Lakers will play against the Rockets away on December 29. Can the Purple and Gold Army, which has suffered a five-game losing streak, stop the decline? Westbrook was criticized for making only 4 of 20 shots in the last game. The Lakers encounter a weak Rockets in this game and will have a chance to breathe. The Lakers must win this game, otherwise it will be more difficult to play the Grizzlies in the next game.
The good news for the Lakers is that the outside player Bradley is expected to come back and participate in the battle. Bradley was released from quarantine on December 26, but did not play. Monk, who was released from quarantine on the same day, played. If there was no accident, Bradley should come back in this game. The Lakers need his defense. After all, the Lakers' defense has been too poor in the last two games.
Bradley played 26 games for the Lakers, including 21 starts, and his starting numbers rank fourth in the team. Bradley averaged 5.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per game, with a 40.0% three-point shooting percentage.
After Bradley recovers from health, the Lakers are expected to re-use a starting killing formation. This season, the Lakers played 24 minutes with Westbrook, Tucker Jr., Bradley, James and Howard , with an offensive efficiency value of 117.6, a defensive efficiency value of 74.0, and a net efficiency value of +43.6, which means 43.6 points won by the opponent in a hundred rounds.
This is the group with the highest net efficiency value among the five-player group with more than 20 minutes this season. It is worth mentioning that the Lakers have used such a five-man team in a total of 3 games, two of which were the starters and both won the game, and the other was not the starters and lost the game.
Bradley is very important to the Lakers. He is a full-time outside defensive player for the Lakers. The Lakers need to use him to guard against the opponent's important firepower points. It is very practical for the Lakers to sign Bradley with their basic salary, and he also showed his energy to prove that he can contribute to the Lakers. The question now is whether Lakers acting coach Fitzdell trusts Bradley, after all, he is not Vogel .
If Bradley returns to the starting lineup, the Lakers are likely to defeat the Rockets. The Lakers need to increase their defensive energy, and they can just get Rockets to test the sword. Anyway, Bradley's return is good news for the Lakers.
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