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Dave McMenamin, ESPN Staff Writer
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — There is still a month remaining in the regular season, but Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura said Saturday’s game against the Golden State Warriors (8:30 ET, ABC) already has the feel of something more significant.
“It’s going to be a big game, it’s almost a playoff game,” Hachimura said after Lakers practice Friday. “We played them so many times I feel like – the preseason, the playoffs and regular season games, all that. So, we know each other well.”
Indeed, L.A. and Golden State have played 10 times in the last 10 months dating last to the postseason last spring and have split those games 5-5.
The Lakers (36-31) have a one-game lead over the Warriors (34-31) for the No. 9 spot in the Western Conference standings. If the playoffs started today, L.A. would host the Warriors in a single-elimination play-in tournament game, with the winner going on to play the loser of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in game for a first-round berth.
“Who wants it more?” Hachimura said. “We got to show the emotion and try to get this one tomorrow.”
Both teams are coming off a loss on Wednesday. The Lakers lost in Sacramento, 120-107, to the No. 6 Kings. The Warriors – missing Stephen Curry (ankle) and Draymond Green (lower back soreness) – lost in Dallas, 109-99, to the No. 8 Mavericks.
Considering what is at stake when it comes to seeding, Lakers coach Darvin Ham said he expects Golden State to have Curry and Green available.
“We prepare as if they’re going to play,” Ham said.
Part of L.A.’s preparation process looking forward to the Warriors was looking back on the Kings game. Ham said the team had an extensive film session Friday before taking the practice court.
“A lot of dialogue from a few different guys,” Ham said. “I think that’s been great. It’s been so healthy. I think that’s why we’ve been able to respond to some of these disappointing losses. We go in and we look it right dead in the face. Put the mirror in front of ourselves — coaches and players — and see how we can get better.”
The coach said that communication within the team has not felt “as edgy” after the trade deadline now that the players know they will be together through the end of the season.
“I opened the floor for dialogue,” Ham said. “I want to hear from them … Three players, two coaches, we can look at the same play and see five different things. So that’s why you have to invite that dialogue and make them open to talking to one another and guys holding themselves accountable for breakdowns, guys giving suggestions and tweaking different things with our zone that we want to try to do going forward, it’s all healthy.”
The Lakers have gone 13-8 since the last time they played the Warriors – a thrilling 145-144 double-overtime win on Jan. 27 – but are currently in the same spot in the conference standings at No. 9 as they were going into that game.