Getting better

The newest superstar Laker had finally tuned up and had produced superstar numbers in his latest game. It will be safe to assume that he’ll be the face of the franchise once the reigning team diva rides into the sunset.  Unless, of course, another mind-boggling player swap happens in the coming years.

The internet had come up with a name for LAL’s superstar duo – LeLuka Broncic, and whoever baptized them with this label should be given a half-time recognition, formal or irreverent.

From a mediocre defensive team, the Lakers in their last 15 games have the league’s top defensive rating which is kind of surprising considering that Anthony Davis was not around for the better part of this stretch.   Coach JJ Redick had put a premium of defense and results had been good as Redick is trusting LAL’s second unit.

The game against the Denver Nuggets had Luka dominate with LeBron in a supporting role.  It would be wise, in my humble observation, to limit LBJ’s minutes now that Luka had found his groove.  As long as Rui Hachimura and Austin Reeves continue to produce double figures and their defense stays if not improve, the Lakers will go far in the playoffs.

I was not too happy with the trade, but it had panned out well for LAL, so far.

As for Dallas, getting Anthony Davis with Max Christie thrown in sends the Mavericks in a win-now mode.   AD was AD in his Dallas debut but that was it as he’s in sick bay, again with a thigh injury.  Joining him on the injured list are three rotation big men, Dwight Powell, Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford with ankle, knee and hip issues respectively.  Big, big hole in the hole.

AD will be out for two more weeks, Gafford for another six weeks while Lively most probably could be out for the season.  Powell had been out since the middle of January and is listed as day-to-day.

The Mavs have a thin frontcourt and power forwards PJ Washington and Kessler Edwards, both undersized at 6’7”, were forced to man the middle but with favorable results.  Things all fall on Kyrie Irving and even Coach Jason Kidd admits that Kyrie is overworked.

Klay Thompson is on a slump the past two games but Christie had made up for Klay’s scoring plunge.   In eight games with his new team, Christie is doing 15 points per outing, up by 7 points per from his Laker days.

Both teams will get better with their new additions, especially Dallas when their frontcourt players return to action.