The Lakers have a tough test ahead in facing the Spurs on the road on Friday night
The Los Angeles Lakers’ road trip continues on Friday night as they travel to the AT&T Center to take on one of the best teams in the league in the San Antonio Spurs. This one could get pretty ugly pretty quickly just looking at the matchup of a Spurs team with 18 wins and Lakers team with only three victories to their credit.
However, this matchup has a bit of hope for the Lakers that hasn’t been there too often this season. Coming out of their showing against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday that saw D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle featured down the stretch with Kobe Bryant on the bench, Lakers fans got a sign of things to come and it was a ton of fun to watch.
Arguably the biggest complaint about the Lakers this season has been the fact that, in the midst of the losses piling up, the young players that comprise the future of the organization haven’t been put in the best position to succeed and develop. Getting to see it, no matter what the reason, was refreshing for fans in itself, but even more refreshing considering that the Lakers were competitive in doing so.
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Whether that happens or not in this matchup against the Spurs, though, might not actually matter. Kawhi Leonard is playing like a superstar right now and San Antonio is one of the deepest teams in the entire league. With the Lakers lack of depth and inexperience going up against one of the best-coached, most consistent, deepest teams in the NBA seems like it might end poorly for the purple and gold.
However, the key will be to continue the trend that started on Wednesday night by allowing the young players like Russell and Randle to continue to get important opportunities and quality minutes on the floor. If that happens, even a potential blowout loss to the Spurs on Friday night will be livable if the Lakers continue building and preparing for the future.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs
Date: Friday, Dec. 11
Start Time: 6:30 p.m. PT
Location: San Antonio, TX
Arena: AT&T Center
TV Info: ESPN, TWC Sportsnet
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: Here
Betting Odds
Point Spread: Spurs -14
Moneyline: Spurs -2500, Lakers +1350
O/U: 194
Injury Report
Los Angeles Lakers: Jordan Clarkson (ankle) – Questionable
San Antonio Spurs: None
Prediction
There’s no real way to sugarcoat the fact that the Spurs are the far superior team in this matchup. Even if the Lakers do show the same fight that they did in Wednesday’s overtime loss, they could still get demolished in San Antonio.
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