Fresh off a stark reminder that a run to the NBA Finals is far from a foregone conclusion, the Los Angeles Lakers will face another stern test during the restart with a matchup Monday against the Utah Jazz near Orlando.
The Lakers' wakeup call came Saturday when the Western Conference leaders had their offense disrupted by the defending champion Toronto Raptors in a 107-92 defeat. That would be a Raptors team that is in second place in the Eastern Conference and no longer has Kawhi Leonard, who led them to a title last season.
The Lakers (50-15) certainly looked the part as the best in the West when they defeated Leonard's Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday, the night of the NBA's return.