After going 5-1 on their six-game highway journey, the Lakers (44-33) are again dwelling and can face off in opposition to the Cavaliers (46-31) for the ultimate time this season on Saturday afternoon. The sport is an early 12:30 p.m. PT tip on Spectrum SportsNet and Spectrum SportsNet+.
Under are three issues to know forward of the matchup.
LAKERS PUSHING TOWARDS 8TH
Winners of eight of their final 10, the Lakers have been doing their half to attempt to transfer up within the standings however not one of the groups forward of them have been cooperating within the ultra-competitive west. That, nonetheless, has begun to alter with each the Pelicans (4 straight) and the Kings (two straight) on shedding streaks whereas coping with accidents to key gamers.
With each groups shedding on Friday, the Lakers at the moment are in a tie with the Kings (who’re in eighth as a result of them proudly owning the tiebreaker) and only a recreation behind the Seventh-seeded Pelicans. And with each groups off on Saturday, a Lakers win over Cleveland may propel them into eighth over the Kings whereas bringing them to inside a half-game of New Orleans.
Extra essential than that, nonetheless, is the truth that the Lakers now management their very own future to cross the Pelicans. Since they play New Orleans on the ultimate day of the regualr season, if the Lakers win out, they’re assured handy the Pelicans no less than yet one more loss, which might not solely assure no less than a tie within the standings however the tiebreaker to maneuver previous them ought to it happen.
Issues aren’t as easy in opposition to Sacramento because the Lakers would want to complete with yet one more win than them as a result of tiebreaker. That stated, each the Pelicans and the Kings nonetheless play one another and have some difficult video games remaining on their schedule (simply because the Lakers do), which may place the Lakers to cross them if issues break a sure means.
Under are the ultimate 5 video games for every group:
- Lakers: vs. Cavaliers, vs. Timberwolves, vs. Warriors, at Grizzlies, at Pelicans
- Kings: at Nets, at Thunder, vs. Pelicans, vs. Suns, vs. Path Blazers
- Pelicans: at Suns, at Blazers, at Kings, at Warriors, vs. Lakers
After all, no matter what these different groups do, the Lakers should give attention to themselves and take one recreation at a time to manage what they’ll management — an thought they’ve preached since earlier than their highway journey began. And an thought that’s much more true now, particularly since they’ll guarantee they transfer up within the standings by dealing with their very own enterprise.
A QUICK TURNAROUND
The NBA season is a marathon, however this ultimate stretch of the season can usually really feel like a dash, notably for a Lakers group that simply zigzagged throughout North American on a six-game highway journey solely to leap proper again into recreation motion what can really feel like not a whole lot of time to get better after returning dwelling.
As a result of whereas the Lakers did get two full days off after finishing their highway journey on Wednesday evening, enjoying their first recreation after returning at 12:30 p.m. on that third day does reduce into their typical restoration time. After the Lakers returned from their final six-game highway journey in early February, their first recreation was additionally on the third day again, however was a 7:00 p.m. begin time for that first dwelling recreation, giving them that additional few hours to settle into a standard routine and all the advantages that include that.
Past the early begin on Saturday, the Lakers leap into recreation motion on Sunday for a back-to-back in opposition to Minnesota, after which after in the future off will play their third recreation in 4 days once they face Golden State on Tuesday. That stretch will find yourself being the Lakers ninth consecutive recreation that was a part of a three-game in four-nights stretch, which, whereas not unprecedented, is uncommon and will definitely check them mentally and bodily — particularly when factoring within the stakes these video games carry as a result of their standings implications.
In saying that, the is not any room for excuses or self-pity relating to these kinds of issues. The schedule just isn’t beneficiant, however because the group ramps up for what they hope will probably be one other prolonged postseason run, these are the kinds of video games and circumstances that may metal them for what they need to accomplish.
CAVS RECENT STRUGGLES
Whereas Cleveland finds themselves in an analogous standings battle because the Lakers as they attempt to safe a top-three seed within the east, they don’t come into Saturday’s recreation enjoying in addition to they have been earlier within the yr of their race as much as the spot they’re now working to safe.
The Cavs are simply 4-6 of their final 10 video games and after successful 19 of 20 from January third by way of February tenth, they’re simply 11-15 in 26 video games since that streak and haven’t received greater than two video games in a row. A lot of those struggles have coincided with damage challenges, particularly to Donovan Mitchell who has handled a knee challenge in addition to a damaged nostril.
Mitchell has performed in three of the Cavs’ final 4 video games, however his offensive effectivity has not been at his regular degree — particularly from behind the arc. The Cavs misplaced two of these three video games, with each losses coming in blowout vogue to the Nuggets and the Suns.
Regardless of these outcomes, the Cavs have to be taken severely and will on no account be ignored. Although Mitchell is working his means again into kind, he is too good a participant to be discounted, and the group nonetheless has a whole lot of expertise in each their beginning lineup with Darius Garland, Max Strus, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley in addition to their reserve core with Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, and Sam Merrill. It is a group that may defend the paint and get sizzling from behind the arc, giving groups matches on each ends of the ground once they’re enjoying nicely.
For the Lakers, then, this can be a recreation that can require them to convey a spotlight and degree of play that exceeds what was required to shut out their highway journey in opposition to groups that have been to not the caliber of this Cleveland group. They are going to have to be sharp on each ends of the ground, and never mistake the Cavs’ current struggles with them being a foul group.
That stated, the Lakers have been excellent at recognizing what is required every recreation and bringing the requisite urgency in every matchup to shut out this season. Do this once more on this recreation and they’ll put themselves in good place to maintain their momentum going.