Janice R. Andrews
In a crucial game against Luka Doncic and his team on Wednesday, the Los Angeles Lakers will look to win their second straight and send a message to the Dallas Mavericks. The Lakers appear to be getting into a groove with a decisive victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the focus is still on their most recent lineup change.
The Lakers’ Latest Victory and the Starting Lineup Reorganization
The Lakers played with the same form that helped them win the In-Season Tournament (IST) in their most recent triumph over the Thunder. Every member of the rotation contributed to the team’s well-rounded performance. But along with this accomplishment came a big change: Coach Darvin Ham decided to stick with the original starting lineup, barring any injuries.
On Monday, the starting lineup—which includes Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Taurean Prince, Austin Reaves, and D’Angelo Russell—showed potential. But a big question remains: Given the shortcomings that first caused its cancellation earlier in the season, was this performance sustainable?
Tackling Weaknesses: Bouncing Back and Defensive Issues
Rebounding and defensive breakdowns are the starting lineup’s two most obvious shortcomings. By taking advantage of these weaknesses, the Thunder scored 21 second-chance points and grabbed 13 offensive rebounds. Although the Lakers overcame these problems against Oklahoma by capitalizing on the Cowboys’ missed three-point tries, it is unclear if this tactic will work in the long run.
Vital 3-Point Defensive Play Against Dallas
Ahead of their matchup with the Mavericks, the Lakers will have to face a club that is exceptionally proficient from beyond the arc. In terms of three-point attempts and three-pointers made per game, Dallas is ranked second in the league. The Lakers must have a strong perimeter defense to stop the Mavericks’ accurate shooters in order to learn from their previous meeting, in which Dante Exum scorched them with seven three-pointers.
Nonetheless, Dallas struggles even more than the purple and gold when it comes to rebounding, which is an area where the Lakers may take advantage of. The Lakers can take advantage of their interior scoring when Anthony Davis leads the way in the paint. Their prospects of defeating the Mavericks would be significantly increased if they could obtain a balanced scoring output from the whole rotation.
Final Match and Updates on Injuries
Since this is the last regular-season encounter between the two clubs, the game versus the Mavericks is especially important. The Lakers are keen to win this time around because Dallas already has the tiebreaker after winning their prior meetings.
LeBron James is categorized as questionable due to left ankle peroneal tendinopathy, while Anthony Davis of the Lakers is rated as likely due to a left ankle sprain and bone bruise. Sadly, injuries have kept Gabe Vincent and Cam Reddish out of action. Dante Exum is labeled as out for the Mavericks, Grant Williams and Derrick Jones Jr. are likely, and Luka Doncic is upgraded to questionable.
This crucial game will definitely depend on how well the Lakers’ revamped starting lineup performs and how well they resolve any lingering problems as they aim to defeat the Mavericks and win back-to-back games.
