Lakers: Week 3 predictions

The Lakers (3-5) will play three of four games at home in Week 3, hosting the New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies and Detroit Pistons.

With wins over the Clippers in Week 1 and the Houston Rockets the following week, the Lakers have exceeded expectations by two full victories.

Steve Nash sat out with the Lakers playing on the second night of a back-to-back, after the team's emotional victory over the Houston Rockets. Now with a back/hamstring problem, it appears likely that Nash may not play again against the Pelicans.

Anthony Davis scored a career high 32 points in 37 minutes; the Lakers will need to find a way to slow the second-year forward/center.

Even without Nash, the change of scenery should make a difference. Coming off a difficult loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Lakers should give a much better effort.

The Nuggets are struggling to find their footing, starting the season 1-4.  They just lost center JaVale McGee indefinitely with a leg fracture.

Rookie coach and former Laker Brian Shaw is trying to pull his team together but the early results haven't been especially impressive.

The Grizzlies have yet to win or lose two games in a row. If that trends holds, Memphis will fill at Indiana on Monday, win at home against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday and drop to the Lakers on Friday.

Memphis always seems to be a challenge, with Marc Gasol getting the better of his brother Pau Gasol in recent meetings.

The Pistons are another team with great size, bringing Josh Smith to join Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond. The Grizzlies are a better defensive team than the Pistons, but Detroit is a higher scoring unit.

The additions of Brandon Jennings and veteran Chauncey Billups, along with Smith, should give the Pistons greater composure down the stretch in close games.