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A Lakers Blog. Thoughts, reflections, and the odd rant on the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA (even the Clippers).

Preview & Chat: Lakers vs. Knicks

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After a fun game on Thursday (though in a losing effort) that brought us one last Kobe vs. LeBron duel, the Lakers are back in action against the Knicks on Sunday. This game offers a much more winnable contest — especially with how the Lakers are playing lately. And while we should always be weary of actually projecting a victory, if you look at the trajectory of both teams for the past month or so, it’s not farfetched to think the Lakers come out on top tonight.

This game, at least for me, isn’t so much about the game between these two teams, but rather the games within game stemming from individual match ups and storylines between the two rosters. Kobe Bryant will play tonight, so his battle with Carmelo Anthony will take center stage. Kobe and Melo have long been close, so this last match up between the two before Kobe’s retirement is likely to mean something to both players. If we could get a similar show to the one Kobe and LeBron put on Thursday, we’d all be appreciative.

But this isn’t just about the veteran stars. In the Knicks’ rookie big man Kristaps Porzingis, D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle both have a target to aim at this game. For Russell, the challenge of facing another top rookie — especially one who was getting major press early in the year and being hailed as a future star at a time when Russell was not playing as well as he is now — is real. Russell has been playing better than Porzingis has recently, but that’s not matter. Seeing who can come out on top when they face off is one of the stories of this game and one I will be watching closely.

It is Randle, however, who will have the challenge of actually facing off against this year’s #4 overall pick. Porzingis has length, shooting range, and very good offensive skill overall. Randle has strength, quickness, and an unyielding motor when going to the glass. Both guys will have their hands full, but the contrast in these player’s games and how their individual strengths seem to go directly against each other’s weaknesses is what makes this match up intriguing. Randle would do well to try and get Porzingis into foul trouble by bullying him off the dribble, but cannot get impatient and force the action. Taking it too often into the length of the 7’2″ Latvian will lead in some of his shots getting sent away.

The last thing I’ll be watching for is whether Jordan Clarkson can have a bounce-back game after the poor showing he had against the Cavs. Clarkson has, arguably, been the Lakers’ steadiest and best player this year. He doesn’t have too many bad games in general and rarely will he string them together. The Knicks are likely to start our old fried Sasha Vujacic at SG with Arron Afflalo ailing, and we all know how Sasha likes to try and get into the head of his opponent with pressure ball defense and a fearlessness on offense. Clarkson, though, is a much superior player to the Machine and should be able to use Sasha’s aggressiveness against him with strong drives and by baiting him into bad shots on the other end.

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


Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. KO says

    So a 44 point game? Kobe showing Phil. 0 for 6 with 2 turnovers. Bryon had them ready huh.

    3 for 23. Hahahahaha

    And people pay for this garbage.

  5. Fern says

    Both teams are pretty bad so it’s not surprising that we ain’t watching a symphony of beautiful basketball. Entertaining game though…

  8. LKK says

    Couldn’t figure out why the Lakers didn’t approach Robin Lopez last off-season… He’s no superstar but he plays hard and is a plus player IMO.

  10. Fern says

    Everybody in the starting lineup but Hibbert (surprisingly) has shoot like crap tonight, im amazed were down by 5…

  11. Joel says

    “Agonizing” works, “nauseating” would have been really appropriate during that first half. Things picked up a bit in the third.

  12. AusPhil says

    Fern – Agreed. How it is this close given the level of “quality” that LA have shown tonight is beyond me! Bad opposition I suppose.

  14. Fern says

    Joel nail it if your team has the broken machine starting you have serious issues. The Knicks are terrible, the only reason they are not fighting with us that second worst record is that they had a good season start. Can’t say PJs run of the Knicks has been successful at all…

  16. Gene says

    New York will be stuck in the middle…I rather have the Laker team going forward.By time New York may get better Anthony will need to be replaced….

  23. Fern says

    That Kobe shot almost went in. Im glad that DAR and Clarkson were benched, both were terrible and Jordan was straight up gunning. So i hope they both enjoyed riding the pine…

  25. Anonymous says

    Unfortunately any win at this juncture is not a positive of you want the best odds for the pick. A win, in a game like this — where the kids contributed little — would be even worse. I don’t want to see Kobe, Williams and Bass, players not a part of the future, win games.

  26. Mid-Wilshire says

    I agree with the kids being benched. Tonight they were horrible.

    Remember, we said the road was going to have some bumps in it. Well…this was one.

  27. Fern says

    I forgot to mention Randle, he was stinking up the joint too. They been playing pretty good as of late,they were due a combined stinker. And im fine with all of them getting benched…

  30. Fern says

    Yeah Sid and he is right.But so far the results are mixed as best. Good thing is the Knicks fans are the ones that have to trust him, not us…

  32. Lil pau says

    That does not sound like weed. I hope upshaw can pull it together, but if he can’t with an NBA career on the line…. Poor kid…

  34. Baylor Fan says

    It still looks to me like Upshaw simply was not willing to put the work into becoming an NBA player. Blaming it on drugs just gives him another excuse.

    Commander Scott made up for that unexpected winning streak by slamming the confidence of the younger players. It is always a good idea to change the “rookie rules” several times during the season to see if they are really paying attention. The latest change was starters no longer get to finish. What will be the reason next time?

  36. J C says

    I love it when we win but I’m kinda in for the tank at this point.
    15 games remain.
    4-11 should do it. At least to guarantee finishing “second.” (Then the ping pong balls still have to bounce our way.)
    The other teams in the tankathon are bound to stumble onto another win or two before season’s end.
    If we go 5-10, or better (yikes!) we’re treading in Dantoni waters.
    The problem is, at the end of the year, teams have less to play for so anything can happen.

  38. Mid-Wilshire says

    Sleep well tonight, Tank Commanders.

    Phoenix beat Minnesota, 107-104. BTW, the suns have Brandon Knight back. They’re actually looking much better now than they did 2 weeks ago. I expect them to have a few more wins.

    The Lakers’ “position” should be safe. Then again, there are those ping pong balls that we have to worry about.

  39. Fulofunk says

    As bad as the first team looked, I was surprised we got close, but the second unit was fun to watch. Any other year, I would have wanted a win, but I must confess, I was hoping for a loss to keep our pick alive.