Road Struggles for Trail Blazers, Lakers Eye Bounce Back
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Western Conference Clash in LA
The Portland Trail Blazers (11-21) travel to Los Angeles to face the Lakers (18-14) on Thursday, January 2. This Western Conference clash at Crypto.com Arena will mark the second meeting of the season between these two teams. Los Angeles has had the upper hand recently, winning four consecutive games over Portland, including a 107-98 victory on December 8.
Portland Trail Blazers: Road Woes Continue
Portland enters this matchup as they embark on a tough five-game road trip. The Blazers have been inconsistent lately, posting a 2-1 SU (Straight Up) record during their recent homestand. After impressive victories over the Utah Jazz (122-120) and Dallas Mavericks (126-122), Portland faltered in their last game, suffering a heavy 125-103 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. The Blazers struggled both offensively and defensively, shooting just 22% (8-for-36) from beyond the arc. The 76ers, on the other hand, shot a blistering 57.3% from the field, including 45.8% from three-point range (11-for-24).
Portland’s season has been plagued by inefficiency on both ends of the court. They rank 27th in the NBA in both adjusted offensive efficiency (108.7 points per 100 possessions) and adjusted defensive efficiency (118.1). Their shooting struggles extend beyond the three-point line, as they rank 27th in the league in three-point shooting percentage (33.1%) and 24th in turnover percentage (14.2%).
The Blazers’ offense has primarily run through Anfernee Simons, who led the team with 25 points in the loss to Philadelphia. However, their lack of depth and consistency has been a recurring issue, especially when traveling on the road.
Los Angeles Lakers: Looking to Bounce Back from Cavaliers Defeat
The Lakers have been trending upward in recent weeks, winning five of their last seven games. However, their momentum hit a bump when they suffered a 122-110 home defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers last Tuesday. Despite outscoring Cleveland 62-52 in the paint, the Lakers were undone by their poor three-point shooting. Los Angeles hit just 9 of 35 attempts (25.7%) from deep, while the Cavaliers nailed 18 of 46 three-pointers (39.1%).
Austin Reaves had a stellar performance, posting 35 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds, while Anthony Davis added a 28-point, 13-rebound double-double. Despite their strong interior game, the Lakers struggled defensively, allowing Cleveland to outpace them from beyond the arc.
Los Angeles has shown an ability to score efficiently, ranking 12th in the league with 113.3 points per 100 possessions. However, their defense has been inconsistent, ranking 21st in the NBA by surrendering 115.8 points per game. The Lakers have also been ineffective from three-point range, ranking 26th in the league for three-pointers made per 100 possessions (11.8) and 19th in three-point shooting percentage (35%).
As the Lakers aim to shake off their loss to the Cavaliers, they will look to tighten their defense and improve their perimeter shooting against a Blazers team that has struggled on the road.
Conclusion
The Los Angeles Lakers should have the upper hand in this matchup, given their superior talent and ability to control the paint. While Portland has shown flashes of promise, their road woes and defensive inefficiencies make it difficult to see them pulling off an upset in this game. Expect the Lakers to capitalize on the Blazers’ weaknesses and secure a comfortable victory at home.
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