Can Lakers deliver a Christmas Day win over Boston?
LAKERS / Q&A
L.A.'s lackluster performance against lesser teams doesn't inspire much confidence. But a strong road trip could bode well for the Lakers' chances back home against the Celtics.
Readers questions for our Lakers beat reporter Mike Bresnahan.
Question: Do you think the Lakers will win against the Celtics on Christmas Day? The way they're playing, they will be lucky to score 100 against Boston.
This is coming from a BIG Laker fan.
-- Jopet Arguillas
Answer: If the game was in Boston, I would give the Lakers a big "NO CHANCE," seeing how they couldn't even win in Indiana and Sacramento in recent road forays.
But because it's at Staples Center, I give them a mild nod. I wouldn't bet a sofa cushion on it after seeing them surrender 65 points in the first half to New York the other day, but they have only one loss in 15 home games.
Here's the big-picture problem for the Lakers, though. They can't keep stringing together unimpressive victories over downtrodden/short-handed teams and then expect to turn it on against Boston, Cleveland, San Antonio, New Orleans, etc.
Maybe they'll show some spark on a four-game trip that starts tonight in Miami and continues in Orlando, Memphis and New Orleans.
The Lakers could go 4-0 on this trip. Or they could go 2-2. They're that unpredictable at this point. If they go 4-0, though, I would upgrade them from "mild nod" status on Christmas Day. Call it a slightly less mild nod, whatever that would look like.
By the way, while we're on the subject of big-picture problems, here's one for the Celtics, courtesy of Times basketball editor Barry Stavro (a longtime scholar of Boston teams).
The Celtics have no depth.
They are burning through their starters at a higher rate than last season, which is not something Celtics Coach Doc Rivers wants to do. Kevin Garnett (32 years old), Ray Allen (33) and Paul Pierce (31) are all averaging more minutes per game than last season, which is fine if they're in their mid-20s but not in the final years of their careers.
Granted, they've won, like, 57 games in a row, but the Celtics would be wise to solidify their bench before the trade deadline. James Posey was a big contributor for them last season, but he's now logging 27.7 minutes a game for New Orleans. He might turn out to be the one that got away.
Q: I have been wondering why the Lakers have been starting Luke Walton. Is it possible they are "showcasing" him for a trade? Clearly, he has enough talent to start for many teams in the NBA. What might the Lakers get back in a trade for Luke? Perhaps a good backup point guard?
