NBA preview: The Los Angeles Lakers look to end the skid against the Milwaukee Bucks
After starting the season with eight straight victories, two-time defending champions the Los Angeles Lakers are reeling. And, although they’re far from troubled, the Lakers (8-2) look to get back on track after dropping their last two games to the Denver
Nuggets and Phoenix Suns. Their first chance to recover will come on Tuesday 16 November, as they head to the Bradley Center to take on the Milwaukee Bucks (5-5).
The match-up will pit the Lakers, who come in toting the NBA’s most potent offence, against the Bucks, owners of the league’s most stout defence. Milwaukee, who is allowing just 89.4 points per game, will look to slow down the Lakers’ average output 112.5 points
per contest.
And, although they posted 100-plus points for the ninth time in 10 tries this season, the Lakers were stifled by the Phoenix Suns this past Sunday, 121-116. Obviously, it wasn’t Los Angeles’ lack of scoring that kept them from winning, but rather their inability
to stop the Suns from lighting up the scoreboard. That rang especially true of the Lakers’ three-point defence, as Phoenix managed to knock down 22 shots from behind the arc, the second-best mark in league history.
After such a hot start, many will be wondering what is ailing the Lakers of late, but Kobe Bryant appears to be keeping things in perspective.
“You hate losing, especially to start a road trip, but it is what it is,” the guard said of his team’s most recent shortcomings. “They made big shots, a lot of them.”
Likewise, coach Phil Jackson remained grounded, as usual. “You know you’re always upset when you lose,” he told reporters after the game. “This is about winning, this game is, and losing is a part parcel that you’re dealing with as far as accepting it.”
Still, the Lakers remain one of the NBA’s most successful teams this season, as their only two blemishes haven’t come from a lack of effort or energy, but rather their opponents’ ability to execute. In their most recent loss, Bryant led the way with 25 points,
14 assists, and nine boards, just one rebound shy of garnering the 18th triple-double of his illustrious career.
Meanwhile, converted centre Pau Gasol added 28 points and 17 boards (both team highs), while power forward Lamar Odom chimed in with 22 points and 11 rebounds.
But Bryant, who is averaging 25.2 points per outing this season (third best in the league), and the rest of his team-mates could run into trouble against a stingy Milwaukee defence that has allowed just three players to score 25 points or more in 11 games thus
far this season.
Furthermore, the Bucks, who have not allowed an opponent to score more than 100 points in regulation over their last nine games, are currently enjoying a three-game winning streak, and have been victorious in four of their last five games.
As such, Scott Skiles has taken notice. “We’re starting to string together a couple good defensive performances,” the Bucks coach said following his team’s latest win, a 79-72 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
However, Milwaukee, who is averaging just 92.1 points per game offensively (statistically the NBA’s third-lowest scoring output this season), will need to continue to play well defensively if they hope to have any chance at stopping the usually dominant Lakers.
Prediction: Lakers 109, Bucks 93
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