform to the best of their abilities in them. Earlier this season Earl Clark was thrust into the rotation when injuries hit the players in front of him and he jumped on his chance to become a fixture in the lineup. No one can replace Kobe, but guys will get their chance to do more and this will be their chance to prove that they’re worthwhile players.

The ultimate focus, however, is about beating the Spurs. They’re a fantastic team who continue to marvel with their ability to play team basketball at an unbelievably high level. Even without Ginobili and Diaw, they have enough depth on their roster to win. Key to their attack is the Parker and Duncan combo and their ability to dictate offensive flow via the P&R and their weak side motion attack. If the Lakers are to win this game, they’ll need to find a way to slow down Parker while surrendering the types of shots to Duncan and the rest of the Spurs that aren’t the shots they initially seek.

Mostly that means keeping Parker out of the lane and having Duncan take jumpers from the top of the key while Leonard, Green, and Neal take contested jumpers from above the break of the three point line. The Spurs want to work the corners for three point shots for their wings and get Duncan working foul line down where he can use his still very effective post game to get good looks. While it’s impossible to keep these players from taking the shots they want for an entire game, forcing them to skew towards less desirable ones should be the top priority.

Offensively, the Lakers must work the offense through their big men as often as possible. Whether that’s through Pau at the elbows and the left block or Dwight through straight post ups, they need their touches in order to try and dictate the flow of the game. By going through the post, the Lakers can slow the tempo and, hopefully, get shots at the basket or draw fouls on Duncan and Splitter. Beyond those two the Spurs don’t have much worthwhile size to battle the Lakers’ bigs so getting either one out of the game would be a great way to accentuate one of the only advantages the Lakers have. (The flip-side, of course, is that Pau and Dwight both stay out of foul trouble in their own right. Dwight has been foul prone lately and that simply can’t happen today.)

The other key offensively is that the Lakers wings move the ball and hit what open shots they do get. The Spurs have improved a great deal offensively and part of that improvement has been their ability to funnel the action to their big men and not surrender open jumpers in the process. However, if the Lakers can do a good job of working the ball inside-out, attacking closeouts, and then making the extra pass off dribble penetration, they should get some good looks. Those shots — whether by Meeks, Blake, Ron, Clark, or Duhon — must be made at a consistent enough rate to keep the defense honest.

This game is sure to be emotional. The Lakers are without Kobe but are also still fighting for their playoff lives. A win tonight gets them one step closer to their goal of a post-season berth. And while that cloud of Kobe’s injury will hang over the team, they can hopefully channel that energy into a positive effort that allows them to compete at the highest level. After all, Kobe gave his all — ultimately falling to injury — trying to help this team get over the hump. They need to do everything they can to not just honor that, but to win for themselves.

Where you can watch: 6:30pm start time on TWC Sportsnet. Also listen on ESPN Radio 710AM.

Records: Lakers 42-37 (8th in the West), Warriors 45-34 (6th in the West)
Offensive ratings: Lakers 105.6 (8th in the NBA), Warriors 104.0 (10th in the NBA)
Defensive ratings: Lakers 103.7 (T 18th in the NBA), Warriors 102.5 (13th in the NBA)
Projected Starting Lineups: Lakers: Steve Blake, Kobe Bryant, Earl Clark, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard
Warriors: Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, David Lee, Festus Ezeli
Injuries: Lakers: Steve Nash (out), Jordan Hill (out); Warriors: Andrew Bogut (out), Brandon Rush (out for the season)

Warriors Blogs: Check out Warriors World for all your Warriors wants and needs.

Talking Points: The Lakers season moves along at 20% intervals, with three games remaining in their quest to win their final five to get into the post-season. Forty percent of the way home, they’ve done exactly what they’ve needed to do even though the games featured stretches of inconsistent and frustrating play. But that’s been the case all season for the Lakers, the fact that they’ve found a way to win so many of those types of games recently speaks to an improvement however. Earlier in the year, these would have been games the team lost. Today, they can go back to the film room and critique a win rather than watch all the little miscues that cost them another game.

