Los Angeles Lakers: Stopping LaMarcus Aldridge will be important

The Los Angeles Lakers will be playing back-to-back games against the San Antonio Spurs. In those games, the Lakers must beware of LaMarcus Aldridge.

After winning three straight games, the Los Angeles Lakers will be tested in a home-and-home series with the San Antonio Spurs. While the Spurs aren’t where they want to be record-wise, this is still a very dangerous team with some All-Stars.

Early on in the season, the Lakers played the Spurs twice, and the Spurs got the better of them each time. In the two games, the Lakers were right there with them in both of them, with the first game being decided in overtime.

In both games, the Lakers had a real problem stopping LaMarcus Aldridge. As one of the top offensive big men in the NBA, Aldridge was able to do a lot of damage in those two games against the Lakers.

In the first matchup, the Lakers had no answer for Aldridge, as he was able to total 37 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. The 37 points came very easily and efficiently for Aldridge, as he shot 13-of-22 from the field.

A few days later, Aldridge played quite well against the Lakers once again, as he totaled 15 points on 7-for-16 shooting from the field. In two games against the Lakers so far this season, the numbers for Aldridge are very impressive.

While Aldridge has had the Lakers’ number so far this season, the Lakers are playing much better now than at that point of the season. One of the reasons for the improvement has been the addition of Tyson Chandler. Quite possibly because of how well Aldridge played against the Lakers in the first matchup, the Lakers realized that they needed a solid option to play when JaVale McGee needed rest.

Chandler might not be the player that he once was on the Dallas Mavericks when he won a championship, but he can still provide valuable minutes. As a strong defender and rebounder, Chandler has helped improve two areas that the Lakers were lacking in early on this season.

While Aldridge has had the Lakers’ number this season, seeing Chandler on him should help slow him down a bit. With this being an exciting home-and-home matchup, it would be great to see the Lakers get at least a split against the Spurs. The home-and-home starts in the Staples Center on Wednesday night.