Utah Jazz vs Los Angeles Lakers 2/16/22: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds, Predictions

Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Lakers Matchup Preview (2/16/22)

The surging Utah Jazz, who have won six straight games, will try to extend their impressive streak to seven straight in Los Angeles when they touch gloves with LeBron James and the Lakers. Utah had one of the coldest streaks in the NBA when it lost 11 of 13 games but has since returned Donovan Mitchell and restored hope in the franchise. There were some whispers about locker room tension recently; however, it is not showing on the court at the moment. Rudy Gobert also just returned to the lineup, and in his first game back, the Jazz beat the Rockets by 30+ points. That does not feel like there’s tension to me. Regardless, Utah is still dangerous, despite that avalanche of a losing streak.

If it tried, Los Angeles could not have had a worse first half of the 2021-22 NBA season. The Lakers are in ninth place in the Western Conference with a 26-31 record, despite having two of the best players in the world on their team, Anthony Davis and LeBron James. They have dropped three straight games and four of their last five, including a horrendous loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, who were without their top three scorers. If the Lakers want to grab a win at home against a team that is heating up, they will need massive offensive performances because everyone knows they could not stop a stick on the other end of the floor. Below, I cover all of the different possibilities and outcomes for this game, so scroll down to see what I think will happen!

Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Lakers Betting Odds

It is going to be ard to scare me off Utah in this matchup between two Western Conference teams. The Utah Jazz are playing fantastic basketball after breaking from the horrendous slump that saw them losing 11 of 13 games. With Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell back in the lineup, this should be an excellent opportunity for Utah to flex its offensive muscles against an exploitable Lakers defense that has no identity. Unless LeBron goes nuclear, this should be a straightforward game. I will take the Utah Jazz against the spread up to five points. Anything wider is a deficient line in favor of the Lakers, in my opinion.

How To Watch

Date: 2/16/22
Time: 10:00 PM ET
Arena: Crypto.com Arena – Los Angeles, CA
Channel: ESPN

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Utah Jazz Starting Lineup

PG: Mike Conley Jr.
SG: Donovan Mitchell
SF: Royce O’Neale
PF: Bojan Bogdanovic
C: Rudy Gobert

Utah Jazz Analysis

I talk a lot about teams that have been on proverbial roller coasters this season, whether it is due to injuries, COVID (health and safety protocols), or inconsistency, in general. The Utah Jazz may have been the most inconsistent team in the NBA this season, which is not something that anyone could have predicted. Their defense has been the worst that it has been in years and recently, ranked as low as the bottom-five in defensive rating over several weeks. However, the Jazz have won six straight games, completely turning things back around in a good way. Their offense is beginning to resemble how it looked at the beginning of the season, and Utah still has the best offensive rating in the NBA by over two points.

Los Angeles Lakers Starting Lineup

PG: Russell Westbrook
SG: Malik Monk
SF: Stanley Johnson
PF: LeBron James
C: Anthony Davis

Los Angeles Lakers Analysis

Los Angeles has a poor defense, but it does not rank as bad as you might think in most key defensive statistical categories. The Lakers rank 16th in opponent eFG% (effective field goal percentage), 14th in opponent 3P% (three-point percentage), and 16th in defensive efficiency. They also rank tenth in points per game and eFG%. What is the problem then? You could point out that the Lakers lack efficiency and three-point shooting and have no chemistry. Still, it’s hard to pinpoint any single issue causing the Lakers to have such a miserable season. It will take a miraculous second-half of the season from LeBron James for this team to put together a halfway decent year.

Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Lakers Daily Fantasy Picks

Donovan Mitchell has not skipped a beat since missing several games due to a concussion. The Jazz were coasting before he and Rudy Gobert sustained injuries. Then, defense became a big issue with Gobert not on the floor as he is quite literally the anchor inside. Still, Mitchell’s return has inspired the Jazz to begin playing better, and he is leading by example. Since returning, Mitchell has averaged roughly 25 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in his five games. That includes a poor scoring outing against the Golden State, where he posted just 14 points for the whole game. Those numbers are similar to his season averages, but his efficiency has improved. I love playing Donovan Mitchell in DFS against this horrible Lakers defense. He has the potential to put up 40 points against a team that is one of the worst against opposing guards.

Malik Monk should draw the start for the Los Angeles Lakers, with Avery Bradley unlikely to play in this matchup. It is shocking that a team that struggles so much in their shooting that Malik Monk does not always start. Avery Bradley cannot single-handedly fix the Lakers’ defense, and he provides virtually nothing on the other end, so Monk should be a regular starter. When Monk gets the start, he averages 18 points, four rebounds, three assists, and can heat points up for 20+ points on any given night. Any time Monk is projected to start, you should highly consider plugging him into your DFS lineup, especially since his salary does not seem to change much based on whether he comes off the bench or starts.