Tonight they face a team on their own mission. The Warriors currently sit in the 6th spot, but do so tenuously. They’re only a half-game ahead of the Rockets and would surely like it to stay that way so they could match up with either the Nuggets or the Clippers when the playoffs begin. Both of those teams offer their own problems to overcome, but those match ups seem dreamy compared to the discipline and coaching acumen of the Spurs or the all around fantastic play of the Thunder. So, even the though the Warriors have had a pretty successful season, they still have plenty to play for in these last few games on their schedule.

With the Lakers at home, a certain amount of comfort will be in the air but they can’t let that relax their intensity in any way. X’s and O’s will matter a great deal in this game, but the Blazers game was a nice reminder that simply playing hard on both ends of the floor is what makes the bigger difference. When the Lakers started to pressure the ball in Portland and aggressively look to protect the basket, good things happened. When they slipped even the tiniest bit, the Blazers rained down open jumpers and built up a nice lead. The Warriors are more than capable of doing the same, especially with Curry, Thompson, Jack, and even Barnes on the floor. Add in the nice mid-range game of David Lee and that’s a lot of guys capable of hitting shots.

So the Lakers will need to be sharp in their rotations, but even more so will need to be sharp in how the defend in the Warriors excellent off-ball screen game. Few teams have the combination of shooters and good screen actions that the Warriors have and they’re excellent at setting up good shots for their guys by running a variety of pin-downs and motion sets to free them up. Thompson is particularly effective on same-side pin-downs where he comes off the screen looking to get off a quick jumper. It remains to be seen if Kobe or Clark defends him, but whoever does will need to fight hard through the picks and never cheat over the top to gamble for a steal. Furthermore, the Lakers’ big men will have to do a good job of hedging out when the screen is set to help disrupt the entry and, if need be, contest the shot.

Thompson, however, is not the key to the Warriors’ attack. The keys are Curry and Lee, both of whom have had good games against the Lakers this season. Steve Blake will get the initial assignment against Curry and he’ll need to be as aggressive with him as possible without fouling him on his jumper. Curry has one of the quickest releases in the league and will fire off a jumper out of the blue off cross-overs and step backs that create only a sliver of space. Aggressive defense can lead to fouls in those situations, so that needs to be balanced with good execution of the team scheme by forcing Curry into help with the big men doing their job of playing higher on the screen to be in a position to help.

As for Lee, he’s a very good isolation player who can hit the jumper or drive into the paint to either hit a quick shot or to set up a post move. Gasol will have his hands full and will need to use his length to bother Lee when he’s inside and close out on him aggressively to disrupt his jumper. Also, Lee (like Pau) is a trigger man at the elbow for a lot of the Warriors’ sets. He needs to be pressured when he’s holding the ball out there and forced to make tough passes while a defender plays him close. If he’s allowed to simply stand at the elbow and read the defense, he can pick apart the defense like a quarterback with a clean pocket.

I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention Jarrett Jack. This guy always seems to kill the Lakers and expect him to be aggressive tonight in looking for his own shot. Jack is a real spark off the bench and has the ability to hit the open jumper but to also create for himself in isolation and in the P&R. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kobe (or even Ron) guard Jack for long stretches in this game just to try and give him a different look.

Offensively, the Lakers simply need to continue to do a lot of the same things they have been lately. With Andrew Bogut out, the Lakers should have an easier time attacking in the paint and would do well to get Howard and Gasol going via direct post ups and by delayed entries after the pick and roll. If Kobe and Pau can continue to find chemistry in that action, it should open up shots inside for Dwight right at the rim in the 2/4/5 lob action that is such a joy to watch. The P&R should also set up open jumpers as the defense collapses into the paint to try and slow Pau and Dwight down. If Kobe and Blake continue to look to move the ball early in the possession, guys will get their chances to score and, in the process, keep the defense from gearing up on Kobe all night.

Speaking of Kobe, he would also do well to stay aggressive in trying to get into the paint, both off the dribble and when moving off the ball to spots on the floor where he can isolate. In the Lakers’ HORNS sets, Kobe has often drifted out to 18-20 feet to set up a one on one move, but if he can stop short on his cuts to the wing and instead try to establish the post 15 feet and in, it would help him set up shots closer to the rim where he’s either more likely to hit the shot or allow for a teammate to hit the offensive glass.

