NBA power rankings week 13: Halfway mark, OKC Thunder hold steady
team. 20. . 34-8. Previous: 2nd. Los Angeles Lakers. 2
Los Angeles Lakers:
Offense: (113.1) 4th
Defense: (104.7) 3rd
Net: (plus +8.4) 2nd
Games Week 13 (2-1): Won vs. Cavaliers: 128-99, Rockets: 124-115, Lost vs. Magic: 118-119
Games Week 14 (4 games): Mon at Celtics | Weds at Knicks | Thurs at Nets | Sat at 76ers
The Lakers loss to the Magic was more a blip on the radar than any neon light worthy note. That said, Anthony Davis has missed five games in a row and after both he and LeBron James said they would avoid load management the longer he remains out the more queries regarding the severity of his injury will be raised. (As of early this Monday scuttlebutt is he’ll play in Boston).
The other notable is how quickly Kyle Kuzma seems to have endeared himself to King James. Kuzma followed up a breakthrough performance versus the OKC Thunder with what LeBron deemed impressive defense on Westbrook.
The question — is this smoke and mirrors in order to raise Kuz’s trade value or is James actually buying into the belief Kuz can continually improve defensively and produce consistently on offense?
The week 13 games offer up fodder to believe the consistency isn’t there:
- Cavaliers: 11 points, three rebounds, two assists, two turnovers, plus 10
- Magic: 4 points, five rebounds, seven assists, two turnovers, minus 11
- Rockets: 23 points, eight rebounds one assist, two turnovers, plus four
This isn’t the type of production that screams – reliable third option. Nor is it remotely consistent. Arguably, with Davis out (and facing two sub .500 teams it should equate to Kuzma feasting.
While we won’t know until February 6th what his fate is — I’m not sure I’d suggest buying Kuzma Lakers stock.