Lakers vs Hawks Preview and Game Thread: Can L.A. get over get over this dry spell?

There’s no better way for the slumping Lakers to boost their confidence and team spirit than by beating a Hawks squad that’s rolling right now

The Lakers look to snap their current two-game losing streak in the last stop of their road trip in Atlanta where they will face the Hawks. L.A. stumbles upon a streaking Atlanta team that’s won five games in a row.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Atlanta Hawks

When: 4:30 p.m. PT, Dec 6

Where: State Farm Arena

Watch: Spectrum SportsNet

The last two losses by the Lakers, where they were outscored by a total of a combined 70 points, is considered the worst two-game stretch in franchise history. This alone perfectly sums up where the purple and gold are: In a dry spell that they have to get out of as soon as possible before their season slips away again.

One thing about those two brutal losses to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat is that JJ Redick and the team’s superstars, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, rightfully took accountability for their shortcomings. But while that’s commendable and a good sign of a healthy locker room, taking accountability means nothing if it doesn’t translate on the court.

That’s why this game against the Hawks isn’t just a random one on the schedule. It’ll say a lot about how this team responds to adversity and whether or not they’re all just talk and no action. Will they fold against a streaking Hawks team — who also currently happens to be the hottest team in the Eastern Conference — at the first opportunity they get to? Or will they actually show some pride and a level of fight that just hasn’t been there in the last two games?

Look, I’d love to talk about the key factors and storylines ahead of this one like how I normally do in most of my previews, but then again, that won’t mean anything if the Lakers flat-out don’t compete. It’s bizarre to type this out in Game 22 of the season but that’s unfortunately where the team is at. From Redick to James, AD and down to the role players, the biggest factor in this one is that everyone has to be better.

The streaking Hawks

I said everyone on the Lakers has to be better because this Hawks team (12-11) does many things that give the former a lot of problems. For one, Atlanta is currently averaging the eighth-most points in the league (116.6 per game). That means the purple and gold’s defense — which has been atrocious over the last two games and, frankly, for most of the season — has to show up.

Secondly, the Hawks’ offense revolves around Trae Young — who is currently averaging 20.7 points and a career-high 12.0 assists a game — who’s the type of point guard that gives this Lakers team problems, especially with their putrid perimeter defense.

Then there’s the fact that Atlanta is just so much better defensively this season now that Dyson Daniels is on their roster as they now rank 15th in the league on that end. Scoring on them isn’t as easy as it used to be, which is also why the Lakers’ offense needs to show up.

This is the type of game that AD needs to take over against Clint Capela and the type of game where the Lakers could really get some scoring from their guards, specifically D’Angelo Russell, Max Christie and Dalton Knecht.

With LeBron James (left foot soreness) questionable for this one, the team could really use some juice from Rui Hachimura or even Cam Reddish. Any type of contribution is welcome right now with the way this Laker team has been playing on both ends of the floor as of late.

There’s no better way to boost confidence and team spirit then by beating a squad that’s rolling right now. This Lakers team could use this as their first step to overcome this dry spell.

Let’s see if the Lakers can still salvage this road trip that’s been going horribly for them by concluding it with a victory against the Hawks on Friday.

Notes and Updates

• For the Lakers’ injury report, Anthony Davis (left plantar fasciitis) is listed as probable while LeBron (left foot soreness) is on the report for the first time this season as he’s labeled as questionable. Bronny James (left heel contusion) is also questionable.
• Jaxson Hayes (right ankle sprain/contusion), Austin Reaves (left pelvic contusion), Jarred Vanderbilt (right foot surgery recovery) and Christian Wood (left knee surgery recovery) are out.
• As for the Hawks, Trae Young (right Achilles tendinitis) is probable while Cody Zeller (personal reasons) is out.
• We will be live on Playback for this game, so be sure to join us!

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.