The Lakers may have the prospect to get proper back to the profitable column as they proceed their street journey in Brooklyn the place they face the Nets on Easter Sunday. This is game 74 for the purple and gold, so time is ticking for them to climb up the Western Conference standings.
Start time and TV schedule
Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Brooklyn Nets
When: 3 p.m. PT, Mar 31
Where: Barclays Center
Watch: Spectrum Sportsnet
The final time the Lakers performed the Brooklyn Nets was in January, once they had been run off their own home flooring by Cam Thomas. It was one of the most disappointing games of the season and arguably of the Anthony Davis and LeBron James period.
But that’s yesterday’s information and the one factor the Lakers can do about it’s to make sure they don’t lose one other game towards them. In truth, L.A. ought to strategy Easter Sunday’s match towards the Nets with revenge on their thoughts.
After shedding on the street within the midst of a three-game in four-day stretch to the high-paced Pacers, the Lakers need to get their groove back ASAP. This is the get-right game that they need to take benefit of.
That mentioned, listed here are two storylines value taking be aware of forward of Sunday’s afternoon battle:
The return of Gabe Vincent
The Lakers’ free agent signee is reportedly expected to suit up tomorrow towards the Nets after lacking precisely 69 video games this season. He’s clearly not going to be in prime form however Vincent’s addition may very well be a enormous enhance for the Lakers shifting ahead if — and that’s a large if — his minutes don’t have an effect on the present guard rotation.
Speaking of the present guard rotation, with the best way Austin Reaves, Spencer Dinwiddie, and D’Angelo Russell are taking part in proper now, it’s going to be fascinating to see whose minutes depreciate with Vincent’s arrival. There’s additionally Max Christie — who can be a restricted free agent this summer season — seeking to get some burn. Suffice it to say that Darvin Ham has his work cut out for him concerning how he’ll deal with his guard rotation.
Who’s going to ball out?
Multiple gamers will compete towards their former workforce on this game, comparable to Dinwiddie, Dennis Schröder, Lonnie Walker IV and Russell. All of them are very important to their present workforce’s success, even when the Nets are more than likely not going to make it to the play-in match.
But to ensure that their corresponding groups to win on Sunday, not less than one of them has to ball out, and hopefully, it’s both Dinwiddie — who returns to Brooklyn for the primary time since getting purchased out — or Russell.
If the Lakers are severe about desirous to win their final eight video games of the season then there’s no excuse for them to lose to a workforce just like the Nets. Note that the ninth seed continues to be very a lot in jeopardy with the Golden State Warriors (who’ve the simplest energy of schedule forward) and even the Houston Rockets lurking under them.
Let’s see if the Lakers could make up for one of their horrible losses this season with a revenge game on Sunday towards the Nets.
Notes and Updates:
For the Lakers’ harm report, Gabe Vincent (left knee surgical procedure) is now listed as questionable alongside Anthony Davis (left knee hyperextension) and LeBron James (left ankle peroneal tendinopathy).
Christian Wood (left knee effusion), Jarred Vanderbilt (proper midfoot sprain) and Jalen Hood-Schfino (back disc surgical procedure) are out.
As for the Nets, Ben Simmons (left decrease back) and Keita Bates-Diop (proper tibia fracture) are out. Cameron Johnson (left toe) is questionable and Dennis Smith Jr., (proper hip) is possible.
You can observe Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani