GT: Lakers @ Bobcats (2/3/06)

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<font color="orange">The Charlotte Bobcats (11-36)</font> vs. <font color="purple">The Los Angeles Lakers (24-21)</font>
Thursday, February 3rd, 2006
Charlotte Bobcats Arena
4:30 Pacific; Local
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<font size="3">Projected Starters</font>

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<font size="1">(B. Knight, R. Felton, J. Jones, M. Ely, P. Brezec)</font></font></div>

<font size="1">Leading Scorer: Gerald Wallace - 14.5
Leading Rebounder: Emeka Okafor - 10.0
Assist Man: Brevin Knight - 8.3
The Bench Man: Matt Carroll (6.7 PPG, 38.0% 3PTs, 1.2 APG)</font>

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

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/brevin_knight.jpg[/imgl]<font color="orange">Brevin Knight</font>
PPG: 12.1, RPG: 3.2, APG: 8.3
Brevin Knight is one of the best decision makers in the league. The Lakers defense will be tested tonight with the backcourt duo of Knight & Felton. The ability to get dribble penetration is key for Knight, because it allows him to set teammates up with easy looks. Knight is also scrappy on defense, and likes to gamble from the weakside to pop the ball out of big men in the post. Both Kwame and Mihm have to be aware of him all game long, and the guards have to communicate to the big men if Knight goes for the steal down low.</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/raymond_felton.jpg[/imgl]<font color="orange">Raymond Felton</font>
PPG: 8.6, RPG: 3.0, APG: 4.3
Due to several injuries, rookie point guard, Raymond Felton has been used in the starting lineup alongside Brevin Knight. Having two point guards on the floor allows the team to maximize their quickness and push the tempo. On defense the Bobcats become very vulnerable, because of the size. This is a match up Phil Jackson will look to exploit all game long. The Lakers have to recognize the mismatch and take either Knight or Felton right into the post for high percentage shots. Raymond Felton on Kobe Bryant tonight doesn't look very promising for the rookie.</font>

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

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jumaine_jones.jpg[/imgl]<font color="orange">Jumaine Jones</font>
PPG: 7.8, RPG: 4.2, APG: 0.7
Another bench player inserted into the starting lineup due to injuries. The ex-Laker, Jumaine Jones always brings energy to the court for the Bobcats. The Lakers must box him out and also not allow him to free himself for the 3point shot. Force JJ to put the ball on the floor and become a decision maker. He's prone to dipping his shoulder and charging into defenders because he looks down when he dribbles. Depending on the flow of the game, Bickerstaff might use JJ on Kobe because he's familiar with Bryant and has the size to be physical on defense.</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/melvin_ely.jpg[/imgl]<font color="orange">Melvin Ely</font>
PPG: 9.9, RPG: 5.3, BPG: .78
Melvin Ely has something to prove tonight against the Lakers. He was put to shame in the first meeting by getting abused by Chris Mihm in the post. He was recently benched in favor of Benard Robinson, but has become the starter again after Robinson injured his ankle the other night. Ely has been the focus of several trade rumors, and might have been dealt already if the Bobcats didn't suffer so many injuries to their frontline. He could present a lot of problems if the Lakers come out flat tonight, because of his athleticism and length. He needs to stay out of foul trouble tonight, and not try to block every shot put up against him.</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/primoz_brezec.jpg[/imgl]<font color="orange">Primoz Brezec</font>
PPG: 12.2, RPG: 5.7, BPG: .41
He's become the #1 option on offense for the Bobcats, again, because of injuries. Primoz is an effective scorer in the post, using finesse and footwork to create space. However, on defense he's been getting into early foul trouble and picking up cheap fouls. He's very similar to Chris Mihm, and both make the same mistakes on defense. This should be an interesting matchup and a key to the game. Whoever can stay out of foul trouble is going to give their team a huge advantage.</font>

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

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

<font size="1">Leading Scorer: Kobe Bryant - 35.7 PPG
Leading Rebounder: Lamar Odom - 9.4 RPG
Assist Man: Lamar Odom - 5.3 APG
The Bench Man: Brian Cook (6.8 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 0.8 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: 3.1, APG: 3.1
With Lamar Odom injured, Smush Parker must step up tonight for the Lakers. He has to be able to stay in front of Brevin Knight on defense, and stay off of his hip. In the first game Smush kept getting wrong footed by Brevin, and either gave up the lane to the basket or watched Brevin pop 16 footers in his face. A better performance on both ends of the floor is needed tonight against the Bobcats. Smush has to attack the basket and not settle for the three point shot. Against Indiana, every shot was from behind the arc, and he went 2 for 6. Unless his first two looks from behind the arc go in, he needs to stop shooting from out there and take it to the rim.</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kobe_bryant.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Kobe Bryant</font>
PPG: 35.7, RPG: 5.5, APG: 4.3
Does Kobe Bryant go back to the facilitator role tonight? This should be one of interesting aspects of the game for the Lakers. Lamar Odom has struggled quarterbacking this team, and PJax can use this game to experiment with some other players handling the facilitator role. Without Gerald Wallace, the Bobcats don't really have anyone to defend Kobe one on one. He's going to feel even more compelled to carry this team without Odom out there. I expect Kobe to get a triple double tonight and go for 40 points. After a lousy performance against the Pacers, he'll be out for blood.</font>

