Los Angeles Lakers: Predicting game-by-game record in final eight games
By Jason Reed
3. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Utah Jazz — Win
The Utah Jazz are going to be one of the most interesting teams to keep an eye on once the season resumes. Rudy Gobert testing positive for COVID-19 was the catalyst for the league postponing the season in March and there is some potential fallout from that positive test result.
Gobert was not taking the virus very seriously and after testing all of the Utah Jazz players and personnel, it was revealed that Donovan Mitchell was positive as well. That did appear to create an uncomfortable rift between Mitchell and Gobert, but they have had time to repair that relationship and appear to be moving forward.
In terms of the basketball matchup against the Lakers, the Jazz are a solid defensive team but simply lack the scoring output to keep up with the Lakers. The Lakers beat the Jazz by nine and 25 points in their two matchups this season, with the Jazz only scoring 86 and 96 points in those games.
4. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Utah Jazz — Win
The Lakers play the Jazz in two consecutive games and I do not think the result is going to be different in the second matchup. The Lakers are a solid defensive team with a better offense and that is just a terrible matchup for the Jazz.
This game will be closer, but the Lakers will take both against the Jazz, especially at a neutral site.