Can the Lakers Dominate Philly and Keep Rolling?
Lakers Pregame Breakdown: 4:30 PM PT Matchup Against Philly
The Lakers are coming off a dominant performance last night, where Anthony Davis showcased why he’s the centerpiece of this team. Dropping 42 points and grabbing 23 rebounds against Charlotte, AD was an absolute force.
The Lakers go for 5 straight wins in Philly tonight 👀
Despite no PG or Embiid, back-to-backs on the road are NEVER easy… let’s find a way tonight 🙏 pic.twitter.com/suWNbqJPqC
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) January 28, 2025
But there’s a glaring issue: the non-AD minutes. Jaxson Hayes played 17 minutes and didn’t secure a single rebound. That’s unacceptable. If the Lakers are serious about contending, they need reliable production during those stretches when Davis is off the court.
Shot Creation Beyond Davis and LeBron
Let’s talk about the offense. When Davis and LeBron are off the floor, the shot creation is painfully limited. Sure, we’ve got a bunch of catch-and-shoot guys, 3-and-D players, and versatile defenders—but someone needs to create shots.
The lack of consistent creators puts too much pressure on the stars, especially during close games. Better staggering of minutes could help, but the roster still feels one piece short in this area. Adding a player who can generate offense on their own should be a priority.
Lakers’ Recent Surge: Contender Talk?
The Lakers have won five of their last six games, climbing the standings and generating some media buzz. Are they finally being seen as legitimate contenders? Sitting just 1.5 games behind Denver, the Lakers have a chance to make a statement.
A win tonight would move them within half a game of the Nuggets, but the Western Conference is tight. One bad night, and we could fall as low as the seventh seed.
Breaking the City Jersey Curse
Let’s address the elephant in the room: the city edition jerseys. For whatever reason, the Lakers just can’t seem to win in these. With only a couple of wins in these jerseys, breaking the curse would be a nice touch tonight. It’s time to flip the script.
Third-Quarter Struggles
Closing out third quarters continues to be a problem. The Lakers rank 18th in third-quarter point differential and are bottom-five at home.
Thankfully, tonight’s game is on the road, where the team seems to fare better. But the habit of taking the foot off the gas or playing down to opponents has to stop. If we want to be taken seriously, these lapses can’t keep happening.
Desperate Need for Another Big
AD sat down with Shams Charania recently and made it clear: “We need another big.” He’s right. The front office needs to act.
With Drummond and Embiid out tonight, this is the perfect opportunity to dominate the boards and highlight the need for another center. If the Lakers struggle to control the glass without Philly’s top rebounders, Rob Pelinka should be burning up the phones.
Road Game Redemption
The Lakers’ road record stands at 10-12. Tonight’s matchup provides a chance to improve that, especially with Philly missing key players. No Drummond, no Embiid, and Paul George is questionable. On paper, this should be an easier game.
But it’s also the second night of a back-to-back, so there’s a real possibility LeBron or AD rests. The team can’t afford to come out sluggish or take the Sixers lightly.
Betting Outlook: Lakers -3.5 Spread
The Lakers are favored by 3.5 points tonight. With key players out for Philly, this is a game the Lakers should win.
Dominating the boards and staying sharp during the non-AD/LeBron minutes will be critical. If they can avoid their usual third-quarter slump and play with urgency, they’ll head back to L.A. with another win.
Let’s see if the Lakers can keep climbing the standings and solidify their case as a legitimate contender. Tonight’s matchup is another step in the journey.
