The struggling 19–20 Los Angeles Lakers will play the up-and-coming 20–20 Utah Jazz today on the road at the Delta Center.
The Jazz have won eight of their past ten games and are presently on a four-game winning run. Los Angeles, on the other hand, is 4-6
At least LA will be getting some reinforcements.
It seems that starting combo forward Rui Hachimura has been cleared to play, according to the NBA’s most recent injury report. He has missed the last five games due to a calf injury.
The 6’8″ Gonzaga graduate has shown himself to be LA’s best bet right now to play with All-Star LeBron James as the team’s second forward. Despite Hachimura’s rich three-year, $51 million contract that he signed over the summer as a restricted free agent, this hasn’t always been so obvious this season, at least not to head coach Darvin Ham.
Jarred Vanderbilt, who was called on to guard large men, was completely ineffective. Cam Reddish was also there; he’s better known for his on-court antics with opponents than for his complete lack of jump shot talent.
Hachimura has averaged 11.6 points overall, 3.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and a shooting split of.485/.468/.76 through his 25 healthy games this season. Hopefully, he outperforms those rather low stats when facing Utah’s massive front line.
