Lakers vs. Bucks: Three keys for what could be an NBA Finals preview
LOS ANGELES — No need for the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James to have a dramatic speech before Friday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks and if they should "Fear the Deer."
"It’s the No. 1 team in the league going on our home floor," James said. "What’s known doesn’t need to be said."
Still, Lakers coach Frank Vogel has often told his team before marquee matchups that "there’s no trophy given out for a regular season game." Therefore, the Lakers (47-13) rejected the premise that Friday’s game against the Bucks (53-9) at Staples Center will serve as an NBA Finals preview.
Semantics aside, there are three areas that likely will become a theme Friday and possibly in June:
1. Giannis vs. Lakers defense
Can the Lakers foil Giannis Antetokounmpo’s dominance as the Toronto Raptors did in last year’s Eastern Conference finals? In a seven-point loss in Milwaukee three months ago, the Lakers thought they had the answer by packing the paint and forcing Antetokounmpo to take outside shots. It didn’t matter. Antetokounmpo still finished with 34 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists while shooting 58% from the field and 63% from deep. He made a career-high five 3-pointers.
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"We’ve got to make his 3s harder," Vogel said. "He’s taking them every game and he’s making them sometimes. But if you give guys open shots and rhythm shots, there’s a good chance they’re going to make them. Now, what I don’t want to do is, I don’t want to overreact to that. The No. 1 priority is to keep him out of the paint. But if you see him going into that shot, we’ve got to guard it."
2. How aggressive will LeBron be?
James took on a larger scoring load in two recent games against the New Orleans Pelicans, and one can’t help but wonder if part of that had to do with winning the head-to-head matchup against star rookie Zion Williamson. So even if James might express indifference about winning the MVP award over Antetokounmpo, he likely will increase his aggressiveness.
"Just kind of continuing to build the great habits going into the postseason," James said. "But also not disrespecting the process of what we can do today."
3. Will healthier Davis make a difference?
When he last faced the Bucks, Anthony Davis nursed a sprained right ankle. He maintained that "he was physically able to do everything" en route to a 34-point performance. But he started with only eight first-half points. Lately, Davis has not looked hobbled with injuries and has remained consistent with his post presence and rim protection.
"It’s going to be a defensive game," Davis said. "I wouldn’t be surprised if the score is not a high scoring game, just for the fact that both teams are defensive minded."
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