NBA 2021/22 on Wednesday, 26.01.2022
While there is a short break in football, basketball fans can breathe a sigh of relief, because in the NBA, play continues diligently. Tonight, for example, there is the thrilling game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers, who just can’t convince at the moment.
But who is even more convincing is LeBron James! According to my Nets Lakers tip, the King will be able to seamlessly continue his outstanding performances since the turn of the year. Especially because the home side seems to have a problem or two of their own.
Any Nets fan who placed a long-term bet on a successful season for the franchise at the beginning of the season will have to be very strong in the coming weeks.
Brooklyn will still have to do without superstar Kevin Durant, whose return, just like that of Joe Harris, will be some time in coming. Meanwhile, Brooklyn’s frustration runs deep.
James Harden is constantly complaining about the refereeing, while assistant coach David Vanterpool has just been fined $10,000 for deliberately deflecting a pass in the game against the Wizards.
But despite all that, the Nets’ playmaking superiority was still great enough to win half of their last six games, after all. But home games – like the upcoming one against Los Angeles – paradoxically represent a weakness for the black and whites.
Due to the guidelines of the city of New York, only vaccinated players are allowed into the Barclay Center, which is why hardcore vaccination refuser Kyrie Irving has to pass. This means that only James Harden of the Big Three will be on the floor tonight.
Nevertheless, I think the New Yorkers are the better team. For one thing, up-and-coming youngsters like Patty Mills are delivering reliably – and for another, their upcoming opponents are a mere shadow of their former selves.
The injury to Anthony Davis has set the Californians back more than expected and the many departures at the beginning of the season could not be adequately replaced on top of that. In fact, the 2019/20 NBA overall champion is now just an average team.
The Lakers won only four of their last six NBA games and are not very convincing as a collective. However, the one player who is more convincing on an individual level than almost anyone else in the league is the legend LeBron James.
The superstar has been exceptionally injury-free of late and, whenever he performs as he is currently doing, a player bet on the number six is a must – even if the Lakers lose in the end.
LeBron James has not scored less than 25 points in any of his ten appearances since the New Year. Especially in the absence of Anthony Davis, Los Angeles is all about their king at the moment.
Since the Nets will not be as solid as usual on defence due to the many absences, it is to be expected that The King will be able to leave his scent mark quite often under the basket of the New Yorkers.
Meanwhile, LeBron is only 2,006 points away from the all-time scoring crown, which has been held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for ages. James admitted that this milestone also motivates him, which is why I am in good spirits that he will perform with the right attitude.
Another reason that makes me doubt Los Angeles is that the franchise has lost both games against the Nets so far this season – even though Brooklyn will be much weaker than usual tonight.
However, it’s worth noting at this point: don’t trust the roast, Los Angeles is weakening considerably more!
Conclusion: New York continue to keep their heads above water despite their many problems on and off the court. While I wouldn’t put it past them to get a win over the faltering Lakers, they won’t get The King stopped.
For the home side, besides superstar Durant, Kyrie Irving is also out due to his vaccination status. That will give LeBron James, who has yet to score less than 25 points in any game this month, the space he needs.
Moreover, his teammates will play him more often than average – after all, what else can they do. Davis is missing and their number six is the only one who has the necessary confidence to go straight to the opponent’s basket!
So my Nets Lakers tip is: Los Angeles might lose, but James still cracks the 30-point mark!
