<div align="center"> vs. <font color="blue">Washington Wizards (8-10)</font> vs. <font color="black">Los Angeles Lakers (16-7)</font> Date: December 17thth, 2006 Time: 9:30 P.M. Eastern TV: CSN and KCAL Place: Staples Center</div> [div=50%]<font size="3"><div align="center"><font color="gold">Lakers Starting Lineups</font></div></font> <div align="center"> <font size="1">(S. Parker, K. Bryant, L. Walton, V. Radmanovic, K. Brown)</font></div> <font color="black">2006-07 Lakers Stats</font> Leading Scorer: Kobe Bryant - 27.9 PPG Leading Rebounder: Kwame Brown - 6.5 RPG Leading Assist Man: Kobe Bryant - 4.7 APG Points Per Game: 102.3 Field Goal Percentage: 47.8% 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 35.1% Rebounds Per Game: 40.3 Assists Per Game: 23.3 <font size="3">Backcourt</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/smush_parker.jpg[/imgl]<font color="gold">Smush Parker</font> PPG: 10.0, RPG: 2.3, APG: 2.7 [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kobe_bryant.jpg[/imgl]<font color="gold">Kobe Bryant</font> PPG: 27.9 RPG: 5,2, APG: 4.7 <font size="3">Frontcourt</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/luke_walton.jpg[/imgl]<font color="gold">Luke Walton</font> PPG: 12.7, RPG: 4.7, APG: 4.0 [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/vladimir_radmanovic.jpg[/imgl]<font color="gold">Vladimir Radmanovic</font> PPG: 5.6, RPG: 3.0, APG: 1.1 [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kwame_brown.jpg[/imgl]<font color="gold">Kwame Brown</font> PPG: 8.6, RPG: 6.5, APG: 2.2 [/div]<div align="center"><font color="blue"><font size="3">Wizards Starting Lineup</font></font> <font size="1">(G. Arenas, D. Stevenson, C. Butler, A. Jamison, B. Haywood)</font></div> <font color="blue">2006-07 Wizards Stats</font> Leading Scorer: Gilbert Arenas - 28.0 PPG Leading Rebounder: Caron Butler - 8.4 RPG Leading Assist Man: Gilbert Arenas - 6.2 APG Points Per Game: 102.8 Field Goal Percentage: 45.2% 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 36.1% Rebounds Per Game: 40.4 Assists Per Game: 19.6 <font size="3">Backcourt</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/gilbert_arenas.jpg[/imgl]<font color="blue">Gilbert Arenas</font> PPG: 28.0, RPG: 3.8, APG: 6.2 [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/deshawn_stevenson.jpg[/imgl]<font color="blue">Deshawn Stevenson </font> PPG: 9.2, RPG: 2.5 APG: 2.8 <font size="3">Frontcourt</font> [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/caron_butler.jpg[/imgl]<font color="blue">Caron Butler</font> PPG: 18.7, RPG: 8.4, APG: 3.4 [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/antawn_jamison.jpg[/imgl]<font color="blue">Antawn Jamison</font> PPG: 18.4, RPG: 7.4, APG: 1.8 [imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/brendan_haywood.jpg[/imgl]<font color="blue">Brendan Haywood</font> PPG: 5.7, RPG: 5.7, APG: 0.4 <div align="center"><font size="3"><u>Keys To The Game</u></font><ul></div>[*]<font color="gold">Control The Paint</font> – It's going to be another game without Etan Thomas for the Wizards and have no reliable backup that will be able to handle the Lakers' frontcourt for Haywood, so the Lakers must be able to grab every possible rebound, score easy points, and take Haywood out of the game.[*]<font color="gold">Take Care Of The Ball</font> – The Lakers as a team are first in the NBA in turning the ball over with 17.5 and you don't want to come near the Wizards with an ugly stat like that. The Wizards on Friday forced 16 turnovers and converted 21 points off of them and if the Lakers aren't careful with the ball, the Wizards will pounce.[*]<font color="gold">Don't Fall Early</font> – The Wizards have done a great job getting an advantage early in the game, and a decent job taking care of it throughout the game, so the Lakers will need to make sure they can get it going on offense early and stop the big trio from scoring against them.[*]<font color="blue">Target and Eliminate Shooters</font> – Defending the perimeter has been a problem for Washington throughout the season as James Posey left open to shoot 7-9 from behind the arc to cut the Wizards lead down to 3. The Wizards will have a huge problem if they don't take care of guys like Luke Walton whose shooting at a amazing 52% from the 3 and of course Bryant with 36% from the 3. <font color="blue">Push The Ball</font> – One of the Wizards' main advantages is the ability to push the ball up and score easy baskets at the other end. One of the key examples was on Friday leading the fastbreak point category 30-8 against Miami, and if they are able to keep the Lakers off their feet and chasing throughout the game, the Wizards will have no problem on offense.[*]<font color="blue">Stay Close Throughout The Game</font> – The Wizards are 0-7 on the road when trailing after 3 quarters, and as long as Kobe Bryant who is coming off a 53 point performance against Houston is leading this team, Washington will have a lot on their hands on defense.[/list] <font size="3">Prediction:</font> Lakers over Wizards 115-107 Will's Prediction Record: 8-6 (Wizards over Sixers, 103-93)
They need to keep some good D on Arenas, last few times he played the Lakers he just scores at will and 60% of the time gets the foul.
We need to look out for Jamison. He's a big guy that can shoot the lights out on occasions. We had problems with Thomas in the playoffs against the Suns doing a similar job as Jamison. Normally Odom would be defending him, I suspect Walton will be starting. Walton needs to get a hand in his face. Also, Smush has a huge task tonight against Arenas. I believe he'll do a solid job though. He must be high on confidence after his recent form and he seems to anticipate matching up against premier guards.
damn. The Lakers need to box out!! Arenas misses on a 3, Washigton rebounds and Jamison scores. I really miss Odoms rebounding. Kobe is having another great game.
The Lakers are shooting too many 3's. Why not drive the lanes!!! Farmar, bad pass.... grr..... another damn offensive rebound off a 3 point attempt for Washington... WTF!!
Looks like it will all come to a showdown between Arenas and Kobe. We've done a better job rebounding than I thought we would, with Jamison stepping up tonight. He's already got a double double with 23 points and 12 rebounds. If we can't force Kobe to a bad 4th quarter, while containing Radmanovic behind the arc, it won't look good for us.
Our transition defense is terrible!! How many layups have a seen off defensive rebounds by Washington. No one is driving the lanes and we are settling for jumpers... gah.
The Lakers need to stop fouling, the only way the Wizards are getting their points recently are from the foul-line and it's really hurting the Lakers.
<div class="quote_poster">Trench Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">They have to foul. Time is against them right now.</div> They've been fouling for like the last 3 minutes, haha. The last made basket for the Wizards came at 3:46. The Lakers made some easy baskets to trim the lead, so hopefully they just come up short with no time remaining.
