Same city, different arena. After falling to the Los Angeles Clippers 114-107 on Sunday evening, the Portland Trail Blazers will suit up again on Monday to face the LeBron- and Luka-less Los Angles Lakers.
No rest advantage though for the Lakers as they played Sunday evening in Sacramento.
There are lots of positives to take from Tiago Splitter’s first loss in charge of the Blazers. The defense was once again quite satisfying, if not perfect. It’s fun to watch your team cause so many problems with hustle, desire and technique. Portland was also quite effective getting to the free throw line, taking 19 more free throws than the Clippers. Better shooting, especially from deep, would have made it a very different game.
The Lakers handled their first game without both Luka Doncic and LeBron James reasonably well, defeating the Sacramento Kings on the road 127-120. Austin Reaves absolutely went off, scoring 51 points with 11 rebounds and 9 assists, just missing a spectacular triple-double. Our old friend Deandre Ayton took second honors for LA with 22 points and 15 rebounds.
What You Need to Know
Portland Trail Blazers (1-2) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (2-1) – Mon. Oct. 27 – 7:30 p.m. Pacific
How to watch via antenna or cable: See your options on the Rip City Television Network
How to watch via streaming: BlazerVision in Oregon and Washington; League Pass everywhere else
Trail Blazers injuries: Robert Williams III, Scoot Henderson, Damian Lillard (out)
Lakers injuries: Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Adou Thiero, Maxi Kleber (out), Jaxson Hayes (questionable)
SB Nation Affiliate: Silver Screen and Roll
What to Watch For
Deandre Ayton. After a 10-point, 6-rebound effort in the Lakers’ first game, a loss to Golden State, Lakers fans were less than impressed. But 15 points and 8 rebounds in a win against the Minnesota Timberwolves drew praise from a few different quarters (see below). Against the Sacramento Kings with neither LeBron or Luka playing, Ayton went for 22 points and 15 boards in the Lakers victory. Ayton will be motivated to have a good showing against the team that paid him to go away, so Portland may have their hands full.
Three-point shooting. In their only win this season, the Blazers shot 47.1% from deep. In their two losses, they shot a poor 31% and a more putrid 26.8%. It’s possible to win with a low three-point percentage, but the Blazers take too many to shoot as poorly as they did in their losses and get away with it. Shooting was perhaps the biggest concern going into the season. Other than off-the-court distractions, shooting will continue to be the biggest concern until the team can prove otherwise.
Shaedon Sharpe. These first three games have been rough for Sharpe. Against the Clippers he took eight more shots than anyone else on the team while shooting 29.2% from the field. That kind of usage with such inefficiency is extremely hard for a team to overcome. There is certainly an argument for letting their $90 million dollar man shoot through his slump, but things have to get better, and fast.
What Others Are Saying
Edwin Garcia of Silver Screen and Roll writes that Lakers fans are optimistic, according to an SB Nation poll.
The results are in, and 37% of fans think the Lakers will win between 50 and 53 games.
After a poor first game, Deandre Ayton drew praise from his coach in the second game as reported by Matthew Valento of LakersNation.com.
Head coach JJ Redick applauded him for staying patient and the ball eventually found him in the third quarter.
“Yeah, DA was great,” Redick said after the game. “I thought his patience for the game was really good by that. Luka getting it going early, being the beneficiary of DA screening at times. Yet at halftime, I thought DA was playing really well. You look up, he’s got three shots. And really just kind of let the offense come to him throughout that second half. And then defensively, he was really good as well.”
Steve Nash and friends break down high action from the Lakers.
