Lakers And Wolves Face Off In Battle For Playoff Positioning
SteemSports Presenter:@mateonav53
SteemSports Editor:@scottybuckets
Even in the recent lottery-bound, years for the Los Angeles Lakers, it always seems like the team fails to reach their full potential thanks to key injuries. Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram both missed significant time at the end of last year, which resulted in the squad never living up to their young potential. This year is more of the same, with extended absences from the team's top facilitators in LeBron, Rondo, and Lonzo.
Despite the infuriating rash of injuries, tonight's home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves seems like a winnable one for the Lakeshow - but only if they can get someone going offensively. Kuzma is the first one who comes to mind, but can he take hold of the consistency that has eluded him in recent weeks? Maybe we will get another powerful performance from Ivica Zubac, who has shocked us all with his efficient play in the last few games.
One person who would undoubtedly provide some grease to the offensive wheels would be Rajon Rondo. His name has floated back into the news as he's expected to be making a return from a torn ligament in his right ring finger any day now. He's considered "likely to play" according to a report by the LA times, whereas CBS Sports considers him a game-time decision. Rondo's return would be a godsend to a team who is staggeringly short on not only point guards, but regular offensive fluidity. He was the guy who led the charge against the Golden State Warriors in Oakland after LeBron went down after all.
Entering tonight's contest, both teams sport near-identical records (Lakers in 9th place, 25-23 & Wolves in 11th, 23-24). There's only a four and a half game difference between the ninth place Lakers and the third place Thunder in the West. Not to mention, tonight's combatants are separated by only one and a half games.
Tonight's contest is crucial for both sides' playoff hopes. It's one of those where the loser will be kicking themselves for dropping this winnable one in an air-tight Western Conference, while the winner can breathe a sigh of relief for just one night. If the Lakers lose, fans may still think, "help is eventually on the way" in the form of LeBron, but they need to pad their record now so as not to fall in too deep a hole. The team knows this, now it's a matter of being the winner in the battle of 50/50 balls, rebounds, and overall execution.
I think Rondo will make his impending return, and the Lakers will put up a hell of a fight given two days of rest and recuperation. I expect Zubac to flourish given Rondo's easy setups, and Kuzma should flirt with a 30-point game in front of the Staples Center home crowd. I still think the Wolves will overcome the Lakeshow down the stretch in a hotly contested showdown thanks to big performances by Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins, and Josh Okogie.
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