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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 and Chat: Lakers vs. Cavs

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The Lakers may have been able to end their 8 game losing streak with a win a in Philly over the 76ers, but the NBA schedule makers have a way of trying to humble you quickly. You’ll recall the 4 game in 5 night roadie the Lakers struggled on just a little while back, well now the team heads into Cleveland for it’s 3rd game in 4 nights and their 4th in 6 nights — all of which have been on the road.

Even if it weren’t a back to back, though, playing the Cavs would be a daunting challenge. The Cavs are the best team in the East and, if it weren’t for the Warriors looking amazing after adding Kevin Durant, the defending champion Cavs would likely be viewed as the best team in the league. Their starting lineup has one of the best net ratings in the league (+9.4 in 281 minutes) and any time LeBron, Love, and Kyrie share the floor they are outscoring teams by 11.4 points per 100 possessions.

And, at this point, I can’t even say they are going all out or playing particularly hard nightly. They are simply too good and can find ways to beat you because their stars are better than yours. And down the stretch they have a knack for turning it up on both ends of the floor to get the needed stops and then throw daggers into your heart with timely baskets.

So, yeah, the Lakers are in trouble tonight.

That said any time their are individual match ups like there will be tonight I am interested in seeing how they go. D’Angelo vs. Kyrie, Randle vs. Love, and whatever minutes we get where Ingram plays against LeBron will be the little games within the game I will be paying extra attention to. Not because these are some measuring stick performances where any good or bad performance says a whole lot, but just to see the attention to detail of the young Lakers in going up against these established stars. Yes, it would be nice if they held their own, but I’m more looking for how they compete. (UPDATE: Russell is not going to play tonight due to “rest”. Coming off his knee issue and the compressed schedule I mentioned above, I understand the approach.)

Beyond that, however, I’m not really hopeful for this game. The back to back against such a good team is just bad timing. So, I’m happy the Lakers were able to end their losing streak against the 76ers on Friday because it looks like tonight’s game might be another L in the making.

Where you can watch: 4:30pm start time on Spectrum Sportsnet.


Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Mid Wilshire says

    With DAR out, the Lakers are going with a short bench tonight — just, Lou, JC, and Nance.  Apparently, T Black’s ankle isn’t quite right yet.

  6. 30twhite40 says

    Lakers hanging around after three quarter down by four and have a chance to steal a game on a back to back. Ingram 9 points 8 rebound and 8 assists on triple double watch.

  12. LordMo says

    Dang… best defensive rebounder on the bench. Game over. Don’t understand that lack of minutes for Randle in crunch time especially with how was playing tonight. Oh well good game Lakers at least you made them play hard and on a back to back.

  14. Mid Wilshire says

    I’m actually very pleased with the Lakers’ effort tonight, especially considering that they were playing the 2nd game of a back-to-back and were minus two rotation players, D’Angelo Russell and Tarik Black. The Lakers have got to remember games like this and replicate the energy that they played with.
    Nick Young was red-hot tonight (32 pts. on 12-19 shooting).  But others played well, too.  Clarkson, I thought, looked really good tonight (20 pts., 7-12 shooting, 4-7 from 3, 5 rebounds, one assist) and Ingram almost had a triple-double (9 pts., 10 rebounds, 9 assists, only 2 TOs). Also, please note that over the last 4-5 games, Deng has been playing very well.  Tonight he had 15 points (6-11 shooting), 8 rebounds, 3 assists, one steal).
    A couple of days ago, Darius wrote an article stating that the Lakers, after having endured an 8-game losing streak, were actually about to turn things around again.  The last two games are evidence of that. In fact, tonight’s performance by the Lakers impressed me more than last night’s effort which resulted in a win.  Let’s bear in mind that they did all of this short-handed, on the road, and against the reigning NBA champions, a team with the best player in the world and 3 all stars.
    If the Lakers are smart, they’ll use this as a spring board.  
    So far, I’m much more encouraged than I was last season.  I think this team may actually have a future.

  15. DieTryin says

    Shumpert loves his goofy hairstyles. But as silly looking as this latest eruption on the head thing is, it’s a step up from his old Elephant Man look.