The Los Angeles Lakers are hosting the defending champions while carrying a seven-game winning streak. It’s yet another test for the new-look Lake Show, but it will be eased by the fact that the Raptors’ All-Star floor general, Kyle Lowry, and defensive anchor, Serge Ibaka, are both out with injuries.
The Lakers’ toughest test since the season-opener
The Lakers have racked up seven straight wins and will arguably have their toughest test since their season debut against LA Clippers, where they suffered their only loss of the year.
It’s been a smooth ride for the Lakers. They have collected wins through blowouts, comebacks, and hard-fought battles. The formula is simple – let Anthony Davis pound the ball inside, LeBron James dictate the offense, and the supporting guys do whatever it is they do best.
Davis (26.5 PPG) is staying in the paint to do his thing in the low post, shake off the defender in the high post, or disrupt the defense with timely right kick out. James (26 PPG, 10.5 APG), meanwhile, is out to confuse defenses with his scoring and ability to facilitate every teammate on the floor.
Defensively, the effort is evident as well. They have the best defensive rating in the league while also ranking first in blocks per game (8), third in points allowed (98.5), and second in field goals allowed.
The big blow to the Raptors
Kyle Lowry, the Raptors’ longtime point guard, is expected to miss two weeks with a fractured thumb. It’s a big blow to the defending champs as Lowry is consistently turning back the clock to his younger days. He’s averaging 21.8 points and dishing out 6.5 assists per game on the season.
Serge Ibaka, meanwhile, is day-to-day with an ankle injury. They will miss their defensive presence and quality minutes off the bench – 14 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in just 22.9 minutes of action.
Will Pascal Siakam continue filling in the holes?
The 6-2 Raptors are winners of two straight and have done it by scoring more than 120 points on both occasions. In the recent victory, they made quick work of the New Orleans Pelicans, 122-104, by bulldozing the defense by 75 points in the first half, allowing them to basically coast in the third and fourth quarters.
Pascal Siakam has done an excellent job taking over the opportunities opened up by Kawhi Leonard. As the Raps’ new go-to man, he’s putting up 27.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. He’s in for an intriguing match-up with LeBron and we can all expect an extra aggressive Siakam, especially since he’s fresh-off matching his career-high of 44 points.
Lowry’s leadership of the offense will be taken over by Fred Van Vleet. There’s a lot to look forward to in this sudden shift, with the 25-year-old already having a breakout year. Despite sharing point guard duties, Van Vleet is able to dish out a team-leading 7.4 assists and score 15.1 points per game, both of which are career-bests.
PREDICTION:
The Lakers should be able to capitalize in Lowry and Ibaka’s absence, but they can’t let Siakam build any rhythm. He’s a match-up nightmare and will be capable of taking over the game.
