All Lakers Expert Predictions As LA Looks To Avoid Schedule Loss Vs Lowly Pistons

Detroit, meanwhile, is hoping to avoid its 15th straight loss.

Reeling off their worst loss of the season, a 138-94 disaster against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, your 10-8 Los Angeles Lakers are looking to rebound in a big tonight, against probably the worst team in the NBA, the 2-15 Detroit Pistons.

LA will do its darnedest to avoid a dreaded "trap game" (a loss to an inferior opponent by an overconfident club). 

So what should we watch out for tonight? And can the Lakers beat the spread?

What's LA's biggest vulnerability on this Pistons roster?

The team has struggled to defend against athletic guards, and Detroit has a talented (if very, very raw) young backcourt in Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey. Perhaps the combo of Cam Reddish (probable to play) and Max Christie can contain these two, but D'Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves will give up plenty of points. That said, LA enjoys a massive (literally) frontcourt, and LeBron James and Anthony Davis should feast against, uh, Isaiah Stuart and Jalen Duren.

Which Laker will bounce back the most from a Sixers loss that looked bad for basically everybody?

Starting small forward Taurean Prince was ineffective on both sides of the ball, shooting too infrequently to have much of an impact (he did finish with 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting), and his defense left plenty to be desired. The 6'6" Baylor product also registered an abysmal -26 plus-minus rating during his 24 minutes on the hardwood, the third-worst such mark on the team. 

The Lakers are -7 favorites against Detroit, in Detroit.  Will they cover?

Los Angeles should be able to hand the Pistons their 15th straight loss tonight. Though the club will be without at least Jarred Vanderbilt, Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent, the Lakers should still have more than enough to win. But will LA have more than enough to win by seven points? I say the Lakers' two future Hall of Famers will power them to a win, and should help them cover on the way.

The action tips off at 4 p.m. PT on Spectrum SportsNet.

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