New York

Lakers at Cavs: 3.5 Weeks Later

The Cleveland Cavaliers (31-21) and the Los Angeles Lakers (13-37) meet on Sunday, much changed since they last met.

On Jan. 15, 2015, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James put on a show for a national audience.

Bryant would finish with 19 points, 17 assists and six rebounds in a memorable contest that included the grizzled veteran calling James old and James wearing the adjective with a smile. Back then, the Cleveland Cavaliers had a losing record and had lost six games in a row. The Los Angeles Lakers did not exactly appear destined for greatness, but neither did the Cavs.

Behind 36 points, four rebounds and five assists from James, the Cavaliers won the Jan. 15 contest at Staples Center. James and company went on to win 11 straight games and suddenly appeared within three games of the no. 2 spot in the East.

The Lakers did not fare nearly as well as the Cavs following that mid-January meeting. In his next appearance, Bryant injured his right shoulder and required surgery, ending his season immediately. Already two games into a losing streak entering their last meeting, the Lakers would go on to lose 10 of their next 11 games.

That's where the Lakers stand entering Sunday's matinee at the Quicken Loans Arena, but to say the Lakers are standing with 13 wins in 50 games is being generous. The Lakers have fallen flat on their faces.

Three games into their road trip, the Lakers have three losses, and the conversation surrounding the team is already focused on just how low they can go. Currently holding the fourth worst record in the NBA, a convincing defeat to the New York Knicks showed promise that LA could drop further. As it stands, the Knicks maintain the worst record in the league.

After losing in New York, the Lakers cradled a 14-point lead against the Milwaukee Bucks. Predictably, LA relented and lost in overtime. In a case of deja vu, the Lakers required overtime to lose to the Orlando Magic, too. Entering that game, the Magic had lost 10 straight and fired their coach only one day earlier. These Lakers know more about pulling out a loss than a win.

With their recent run, the Cavs appear headed for the top or near it, while the Lakers seem destined to finish at or near the absolute bottom. While Bryant would surprise fans by showing his face at Staples Center until the 2015-16 season, James appears poised to lead the Cavs into the postseason.

The Lakers and the Cavaliers have little in common entering Sunday's game, and one finds it nearly impossible to believe that these teams both had losing records and played a highly competitive game only 24 days earlier.

Unfortunately for fans watching on Sunday, the Cavs have greatly improved and the Lakers have gotten markedly worse. Sunday could turn ugly, but LA has a habit of playing up to their competition. They may not win, but the Lakers will likely make the game interesting.

The Lakers and Cavs tip-off at 12:30 p.m. Pacific Time.

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