Lakers-Blazers matchup: Five things to watch

Some things to keep an eye on when the Lakers (29-18) host the Portland Trail Blazers (22-25) on Friday evening at Staples Center:

1. Ramon Sessions will start at point guard. The wait may have felt like eternity. But the reality is Laker fans had to wait only four games before Sessions entered the starting lineup. The approach was reasonable since Sessions was just learning the offense. But Sessions’ quick acclimation with the sets, his lighting speed and Steve Blake’s passivity showed it’s time for Sessions to take the starting reigns.

Making this move will ensure the Lakers’ offense flourishes. Kobe Bryant will find catch-and-shoot opportunities. Pau Gasol will find chances to convert on pick-and-rolls, both at shots toward the basket and at the top of the key. The balanced spacing will make it easier for Andrew Bynum to split double teams. And, of course, Sessions’ lightning quick speed will generate plenty of points for himself and teammates with shots at the rim.

2. Portland has a new roster and coach. Plenty has changed since the Lakers beat Portland at Staples Center more than a month ago. Then, Bryant stewed over the front office providing little clarity on the organization’s future. Gasol acknowledged his insecurity surrounding trade rumors. The Lakers privately lamented the coaching staff’s unpredictable rotations, overloaded playbooks and heavy practice times. Now, the Lakers seem settled, they addressed their point guard needs and they shipped off Derek Fisher, Luke Walton and Jaspon Kapono.

For the Trail Blazers, they look even more different. Portland shipped Gerald Wallace and Marcus Camby to New Jersey and Houston, respectively. Nate McMillan was fired. And Mehmet Okur was released. In return, Portland picked up Jonny Flynn, Hasheem Thabeet and J.J. Hickson, three players who should hardly make anyone nervous. Published accounts suggest Portland has played harder under Kaleb Canales. And point guard Raymond Felton has improved considerably since escaping the trade deadline by posting 16.5 points per game, 7.5 assists and 2.75 turnovers in four games under Canales.

3. The Lakers should have a field day with their frontline talent. With the absences of Wallace and Camby, the Blazers have no one who can counter Gasol and Bynum inside. So there’s no reason the Lakers shouldn’t make them their focal point early and often. The only test involves how Bynum keeps his composure against Joel Przybilla, who often resorts to physical play. Considering Bynum’s ejection Tuesday against Houston, it’s likely Przybilla will test how much Bynum keeps his emotions in check.

4. Can Matt Barnes still maintain his sharp play? His 12 points per game average on 48% shooting correlates to Sessions finding him well on cuts to the basket and in the open court. Though Brown still plans to mix Sessions in with the starters and reserves, it remains to be seen to what degree the minute distribution changes within both units. Barnes also has strong on-court chemistry with Blake, but he’s never shot well from three-point range with him on the floor.

5. The Lakers can’t give up cushy leads. Portland’s unsettled roster, the Lakers’ frontline superiority, Portland’s road record (7-17) and the Lakers’ home record (19-3) all provide plenty of reasons to presume the Lakers have a chance to put this game away early. They still have yet to establish a definitive pattern on maintaining those leads. Maintaining such a cushion won’t just give the starters some rest. It’ll give Lakers Coach Mike Brown more flexibility on figuring out rotations now that Sessions has the starting role.

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Ramon Sessions to start against Portland