<div align="center"> <font color="purple">The Toronto Raptors (14-26)</font> vs. <font color="purple">The Los Angeles Lakers (21-19)</font> Sunday, January 22nd, 2006 STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, California 6:30 Pacific; Local </div> [div=50%] <font size="3">Projected Starters</font> <div align="center"><font color="purple"> <font size="1">(J. Calderon, M. James, M. Peterson, C. Bosh, R. Araujo)</font></font></div> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Chris Bosh - 22.7 PPG Leading Rebounder: Chris Bosh - 9.3 RPG Assist Man: Jose Calderon - 5.4 APG The Bench Man: Charlie Villanueva (11.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG, .9 APG)</font> <font size="3">Backcourt</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jose_calderon.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Jose Calderon</font> PPG: 6.3, RPG: 2.6, APG: 5.4 Calderon is nothing special. A good passer, and that's about it. He has average court vision and average scoring ability. He's basically what the Lakers would call, Sasha Vujacic. Jose can't let Smush get going in the first, which I think Smush will try to do. </font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/mike_james.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Mike James</font> PPG: 16.7, RPG: 3.2, APG: 5.1 Mike James as been the Raptors unsung hero this year. He's had numerous huge games and won them some games. In this game, he has the one and only number 8 against him. He'll have to work every second of the game to get his 17 points and slow down Kobe, who will come in the game hungry after two straight losses. James knows what he has to do, slow Bryant, but I don't think he'll be able to do it. Kobe should be able to get to the rim at will against him. </font> <font size="3">Frontcourt</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/morris_peterson.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Morris Peterson</font> PPG: 14.3, RPG: 4.8, APG: 1.9 Morris Peterson will also have a handful with the inconsistent Lamar Odom. Peterson has to be able to get hot from the perimeter, something Lamar has a tendancy to let his opposition do. Mo can't get caught up with Lamar down in the post, or Lamar could have a career game, that's not saying much for Lamar, he has the ability to have career games every day, but doesn't show it. Basically, Peterson has to destroy the Lakers from the perimeter. </font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/chris_bosh.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Chris Bosh</font> PPG: 22.7, RPG: 9.3, BPG: 1.15 The young and exciting PF is having a stellar season. Against the Lakers, Bosh has to call for the ball. If Kwame Brown is on him, things will be hard for him down in the post, but if not, Bosh could have a 30 point outing. If Brown is on him, Bosh needs to take him to the midrange game, something Brown slacks off on. On defense, Bosh needs to control the boards and not let the Lakers drive, he needs to cut them off. </font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/rafael_araujo.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Rafael Araujo</font> PPG: 2.1, RPG: 2.9, BPG: .13 A center worse than Mihm? Impossible. Well, it happened. Araujo can be effective one way, drawing fouls on Chris Mihm. That's it. </font> [/div] <font size="3">Projected Starters</font> <div align="center"><font color="purple"> <font size="1">(S. Parker, K. Bryant, L. Odom, K. Brown, C. Mihm) </font></font></div> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Kobe Bryant - 34.8 PPG Leading Rebounder: Lamar Odom - 9.4 RPG Assist Man: Lamar Odom - 5.5 APG The Bench Man: Brian Cook (6.7 PPG, 2.8 RPG, .8 APG)</font> <font size="3">Backcourt</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/smush_parker.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Smush Parker</font> PPG: 11.5, RPG: 3.2, APG: 3.1 Smush has a chance to have a huge game here. He has Jose Calderon on him, not a defensive specialist by any means. For the Lakers to win, Smush needs to come out hot and shoot early and often. Drive the ball on Calderon, this is Smush's game to win or lose for the Lakers, win it Smush. </font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kobe_bryant.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Kobe Bryant</font> PPG: 34.8, RPG: 5.6, APG: 4.3 Another stellar performance, another heart-wrenching loss. Kobe is going to come into this game with a exceptional killer instinct. Look for him to get his teammates involved early, but in the second half, look for him to absolutely dominate this game. With Mike James guarding him, Bryant should be able to get to the rim and the free throw line easily, he can't settle for the oustide J. </font> <font size="3">Frontcourt</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/lamar_odom.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Lamar Odom</font> PPG: 14.6, RPG: 9.4, APG: 5.5 Lamar Odom is a magician whose specialty is disappearing acts. He pulled another one against Phoenix. Lamar needs to come out aggressive, something he can do, and STAY aggressive, something I don't think he can comprehend. Until he does that, he's cemented in my mind as a CBA reject. He has all the talent in the world, utilize it for the Lakers. </font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kwame_brown.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Kwame Brown</font> - PPG: 6.1, RPG: 6.0, BPG: .60 Is he back on Phil's bad side? No one knows except Kwame and Phil. He only played 8 minutes in the last game, because he couldn't keep up with the pace. He should be a factor in this game, he has a big opponent in Chris Bosh, I'm looking for tough defensive and offensive activeness. Come on Kwame, don't let us Laker fans down in this game. </font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/chris_mihm.