GT: Lakers @ Pacers (2/1/06)

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<font color="navy">The Indiana Pacers (21-22)</font> vs. <font color="purple">The Los Angeles Lakers (24-20)</font>
Wednesday, February 1st, 2006
Conseco Fieldhouse, Indiana
4:00 Pacific; Local
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<font size="3">Projected Starters</font>

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<font size="1">(A. Johnson, S. Jackson, P. Stoyakovic, A. Croshere, D. Harrison)</font></font></div>

<font size="1">Leading Scorer: Stephen Jackson - 15.8
Leading Rebounder: Austin Croshere - 5.9
Assist Man: Anthony Johnson - 3.6
The Bench Man: Sarunas Jasikevicius (9.0 PPG, 40.1% 3PTs, 3.1 APG)</font>

<font size="3">Backcourt</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/anthony_johnson.jpg[/imgl]<font color="navy">Anthony Johnson</font>
PPG: 6.9, RPG: 2.1, APG: 3.6
Anthony Johnson continues to play solid basketball filling in for Jamaal Tinsley. He's a crafty veteran who, understands his limitations on the court and doesn't make costly mistakes with the basketball. He's a nice balance along with Jasikevicius, who comes off the bench blazing.</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/stephen_jackson.jpg[/imgl]<font color="navy">Stephen Jackson</font>
PPG: 15.8, RPG: 4.0, APG: 2.3
Stephen Jackson has become the #1 option in the Pacers defense because of injuries. His ability to shoot the outside shot, or back his man down in the post makes him a tough match-up. SJax gets in trouble though when he loses his temper and starts taking ill-advised shots. He will have his hands full with Kobe Bryant tonight.
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<font size="3">Frontcourt</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/predrag_stojakovic.jpg[/imgl]<font color="navy">Peja Stoyakovic</font>
PPG: 17.0, RPG: 3.0, APG: 1.0
Peja Stoyakovic made his Pacer debut last night scoring 17 points in a loss to the Wizards. It's going to take a few games for him to get comfortable, but Peja could provide the outside shooting Reggie Miller brought to Indiana. His ability to move without the basketball fits right into Indiana's offensive schemes. Defensively there's a lot to be desired, but rookie Danny Granger is always ready to come in to get defensive stops off the bench.</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/austin_croshere.jpg[/imgl]<font color="navy">Austin Croshere</font>
PPG: 8.7, RPG: 5.9, BPG: .2
Austin Croshere is the master of the pick and pop. He makes a living setting the screen and then spotting up at the top of the key. He's having one of his best seasons rebounding the basketball and is shooting a career high 44.9% from the field. Croshere hurt the Lakers in the first meeting, after the Lakers kept double team the wrong player, leaving Croshere open on the perimeter. </font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/david_harrison.jpg[/imgl]<font color="navy">David Harrison</font>
PPG: 4.0, RPG: 3.2, BPG: .6
Even though David Harrison starts, he's the epitome of a token center. He has a hard time staying on the court because of foul trouble and Rick Carlisle is quick to use a smaller lineup or bring in Scott Pollard. Jeff Foster is listed as day-to-day depending on his back spasms. Don't be surprised if he makes an appearance tonight for the struggling Pacers. He will be tested tonight against the improved Chris Mihm, and possibly Andrew "Socks" Bynum.</font>

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<font size="3">Projected Starters</font>

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<font size="1">(S. Parker, K. Bryant, L. Odom, K. Brown, C. Mihm) </font></font></div>

