The champions are coming to town.
OK, maybe that’s a stretch. The Los Angeles Lakers are the In-Season Tournament champions, crowned on Saturday when they beat the Indiana Pacers in Las Vegas in the finals of the NBA’s first foray into a tournament-style event in the middle of the regular season.
The Lakers went undefeated in the seven games that were part of the tournament. The championship game did not count toward the regular-season record. But nevertheless, the Lakers have beaten four teams in a row.
The three that will show up in the standings were against Houston, Phoenix and New Orleans and the Lakers held those three teams to an average of 96.3 points. The Mavericks’ offense clearly will be tested on the second night of a back-to-back.
But anytime you play the Lakers, and perhaps even moreso this season, the story is the play of LeBron James. He will turn 39 on Dec. 30, and is averaging 25 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game. He’s also shooting a career-best 40.7 percent from three-point range.
Nobody beats Father Time, but LeBron is giving him a heck of a game.
Here’s what else to look for in the early game:
- The development of Dereck Lively II is happening right in front of our eyes. With the Mavericks leading comfortably in the third quarter of their 120-113 win at Memphis on Monday, the rookie found himself on the low block with the ball, one on one with Santi Aldama. The Memphis forward blocked Lively’s move to the basket, but the Mavericks’ rookie regathered the ball. He then lofted a jump-hook over Aldama that nestled into the net. Those sorts of plays that aren’t off the pick-and-roll show that Lively is expanding his game. Lively had 16 points and 16 rebounds against the Grizzlies.
- His rookie running mate, Olivier Maxence-Prosper, also was a big asset as the Mavericks won for the third time in a row. Prosper had 11 points and four rebounds in 18 minutes.
- The Mavericks’ injury issues are significant. Kleber (right small toe), Williams (right knee), Kyrie Irving (right heel) and Josh Green (right elbow) all missed the previous game at Memphis.
- The Lakers are starting a three-game trip, if you don’t include the IST semifinals and finals that they played in Las Vegas on Thursday and Saturday. After Tuesday’s game, they will play the Spurs twice in San Antonio.
- Anthony Davis is averaging 22.7 points and 12.7 rebounds per game. He is coming off a 41-point, 20-rebound effort in the championship game of the IST, which the Lakers won 123-109.
MAVERICKS (14-8) vs. LOS ANGELES LAKERS (14-9)
WHEN/WHERE: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, American Airlines Center, Dallas.
TV: TNT.
RADIO: 97.1 FM The Freak; 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish).
Share and comment