Next game for the Lakers is the Miami Heat. This game has a lot of meaning for both teams, from the coaches to the players, and the fact that there can be nothing worse than losing on Christmas. This will be a hard fought battle that will be endlessly analyzed long after the game is over. What are your predictions? Is Kobe going to shock the league and drop a NEW career high on his old foe, or will another Laker step up and make a statement? Perhaps Shaq will return to his oldself, or maybe Wade will take the throne and lead the Heat....who knows? What's your prediction? Who wins this game?
LA by 10 points. I've got to back my team. Vince Carter shut down the Heat yesterday, I don't see why Kobe doesn't do the same thing. Perhaps Kwame Brown will step up? Maybe I'm expecting a fairy tail ending.
Even though the Heat have more "talent" players on their team, they are still not as good as last year. I think the Lakers have more than a "possible" chance of winning tomorrow. They almost beat the Heat last year, they took them to OT. I am not gonna make winner predictions, for certain purposes, but I can say that Lakers can win it if they play good ball. Three people HAVE to have a good game tomorrow. Kobe(obviously), Chris Mihm, and Lamar Odom. If the rest of the team plays good defense, while those three do the point production AND defense, I think the Lakers can nail this one.
I agree, I look for Smush Parker to have a big game, make either Payton or Wade play both ends of the floor. I'm not sure if Vince's offensive explosion was a good or bad thing, Pat Riley and his staff are going to make sure the Heat are very prepared to handle Kobe, especially after tuesdays performance. I can see the Heat using a plan to shutdown Kobe and make the rest of the Lakers beat them. If the Lakers come in with a team mentality and just move the ball around the triangle until the Heat are dizzy- they can easily win. By playing team ball the Lakers will be in the game, or ahead come crunch time- then they'll just give it to Kobe. LA wins by 5-10 pts.
What looks like the biggest disadvantage against the Lakers can be the best, Shaq. Kobe is going to use Shaq badly. I predict Shaq to foul out somewhat early. Pat Rileys game is going to eventually run down players like Walker, Mourning, Payton, and O'neil early. I think the Lakers will have an explosive 4th quarter. Lakers have youth and energy working for them and Heat have ego working against them. I'm anxious to see what takes place.
