Our Lakers – Jazz tip and the NBA forecast // Picture: Marty Jean-Louis/Alamy Live News
Lakers – Jazz Prediction: Lakers save themselves in the play-in
In the meantime it looked like the Lakers would miss the playoffs, but then they were able to “save” the season after all. They traded Russell Westbrook to Utah of all places and were able to secure one or the other jazz player. Westbrook himself didn’t make a game for Utah and went to the Clippers, Malik Beasley and Jared Vanderbuilt came to LA and gave the Lakers the hoped-for depth.
While the rebuild progressed in Utah and the playoffs became less and less important, the Lakers turned up the heat. In recent weeks, LA has been one of the best defensive teams and turned the balance sheet into a positive one. Even a slightly longer injury to LeBron James didn’t stop Anthony Davis and Co. from turning things around. With the playoffs approaching, the Lakers are in good shape and with a win today, they want to carry the positive feeling into the most important phase of the season.
This is how the last encounter ended!
In early November, the Jazz clearly won their first two games against the Lakers. The results of 130-116 and 139-116 show the Jazz started well and the Lakers weak. A week ago the third duel took place and the Lakers won 135-133. Although the Lakers needed overtime, LeBron made everything clear with a layup just before the end of the game and gave the Lakers an important win.
Our Lakers – Jazz Tip: James and Davis bring victory to the Lakers
With the home side needing the win and placement still determining home advantage in the play-ins and opponents in the playoffs, the Lakers will want to avoid slipping further.
- Good for the Lakers that Davis is in good shape. In the last few weeks he has averaged over 30 points and 10 rebounds and blocked about two shots per game.
- LeBron also seems to be finding his rhythm after his injury. He went under 20 points in three of his first four games after his return. Most recently, he regularly climbed the 30-point plateau again.
- The Lakers defense just keeps getting better. The pieces of the puzzle that the Lakers got from the Westbrook trade fit perfectly and time and again they kept their opponents under or around 100 points.
- Utah’s form curve has been getting worse and worse and from a balanced balance sheet at the end of February they recently slipped into a clearly negative balance sheet.
