LAL: Show Off Your Depth
It’s unlikely that we’ll be seeing the Lakers’ stars back in the lineup when they face the Miami Heat, but their performance against the Toronto Raptors in their last match was incredibly encouraging.
The Lakers won by just nine points in their last match, but they were always in control. After an early row that saw Montrezl Harrell ejected from the game, the Lakers saw seven different players contribute double-digit scoring in the victory.
It was one of the most perfect games that the Lakers played, showcasing the potential of their depth. Frank Vogel will want more of the same, especially from players like Marc Gasol and Talen Horton-Tucker. Kyle Kuzma though still needs to step up his game.
Editor’s Picks
MIA: Establish A Defensive Presence Early
The Miami Heat are coming off of a disappointing loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Not only did they go down early, but they also weren’t able to recover against the hard-charging Grizzlies.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra saw his Heat allow the Grizzlies to shoot 59.1% from the field and shoot ten free throws. Against a Lakers team that scored 40 points in the first quarter of their last game, leaders Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo need to set the defensive tone early.
They’ve been able to score the ball early, shooting 63.6% from the field in the first quarter of their last game. However, with a lack of go-to options in the clutch, they need to stay consistent throughout the game.
Lakers Key Player: (F) Kyle Kuzma
The Los Angeles Lakers have dropped to fifth in the Western Conference, owing to the loss of Anthony Davis and LeBron James. Thought to be the third star to their group, the Lakers are still waiting for Kyle Kuzma to step up.
In his last game against the Toronto Raptors, Kuzma left the team wanting. He contributed just eight points, four rebounds, one assist, two blocks, and three turnovers.
Kuzma can still play solid defense. But in the absence of James and Davis, he needs to be effective in scoring the ball. Averaging just seven points on 21.7% shooting over his last two games, Kuzma’s scoring ability needs to improve if he wants to take down the Heat.
Heat Key Player: (G) Victor Oladipo
New man Victor Oladipo hasn’t had much time to get used to his new team, but he put on his best performance as a member of the Heat in his last outing.
Oladipo posted 16 points, six rebounds, and two assists on six of 14 shooting from the field. He was off the mark from deep, but was able to get to the line for five free throws.
On his day, Oladipo has the ability to be the most dangerous player on this Heat team. Building off of his performance against the Grizzlies will be the best step toward beating the Lakers.
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