Lakers-76ers Open Thread

The Lakers today wrap up their four-game travels along the East Coast with a stop in Philadelphia. They'll be reuinted with their former teammate Andrew Bynum but the reunion will happen off the court, as Drew hasn't yet played this year because of his injured knees. On the Lakers' side of the injury ledger, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol, Steve Blake and Jordan Hill will all sit. The starting lineup will be Chris Duhon, Kobe Bryant, Metta World Peace, Devin Ebanks and Dwight Howard.

Despite the absences of so many front-line stars, the Lakers can still take this one. The Sixers are not, at present, a good team. Their 12-11 record is thanks in large part to one of the NBA's easiest schedules to date. Thaddeus Young and Jrue Holiday are having pretty good seasons. Evan Turner and Jason Richardson have been okay. Everyone else in Doug Collins's rotation is average or worse and tending toward the latter.