Orlando Magic vs. Los Angeles Lakers (Jan. 21, 2022): 3 Things To Watch, Odds and Prediction
The Orlando Magic open a five-game homestand with a chance to gain some traction and some stability as they try to make progress on the court.
Orlando Magic (8-38) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (22-23)
Time/TV: 7 p.m./Bally Sports Florida
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Line via WynnBet: Lakers by 5
Tickets: $87-$1,235 on StubHub
2022 Season Series: Lakers 106, Magic 94 in Los Angeles on Dec. 12; Tonight in Orlando
| Pace | Off. Rtg. | Def. Rtg. | eFG% | O.Reb.% | TO% | FTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L.A. Lakers | 100.8 | 108.4 | 110.0 | 53.2 | 25.9 | 14.4 | 24.4 |
| Orlando | 98.6 | 102.9 | 112.1 | 49.3 | 26.6 | 14.9 | 22.1 |
OMD Prediction
The Los Angeles Lakers are a team seemingly in crisis and without an identity. They followed up a huge win over the Utah Jazz with a dispiriting loss to the Indiana Pacers before they embarked on this East Coast road trip. That loss did not do anything to quiet the rumors about Frank Vogel and his job security.
The truth about the NBA is that once those whispers get legs, the inevitable is on its way. A loss to the worst team in the league in the Orlando Magic, even on the road, might be enough to send Vogel packing. Unfortunately, I believe Vogel sold his house in Orlando.
The Magic are not necessarily a team that can take advantage, although the team has had some positive moments mixed in with a lot of frustration. Orlando getting Wendell Carter back will help them.
This game is about pride for the Lakers and how much they want to play and fight for their coach. If the Magic can get on them early maybe they fold. But LeBron James is still on the other side.
112. 20. 107. 38. Prediction
3 Keys To Watch
Where’s Wendell?
The Orlando Magic are going to be very happy to have Wendell Carter back in the lineup after a seven-game absence with a sore left hamstring. The team struggled in a lot of ways that everyone expected and in some ways no one did.
Carter has been one of the best defensive players for the Magic all season. His versatility to defend on the perimeter as a power forward and on the block as a center has been invaluable to the team. The Magic have a 109.8 defensive rating with Wendell Carter on the floor, only Jalen Suggs and Chuma Okeke have a better mark.
The Magic have been improved defensively. But in the last seven games with Carter out the team has seen a surprising dip offensively (the Magic rank 14th in the last seven games defensively, giving up 109.2 points per 100 possessions).
Orlando has been struggling to score of late. Their 102.5 offensive rating in the last seven games is the worst in the league by nearly three points. The Magic need an offensive boost and Carter can help there as a passer from the high post and a low-post option against the sometimes-small Los Angeles Lakers.
LeBron being LeBron
Despite all the problems the Los Angeles Lakers have had this year, they still have LeBron James. And LeBron James is very good. Still very good.
James is averaging 28.8 points per game, 7.6 rebounds per game and 6.4 assists per game while shooting a 58.6-percent effective field goal percentage. Those are bonkers numbers for a 38-year-old player. And no one is probably appropriately appreciating him enough for this.
As the Orlando Magic learned in Joel Embiid’s 50-point game in Wednesday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, a star player can be enough to keep a team afloat and win a game. Especially against a team struggling like the Magic are. And Orlando likely will have that 20-plus-point run from the third quarter of their meeting in Los Angeles in the back of their minds.
Rebounding
One area where Wendell Carter will almost certainly help is with the team’s rebounding. Carter is probably the Orlando Magic’s best overall rebounder. His absence there was certainly felt.
But something good came out of it. The team seemed to rally around their missing center and perform better on the glass. The Magic were eighth in the league defensive rebound rate in the last seven games. Opponents grabbed 25.4-percent of their offensive rebound opportunities. The team ranks 18th with a 27.4-percent offensive rebound rate.
There are still some notable misses though. Rebounding was an issue during the Orlando Magic’s second-quarter struggles against the Portland Trail Blazers. That was a big part of the Blazers building their lead.
Carter is the best rebounder on the team by many metrics. He leads the team in rebounding, grabbing 10.3 rebounds per game, and leads the team in total rebound percentage (18.9-percent) and defensive rebound rate (29.7-percent).
Next. Jeff Weltman, John Hammond have track record to rebuild. dark
His return will be a big boost against a Lakers team that is not going to attack the offensive glass well.