<font size="1">Leading Scorer: Kobe Bryant - 36.0 PPG
Leading Rebounder: Lamar Odom - 9.5 RPG
Assist Man: Lamar Odom - 5.4 APG
The Bench Man: Devean George (6.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.0 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: 11.6, RPG: 3.1, APG: 3.1
Smush Parker had a decent game last night, but the Grim Reaper has lost his edge on defense. He has to play smart tonight and bring some energy especially when Sarunas comes off the bench. Smush has been a lot more aggressive on offense, which has been key to Laker victories. He's become a lot better at attacking the rim within the offense by slashing and receiving the bounce pass from Mihm in the post.</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kobe_bryant.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Kobe Bryant</font>
PPG: 36.0, RPG: 5.5, APG: 4.3
Kobe Bryant takes his show to Indiana tonight. The question remains the same since Kobe dropped 81, "How much will he score tonight?" Kobe plays very well against the Pacers historically, and will be ready to lockdown SJax tonight, while going for 30+ points. My prediction Kobe gets 38 tonight and holds SJax to 13.</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: 14.1, RPG: 9.5, APG: 5.4
Lamar Odom is still in his funk since the Sacramento Kings game. Last night he continued to struggle in the turnover department registering 4 against the Knicks. Tonight Odom draws Peja, who Lamar must dominate in the post and wear Peja down. Lamar also has to be active on defense, because Peja is great at running his defender into screens and then creating space for his jumper. Lamar needs to get back to the 15/10/5 player he was a month ago.</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kwame_brown.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Kwame Brown</font> -
PPG: 6.0, RPG: 6.0, BPG: .9
Without Jermaine O'neal available, Kwame Brown might not see a lot of PT tonight. Austin Croshere is not a good matchup for him because Croshere plays on the perimeter, and Kwame is more effective in the post. I expect Cook or Devean to play heavy minutes in place of Kwame. Coming off a solid game against the Knicks, Kwame actually dunked the ball, and had a block. He's still not playing the way a 7 footer should, but rebounding has been an area of improvement for Kwame. However, with Turiaf set to play soon and Bynum having a breakout game last night, Kwame could find himself riding pine during the second half of the season.</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/chris_mihm.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Chris Mihm</font>
PPG: 10.5, RPG: 6.8, BPG: 1.30
Chris Mihm has been the Lakers second consistent player. He's shooting a high clip from the field, and is trying to average a double-double the rest of the way. Mihm has improved in all areas of his game, especially FT shooting. </font>

<font size="3">Keys to the Game</font><ul>[*]<font color="navy">Control Tempo</font> - Indiana has to slow the game down to give themselves a chance to win tonight. The Lakers have been using a lot of traps and press to disrupt a team's rhythm. In order to avoid the traps, Indiana most force the Lakers into low percentage shots so they can't set their defense.[*]<font color="navy">Stay Out of Foul Trouble</font> - Kobe Bryant has been making a living at the free throw line the last two games. He's racking up fouls on his man and the frontcourt players. The Pacers cannot afford to pick up ticky tack fouls against him, and get caught in the air when goes for his pump fake.[*]<font color="navy">Don't Settle for Jumpers</font> - The Lakers are baiting teams to beat them from the outside. Last night the Knicks shot and missed jumper after jumper and were outscored 24-2 inside the paint in the first half. The Pacers shoot the ball well, but they should take a step in and get higher % looks.[*]<font color="purple">Balanced Attack</font> - ...The Pacers play very physical, so the Lakers don't want to force Kobe to score 50 tonight for them to win and get banged up in the process[*]<font color="purple">Control the Paint</font> - The Lakers have to win the rebounding battle and also recognize who the scorers are and who isn't. I don't want to see them doubling to defend David Harrison or Scott Pollard tonight, leaving shooters open.[*]<font color="purple">Bench</font> - The bench will have to come up again tonight. The Pacers can go 10 deep, and the Laker bench has to be able to secure the lead, and possibly build on it. Don't give the Pacers any hope they have a chance to win tonight.[/list]<font size="3">Prediction</font>

Without Jermaine O'Neal the Pacers have fallen to the 8th seed in the East. I expect the slide to continue tonight. Lakers have to win to keep pace in the West, and against a struggling Pacer team I like our chances.

Lakers: 96, Pacers: 78..

 

Thanks for covering for me, stupid work.

Ugh, I have a feeling someone's on our team is going to have a really good game, so I'm TiVoing it.

Lakers win: 102-89.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting DynastYWarrioR6:</div><div class="quote_post">Lamar is 1 for 6.......no turnovers at least...
Socks has a rebound
Kobe has 13...but we are down 52-37</div>

The game is on tape delay, but I don't like what you just posted. I'll check back with some updates on what went wrong in the 1st half. Game should start soon for those of us out West.

 

Ok the game just started here, first two shots both misses from the perimeter, and Anthony Johnson goes untouched to the rim. Now Peja just beat Odom in transition for the layup and 1.

Side note - Pollard and Foster started for the Pacers in the frontcourt.

Odom TURNOVER ugh!

 

Down 12-2 after 4 minutes so far. Peja has 6 points already, Lamar Odom is getting used up. Scott Pollard and his ugly hair do went to the bench in foul trouble.

Lamar a steal, YES.