Here’s how the Detroit Pistons can beat the Lakers

The Detroit Pistons are trying to get back in the win column after dropping a very winnable game against the Golden State Warriors.

The Pistons didn’t give max effort for the entire game against Golden State, so were embarrassed by the Warriors’ backups with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green cheerleading from the bench.

It was a game that the Pistons should have won and it would have been a nice boost for a team that is in the middle of a brutal stretch of the schedule.

The Pistons made a furious comeback in the 4th quarter against the Warriors and they will need that kind of effort for 48 minutes if they are going to beat the hated Lakers at home tonight.

The Lakers have lost three in a row and look pretty mortal for a team with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook.

Both LeBron and AD are listed as day-to-day but are expected to play tonight as the Lakers try to end their losing streak.

The Lakers are beatable and have a few weaknesses that the Pistons might be able to exploit.

Here is how Detroit can get a “W” tonight.

Detroit Pistons: Make the Lakers shoot 3-pointers

The Lakers are middle of the pack in 3-point percentage and that is really only because of two guys. Both Carmelo Anthony and Avery Bradley are shooting over 40 percent for the Lakers, with Melo hitting a blistering 44.9 percent on 6.3 attempts per game.

Other than him, the Lakers are pretty average from long range, as LeBron hits 35 percent, Westrbook 29 percent and Davis 17 percent.

The Lakers aren’t a terrible 3-point shooting team (unlike Detroit, who is dead last in the NBA) but the Pistons will have a big disadvantage in the paint, especially if Isaiah Stewart doesn’t play, so forcing the Lakers to settle for long-range shots will be key.

The Pistons need to stay in front of them and force the Lakers to shoot over the top. LA will have a big size advantage so if the Pistons can’t keep them from racking up points in the paint, this one could get ugly.