Lakers look to keep momentum going into last five games of regular season

April 5, 2024

“Well be ready to play, I promise you.

That was the prediction Lakers

head

coach Darvin Ham made to the media following Friday mornings practice in El Segundo. His team is in playoff mode entering Saturday afternoons home game against Cleveland (46-31), the team with the third-best record in the East.

The key thing today was to make the focus about us, Ham said. Trying to sustain the stuff were doing good and clean up the things were not doing well. Of course you look at the trends. You take all of the information you’re provided and come up with different combinations and lineups that are high up in the plus-minus categories.

On the positive side, the Lakers appear to be playing as well as they have at any stage this

year season

. However, despite winning eight of their last 10

games

, they have not gained any ground in the Western Conference playoff race and remain in ninth place with five games left.

Rui Hachimura said one of his friends advised him to be more aggressive and he has taken the message to heart.

Im trying to be more engaged and bring the energy, he said. I started figuring out my role. Every game is important. Well take it one game at a time and try to get all of them.”

The Japanese-born power forward was asked how excited he was when countryman Shohei Ohtani hit his first home run as a Dodger: I saw it and I was so happy for him. Were both here in L.A. at the same time playing for historical teams.

After a nine-day road trip that produced five victories in six contests, the Lakers (44-33) have crept to within half a game of Sacramento (44-32) in the standings and would be tied with the Kings should they lose at Eastern Conference-leading Boston on Friday, though Sacramento holds the tiebreaker, having beaten Los Angeles in all four

head-to-head

meetings.

It was tough trip for me [shooting] but that was six games in 10 nights with two back-to-backs and it started with a double-overtime game in Milwaukee, shooting guard Austin Reaves said. The ball just wasnt going in but that happens. You just have to shoot your way out of it. Shooting guard

Austin Reaves admitted he does a lot of scoreboard watching

lately

, but not merely because the postseason is around the corner.

I watch games all the time anyway because Im a fan,” he said. “Obviously, we wanna do the best we can do and be playing our best going into the play-in tournament. I like knowing what needs to happen for us to move up.

Power forward Anthony Davis recorded 35 points, 18 rebounds and three blocks on Wednesday in a 125-120 victory at Washington. LeBron James has led the team in scoring over the last 10 games, averaging 21.2 points, while DAngelo Russell has averaged 18.3 points during that stretch.

As dominant as Davis is on offense, Reaves believes he makes his teammates better in more ways on defense.

Anytime hes back there protecting the rim with his timing and knowledge of what players like to do, its huge, Reaves said. The numbers speak for themselves when we dont have him. Hes always talkin , hes a coach on the floor, he recognizes where ball screens are coming from and what we can do to slow the other team down.

Added Hachimura: AD does little things you dont see that dont show up on a stat sheet. Its good knowing if you make a mistake, hell be there. He covers up so many of our mistakes.

On the injury front, Ham confirmed that Jarred Vanderbilt (foot) will be re-evaluated early next week. He did an individual workout Friday, but

nothing did not practice

with the team. Fellow forward Christian Wood, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee March 19, is likely to miss the rest of the regular season.

James high school coach Keith Dambrot was a guest at Fridays practice and Ham stated: It was cool and it was a pleasure to have him in the building.

While jockeying for better position in the play-in tournament, the Lakers will also have to hold off surging Golden State, which is holding onto the No. 10 spot and began the day one and a half games behind Los Angeles. The Warriors entered Fridays tip-off at Dallas

winners of having won

six straight and they face the Lakers for the fourth and final time Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena.

Were in the same scenario as last year in that every game is a must-win if you want to move up in the standings, Reaves said. I feel good. What do I have left? Ive got everything I can give until after our last game then I can relax. You dream of playing in these type of games.