<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">EL SEGUNDO ? If Lakers power forward Kwame Brown were making a bigger splash than either of the Clippers' main summer acquisitions - guards Cuttino Mobley and Sam Cassell - maybe it would be the Lakers who were off to a Pacific Divison-leading start. When the Lakers and Clippers meet tonight, Brown will have his latest chance to improve - although a boulder lies in his path in the form of Clippers power forward Elton Brand. Brown's struggles were epitomized in a first-quarter sequence Wednesday night against New York. He got the ball under the basket but did not immediately go up strong with it. For fear of getting his shot blocked, he hesitated and then tried a pump-fake that fooled no one. He rushed his shot to get it over Eddy Curry and banked it right over the basket to the other side. The Knicks raced the other way - with Brown behind and out of the play - and got a fastbreak layup at the other end from Trevor Ariza. Lakers coach Phil Jackson called a timeout and said plainly to Brown as he came off the court: "That's a four-point turnaround." Brown is averaging 6.4 points and six rebounds. He is shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 41.2 percent from the foul line. He has five assists against 21 turnovers. When asked to review the Lakers individually in grasping the triangle, Lakers consultant Tex Winter first named Brown, calling him "hesitant." Brown acknowledged Wednesday he isn't comfortable in the offense. The immediate plan is for Brown to get some extra tutoring from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. "It takes my aggressiveness away because it's indecision," Brown said. "I don't know when to go and when to pass it." Brown is the highest-paid player on the team after Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom, so expectations are high. He had a history in Washington of getting down if he wasn't scoring, allowing it to affect the rest of his game, and that has held with the Lakers, Jackson said.</div> Source
I'm predicting a Laker victory tonight. The Clippers love running the pick and roll, and one of the few things Kwame is actually good at is defending that play. Brand is going to be a handful, but Kwame steps up against the premiere PFs, and if he can stay out of foul trouble he should be fine on defense. A slimmer Brand has been using his quickness to drive to the rim, but Kwame is faster than Brand, and taller, so I can see Brand struggling more than usual tonight. I thought it was interesting to read PJax's comments, he just wants Kwame to focus on passing the ball. This is probably a better approach, because Kwame has stunk it up on offense so far. He has terrible hands and has missed a lot of wide open layups. It's going to be important for Odom and Kobe to continue to get him open looks where he can just slam the ball. The guard matchup worries me in tonight's game. Both Cassell and Mobley can shoot the lights out, and the Clippers offense gets really tough when Maggette comes off the bench replacing Ross. The Lakers have to be aware of Mobley and Cassell all night, and not show their double teams too, quick. Lamar Odom has to show up tonight on offense. The Clippers can score, and the Lakers cannot count on Kobe dropping 35 to 40 points a night on a regular basis. Odom needs to start being a 20 point producer for the Lakers, especially against teams with a potent offense. The Lakers must control tempo tonight and limit the Clippers to only one shot on offense. The Clippers average 12 offensive rebounds a game, so the Lakers need to keep it under 7 for tonight.
ESPN and TNT show every meanless Laker game under the Cali sun, so I was hoping someone would show this game, since I dont have league pass this year. But it looks like Espn wont but I still think this is a very interesting matchup. First off I have to say I dont think the Lakers can play with the Clippers in a game played in the 100 point range....the Clippers are 5-1 in games where they score a 100 or better. Iam not for sure what the Lakers record is in those type of games...but Iam for sure they havent played in alot of 100 point contest...simply cause that isnt their style...teams with one on one players like Kobe rarely play effective in 100 point games because of the dependancy they have on that one dominate guy. So the Lakers are going to have to have a strong defensive night becuase if the Clippers strong 4(Brand, Cassell, Maggette and Mobley) all get in that 15 or better point range...the Lakers wont win. They have to take eith Mobley or Cassell out of the equasition...I dont think they will contain Maggette because he has been so exsplovise especially going to the hoop that I dont think Odom or Goerge is going to be able to cover him when he is in the game. And Brand is scoring in to many variety of ways to slow him down right now. He is making strong cuts to the hoop off the pick and roll as well as playing the pick & pop with Cassell very successfully, his individual back to the basket game looks stronger and he is doing work getting garabage points off the offensive boards...its going to be alot to deeal with to keep him under average. I think the jumpers are going to be the most contianable scoring wise..Cassell and Mobley have been streaky. And that could play to the advantage of the Lakers tonight, if they work to step out and contest on the perimeter. As far as the Clips are concerned, I think they are the better team...but I think that they can be exploited against a team like the Lakers. Parker can score on Sammy. I think this is a game where the Lakers might or should look to get him a few more looks. And the Clippers also have a tendacy to get careless with the basketball at times. And that helps teams stay in games at times. Lakers put a decent amount of pressure on ball handers and fource a couple of careless passes and turn them into easy buckets then they will be right there...but if the Clippers take care of the basketball, Cassell runs ship like he has been specifically willing to accept a lesser scoring role since the return of Maggette. And the Clips play thru the inside first with Brand and even Kaman.And let that open up things a bit on the perimeter..along with solid D and continued work on the boards. I think they when this game going away by around 12..if not then Lakers will win
I predict Kobe will struggle with points tonite. I think Mihm, Brown, and/or Odom will have big nights.
