EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — On Monday, Los Angeles faces Golden State, a team hovering at an unremarkable 6-6 and finding life somewhat better after a miserable 15-50 campaign last year.

Before putting them in the “check back next season” file, there are some positive points for the Warriors franchise that won championships in 2015, 2017, and 2018 before suffering a slew of injuries to Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry, not to mention the free-agent departure of Kevin Durant.

What You Need To Know

  • The L.A. Lakers face the Golden State Warriors Monday night at Staples Center

  • Golden State's offense is ranked 24th in the league, while its defense sits ranked at No. 19

  • L.A.'s defense is ranked No. 1 in the league

  • The Lakers start a seven-game road trip Thursday in Milwaukee

Golden State had enough firepower to beat Portland and the Clippers earlier this month, and Curry can still put up points in a hurry. It was his stunning 62 against Portland that pushed the Warriors past the Trail Blazers. Then he hit 38 against the Clippers, including nine three-pointers, to secure the victory.

Whether the Warriors can compete night after night, however, remains to be seen.

They are certainly better now than the start of the season. Brooklyn (and Durant) clobbered them on opening night, 125-99. Then Milwaukee buried them a few days later, 138-99.

The team's problem is their lack of consistent scoring beyond Curry and Andrew Wiggins (17.8 points a game). Their offense is ranked 24th in the league, a surprising spot after so many years at or near the top. Curry, at age 32, isn’t immune to down nights either. He scored only 11 points against Toronto and 13 against the Clippers a few days earlier.

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Golden State’s defense, anchored by promising rookie center James Wiseman, is a little uneven too, sitting at No. 19 in the league.

The Warriors have a chance to make the playoffs, even if it means trying to get there as a play-in team. The NBA this year will invite four teams in each conference to fight for the last two playoff spots during a four-day tournament in May.

Meanwhile, Golden State will face a Lakers team Monday night at Staples Center, which owns the league’s top-ranked defense and fourth-ranked offense. The Lakers are on a defensive roll, holding opponents to an average of 99 points in their last four games.

The Lakers will want a victory Monday because, among other reasons, they start a season-long seven-game road trip Thursday in Milwaukee.

Mike Bresnahan is the Lakers analyst for Spectrum SportsNet.