The NBA All-Star break is in the rearview mirror, and the Los Angeles Lakers are gearing up to face a red-hot Los Angeles Clippers team on Friday. With a 33-21 record, the Lakers are looking to kickstart a strong push as the regular season winds down.
The Lakers burst out of the gate with a 15-4 start but hit some bumps along the way, largely due to injuries to key players. Now, with a clean bill of health, Coach JJ Redick is optimistic about the road ahead.
“We’ve got an opportunity to, I think, play our best basketball after the All-Star break,” Redick shared following Thursday’s practice. “We’ve got a number of indicators on both sides of the ball that we’re doing some things that are trending in the right direction. And I think it’s coming at a good time as we’re getting fully healthy.”
The Lakers have been on a bit of a roll, winning nine of their last 14 games, and their defense has shown signs of tightening up. Heading into Friday’s game, they’re just a game shy of the third-place Houston Rockets in the Western Conference standings.
Adding to their advantage, 10 of their next 13 games will be played at home. This stretch presents a golden opportunity for the Lakers to bolster their winning percentage, despite a somewhat underwhelming 15-10 home record so far. The stage is set for an exciting run, and the Lakers seem ready to seize the moment.