The Los Angeles Lakers are currently batting the New Orleans Hornets for a chance to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals. Although on paper the Lakers are clearly the more experienced and talented team, they are having trouble battling with the Hornets. The series is knotted up at 1-1, but the next two games will be held in the Big Easy―New Orleans. Games 3 and 4 will be a tough test for the Lakers, and it will be the first time the defending champions play on the road in the 2011 Playoffs.
The Lakers have not performed well in the first two games of the series, and they did not look like a championship caliber team in Games 1 and 2. Although Los Angeles came through on Wednesday night, they did not come out strong and were not as dominant as people expected them to be. Nevertheless, the Lakers’ frontcourt is beginning to force its will in the paint, and the team’s overall defense is improving.
Game 3 will be held on Friday, and the Lakers will have their chance to prove to the league that they are still the team to beat. Championship squads perform best when playing on the road, and in order for the Lakers to take control of the series they must do just that.
Next: What happened in Games 1 and 2
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