TLN’s Pregame Report: Lakers vs. Cavaliers

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

The (27-11) Los Angeles Lakers continue their home stand hosting the NBA’s worst (8-29) Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Lakers displayed a revamped defense and cooled off the streaking Knicks on Sunday by holding the league’s highest scoring team to 87 points. They made a much-needed defensive adjustment, chasing opponents off the three-point line and funneling them inside to Andrew Bynum since he’s been doing an excellent job as a rim protector by blocking and changing shots.

The new defensive scheme has paid dividends; the Lakers have won four straight games, six of seven since Andrew Bynum’s return.

In the next six days, the Purple and Gold play against four teams that have a combined record of 45-102.

The Cleveland Cavaliers has used 14 different starting lineups this season. The bad news for the them, they have lost ten games in a row and are steaming toward the first pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. The good news, their head coach and former Laker Byron Scott will be back home in front of The Lakers Nation.

Once a marquee NBA match-up, now these teams are like “ships that pass in the night”.  The Cavaliers depleted by injuries, still had three players score in double-digits in an eight-point loss to the Suns. The Lakers cannot let their guard down; this is still a dangerous team. They need to come out aggressive, put a lead on this team and end the competitive phase of this game early.

The Lakers have an opportunity to build a long winning streak. They need to run their offense from the inside out. Establish Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol in the post and allow them to dominate. The Lakers need to play with a lot of energy, take care of the ball, use good ball movement and player movement to find a high percentage shots.

Starters
Lakers: D. Fisher, K. Bryant, R. Artest, P. Gasol, A. Bynum
Cavaliers: M. Williams, M. Harris, C. Eyenga, A. Jamison, J.J. Hickson

Tip-off: 7:30 PM PST

Television -

  • Los Angeles: FS West (Joel Myers & Stu Lantz)
  • Cleveland: FS Ohio (Fred McLeod & Austin Carr)

Radio -

  • Los Angeles: ESPN 710 AM (Spero Dedes & Mychal Thompson)
  • Cleveland: WTAM 1100 AM (Bill Wills & Mike Snyder)

Injuries -

Lakers:

  • Matt Barnes (Torn Lateral Meniscus, Right Knee) Out
  • Steve Blake (Sprained Left Ankle) Probable
  • Lamar Odom (Sore Left Shoulder) Probable
  • Andrew Bynum (Right Knee Soreness) Probable
  • Theo Ratliff (Left Knee Surgery) Out

Cavaliers:

  • PF Anderson Varejao (Ankle) Out
  • PF Leon Powe (Torn Meniscus, Right Knee) Out
  • SF Joey Graham (Strained Right Quad) Out
  • SG Anthony Parker (Back Spasms) Questionable
  • PG Daniel Gibson (Sprained Left Ankle) Out

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