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Los Angeles Lakers: Beating the Bucks could start a serious run

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a made basket against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at Staples Center on February 27, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a made basket against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at Staples Center on February 27, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers avenged their loss to the New Orleans Pelicans and Wednesday and have the NBA’s best team ahead of them on Friday.

LeBron James went out and had a great showing on Wednesday night to lead the Los Angeles Lakers over Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans. While things still look more negative than positive in LA, this was a step in the right direction.

LeBron dropped 33 points and 10 boards, Rajon Rondo logged a double-double with 11 points and 16 assists and Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma combined for 45 points.

This is what the Los Angeles Lakers have to do to win right now. Not having Lonzo Ball‘s defense in the lineup is drastically hurting the team, which is allowing far too many points per game with Ball out.

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If it takes an offensive surge then that is what the Lakers have to go out and do every night. They are going to have to provide a massive offensive surge on Friday when the team takes on the NBA’s best team, the Milwaukee Bucks.

The 47-14 Bucks have the best record in basketball and are going to present a big challenge for the Lakers at home. While most fans do not expect a win out of the Lakers on Friday night, a win could spark a big run that has playoff implications for the Lakers.

A win over the Bucks would obviously be a big confidence boost and certainly would be unexpected. That confidence boost, coming off a nice all-around game against the Pelicans, would carry over to the following opposition, which is beatable.

The Lakers will head to Phoenix to take on the Suns. We have seen crazier things but seeing the Lakers lose to the Suns after beating the Bucks would be so cruel. The team then has the surging Los Angeles Clippers, who continue to play pretty good basketball.

However, LeBron and company will know how important this game is for playoff implications and the Lakers will get a big performance out of him. That would run it to four games in a row.

The Lakers then take on the Denver Nuggets, who are very good and have stuck around the top of the West longer than anyone expected. Their offense will go toe-to-toe with the Lakers but they play a much different style of basketball, ranking 28th in pace of play.

If the Lakers can get off to a nice run and continue to push the tempo then they have a good chance of catching the Nuggets.

The Lakers then have a five-game run against the Celtics, Bulls, Raptors, Pistons and Knicks. The Lakers should win at least three of those, if not four, with Lonzo Ball hopefully back in the lineup by then.

By that time the Lakers will; be playing the Bucks for a second time. A win over the Bucks on Friday could cause an 8-2 or 7-3 run in the team’s last ten.

Next. LeBron's effort shouldn't be surprising. dark

That would push the Los Angeles Lakers to 37 or 38 wins and right back in the playoff picture.

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