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Los Angeles Lakers vs Portland Trail Blazers: 5 players to watch

By Kenneth Teape

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 16: Brandon Ingram (L) #14 and Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers react on the bench as the final seconds tick off the clock in their 108-98 win over the Dallas Mavericks in a semifinal game of the 2017 Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 16, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 16: Brandon Ingram (L) #14 and Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers react on the bench as the final seconds tick off the clock in their 108-98 win over the Dallas Mavericks in a semifinal game of the 2017 Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 16, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers advance to Las Vegas Summer League Finals after beating Dallas Mavericks
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 16: Ivica Zubac #40 high fives Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the game against the Dallas Mavericks during the Semifinals of the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League on July 16, 2017 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Ivica Zubac/Kyle Kuzma

The Lakers are going to have their hands full on the interior. That means there will be a lot of pressure on the combination of power forward Kyle Kuzma and center Ivica Zubac.

Kuzma has been one of the standouts in Las Vegas. He has looked like a steal for the Lakers, who selected him with the 27th overall pick. He has led the Lakers in scoring four times, averaging 20.5 points per game. Kuzma is also averaging 5.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.5 blocks per game as he is getting it done on both ends of the court.

Zubac, on the other hand, has been slightly disappointing. He has shown flashes at times but hasn’t put together as dominant a summer as many people had hoped. Entering his second season with the Lakers, Zubac is one of the players that were expected to carry the load, but it has not happened.

If Zubac is going to put it together, tonight would be the time to do it. He will probably be the one that is matched up with Swanigan, which is a difficult matchup. Zubac has not looked comfortable moving away from the basket. The Lakers could flip Kuzma onto Swanigan, but he may not have the size to handle him in the post.

Swanigan isn’t the only player the Lakers have to worry about, as they also have Jarnell Stokes playing well in the paint. Kuzma and Zubac will have to find a way to slow them down to help get the Lakers a victory.

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