In the tune of 2016 Drake…LeBron’s out here “Looking for Revengeee.”
That was cringy, I know.
What won’t be cringe-inducing, is the satisfaction a certain LeBron James will potentially have in opening up a can of you-know-what on the talent-maligned Golden State Warriors – y’know, that franchise that’s caused so much distress on the King and his finals record over the past five years – as the Lakers host the four-time champs at home during ESPN’s second game of their weekly Wednesday doubleheader.
When we taking a closer look at this battle of Californian coasts one fact stands true: the Los Angeles Lakers are a very good basketball team. That’s it. That’s the sentence.
Here’s another statement that’s as equal as a calculator doing basic addition: the Golden State Warriors are not a good basketball team, and not in the slightest.
Any preview that you’d read would feature the disproportionate lack of parity between a roster built to win any seven-game series and the other, a disheveled roster devoid of any talent (other than D’Angelo Russell who is the unopposed, most-meaningful player on the roster at this point and is leading his team in points and field goal efficiency) that has experienced over eight changes to their starting lineup only ten games into the season.
Well, that’s exactly what this preview is doing. Don’t expect any surprises tonight from one of the only teams in the entire NBA that has yet to earn its third win. The Lakers won’t have Anthony Davis as he recuperates from back and neck soreness from the Lakers back-to-back trip from playing the Toronto Raptors and Phoenix Suns, but that won’t slow down LeBron from putting on a regulatory display of strength, skill and all-around domination in this matchup.
Not all has been dreary for these new-look Warriors. Eric Paschall is a diamond in the rough and a sight for the already sore eyes inside of the newly-constructed Chase Center. He’s been putting up some praise-worthy numbers for the Warriors, averaging 15.6 ppg. and 4 assists per game in an averaged 30 minutes of play.
These short-handed Warriors recently got back another familiar face in their starting lineup, as Draymond Green returned from a hand issue. Green is still the boastful, vocally-evident defensive juggernaut we’ve all known him to be, but with a PnR heavy guard like D’Angelo Russell, Green has been relegated to being a screener and spot-up shooter, not in complete charge of running the offense when KD, Steph and Klay were alongside him in battle.
He’s still not the best shooter – only making a measly 4-17 shots to go through the nylon – but his role will need to evolve if the Warriors want to at least look the part of having the competitive pace and space offense Head Coach Steve Kerr is so used to running.
LeBron and Kyle Kuzma look to take a majority of the team’s half-court looks, as the offense will primarily run through the both of them. Getting Rajon Rondo back from injury earlier this week does more good than bad for the Lakers, as he’ll allow James to not be so adamant at being the primary facilitator and just a mismatch down low. Expect your Avery Bradley defense, Danny Green kick-out threes, and occasional Alex Caruso tough finish in the lane, which is becoming as spectacular (and somewhat meme-worthy) as seeing Bigfoot in person.
As the rivalry goes, this could be a good game. Whenever LeBron and Draymond go at it, it’s always fireworks. You might get some more tonight.
Tip-off for game two of Wednesday’s doubleheader is at 10:30 p.m. EST/9:30 p.m. CST. on ESPN.
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