The Lakers look to nab their first win on the road this season against the Raptors on Friday. After playing their worst game of the young season, the Lakers will head northeast where they will continue their road trip against the Toronto Raptors. The purple and gold are still looking to snap this two-game losing streak they now find themselves in.
Perhaps what made Wednesday’s loss to the Cavs a little more ugly, besides being dominated by them from start to finish, is that L.A. looked like the version of themselves last season. Lazy, uninspired and weaker compared to their opponent. Once again, their transition defense — which has grown to be a big concern to start the year — was greatly exposed and, this time, so was their lack of offensive fire from both the starters and bench units. As Anthony Davis said postgame, this was the first game where they regressed and were god awful offensively.
Nothing came out of that game against the Cavs and frankly, after hopefully reviewing the tape and correcting their mistakes, the best thing to do is burn it. If the Lakers failed to respond correctly after their first loss of the season, their next test is to answer how they will bounce back from their worst one yet. Fortunately for them, they can take advantage of the Raptors team that’s off to a shaky start to the year.
The Lakers are stumbling upon a Raptors team that’s currently on a three-game losing streak. A big reason for Toronto’s struggles is that most of their main guys, such as Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, Kelly Olynyk, and Bruce Brown, have been hurt and won’t suit up against the Lakers as well on Friday.
The purple and gold should treat this one as a “get right” kind of game. Although that’s not to say that this one will be a walk in the park. L.A. still has to worry about RJ Barrett, who isn’t just averaging 25.5 points per game to begin the year but has the green light now that most of his teammates in the starting unit aren’t active.
Note that this Raptors team, despite being unhealthy, are still a really good offensive team as they currently rank 10th in the league in scoring. The Lakers should be able to match this and, better yet, expose the fact that the Raptors are currently the worst defensive squad in the league.
The Lakers can only do that if they have a significantly better offensive game from Anthony Davis, Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell. These aforementioned names are worth singling out because none of them posted more than 22 points last game. Hachimura and Reaves, in particular, were in single digits while Russell only tallied 10 points. Hopefully, this doesn’t happen again moving forward.
That said, since this one should be treated like a “get right game,” it’ll be ideal to see the Lakers get something out of their bench. Is this the game Max Christie is going to finally make his presence felt? It should be with the advantage he will have in the perimeter. It’ll also be nice to see Gabe Vincent and Jaxson Hayes get their rhythm in this one.
I’m also going to look at how the Lakers protect the ball, whether or not they make an effort to improve their transition defense and if their switching defense avoids gets buried for the third game in a row. More importantly, let’s see how determined the Lakers are to snap their first losing streak of the season on Friday.
Raptors Injuries Could Open Doors for Lakers
The Toronto Raptors are facing a serious injury problem with key players like Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, Kelly Olynyk, and Bruce Brown sidelined. This depleted roster presents a golden opportunity for the Lakers to right the ship and bounce back from their recent struggles.
How will the Lakers Respond?
The Lakers are looking to make amends for a disappointing loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and their game against the Raptors is a chance for them to regain their momentum. With the Raptors missing key players, the Lakers have a chance to establish their dominance on both ends of the court and secure a much-needed victory. The question is, will the Lakers rise to the occasion and capitalize on the Raptors' weaknesses, or will they continue to struggle with inconsistency?
A Look at the Raptors' Offense
The Raptors, despite their injuries, still boast a strong offensive unit. They rank 10th in the league in scoring, which means the Lakers need to be on their guard defensively. The Lakers’ success will hinge on their ability to counter Toronto's offensive threats and exploit their weakness on defense.
The Lakers Need to Step Up
The Lakers need a more balanced scoring attack. They need Anthony Davis, Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, and D’Angelo Russell to perform at a higher level than they did in their previous game. If they can find their offensive groove and effectively utilize their bench, the Lakers have a good chance of dominating the Raptors.
Will the Lakers Secure the Win?
The Los Angeles Lakers have a chance to get back on track against a depleted Toronto Raptors team. With a strong offensive performance and a disciplined defense, the Lakers should be able to overcome the Raptors' offensive prowess and secure a much-needed victory. If the Lakers can capitalize on the Raptors' weakened roster and showcase their own offensive firepower, this game could be a turning point for their season. But if they continue to struggle with turnovers and defensive lapses, it could be another tough night for the Lakers. Stay tuned for a compelling game between two teams with a lot to prove.
