The Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers will face off on Friday in a showdown that may end up shaping the Western Conference playoff bracket and could play a significant role in determining the 2020-21 NBA champion. In fact, Anthony Davis called it “the biggest game” of his team's roller-coaster campaign.
The clash at the Moda Center will decide the season series between the Pacific Division foes, both of whom sit at 37-29 and split the first two meetings of the season. The Lakers' loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday dropped L.A. into a tie with Portland (both 37-29) for the no. 7 seed — and the top spot in LeBron James' favorite tournament.
Hopefully, Davis will be able to take part.
The All-Star big-man exited Thursday's game in the first half with back spasms and did not return. He said he “should be good to go” for Friday, depending on how his back feels in the morning. He admitted that the stakes of the Portland meeting “adds a little juice” behind his efforts to play.
Davis has been more vocally concerned about the play-in prospect than any other Laker. A couple of weeks back, he deemed a two-game stretch against the Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards as “must-wins,” citing his team's precarious position in the standings.
Now, Anthony Davis is putting a positive spin on the opportunity. For one, he believes the Lakers can still beat anybody at full strength — which they'll ideally be by mid-May.
“When we're 100 percent, we're the top team in the league. So, we keep that in our minds,” Anthony Davis said. ” … We know we're gonna 100 percent healthy. ‘Bron maybe has a week. Dennis, five, six days left or something. But when we get everyone healthy, especially headed to the playoffs, we know the type of team we are. So, no matter if we have to play in a play-in game, or we get the fifth or sixth seed, we're ready to compete against anybody.”
Plus, considering the lack of court time the Lakers have enjoyed together (especially with Andre Drummond) every rep counts, including in a play-in game.
“We don't look at it as something bad,” Davis claimed about the play-in. “We need games to get back accustomed to each other anyway. I mean if it happens that way, it happens that way. Obviously, we don't want to go that route. But if it happens, it happens.”
“We look at it as game reps in the play-in. And if not, we got a little more practice time to get accustomed to each other.”
Markieff Morris — who dismissed the notion of the play-in game in April — projected similar confidence.
“I think I said before: we wasn't thinking about the damn play-in game,” the veteran forward said. “If it happens, it happens. If we’re healthy, shit, I wouldn't want to play us if I was the top two teams.”
Lakers head coach Frank Vogel downplayed the significance of Friday's game. Like any coach, he hopes his team brings the same mindset every night.
“Any game we play is important right now,” he said. “Obviously, the head-to-head implications matter in the standings, but they mattered tonight, too, and they matter the game after Portland, as well. We don't really try to highlight big games. We compete and give it everything we got every game.”
For the second straight game, the Lakers will be without their point guard (Dennis Schröder), lead ball-handler (LeBron James), and key third ball-handler (Talen Horton-Tucker) vs. the Blazers dynamic backcourt of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. Against the Clippers, the lack of play-making from the back-court was insurmountable.
Like his coach, Morris is focused on getting a win vs. Portland — regardless of the seeding implications.
“Just gotta give it everything we got,” he said. “Just gotta figure out how to win, whatever it takes. Doesn't matter if it's an ugly game. Doesn't matter if it's 62-60.”
Kyle Kuzma said “I don't know” when asked how the Lakers will be able to scrape together a win on the second leg of a pivotal back-to-back against a Blazers team that has won five of their past six ballgames.
Making sure Anthony Davis is on the court is a good start.
“We just gotta win the game,” Kuzma said. “If we come together, if we defend at a high level, if we don't turn the ball over, rebound well and share the ball and AD plays, I think we'll be alright.”
Follow Us
Subscribe