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Chris Mihm</font> PPG: 10.3, RPG: 6.6, BPG: 1.33 Well, Rafael Araujo is what Chris Mihm needs. Compared to Araujo, Mihm looks like Wilt Chamerblain. We need his hook and outside J wetting things in this game. Along with Smush, I think Mihm is going to be the X factor in this game for the Lakers. If he has a good game, Laker cement a win, if he doesn't, the Lakers have to work harder than they should have to. </font> <font size="3">Keys to the Game</font><ul>[*]<font color="purple">Raptors: Feed Bosh Often</font> - Chris Bosh is the Raptors ride to victory. If he can come out and score early and often, avoid foul trouble, and gobble up rebounds, the Raptors will increase their chances.[*]<font color="purple">Raptors: Try to Push the Pace</font> - The Lakers were exposed against Phoenix when they couldn't keep up with the fast break pace, something the Raptors should try to implement into the game. If they get out running, the Lakers will have no choice but run with them, which hurts the Lakers chance of winning.[*]<font color="purple">Purple: The Bench Man</font> - Charlie Villanueva should have a big game for the Raptors in this one. The Lakers have no one off of the bench to stop him, so when he is in the game, the Raptors should use Bosh as a decoy and look for Charlie V.[*]<font color="purple">Lakers: Want It</font> - With two straight losses on their mind, the Lakers need to come out early and show that they want this victory more than the Raptors want it.[*]<font color="purple">Lakers: Smush</font> - Smushy baby, look who's on you, Jose Calderon, c'mon get hot early. Remember that game you had against Philadelphia the other week, can we get a repeat performance?[*]<font color="purple">Lakers: Kobe, Lamar</font> - In the first half of the game, Lamar has to be the primary threat, and Kobe has to be the decoy and look to initiate and involve other players. In the second half, their roles flip and Kobe goes back to being the dominant one and Lamar goes to still being aggressive, but looking to involve others more.[/list]<font size="3">Prediction</font> Their is no reason why the Lakers shouldn't win this game at home. They've lost two in a row and are looking to sweeten the taste in their mouthes right now. L.A. comes out aggressive and strong and cruises to a comfortable victory. Lakers: 102, Raptors: 99.
Kobe's gonna destroy the Raptors, This should be a easy win for the Lakers. Let's get back to winning.
This Raptors team is playing a lot better (especially on offense) than the first time the Lakers faced them. The Raptors have been playing inside-outside starting with Bosh. The Lakers have to shut him down and force him into taking bad shots. On offense, the Lakers better attack the Raptors, they have no shotblocker on the inside. The last two games the Lakers have been settling from the perimeter against two soft interior teams. v. Sacramento [32 three point attempts & 20 free throw attempts] v. Phoenix [23 three point attempts & 17 free throw attempts] The Lakers need to flip-flop these numbers to get back on another winning streak. Toronto is a team we should beat and we cannot afford to lose to teams we should beat.
Great preview, we CANNOT afford to lose to Toronto. A loss to a below average team would be a huge setback. Something, which we cannot afford.
btw Hoffa is injured tonight and bonner will be replacing him and Rose will be starting instead of Jose
The biggest difference between this team and the one the Lakers faced before is that our veterans have finally picked up their play. Jalen has played great recently and won back the starting job. Kobe can still dominate though, and if the Raps aren't shooting the ball well, the Lakers can ride Kobe to the W.
I think its gonna be a win for the lakers, but not necessarily a very easy won. The vets are playing hard and the Raptors have finally been playing well. It's gonna be a close win for the Lakers with some surprising runs by the Raptors.
The Lakers won't destroy the Raptors be any means, but it should be a Laker win. However, it wouldn't be surprising to see Toronto beat LA.
Good job on the preview K8B. I really think this will be a closer game than most of you think. Will the Raps be able to pull it out? I don't know, but I know it's not going to be easy for either team. By the way, I'd love to hear your take on the game in the Raps' preview.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting illmatic:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe has 41 points with 7 minutes left in the 3rd. UN-******NG-REAL</div> yup unf'in real, looks like hes gonna get a new career high today and the last 62 pts game he coulda played in the 4th, if he did he would have broke jerry west's 71 pts lakers record
Damn, 53 points at the start of the fourth. Shooting well to 19-30, 5-7 treys. I am so happy that I drafted this guy.
Kobe is on a tear again. No one else is helping him. Odom is 0-6 He aint no ballhog. Right now, he IS THE LAKER TEAM. No one is stepping up besides him.
eactly..if anyone calls Kobe a ballhog after this game (which is inevitable actually) is not looking at the shooting percentage of the rest of this team today....cause I watched them miss shot after shot...grr
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting DynastYWarrioR6:</div><div class="quote_post">eactly..if anyone calls Kobe a ballhog after this game (which is inevitable actually) is not looking at the shooting percentage of the rest of this team today....cause I watched them miss shot after shot...grr</div> Well actually Smush and Mihm are both shooting about 50%. If Kobe was smart he would give it to Mihm in the paint because Bosh has 5 fouls right now. If they could get rid of Bosh it would make it that much easier for Kobe to score.
But his so called sidekick is non existant yet again... Its frustrating. Trade Odom for Artest and call it a day.
