With almost no time to dwell on Tuesday's defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Los Angeles Lakers take the court in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Wednesday evening.
The last the time Lakers took Minneapolis' hardwood floor, the home team stopped the game in order to hand Kobe Bryant a game ball and congratulate the 36-year-old on passing Michael Jordan on the NBA's all-time scoring list. The Lakers won that mid-December game and have gone 8-35 since.
Over those subsequent 43 games, Bryant's shoulder gave out, Steve Nash officially retired, Nick Young suffered a fracture in his knee cap and Ronnie Price underwent surgery on his elbow. While Young hopes to return, Price sounded less than optimistic about playing again this season. Rookie Julius Randle looks like he's progressing, but the Lakers have been clear that the rookie is preparing for NBA Summer League and will not play any part in this 2014/15 season. Randle broke his leg on opening night and then, underwent a later surgery on his foot.
At this advanced stage in the season, Lakers coach Byron Scott has seemingly switched the focus from winning games to entirely going out with the intention of developing talent. In Tuesday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Lakers did not play their two most polished NBA players, Jordan Hill and Carlos Boozer.
Boozer said he and Hill were told they would likely sit for next "4 or 5 games." So these DNP's could be for whole trip — Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) March 25, 2015
Talk coming out of the Oklahoma City visitors' locker room revealed that this change could be in place for at least another three to four games. With Scott not physically in attendance on Wednesday due to his mother's funeral, the Lakers should continue with the same rotations established against the Thunder.
Ryan Kelly, Tarik Black and Robert Sacre are earning opportunities to shine and prove they belong in this league and on this team. Kelly expects to play extended minutes at his natural position of power forward, and the second-year player has been promoted to the starting lineup. Black continues to start at center, and Sacre returned to the rotation as a big man off the bench. Ed Davis is the fourth big man in the rotation.
With the scoring abilities of Hill and Boozer watching from the sidelines, rookie Jordan Clarkson took hold of the extra available shots and attacked with greater dynamism. Against the Thunder, the rookie notched the first 30-point game of his NBA career.
To pair with Clarkson, the Lakers have also returned Jeremy Lin to the starting lineup. The combination of Lin and Clarkson is intriguing and should provide highlight plays considering the strong play both players have been putting up lately.
Timberwolves Notes
Ricky Rubio, Kevin Garnett and another six of Minnesota's players are out with injuries, as coach Flip Saunders looks to provide rookies Zach LaVine and Andrew Wiggins the same types of opportunities and playing time afforded to Kelly and Clarkson. Playing with only seven available players, the T-Wolves managed an overtime victory in Utah on Monday night. LaVine scored 27 points but also committed seven turnovers. Wiggins had 22 points and seven rebounds in the win.
The Lakers and T-Wolves start the clock at 5 p.m. Pacific Time.
