Golden State Warriors vs Los Angeles Lakers 10/19/21: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Live Stream
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Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers Matchup Preview (10/19/21)
The opening night of the NBA features two matchups, one being the Golden State Warriors versus the Los Angeles Lakers. Los Angeles has an advantage as it plays at home and near full health, save Talen Horton-Tucker and Trevor Ariza. The Lakers are deep at the guard position, so they should fare fine without Horton-Tucker and Ariza. Meanwhile, Golden State will have to begin the season without its second-year center, James Wiseman, and All-Star two-guard, Klay Thompson. Both teams will be trying new lineups that they have never deployed with players who are still trying to develop chemistry together. Based on how each team played last season, this should be a defensive-centric matchup, especially with each team trying to find their groove early on and offensive struggles imminent. Last year, the Lakers finished first in defensive efficiency, eighth in opponent shooting percentage, and second in opponent points per game. Meanwhile, the Warriors finished fifth in defensive efficiency, second in opponent shooting percentage and ninth in opponent three-point percentage.
Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers Betting Odds
At the time of writing this article, the spread has the favored Lakers at -4. This makes sense as they deal with less significant injuries than the Warriors, who are without Thompson and Wiseman. They are also playing at home, which should provide an obvious advantage. However, I believe the Warriors are clicking on all cylinders while Los Angeles is still trying to figure itself out. Later in the season, this may look different, but for now, I like the Warriors with the points.
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TV Schedule
Date: 10/19/21
Time: 10:00 PM ET
Arena: Staples Center – Los Angeles, CA
Channel: TNT
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Warriors @ Lakers
Golden State Warriors Starting Lineup
PG: Steph Curry
SG: Jordan Poole
SF: Andrew Wiggins
PF: Draymond Green
C: Kevon Looney
Golden State Warriors Analysis
Golden State is dealing with a few injuries to key players to start this year; however, the Warriors should be used to it after the past two seasons. While Klay Thompson and James Wiseman should be available for most of the season, they will be out for this contest against the Lakers. Golden State will be calling upon young guard Jordan Poole to step into a starting role while Thompson is out to play alongside Curry.
Poole had looked every bit the part of starter throughout the preseason in addition to last season when Curry was out, and he had to start in his place. He can be a candidate for Most Improved Player if he plays as well as he has looked recently. Meanwhile, Kevon Looney will start instead of James Wiseman, who is still recovering from a meniscus injury.
The Warriors should keep this game close regardless of the injuries because of their discipline, coaching, and defense. If they shoot well, and Steph Curry has a performance that looks like one from his 2020-21 season, they could certainly beat the Lakers on the road.
Los Angeles Lakers Starting Lineup
PG: Russell Westbrook
SG: Kent Bazemore
SF: LeBron James
PF: Carmelo Anthony
C: Anthony Davis
Los Angeles Lakers Analysis
Los Angeles didn’t have a great finish last season as it was booted in the first round by the Phoenix Suns. The Lakers basically have a completely new roster except for Anthony Davis, Talen Horton-Tucker, and LeBron James. In the pre-season, they have looked far from their projection as a top-seed in the Western Conference, losing every single game.
Still, they are mostly healthy, and LeBron knows how to get guys going at the right time. The starting lineup is a bit up in the air as Los Angeles has deployed several different looks in the pre-season; however, it wouldn’t shock me for the Lakers to put Westbrook, Bazemore, LeBron, Carmelo, and Davis on the floor to start this game.
It all depends on how head coach Frank Vogel wants to play Anthony Davis: at the four or the five. If he starts “AD” at the four, then DeAndre Jordan is likely to start at center, but the aforementioned lineup will be the one Vogel utilizes if he starts him at the five. With Talen Horton-Tucker and Trevor Ariza ruled out for this one, Bazemore should get the start.
This was indicated early on during the pre-season when he got several starts at two-guard. This game will be a battle for the Lakers as they try to find some chemistry, but if they play defense similarly to how they did last season, they will, at a bare minimum, have a shot at winning this game.
Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers Daily Fantasy Picks
Under the right circumstances, Jordan Poole could have a “Most Improved Player” campaign during the 2021-22 season. Until Klay Thompson returns, Poole will likely be the starter for the Warriors in most games, including this matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. On that note, in Poole’s seven games as a starter during the 2020-21 season, he averaged 21.4 points, 3.6 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game.
Of course, many of these games were played without the Warriors’ best player, Steph Curry; however, that doesn’t take away from Poole’s terrific scoring upside and talent. As a starter, Poole has proven he can put points on the board, and at his current value of $4,800 on DraftKings, this is a no-brainer, in my opinion. This leaves plenty of room to still secure a superstar, or two, in your lineup as well.
It is looking more and more like Kent Bazemore will be the starting two-guard for the Los Angeles Lakers in their opening game against the Golden State Warriors. Bazemore started in several pre-season games and has instilled enough confidence in head coach Frank Vogel to get the start ahead of other capable players, such as Wayne Ellington or Kendrick Nunn.
Los Angeles will need a lot of help on the perimeter in three-point shooting, and Bazemore’s role in that starting lineup could be just that. Davis, LeBron, and Westbrook are not exactly spectacular three-point shooters, so Bazemore’s role is clearer. He is dirt cheap right now on DraftKings at $3,600, which is only $100 more than Andre Iguodala, who won’t get half of Bazemore’s minutes or shot attempts. Keep an eye on this to make sure he is named the starter, but this could be a money-winning play.
