All Lakers Expert Predictions For Pivotal Game 4 LA Home Matchup Against Warriors

Can LA build a commanding 3-1 series lead at home tonight?

Your Los Angeles Lakers certainly hope they can defeat the Golden State Warriors tonight at Crypto.com Arena, further improving their current 2-1 series lead against the 2022 champs.

But can they get it done, as Vegas oddsmakers expect?

1. Which Anthony Davis will show up tonight?

If recent playoff history is any indication, Davis will remain a defensive menace while scoring under 20 points. But he'll probably block five shots.

2. How will LA deal with the Warriors' new mega-small ball starting five?

The Lakers have been hiding D'Angelo Russell defensively throughout the series, and Golden State has failed to make them pay too much. He's typically been stuck on Andrew Wiggins, a solid shooter and slasher who nevertheless has the ball in his hands less than his three Hall of Fame teammates. 6' combo guard Gary Payton II will be inserted into Golden State's starting five, while power forward JaMychal Green will return to the bench. I think Darvin Ham will have Russell cover Payton, moving Davis to Wiggins, so that he can keep Austin Reaves on Stephen Curry and Jarred Vanderbilt on Draymond Green, which will help neutralize Golden State's lethal Curry-Green pick-and-roll.

3.Will Los Angeles beat its 2.5-point spread and pull off a W?

I am dubious. With Scott "The Extender" Foster in tow, Los Angeles will struggle to vanquish the Dubs. At least, for tonight. If the Warriors can nail their triples (they've outscored the Lakers by 72 points from long range) and not let LA shoot too many more free throw attempts (the Lakers are +44 in free throw tries across the first three games), they should steal one on the road tonight.

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