Can Lebron save the Lakers?
The Los Angeles Lakers have been a strange team to watch this NBA season. Injuries have forced the 2020 Champions to put out new rotations constantly, and it's lost them more games than it's won. Sitting ninth in the Western Conference standings at 28-36, Frank Vogel's men are in a precarious position and must win games to ensure they don't fall out of at least the ninth and tenth spots to make the play-in games.
And with All-Star forward Anthony Davis still sidelined with a mid-foot sprain, the Lakers need their star more than ever. Fortunately for them, that star is one of the greatest players to ever suit up in the NBA.
Lebron James almost single-handedly snapped the Lakers' four-game losing streak on Sunday, scoring the 3rd-highest points total of his career with 56 as the purple and gold downed their West Coast rivals 124-116.
Make sure you tune in on Saturday to see King James take on a Wizards defense that may not be able to contain him.
Kuzma returns with a point to prove
Kyle Kuzma began his NBA career with the Lakers in 2017 and tasted the ultimate glory as part of the squad that won the 2020 Championship. With valuable experience gained, the past offseason saw Kuzma shipped out of the city of angels to the capital, after the Lakers acquired fiery guard Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Montrezl Harrell.
No longer a member of one of the NBA's 'big' teams, Kuzma took it in his stride and has taken his play up a notch this season, something he put down to the change of environment.
It’s been a great change of pace for me, a change of scenery,” the 26-year-old said of being on the Wizards.
“My role has changed here. If you think about the first 25 games, I was in a different type of role than I am now: more scoring and just doing more things with the ball. It’s just great to be in a situation where I can just be myself and do what I do, and not dummy myself down.”
With more responsibility on his new team, Kuzma will return to LA keen to show his old team just how much they're missing out on.
Saturday, March 12
Washington Wizards v Los Angeles Lakers
1430-1700 (AEDT)
LIVE on SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand
Hawks back at home to rebound from road trip
The Eastern Conference standings are pretty tight towards the bottom half of the playoff ladder this season, and if the Atlanta Hawks can get on a roll, they could find themselves up the pecking order. Just three wins separate the 10th placed Hawks (31-33) and the 7th placed Toronto Raptors (34-30) and the Hawks have slowly been making up ground, winning five of their last eight games.
The team will be buoyed by their home crowd against the Indiana Pacers on Monday, in their second game at State Farm Arena after four games on the road and expect that crowd to be rocking. The Hawks almost tasted the NBA finals last year, and will be chomping at the bit to get back amongst the best this year too.
Pacers players not giving up despite missing playoffs
At 13th in the East at 22-45, the Indiana Pacers won't be making an appearance in the NBA playoffs this year. However, that hasn't deterred their players from trying to give the fans something to cheer about, giving it their all to bring home as many wins as possible before the end of the season.
The Pacers shot the lights out to beat the red-hot Boston Celtics by 21 points a week ago, in a game where no one would have given them much of a chance, before very close losses against the Pistons and Cavaliers showed they've still got the heart, they just have to close down the stretch.
Expect the young Pacers roster to take it right to Atlanta and not go down without a fight.
Monday, March 14
Indiana Pacers v Atlanta Hawks
1000-1230 (AEDT)
LIVE on SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand
