LAKERS 101

The Lakers are looking to win back-to-back games for the first time since May 1^st when they took a 2-0 lead over the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2012 NBA playoffs. Tonight Los Angeles takes their 1-3 record to the Energy Solutions Arena to take on the Utah Jazz (1-3). The Lakers continue to play banged up, as Steve Nash will sit out for the second straight game, and Kobe Bryant will start having missed the last three Laker practices with a bruised right foot.

Probable Starters

#5 Blake              PG         #5 Williams

#24 Bryant          SG         #20 Hayward     

#15 World Peace             SF          #2 Williams        

#16 Gasol            PF          #24 Millsap        

#12 Howard       C            #25 Jefferson   

Key Matchup – Steve Blake vs. Mo Williams

The Jazz got a steal in their trade for Mo Williams at the end of regular season last year. Williams left the Clippers because he wanted to start at point guard, and he has already shown that he is well-deserving of that position. In Utah’s first four games, Williams is averaging 20.8 points, 6.8 assists, and 2.5 rebounds. He is a lethal shooter and he has the ability to create his own shot, especially against slow defenders like Steve Blake. Blake has stepped up in place of the injured Nash but his lack of production relative to the minutes he plays has been a liability for the Lakers. Blake is averaging 5.3 points, 4.3 assists, and 2.3 rebounds in 27.5 minutes a game. The Princeton offense doesn’t place a premium on the production of the point guard so the Lakers don’t need huge games from Blake offensively going forward. However, Blake must stick Mo Williams defensively tonight or he can easily go for 30 points at home.

The game tips-off tonight at 6:00PM PT on TWC SportsNet and ESPN LA 710. 

 

Tags: Basketball, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Lakers, Mo Williams, NBA, Steve Blake, Steve Nash

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