Los Angeles Lakers: Game 2 against Trail Blazers is a must-win

After losing to the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 of their first round series, the Los Angeles Lakers quickly find themselves in a must-win game.

The Los Angeles Lakers were finally able to snap their playoff drought by making the playoffs this season, but their first win of the playoffs had to wait. The Trail Blazers were riding hot coming into the playoffs, and they were able to continue that against the Lakers.

As an eight seed, the Trail Blazers are a real threat to the Lakers, as they are now healthy. Portland had a lot of key players miss time this season, and they were in the Western Conference Finals just last year.

The Lakers seemed like they weren’t treating Portland as your typical eight seed, as Damian Lillard and his teammates deserve more respect than that. However, despite being prepared, the Lakers were unable to set the tone for the series in game one.

Since there isn’t any homecourt advantage in the bubble, the Lakers don’t have to worry about being tied or down in the series heading back to Portland for Games 3 and 4. However, Game 2 still has the feel as a must-win game for the Lakers.

Being down in a series is never ideal and losing two straight would put the Lakers in a very tricky spot. Eight seeds beating one seeds don’t happen very often, and the Lakers certainly don’t want to fall into that category.

With the media already jumping on the Lakers for being in trouble, they better be ready to play a good game in the second of the series. If the Lakers did fall to the Trail Blazers once again, they would be in some serious trouble.

Game 2 will be on Thursday night, and the Lakers better be prepared for one of their most important games of the season so far.