With messages delivered, and certainly heard, the Los Angeles Lakers look back to the best version of themselves, with another chance to demonstrate it with a visit from the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.

Lakers’ Strategic Adjustments

Lakers head coach Darvin Ham has shifted the furniture during the opening 3 1/2 months, first cutting Austin Reaves from the starting lineup early in the season, then doing the same with D’Angelo Russell earlier this month. 

There was a report in early January that players felt a deepening estrangement with Ham and his rotations. The scathing evaluation from star LeBron James following a Jan. 5 setback to the Memphis Grizzlies: “I mean, we just suck right now.”

A few weeks later it seems to be one big happy family as the Lakers have won four of six games, with Reaves and Russell returning to the starting lineup in that stretch. Victories have come over great teams in the West like the Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks.

Stellar Performance Against the Mavs

Lakers rally strong!

In Wednesday’s 127-110 victory over the Mavs, the Lakers’ ruthless second half was fueled by 16 of Russell’s team-high 29 points. Reaves provided 14 total points on 6-of-8 shooting. Anthony Davis almost had a triple-double with 28 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists, while James had 25 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

Happy family indeed. 

“We have enough weaponry that we shouldn’t have to ever force anything,” James replied. 

Added Davis: “It’s not like we’re going out and being selfish with the shots. We’re having fun while we’re doing it and making the necessary plays.”

Nets’ Struggles Continue

The dissatisfied Nets hobble into Los Angeles off a second consecutive one-possession loss after they fell 105-103 at Portland on Wednesday to start a three-game West Coast trip. Before leaving, they fell 96-95 in overtime against the Miami Heat on Monday.

Mikal Bridges scored 21 points for Brooklyn on Wednesday, while Spencer Dinwiddie added 19, but the Trail Blazers’ Anfernee Simons nailed a jumper in the lane with 0.2 seconds left, going past Bridges and Dinwiddie and firing over Nic Claxton.

Concerns for Nets Head Coach

Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn did not want to overemphasize the final play of the game after harping earlier on the Blazers’ propensity to go to the basket.

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“It’s an accumulation of plays,” Vaughn commented. “They were able to get to our rim 36 times (with) 16 second-chance points so it’s the plays that happen in the first, second, third, and fourth quarter.”

Bridges missed some time in the second half, even coming back to the locker room for a stretch after a collision with Portland’s Jabari Walker, but he ultimately returned nursing a lower leg injury. He leads the NBA with 432 straight games played. 

Uncertainty for Bridges

Vaughn discussed examining Bridges, no certainty on his availability Friday. 

The Nets now have dropped four consecutive games and nine of their previous 10. Since Dec. 14, they are simply 3-14. 

“There are just parts of the game, whether it’s a lack of focus, (the other) team getting to a 50-50 ball, or an offensive rebound that kicks the momentum to their favor,” Vaughn said.”… It’s an accumulation of plays and valuing every single possession, not leaving anything on the table.”