As for the rest of the team, they really need to be active moving off the ball tonight. The Warriors love to crowd the paint by hanging below the screen in the P&R, but after a pass or two they try to fly back to the three point line to contest the ball on the wing. If the Lakers can cut behind their rotations, they can set up shots going to the rim. Good things happen when Clark and Jamison are going to the basket for the majority of their shots and tonight, with the right movement, they can make that happen.

I usually end with thoughts about this being a must win game, but we’ve heard all that before. So, instead, I’ll say to simply enjoy this game the best that you can. The stakes are high and that will lead to heightened emotions, but just remember that this is what these guys play for. These might as well be playoff games and that intensity should try to be enjoyed as much as possible.

Where you can watch: 7:30pm start time on TWC Sportsnet. Also listen on ESPN Radio 710AM.

Records: Lakers 41-37 Blazers 33-44
Offensive ratings: Lakers 107.6 Blazers 106.1
Defensive ratings: Lakers 106.6 Blazers 108.9
Projected Starting Lineups: Lakers: Steve Blake, Jodie Meeks, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard
Blazers: Damian Lillard, Sasha Pavlovic, Victor Claver, LaMarcus Aldridge, Meyers Leonard
Injuries: Lakers: Steve Nash, Jordan Hill
Blazers: Nicolas Batum, Wesley Matthews, J.J. Hickson, Elliot Williams

Blazers Blogs: Make sure you check out Portland Roundball Society for all of your Blazers news and analysis.

Keys to game: The Blazers are coming into tonight’s game with a wealth of injuries to some of their key players. Wesley Matthews has had some big games against the Lakers, Nicolas Batum has done a pretty job of defending Kobe over the years when he drew that assignment and J.J. Hickson’s motor could be a problem on the boards on any given night. While it’s never a good thing for an opponent to have injured players, the Lakers have caught the Blazers at the most opportune time considering the battle for 8th place they’re in with the Jazz and the fact that the Rose Garden has always been one of the most difficult places for the Lakers to travel to and get wins.

With all of that being said, this game is still no gimmie and they’ll have to execute on both ends of the floor. Defensively, keeping Damien Lillard out of the paint and close out on shooters. Portland hasn’t been shooting the ball particularly well from deep recently as they’re only at a .264 clip over their last five. Just to make it a point to show how bad they’ve been from 3-point range, that five game stretch includes a 13-23 performance against Utah — and they’re still shooting over 25 percent. But considering that they’re capable of an outlying performance like that, the Lakers cannot allow them to take open shots from deep to ensure that they’re not the next team to get burned by a bad shooting team. Outside of Lillard and shooters, the focal point of the defense should be on LaMarcus Aldridge. The Lakers have done fairly well on Aldridge in the previous three meetings, holding him to 20 points on 18 shots and only 4 rebounds per game. Both Pau and Dwight will have to be willing to close out on his mid range jumper and continue to keep him off the glass.

On the offensive end, the Lakers are going to have to play inside-out. With Hickson out, Meyers Leonard will get the start and won’t be able to hang with Dwight in one-on-one situations. Should Aldridge or Claver help off of their respective man, that will open things up for both Pau and Kobe. Speaking of Pau, it would be wise to continue to feed him in the post as it seems as if his confidence has been rising lately — and should the Lakers get into the post season, having a confident Pau will be awfully beneficial for this team. On the perimeter, Kobe is likely going to be guarded by the likes of Sasha Pavlovic or Victor Claver, and he should be able to exploit those match ups and find the open man should the Blazers double off of him. I’d like to see lots of off-ball movement from the other wing guys and make this banged up Blazers team work as hard as possible on the defensive end.

I do expect the Lakers to win tonight, which would be the first sweep of a back-to-back on the season. It would be nice if they can put Portland away early and give some of the key guys a break, but a win regardless of how it happens is essential if they want to make the playoffs.

Where you can watch: 7:30 pm start time on TWC Sportsnet. Also listen on ESPN Radio 710AM.