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

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/devean_george.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Devean George</font>
PPG: 6.1, RPG: 3.7, APG: 1.0
Devean George will face off against his replacement last year, Jumaine Jones. As the only other veteran on this team, George has to stay on the floor and have his jumper falling. I think George will take advantage of Odom being out, and getting a chance to start again. He's great at being disruptive and will give the Lakers some second chance opportunities on the glass.</font>

<font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kwame_brown.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Kwame Brown</font> -
PPG: 5.9, RPG: 5.9, BPG: .7
The light bulb is dim in Kwame's head and his approach to basketball. He had a nice monster slam in the Pacer game facing up from the free throw line and exploding to the basket. However, after that one play he disappeared the rest of the game and made David Harrison look like an All Star on the low block. His matchup against Ely is crucial tonight, because the Lakers are thin in the frontline. He also needs to help out on the dribble penetration of Brevin and Felton, because they are going to run the pick and roll all night long. Kwame has been getting caught on that play, because he goes too, wide on the guard giving them a clear angle to make the pass to his man. By going out to far, he doesn't give himself anytime to recover and takes himself out of the play.</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: 6.7, BPG: 1.2
I expect the Lakers to get Chris Mihm going early in this game by feeding him in the post. He's capable of scoring 20 tonight and must pick up the rebounding with Odom out. Mihm had one of his best games the last time these two teams met, going for 21/9/3 blocks. The Lakers will need the same production tonight from their second best player. </font>

<font size="3">Keys to the Game</font><ul>[*]<font color="orange">Control Tempo</font> - The Bobcats want to make this a track meet by starting two point guards in the backcourt. The Lakers looked ragged in the Indiana game, and might be fatigued already from being on the road the past week. The Bobcats have plenty of speed at each position and need to push the tempo and force the Lakers to break discipline in their Triangle offense.[*]<font color="orange">Pressure the Backcourt</font> - The Lakers will be out of sync with Odom injured. He's the primary facilitator of the offense, and without him the Bobcats can pressure the ballhandler and force the Lakers to battle the shotclock. The Lakers seem to get frustrated easy when they play from behind, and start relying on jumpshots. Jumpshots lead to long rebounds, and easy baskets in transistion.[*]<font color="orange">Attack the Basket</font> - The Lakers frontline is foul prone, and once Mihm goes to the bench, everyone tends to fall apart on both ends of the floor for the Lakers. Both Knight and Felton might want to be extra aggressive on offense and throw their bodies into Mihm to get cheap fouls on him.[*]<font color="purple">Early Energy</font> - With Lamar Odom out, it's vital for the Lakers to get off to a quick start and dictate this game. The energy must be there, especially on the defensive end because the Lakers do not want to be forced into playing from behind. The Lakers overlooked the Pacers in the last game, they can't make the same mistake tonight.[*]<font color="purple">Control the Paint</font> - This is the key every game for the Lakers and they better do a better job of it tonight. They cannot allow Brezec or Ely to get any kind of rhythm going, otherwise it's going to be lights out in Charlotte. Brezec can drop 30 on the Lakers if they allow him to play with confidence.[*]<font color="purple">Triple Threat Kobe</font> - Kobe Bryant does everything for this Lakers team, tonight he has to give even more. With Odom out, the Lakers are without their second option, leading rebounder, and leader in assists. Kobe has to play an all-around game tonight and give his team a comfortable lead early on so he can be fresh for the 4th quarter. With all the injuries to the Bobcats, their bench isn't as strong as it can be. If Kobe can help the Lakers establish an 8 to 10 point lead, the Laker bench should be able to sustain it and possibly build on that lead.[/list]<font size="3">Prediction</font>

Kobe Bryant is going to impose his will on this game. The Bobcats always play the Lakers tough, and Kobe will make sure the team is focused tonight. He will be in attack mode all game long and get the Lakers back on track. I expect the Laker defense to be much tighter tonight. Also it's going to be interesting to see how the Lakers play without Lamar Odom. Although some might argue he hasn't shown up the last two weeks.

Lakers: 92, Bobcats: 83..

 

And people wonder why Kobe Bryant shoots so much. Absolutely, pathetic effort by Kobe's teammates.

Devean 2-9
Kwame 3-9
Walton 1-6
Sasha 0-3
Cook 1-8

KOBE 12-18!

I don't understand why Andrew Bynum doesn't get more PT. He came in and the Lakers made a nice run with him.