During a visit from the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, the Los Angeles Lakers seem to be back to their optimal form, with an opportunity to showcase it once again.

The Lakers head coach, Darvin Ham, has made significant changes, such as removing Austin Reaves from the starting lineup early in the season and doing the same with D’Angelo Russell earlier this month.

There were also reports in early January about a growing disconnection between Ham and his rotations, as highlighted by star LeBron James after a Jan. 5 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies: “I mean, we just suck right now.”

However, a few weeks later, the situation seems to have improved as the Lakers have won four of their last six games, with Reaves and Russell returning to the starting lineup during that stretch.

The victories have come against top teams in the West such as the Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Dallas Mavericks.

In their recent 127-110 victory over the Mavericks, the Lakers’ dominant second half was fueled by 16 of Russell’s team-high 29 points, with Reaves adding 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting.

Anthony Davis nearly achieved a triple-double with 28 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists, while James contributed 25 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists.

“We have enough weapons that we shouldn’t have to ever force anything,” James stated.

Davis added, “It’s not like we’re going out and being selfish with the shots. We’re having fun while we’re doing it and making the right plays.”

As for the frustrated Nets, they arrive in Los Angeles after suffering a second consecutive one-possession defeat, falling 105-103 at Portland on Wednesday. Before that, they were defeated 96-95 in overtime by the Miami Heat on Monday.

Although Mikal Bridges scored 21 points for the Nets on Wednesday and Spencer Dinwiddie added 19, the Trail Blazers’ Anfernee Simons secured the win with a last-second basket.

Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn tried not to overemphasize the deciding play, focusing instead on the overall performance of the team.

Bridges, who leads the NBA with 432 consecutive games played, left the game for a stretch after a collision with Portland’s Jabari Walker due to a lower-leg contusion.

Vaughn mentioned that Bridges will be “assessed”, without confirming his availability for Friday’s game.

The Nets have now lost four consecutive games and nine of their last ten, with a 3-14 record since December 14.

“There are just stretches of the game, whether it’s a lack of focus, (the opposing) team getting to a 50-50 ball or an offensive rebound that kicks the momentum to their direction,” Vaughn said. “…It’s an accumulation of plays and really valuing every single possession, not leaving anything on the table.”