3. A litmus test for the Lakers’ young pups
The Lakers went 0-4 against the Warriors last season, but they took both of their home games against the reigning champions to overtime. With LeBron James now in the mix, it should be even more of a fair fight.
Still, Christmas Day will give the Lakers’ young pups—most notably Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart—a chance to prove to James that they’re ready for the gauntlet of the Western Conference playoffs.
Kuzma missed two of the Lakers’ four games against the Warriors last season, but in the two games he did play, he averaged 26.0 points on 61.3 percent shooting and 10.0 rebounds in a whopping 41.4 minutes. As the Lakers’ second-leading minutes-getter this season, the 23-year-old figures to play a heavy load on Christmas Day.
Ingram was the Lakers’ second-leading scorer against the Warriors last year, with 21.0 points on 52.3 percent shooting in 39.6 minutes per game across three outings. Comparisons between Ingram and Kevin Durant have predated the former’s arrival in the NBA—Durant himself joined the party in 2016—although Ingram has yet to take off as a scorer in the way Durant did during his first few seasons.
Ball’s per-game averages have all dropped during his sophomore season, in part due to the presence of James and Rajon Rondo. The Lakers have spent most of the year attempting to goad their young point guard to be more aggressive, which will be especially imperative against the two-time defending champions.
Dethroning the Warriors will take a herculean effort, but the Lakers’ young guys will have the chance to prove on Christmas Day that they’re up for the task.