Records: Lakers 40-37 (9th in the West), Hornets 27-50 (13th in the West)
Offensive ratings: Lakers 105.4 (8th in the NBA), Hornets 102.8 (15th in the NBA)
Defensive ratings: Lakers 103.7 (T 17th in the NBA), Hornets 107.3 (28th in the NBA)
Projected Starting Lineups: Lakers: Steve Nash, Jodie Meeks, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard
Hornets: Greivis Vasquez, Eric Gordon, Al-Farouq Aminu, Anthony Davis, Robin Lopez
Injuries: Lakers: Steve Nash (out), Metta World Peace (questionable), Jordan Hill (out for the season); Hornets: Austin Rivers (out), Jason Smith (out)

Hornets Blogs: Hornets 24/7 is great. As is At The Hive. Not sure what their new names will be next season when the team becomes the Pelicans, but both are worth your time now and will be in the future too.

Talking Points: Tonight is a pretty big night for the Lakers. They trail the Jazz by .5 games for the 8th seed, but are even in the loss column. The Lakers face a Hornets group that has given them issues all season while Jazz host the Thunder in what is a pretty difficult game even though it’s in Salt Lake City. If the Lakers win and the Jazz lose, the 8th seed is back in the Lakers’ hands and their destiny is once again their own to control. If the Lakers lose and the Jazz win, the prospects of making the playoffs pretty much go down to zero.

Even if that’s a slight exaggeration, the facts are these: After tonight the Jazz will have 3 games, 2 of which are against the playing better but still vulnerable Timberwolves (one road, one home) and the Grizzlies (on the road). The Lakers, meanwhile will have 4 more games including a visit to Portland tomorrow and games against the always problematic Spurs, the Warriors, and the Rockets. Basically, the Lakers can’t expect any help and should set their goals at winning out. Even though the Jazz control their own destiny and could also clinch by winning out, losing one game — with tonight being one of the best chances — looks more than possible. Anything beyond that is a toss up (though that Memphis game has potential). So, while we’ll all be watching the Lakers’ game, keep one eye on the happenings in Utah tonight, folks. It really does matter.

As for winning this game against the Hornets there are a few keys:

• Slow down Greivis Vasquez.
• Stick to shooters around the arc.
• Pound the ball inside offensively.
• Get solid production from the few bench players who do see action.
• Take care of the ball/avoid turnovers.

Vasquez is the key to the Hornets attack and has hurt the Lakers in every game this season. He’s a crafty pick and roll practitioner and finds cracks in the defense when attacking in isolation. He flashes an improved jumper, but his main goal is to get into the paint and either finish for himself or draw enough attention to hit a teammate for an open shot. Slowing him means keeping him out of the paint — which is easier said than done. He has a big body and knows how to use it, but Blake will need to play him aggressively and shade him to spots on the floor along the wing while always keeping him walled off via smart use of angles. There will be times where Blake gets beat, but if he can win this game within the game the Lakers will be much better off.

If Blake (along with Dwight and Pau behind him) can keep Vasquez from doing a lot of damage at the rim, the Lakers wings must do their jobs of sticking to shooters behind the arc and not get roped into no man’s land too close to the paint where they’re not helping, but not covering their own man. This is especially key against Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson, but also against Roger Mason, Brian Roberts, and Xavier Henry. All three are capable of knocking down the outside shot and must be respected out there. Roberts, Henry, and Gordon have more diverse games and will put the ball on the floor so controlled closeouts are in order. Mason and Anderson must be run off the line at all costs and forced to create a shot off the dribble with the rest of the team reacting to them once the ball is put on the floor.

Offensively, the ball must go through the post. It doesn’t much matter if that’s through Dwight, Pau, or Kobe, but the ball must be worked 15 feet and in with quality shots obtained through discipline, but aggressive, ball movement. Both Dwight and Pau have the games to work-over their respective defenders and must be assertive in establishing position and then looking to make strong moves around the rim. Anthony Davis is the team’s only real shot blocker and while he must be respected inside, he lacks the ballast to keep Dwight (and even Pau) away from the rim if they get low and use their legs to drive for their position. The Lakers’ wings must recognize this and make the post entry on time when the bigs break open. Holding the ball even a beat too long may sacrifice the position established.

