Los Angeles Lakers: 3 takeaways from released games

1. Marquee matchups with Golden State

For the fourth straight year, LeBron James and the Golden State Warriors renew their pleasantries on Christmas Day and MLK Day, the two marquee regular season slates for the NBA. If you thought LeBron leaving Cleveland would end this rivalry, you should have expected otherwise.

This matchup is the ultimate test for the new look Lakers, taking on the two-time defending champs on nationally televised games, especially considering these are the rare times the Warriors get amped up for regular season games in recent seasons.

The Lakers played Golden State really well last season despite failing to win one of their four matchups, losing twice in overtime. These teams play a similar style of basketball with each team eclipsing 106 points in every game, playing their brand of small-ball.

Adding LeBron, Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson and former Warrior JaVale McGee to the mix improves the Lakers mightily and should give them a chance to steal one of these games. This matchup pits the world’s greatest team vs. the world’s greatest player and his cast of young bucks and vets. Despite seeing LeBron take on the Warriors 30 times over the past four seasons, it never gets old watching them go toe-to-toe.