All Lakers Expert Predictions For LA-Golden State Game 2
Your Los Angeles Lakers are looking to snag another unlikely victory tonight, on the road against the Golden State Warriors once again.
LA improbably stole Game 1 117-112, behind a towering 30-point, 23-rebound Anthony Davis performance. Can they do it again?
1. Can Anthony Davis string together another big scoring night?
Thanks to a big personnel move ahead of this game, it suddenly seems that we may be able to avoid a letdown from AD following his epic outpouring on Tuesday. For LA to win, Davis will need to notch something in the range of another 25-point, 10-rebound night.
2. Will LeBron James start driving a bit?
The Chosen One has been ice cold from deep, but that hasn't stopped him from taking some misguided jumpers in this series so far. He went just 1-of-8 from three-point land in Game 1, and needs to limit some of those triples early in the shot clock tonight. I think he'll clean that up at least somewhat, and hopefully try to beat his Warriors opponents (usually Andrew Wiggins or Draymond Green) off the dribble. He took 14 of his 24 field goal attempts outside the paint, making just four of those tries. Though he does seem to be a step slow as he continues to grapple with a sore right foot, he has to avoid chucking futile triples.
3. Will Los Angeles at least beat tonight's spread?
The Lakers are a seven-point underdog, per The Action Network. Although Golden State can get hot from deep and perhaps put the game out of reach if it goes on a run, I think LA's size will be a problem, especially with Kevon Looney perhaps playing limited minutes due to an illness. I think LA will cover, although I'm dubious it can win again.
4. Can Troy Brown Jr. make a shot?
TBJ is back in head coach Darvin Ham's rotation after being cut in the final games of LA's first round series against the Memphis Grizzlies, but he hasn't been shooting too often in the playoffs thus far. To wit, he took just two field goals in 12:09 during Game 1, making his lone three-point attempt. I doubt this will change, unless there's a blowout and he gets more run, which would help him find a shooting rhythm. In the playoffs this year, he's averaging just 2.0 points on while shooting 33.3% from the field (16.7% from deep) in 14.3 minutes. He only played garbage time minutes in Game 6 against the Grizz.
The game is moments away from tipoff on ESPN. Tune in, won't you?
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