Kobe will likely see a combination of Gordon and Aminu (and maybe even Henry) on defense and while all can be good defenders, he must also work to exploit them by trying to get good shots from the FT line and below. Kobe’s been playing a ton of minutes lately and when he gets fatigued one of the areas that’s most affected is his shot selection. He starts to settle for long jumpers, especially form behind the arc, and those are the types of bail out shots the defense wants him taking. If he’s patient in his work off the ball and aggressive when handling it (either in the P&R or in isolation) he can get good looks or earn trips to the FT line. Both, as well as his playmaking, will be needed against an opponent that has typically been able to match the Lakers in points. So, as usual, Kobe will need to do it all.

As for the other Lakers, it will be nice to get Ron back tonight, even in a limited role (he’s expected to play around 20 minutes, though that’s just an estimate). If he can hit a few jumpers and play tough defense, he’ll be a net positive. Just his presence alone should inspire his mates. Where the Lakers need actual production is from Clark, Jamison, and Meeks. Clark has been great lately and more of that will be needed. His activity on both sides of the floor have provided a needed boost. Jamison has also been a solid contributor and his offense — both inside and out — will be helpful. Meeks, however, needs to find his game and quickly. His jumper has not been falling lately and while he works hard on defense, if he’s not hitting shots his utility as a player goes down dramatically. He’s been getting wide open looks, but just can’t seem to knock them down. That must change tonight.

Overall, this is a game that the Lakers should win, but it’s also one they must win. There are no more second chances for this team. There are 5 games left and getting them all is as close to a necessity as you can get. The only way to make that happen is to start with this game tonight.

Where you can watch: 7:30pm start time on TWC Sportsnet. Also listen on ESPN Radio 710AM.

Records: Lakers 40-36 (8th in the West), Clippers 50-26 (4th in the West)
Offensive ratings: Lakers 105.4 (8th in the NBA), Clippers 107.3 (5th in the NBA)
Defensive ratings: Lakers 103.5 (T 17th in the NBA), Clippers 101.1 (9th in the NBA)
Projected Starting Lineups: Lakers: Steve Blake, Jodie Meeks, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard
Clippers: Chris Paul, Willie Green, Caron Butler, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan
Injuries: Lakers: Steve Nash (out), Metta World Peace (out), Jordan Hill (out for the season); Clippers: Chauncey Billups (out)

Clippers Blogs: ClipperBlog is a great place for all your news, analysis, and updates on this team.

Keys to game: The Clippers are looking for a season sweep against the Lakers after already claiming their first 50 win season and division crown in franchise history. Those latter two feats likely mean more, but it’d be silly to think the Clips wouldn’t also love to dispatch the Lakers for the 4th time this season as a cherry on their sundae of a season (so far).

The Clippers, like the Lakers, have more to play for besides bragging rights. They currently sit two games behind the Nuggets to claim the 3rd seed in the west, a spot that would allow them to avoid the Grizzlies in round one and instead face off against whichever team (Houston, Warriors) that ends up with the 6th seed. That’s a huge difference in opponent quality and if they can pull it off, their chances of advancing are much better. And while I don’t think they can actually catch the Nuggets, they’re certainly going to try their hardest to do so.

Meanwhile, the Lakers are still just fighting to get into the dance. They’re still a half-game over the Jazz for the 8th seed and need every win down the stretch to guarantee their entry. The fact that the Lakers only leave Staples one more time to close the season and seem to by finding a rhythm to their game are factors that work in their favor. Of course, the closing kick of games against top opponents should definitely give them pause. The road won’t be easy, but this is where the Lakers are and will at least earn their way in.

A few things to note about the Clippers heading into today that show this match up shouldn’t necessarily favor the Clippers:

• The Clips have lost four of their last six and are only 5-5 in their last 10. The Lakers aren’t much better at 6-4 in their last 10, but have won 3 in a row.
• Since January 1st, the Clippers have a 25-20 record. The Lakers, in that same span, are 25-21.
• Also since January 1st, the Clippers are posting a defensive efficiency of 103.8. Meanwhile, the Lakers have posted a defensive efficiency of 104.0.

Basically, since the turn of the calendar year, the Lakers and Clippers have actually been very similar teams. The Clippers’ offense has been better than the Lakers’, but beyond that their metrics (and records) are nearly identical. That doesn’t mean that getting a win today will be any easier — the Clips still have the same strengths to attack some of the Lakers’ weaknesses — but it does mean that there shouldn’t be this expectation that the Clippers are some dramatically better team than the Lakers right now. Over the course of the season they definitely are. But right now? No.

