The all-star game is over and now it’s time for the 23-34 Lakers and 30-26 Clippers to go back to work. Both teams are hoping to make the playoffs but it still seems like a long shot for the Lakers who are in 11th place in the Western conference. The Clippers are tied for ninth position. Only eight teams from the East and West make the playoffs
The next Laker game is at home on Friday at 7:30 p.m. against the Dallas Mavericks. Their next four games are on the road starting with their Saturday game against Sacramento. Next Monday they play Atlanta, Thursday they battle Miami and they end their four game road trip against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday March 3.
If the Lakers expect to make the playoffs their point guard Lonzo Ball needs to return to the lineup and stay healthy. Hopefully their new combo guard Isiah Thomas and Ball can learn how to play together. If that happens the Lakers can surprise a lot of teams.
The recent trades are also an opportunity for Julius Randle and Brandon Ingram to show Laker fans that they can be stars in the NBA. Both players have the talent but they lack consistency to play at a high level every night.
The Clippers are starting their play after the All-Star break today (Thursday) at Golden State. They travel to Phoenix on Friday and finish their three-game road trip next Tuesday against Denver.
On Wednesday February 28 the Clippers start a rare six-game homestand when they take on one of the best teams in the league, the Houston Rockets. On Friday March 2, they battle the New York and Sunday March 4, they face the Brooklyn Nets. Tuesday, March 6, they play the Anthony Davis and the Pelicans. On Friday March 9, they battle LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers and they finish the homestand against Orlando.
If Lou Williams can continue his hot shooting and DeAndre Jordan can control the paint the Clippers should be able to move into one of the eight playoff spots.
Reader Comments(0)