The road trip ends this week, but not before two more contests on enemy terrain. Let’s get to it, I have presents to wrap.
Knicks at Lakers, Monday, Dec. 18, 10:30 pm
This season, the Los Angeles Lakers (15-11) faced early defensive challenges. They ranked 19th in the league with a defensive rating of 113.8 after the first eight games. Head Coach Darvin Ham adjusted the lineup, replacing Austin Reaves with Cam Reddish and achieved better defensive balance. (Cam Reddish, who knew?) That sparked a remarkable turnaround over the last 15 or so games, improving their defensive rating to 112 (the league’s seventh-best).