All Lakers Expert Predictions On Today's Mavericks Matchup
Your 28-32 Los Angeles Lakers will have their work cut out for them this afternoon, when they square off against the 32-29 Dallas Mavericks.
Let's take a look at some fearless predictions for how they'll fare.
Who is the most important non-Hall of Fame Laker heading into the game?
Jarred Vanderbilt, one of the less heralded new additions LA team vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka added at this year's trade deadline, will be absolutely imperative today. That's because Vanderbilt is set to be tasked with defending the best player for Dallas, All-Star guard Luka Doncic.
Which non-All-Star Mavericks player could represent the toughest matchup for LA?
Sharpshooting, versatile big man Christian Wood will be a tough cover for Anthony Davis, Mo Bamba, and whoever else Darvin Ham will decide to sic on him. The 6'10" center is averaging 17.7 points on .526/.375/.763 shooting splits, eight rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.2 blocks a night across just 27.6 minutes. His three-point shooting efficacy (he's making that 37.5% rate on 4.6 attempts) means his defender will need to honor him beyond the arc, which will draw a key interior presence out of the post.
Will LA beat the spread?
The Lakers are four-point underdogs today in Dallas. We can more or less throw out the two teams' previous two meetings this season, given that both happened before LA totally reinvented its supporting cast around LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and before Irving was a Maverick. But without D'Angelo Russell, LA may have trouble combatting the firepower of Irving and Doncic.
The action tips off today, right now, on ABC.
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