NBA | Golden State Warriors vs Los Angeles Lakers | 24 February, 11:00 AM (PST)

[Mary C]

Time is running out for the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers to work on playoff positioning as they begin their post-All-Star break schedules with a meeting Thursday in Los Angeles. To move up from play-in tournament eligibility to a top-six spot in the Western Conference and an automatic spot in the first round, the Warriors, the defending champions, will need to commit on the defensive end. The Lakers' sole objective is to achieve postseason eligibility, whether that means earning play-in or better status. The Lakers' season has been far from what they expected, sitting 13th in the 15-team Western Conference, but they are only two games away from a play-in spot. 

The Warriors entered the All-Star break having lost three of their previous four games without injured star Stephen Curry, including a road loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on February 14 that exposed their defensive flaws by a score of 134-124. Steve Kerr, the head coach of the Warriors, remarked, "We were the No. 2 defense in the league a year ago. Curry's return from a left leg injury is at least two weeks away, but this week he returned to the practice court for non-contact work, saying, "I think we have it in us and hopefully we can get healthy." For his perimeter defense, new addition Gary Payton II was chosen, but his hip injury will keep him sidelined for at least a month. 

Draymond Green, a seasoned player for Golden State, takes full responsibility for the defense effort made by his team. Green remarked, "Our defense isn't very good. The Lakers will move forward with a new look. "It's kind of been the story all year and you have to do something to fix it. It has to come from within. Defense is all about a will — a want to defend. Defense isn't fun. You just have to want to do it if you want to win and we haven't." After being traded, Russell Westbrook's divisive time with the team came to an end. By bringing in Rui Hachimura, D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Mo Bamba, Los Angeles' roster became more rounded. 

On the court, LeBron James and Anthony Davis will continue to take the initiative, and they will also be primarily responsible for making the most of the new roster. James averages 30.0 points, 8.4 assists, and 7.0 rebounds per game. Davis has a 26.0 point average and 12.3 rebounds. James' right hand bruise prevented him from participating in the second half of the All-Star game, but the injury is not thought to be serious. The expectations James has for the remaining six to eight weeks of the regular season are much more serious.