<div align="center"> @ <font color=""Purple"">Where: Staples Center When: Wednesday, April 19th 7:30 pm Pacific</font> <font color=""blue"">Hornets Starting Lineup:</font> <font color=""Blue"">PG: Paul SG: Butler SF: Mason PF: West C: Browns</font> <font color=""Purple"">Lakers Starting Lineup:</font> <font color=""purple"">PG: Parker SG: Bryant SF: Walton PF: Odom C: Brown</font> <font color=""purple"">It comes down to this?.six months and 81 games including Kobe?s epic 81 point performance in January and now if we win we go on to the Valley of The Sun to play Phoenix and if we lose it?s time to take a stroll on the famous Riverwalk and meet the defending World Champion San Antonio Spurs. The best part of the situation is that we know for a fact that we will be playing beyond Wednesday night. Now for the task at hand. The New Orleans Hornets under head coach Byron Scott and Rookie of the Year Chris Paul are one of the feel good stories of the year in the NBA. From being enthusiastically welcomed by their adopted hometown of Oklahoma City, to being the first pro sports team to return and play games in New Orleans, and most importantly being in the thick of the hunt for a playoff berth until last week, this team has been through a lot and responded admirably. They have a bright future. Byron Scott showed what a truly great coach he is by adjusting his system to fit his players. Many coaches would let their egos get in the way but early in the season Byron tweaked his approach. While they still run some of the ?Princeton? offense, they have become one of the the most dangerous fast break teams in the league with Chris Paul as the initiator. The combination of Chris Paul and David West gives Hornets fans reason for optimism. Paul is one of only a few players in the league who is capable of forcing the game to be played at the pace and tempo he wants. West is a hard working big man who is as comfortable in the low post as he is picking and popping and hitting perimeter shots out to about 18-20 feet. They also have Desmond Mason healthy again and welcome his athleticism back to the lineup. He gives them a great lane runner/finisher on the break and another low post threat. Another piece of this young nucleus that they will be counting on for years is second year player (straight from high school) JR Smith. He is an athletic player who can shoot from distance (although sometimes he falls too much in love with the 3 point shot). Unless you are a hardcore NBA fan ? or scout ? you may not recognize some of the names that you will see Wednesday night. Linton Johnson III has been playing well for the Hornets. He can shoot the 3 and is aggressive on the boards. Arvydas Macijauskas is a rookie from Lithuania who is a typical European sharpshooter. Brandon Bass is a big body banger from LSU. </font> <font color=""Purple"">Kobe Bryant makes his final argument for MVP honors tonight when the Los Angeles Lakers try to post their fifth straight win and jockey for playoff position against the New Orleans Hornets in the regular-season finale for both teams. The league's leading scorer at 35.4 points per game, Bryant has enjoyed a record-setting campaign in which he scored an astonishing 81 points against Toronto on January 22 and set the franchise record for points in a season earlier this week. Should be an easy win and free tacos.</font></div>
We HAVE to win this game I look for the usual (I love sayin that) triple-double flirtation from L.O, a solid 15 and 10 from Kwame, and 39-46 points from everybody's main man: Crazy ol' 8. We get these and we win no problem
nice preview empra. this is a must win because there is no way in hell i would want to face the spurs. i dont see us losing this since david west will be out, and kobe wont let us. i see a big game from kobe as well as kwame brown. lakers will take this and will clinch the 7th seed in the west
The Lakers know the situation and they control their own destiny tonight. I don't think they care who they face in Round 1, but the Suns would be the easier path in the playoffs. The Lakers are peaking at the right time, and I expect them to win tonight and hit the 45 mark for wins on the season. Closing out the regular season with a 5 game win streak is a great confidence builder heading into the post season. Kobe Bryant is going to make sure the team is focused and takes care of business on their homecourt. Keep an eye on Aaron McKie tonight on defense. I have a feeling he could be the secret "Nash" stopper in the playoffs. He's looked solid in the few minutes he's been on the court the past couple of games.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Empra!15:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe is out for tonights game!</div> what?! do you have a link?? i have no idea why kobe wouldnt be playing tonight. i mean, we are playing for the 7th seed!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Brian:</div><div class="quote_post">what?! do you have a link?? i have no idea why kobe wouldnt be playing tonight. i mean, we are playing for the 7th seed!</div> I just wanted to see the reaction. Kobe wont miss his 28th 40-point game for nothing.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Brian:</div><div class="quote_post">nice preview empra. this is a must win because there is no way in hell i would want to face the spurs. i dont see us losing this since david west will be out, and kobe wont let us. i see a big game from kobe as well as kwame brown. lakers will take this and will clinch the 7th seed in the west</div> Thanx bro!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Empra!15:</div><div class="quote_post"> I just wanted to see the reaction. Kobe wont miss his 28th 40-point game for nothing.</div> damn! haha. never do that again. lol. you scared the **** out of me!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Brian:</div><div class="quote_post">damn! haha. never do that again. lol. you scared the **** out of me!</div>
why not kobe stop nash? but again we need him for offense i think mkie should be against nash smush is good but not a stopper
Yeah right, Smush can't hang with Tony Parker, and for damn sure he can't hang with Nash. I'm looking forward to what Shape said to see if McKie will be the answer we need.
I actually went to this game. First time at Staples, only games I ever got to go to were the preseason games in Anaheim.. As a huge Laker fan I can't believe I've gone this long without going one time.. especially after only missing about 5-8 games total since 00'. Fun game, had such a comfortable lead that everything was just relaxed fun.
