Coming off a tough home loss to the New Orleans Hornets on Tuesday night, L.A. embarked on its first home-and-away back-to-back of the season, as the team left promptly after the game for Oakland to face the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday evening.
Here are a smattering of headlines to preview the contest:
“Good” News on Odom’s Knee
The Lakers will have to face Golden State without Lamar Odom, who left Tuesday night’s game late in the second quarter after going for 12 points in a solid effort. While L.A. will miss Odom when facing a Warriors team that likes to play small, the results of a Wednesday morning MRI showed a bone bruise that brings with it a day-to-day label. While there’s never “good” news in terms of an injury, things could have been much worse.
Bring Back the Low Block
Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol posted one of their worst combined games of the season against New Orleans on Tuesday, making only 5-of-15 shots for 17 points, eight boards a piece and only one block despite playing an average of 38.5 minutes. With Odom and Luke Walton out with injuries, it’s very important for L.A. to get back to the basics on the block, and not rely on Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant to huck long jumpers. Particularly in Oakland, where the Warriors love to push the pace and play Nelly-ball, the Lakers simply can’t ignore their size advantage down low.
Turiaf Welcomes Former ‘Mates
Drafted in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft (No. 37 overall, three spots ahead of Monta Ellis), Ronny Turiaf spent his first three seasons in L.A., endearing himself to all in the process. Turiaf signed as a free agent after last season as the Lakers declined to match Golden State’s offer, after the Gonzaga product averaged 5.5 points, 3.5 boards and 1.1 blocks in his L.A. career. This season, Turiaf ranks fourth in the NBA in blocks (2.21).
Maggette Likes the Lakers
Two seasons ago against the Lakers, G.S. forward Corey Maggette went for a career-high 39 points, plus a career-best nine assists on April 12, 2007 while playing for the Clippers. Maggette also had his career-high in steals (six) against L.A., on Dec. 16, 2007. This season, Maggette - who just returned from a 13-game rest due to a hamstring pull - leads the Warriors in scoring with 19.1 points a night.
No Stephen Jackson
Last season at STAPLES Center, Warriors forward Stephen Jackson sank a game-winning three-pointer against the Lakers on March 23. Jackson, who’s played for five NBA teams in eight years, won a ring with the Spurs in 2003, and he averaged a career high 20.1 points for Golden State last year. However, Jackson won’t be available on Wednesday due to a strained right hamstring.
