The Lakers play the New York Knicks on Super Bowl Sunday.
Fresh off of their double overtime win, the Lakers embark on a four game Eastern Conference road trip. First up is the New York Knicks who are historically awful.
Earlier in the month, the Knicks lost their 16th straight game. They followed that up with a modest winning streak, 4 out of 6 games. But true to form, on Thursday night, the Knicks were blown out by the Indiana Pacers.
Before beating Chicago, the Lakers had lost 9 in a row and 15 out of their last 18 games.
Both the Knicks and the Lakers are headed for Lotteryville Land, both hoping the ping pong balls drop the right way and they get the #1 pick. But, until then, they have 35 games to play. A Lakers victory is dependent upon three factors.
More from Lake Show Life
- Darvin Ham adds to Max Christie hype train after Lakers preseason opener
- Is LeBron James playing tonight? Latest Lakers vs Warriors update
- Can Darvin Ham put all of the Lakers puzzle pieces together?
- Lakers news: Darvin Ham knows his fifth starter, LeBron James and Rui Hachimura, Jalen Hood-Schifino praise
- Michael Malone’s painfully ironic comment has Lakers fans heated
Rebounding: The Knicks are the second worst rebounding team in the NBA. Their misery does not end there. They are one of the worst shooting teams in the NBA, 43%. The Lakers will get ample opportunities if they play tough and physical in the paint and grab rebounds. Multiple opportunities are easy to come by against the Knicks but only if the Lakers are aggressive around the rim and don’t solely depend on Jordan Hill and Ed Davis.
Execution: The Knicks are anemic scorers. Only Philadelphia and Miami score fewer points than the Knicks 92 points per game. Not surprisingly, the Knicks are last in getting to the free throw line. But, the Lakers are notorious for reaching at the ball instead of playing defense with their feet. Against a team that can’t shoot, giving up free points and possessions and slowing the pace of the game is a recipe for disaster.
The Knicks have won 9 games because they don’t defend. They give up 100 points a game and are the worst three point defensive team in the NBA. Taking good shots against a lackluster defense that doesn’t contest perimeter shots is mandatory. So is moving the ball from one side of the floor to the other and not letting it stay too long in one person’s hands.
Jordan Clarkson: This is his first game in the Garden. How will he handle the pressure of such a big stage? So far, Clarkson has done a good job with Tony Parker and John Wall and Derrick Rose defending him. He has a little bit of a break going up against the Knicks. They lack a dynamic point guard.
Similar to the Lakers in the first half of the season, the Knicks trot out an aged player (Jose Calderon) who is competent at best but doesn’t wow you with his athleticism or explosion. The Knicks start an undrafted rookie, Langston Galloway, at the shooting guard position. Jason Smith and Lou Amundson don’t average 10 points a game; they surround Carmelo in the front court. On paper, the Lakers have the better talent and it looks like a cakewalk but the Knicks play hard at home and it’s up to Clarkson to control the pace of the game.
Next: Lakers News: Byron Scott Impressed With Sacre's Performance