The Los Angeles Lakers have a golden opportunity to go up 2-0 before the series heads back to Hollywood for Games 3 and 4. Will the Lakers pummel the Golden State Warriors again this Friday? Or, will the defending champions pull even with a win?
Catch this game live on Friday, May 5, at 9:00 AM, Manila time
Away: Los Angeles Lakers (1-0)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: D’Angelo Russell
- SG: Austin Reaves
- SF: LeBron James
- PF: Jarred Vanderbilt
- C: Anthony Davis
After one game in this second-round series, the biggest story for the Lakers is no other than Anthony Davis. The Lakers big man dominated from start to finish of Game 1’s 117-112 LA victory last Wednesday at Chase Center, as he skewered the Warriors for 30 points and 23 rebounds plus five assists and four blocks. Who does that in a playoff game against the defending champs? AD, apparently.
It’s looking like a series that Davis can dominate, but the Lakers also have a collection of X-factors who can put up a surprise, including Jarred Vanderbilt, who only had eight points in Game 1 but helped force plenty of Stephen Curry misses. Austin Reaves also hit some timely shots to help keep the Warriors at bay. And then there’s Dennis Schroder, who scored 19 points and went 9 of 10 from the foul line. Los Angeles’ depth and its fantastic defense are key reasons why they appear to be on their way to winning this series, at least after just one game.
The Lakers enter Game 2 with a 5-0 record against the spread in their last five games in the second round of the playoffs.
Home: Golden State Warriors (0-1)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Stephen Curry
- SG: Klay Thompson
- SF: Andrew Wiggins
- PF: Draymond Green
- C: Kevon Looney
The Warriors and their fans have watched this movie before. Losing Game 1 is not the end of the world in the NBA Playoffs, especially for Curry and the Warriors, who even defied the odds in the first round and won the series despite losing the first two meetings with the Sacramento Kings.
The Warriors were also just a few inches away from sinking what could have been a game-winning 3-pointer in the series opener. Despite Curry and Klay Thompson each shooting well under 50 percent from the field in Game 1 and the team coming up with just six total attempts from the free-throw line, the Warriors still lost by only five points to a very good Lakers squad.
The Warriors, who are 5-1 ATS in their last six games after a loss, can definitely be better. It is also a good sign that they were +16 in the field-goal attempts battle in Game 1.
PREDICTIONS:
Spread: The Lakers (+6) cover the spread.
Over/Under: The total (227.0) hits the Over.
