Here is what you need to know before the Lakers complete their road trip against the Memphis Grizzlies.
1)
Ed Davis has been playing well in every facet of his game since the All-Star break. He not only leads the NBA in field goal percentage since then (73.9), but the first-year Laker is also averaging 10.1 points and 8.4 rebounds. Defensively, Davis has protected the paint, as opponents are shooting 43.3 percent (13-for-30) within six feet of the hoop, which is 16.5 percent lower than their season average.
2)
The Lakers have struggled to keep their opponents off the free throw line recently, as they are allowing a league-high 32.0 foul shots per game over their last five contests. This problem was highlighted in their last game when Miami took 43 shots at the charity stripe.
3)
The Lakers have lost five straight games to the Grizzlies, last beating them on Dec. 17, 2013. Despite the one-sided affair, almost each contest has been competitive with four of them being settled by six points or fewer.
4)
Last season’s Defensive Player of the Year, Marc Gasol, has improved his offensive production this year. He is averaging a career-high 18.2 points, while shooting a league-high 49.0 percent on post-ups and ranking second in pick-and-roll field goal percentage (53.4).
5)
Zach Randolph ranks sixth in the league in both rebounding (11.6) and double-doubles (32). The 14-year veteran has been opportunistic on the offensive glass, as scores the second-most second-chance points in the NBA (4.3).
6)
Mike Conley has been one of the league’s best at the end of close games. In the last five minutes of a six-point contest, the Ohio State product has shot 40-for-84 (47.6 percent) from the field and 14-for-29 (48.3 percent) on 3-pointers. In these situations, Conley has made the most triples and second-most baskets in the NBA.
7)
Courtney Lee has been among the league’s top long-range shooters, ranking third in 3-point percentage (43.9). However, Lee — who is third among shooting guards in field goal percentage (47.4) — has struggled with the deep ball lately. In his last six games, he has shot just 33.3 percent (8-for-24) on 3-pointers.
Courtney Lee Shot Chart (3-pointers)
8)
Three-time All-Defensive selection Tony Allen is currently averaging a career-high 1.9 steals, which places fourth in the NBA. Allen, who leads the league in both steal percentage (4.0) and steal-to-turnover ratio (1.5), has also been a great on-ball defender. Opponents are shooting just 36.8 percent when guarded by Allen — 7.6 lower than their season average.
9)
Memphis has played some of the NBA’s best defense this season, as it is allowing a league-low 95.7 points per game. This has translated into plenty of wins when the offense is clicking, as the Grizzlies are 28-2 when scoring 100 points or more.
10)
The first quarter will be especially key in Friday’s matchup, as Memphis allows the second-fewest points in the opening period (22.8). On the other end of the spectrum, the Lakers shoot a league-low 42.3 percent in the first quarter.