Los Angeles Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks Prediction: Doncic storm hit the LA 's vulnerable coast

NBA midseason kickstarts the rumor mill and we can witness a bunch of trades that can transform the landscape. Big names can move around but there are role p[layers that can end up featuring in a big Playoff run. Some teams desperately need to make certain changes and one of those teams the Los Angeles Lakers will take on the Dallas Mavericks in a classic Western Conference battle.

The Lakers come into this game after losing 109:122 despite a 25 points and 7 assists performance by Russell Westbrook. The Lakers were without LeBron James in the last game and he was on fire before that, enabling the Lakers to make a five-game winning run but they have a long way to g here considering they have lost 22 and won 19 games.

They started the season with 10 losses and two wins but have done much better considering they have been doing a great job without Anthony Davis. Westbrook has been bringing out a lot of energy off the bench whereas the biggest change has been the terrific play of Thomas Bryant has been averaging a double-double lately.

The Mavs enter the game after losing 101:113 against the LA Clippers despite 43 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists performance by Luka Doncic. The Mavs have now lost three of their four games. The Mavs have 23 wins and 19 losses, which is nothing impressive for a team that made it to the West Finals last season but there is scope for getting close to 56-58% wins.

The biggest issue has been the overdependence upon Luka Doncic and the rest of the options have been too inconsistent. While Christian Wood, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Tim Hardaway have been scoring 15+ consistently, the overall scoring balance leans heavily upon Doncic. The team defense has been great but the offense has ways to go.

• Lakers: OUT: Lonnie Walker IV, Austin Reaves, Anthony Davis. QUESTIONABLE: Patrick Beverley. PROBABLE: Troy Brown Jr, LeBron James;
• Mavericks: OUT: Maxi Kleber, Dorian Finney-Smith, Josh Green. QUESTIONABLE: Dwight Powell.

• Expected Leading Scorers: Luka Doncic(34-39 Points), LeBron James(34-39 Points);
• Expected Leading Rebounders: Thomas Bryant(12-16 Rebonds), Luka Doncic(9-12 Rebounds);
• Expected Leading Playmakers: Luka Doncic(9-11 Assists), Russell Westbrook(8-11 Assists).

LeBron and Luka are two of the best players in the league and their teams continue to feed off their energy to extract wins. Both teams have a lot of holes and are inconsistent and although the Mavs have a better record, it is not by that much. The Lakers have played well lately and have an advantage in the frontline with LeBron and a charged-up Bryant which means the work is cut out for Christian Wood. I believe although the Mavs are the favorite, I’d back the Lakers to win this here. I predict a scoreline of 120:116 in the Lakers’ favor.