The Lake Show
After a rough 2018-19 campaign, the Los Angeles Lakers have come alive this season. They are topping the Western Conference standings and own a third-ranked defense, while also parading one of the marquee duos in the league in LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
The Lakers’ superstar tandem is off to a hot first month. James is averaging a double-double with 25.7 points and a career and league-high 10.9 assists per game, while Anthony Davis is providing solidly on both ends with 26.1 points and a league-leading 2.8 blocks per contest.
James is showcasing the best defense he’s had in years, whether it’s on-ball, help defense, taking charges, and playing the passing lanes – his 1.5 SPG is currently his best since the 2015. Davis, meanwhile, is in an exciting clash with Rudy Gobert.
The rest of the supporting cast will be an x-factor. It is important that James and Davis get them going early, particularly the outside shooters – Kyle Kuzma, Danny Green, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
The Lakers won their first match-up with the Utah Jazz last October 25th, 95-86. LeBron led the way with 32 points and 10 assists, and the defense had the Jazz committing 22 turnovers and shooting just 41.4% from the floor.
The vengeful Jazz
The Jazz had no answer for the Lakers in their previous match-up. They faced a Laker team fresh off an embarrassing season-opening loss to the LA Clippers so they took the blunt of the frustration.
Donovan Mitchell had 24 points on 7-for-15 shooting but it was mostly uneventful due to the game having a one-sided energy. His backcourt partner, Mike Conley, shot 3-for-11 and had four turnovers, and Rudy Gobert was quiet with nine points, eight rebounds, and zero blocks.
The trio should be more aggressive as they try to avenge the loss, and we should see Mitchell come out with guns blazing. He’s an explosive scorer that can attack inside and out, and will be boasting 24.5 points per game.
Bojan Bogdanovic was inactive in the October meeting due to an injury. Look for him to follow suit on Mitchell’s high-scoring ways. He’s currently putting up a career-best 20.9 points per game and had a pair of 30-point performances this week.
The Jazz are 8-1 at home this season.
PREDICTION:
The Jazz play exhibit that ever-consistent defense and even the season series with a 109-101 win.