As mentioned, though, that doesn’t change the fact that the Clippers have some distinct qualities that give the Lakers issues. And it starts with Chris Paul and his ability to get his team a good shot nearly every time down the floor. With Nash out, Steve Blake will likely see most of the minutes against Paul and his devastating offensive game. Paul will try to work Blake over in isolation and in the pick and roll, manipulating him into spots where he can be taken advantage of. Blake will need to try to steer Paul towards help and simply contest his shot without fouling while also trying to disrupt any passing angles. You don’t stop Chris Paul, you only try to slow him and make his life harder in the process. If Blake can be somewhat effective at this, the Lakers’ odds of winning go up dramatically. If Blake isn’t getting the job done, or if the game is close down the stretch, don’t be shocked to see Kobe slide over for his turn at slowing Paul.

If Paul getting his is nearly a given, getting the rest of the Clippers to perform below their normal standards is the key to victory. Pau Gasol will get another crack at Blake Griffin and will need to use his length to bother his inside game while sagging off him on the perimeter to encourage him to shoot jumpers. Griffin has become a respectable shooter from mid-range, but him taking that shot is still preferred to him working in the post (where he has more moves and is more effective than given credit for). If Griffin is allowed to play his entire game in the paint — and that includes getting lobs and corralling offensive rebounds — the Lakers will be in for a long day. If he’s kept on the perimeter hoisting jumpers the Lakers have done their job even if those shots fall.

Besides Griffin, the Lakers must really worry about the Clippers’ bench and their ability to change the game’s dynamic once they enter the game. Bledsoe, Crawford, Barnes, and Odom are a quartet that loves to get out in the open floor and turn defensive rebounds and turnovers into quick baskets. All of these guys thrive in the open court and must be marked accordingly. Barnes is a key player here as he’s the one player who will run out every single time and hunt the easy basket. If he’s guarding Kobe (which he will when they share the floor), the other guard/wing must be aware that Barnes will contest the shot and then continue up court to try and be an outlet for a lay up. Getting back to take away that long pass (especially from Odom who loves the long outlet) is a must.

Crawford, meanwhile, is a catalyst for their half court sets when the offense slows down. He loves to work in isolation and out of the P&R, looking to create a shot for himself in the process. The Lakers don’t have a great option to guard Crawford but my hunch is that Meeks and Clark will see the majority of time on him. Both are vulnerable to Crawford’s brand of shake and ball handling creativity, but both still need to stay down on pump fakes while trying to steer him into the teeth of the defense so he has to finish inside. If Crawford’s offense stalls, the Clippers’ bench becomes much more manageable with only Bledsoe attacking off the dribble and Barnes’ cutting the really big weapons. Gum up those sets and the Lakers should be able to get stops.

Offensively the Lakers must simply continue to do what they’ve been doing lately. They need to feature their big men via the P&R and in standard post ups. Pau can score in the post against any of the players who defend him, but will need to turn down the mid-range jumper in favor of putting the ball on the ground to aggressively get into that position. Howard, meanwhile, will be dealing with the super athletic Jordan, but he’s also a player who can relax when playing on the weak side. Dwight should be able to find duck-in chances for quick post ups, especially when Pau has the ball high in HORNS sets. As for Kobe, he’s going to need to balance his playmaking with his scoring with Nash still on the sidelines healing up. He can play set up man in the P&R and should be encouraged to attack Griffin in that action with Pau screening. Kobe can also work in the post against any defender who guards him and should find ample chances to work below the FT line when one of Dwight or Pau is on the bench. Further, in the Lakers HORNS sets, Kobe can work off the ball as a cutter and when coming off picks to set up quick jumpers or to put him in position to run a delayed P&R with the defense scrambling behind him.

The other keys are controlling the glass and ball security. This can be said every game, but when the Lakers take care of the ball and close defensive stops with a rebound they’re an infinitely better team. The Clippers have the pieces to press on those weaknesses and can turn the game in their favor by doing well in those two areas. If the Lakers are to win, a low turnover count and high defensive rebounding percentage will likely be two of the main reasons why.

Where you can watch: 12:30pm start time on ABC. Also listen on ESPN Radio 710AM.