Lakers have now clinched the #1 seed in the Western Conference after defeating the Utah Jazz 116-108 Monday night in Orlando. Lakers win they’re 51st game of the season and look forward in bringing the franchise’s 17 NBA Championship this winter.
It took until the 3rd game of the NBA Restart for JR Smith to score his first points as a Los Angeles Lakers when there was 8:16 left in the 2nd quarter. Lakers had a good enough first quarter to maintain the Jazz in this game. Anthony Davis came out attacking after having an off day on Saturday evening. The Toronto Raptors put out the game plan for all 29 NBA teams on how to beat the Lakers, double teaming Anthony Davis. After the Raptors win on Saturday, Lakers F Anthony Davis said they did a good job by doubling him up but his teammates weren’t able to make shots when it matter the most especially when the Lakers shot 10-40 from three. Davis had 13 points on 14 shots in the first quarter. Davis came out to the court during the second quarter and came out the same way he did in the first. He finishes the first half with 24 pts, 7 rebs, 2 asts, 2 stls and still got 2 more quarters to go.
Through the 3rd quarter the Lakers kept battling in the game with Dion Waiters really stepping it up. One person I wanna give lots of credit to is Lakers C Dwight Howard. When the Lakers signed Dwight this off season, I was the first one saying that this is a smart move for the Lakers and everyone else was saying that this won’t work but guess what guys? It’s working pretty damn good! Check the link below for my article I wrote on Dwight Howard signing with the Lakers last summer.
In the 4th quarter the Jazz came out cold allowing the Lakers to take the biggest lead of the game at 13. LeBron was hitting shots and Anthony Davis continued the damage he was doing through the game. Lakers were up 97-86 with 8:10 remaining in the 4th looking to clinch the #1 seed in the tough western conference. The season began with everyone in the world saying that the new duo of LeBron and Davis wasn’t going to win the division with a team like the Clippers being there. Sounds like Fake News to me, just saying. Yes, the clippers have Kawhi Leonard and Paul George but I believe that’s not enough to hold down the Lakers. Today’s win has the Lakers winning the Pacific Division for the first time since Kobe’s Lakers in 2013. This accomplishment must be credited to Lakers GM Rob Pelinka.
After the total disaster that was going on in the media after the departure of former Lakers President of Basketball Operation Magic Johnson, the Lakers seem like they were headed into a land of mystery. Pelinka took the pressure from everyone and handle business after trading away the Lakers future in Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart to the Pelicans and receiving Superstar Anthony Davis on June 15th 2019. Davis finishes with 42 points on Tuesday night.
On August 3rd 2020 the Lakers are the #1 team in the Western Conference and are now chasing the franchise’s 17th NBA Tittle. Lakers next game is on Wednesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder at 6:30ET/3:30PT.
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