Lakers-Bobcats Preview By DAN BURCH, STATS Writer Posted Dec 28 2006 8:29PM Print E-mail RSS Feeds E-News Sign Up Share on Facebook Bobcats Home Lakers Home 2006-07 Stats at a GlanceThe Los Angeles Lakers are looking to conclude a long road trip with a victory, but they have to be careful not to overlook their final opponent. The Lakers look to secure a winning record on this six-game trip as they visit the Charlotte Bobcats on Friday. Los Angeles (19-10) opened with a 94-89 loss to Chicago, but has won three of the last four games on the trip and needs a victory over the Bobcats for a 4-2 record. However, Charlotte has made a habit of beating the league's better teams despite its poor record. Charlotte (7-21) has been one of the worst teams in the league, but the Bobcats have beaten some quality opponents among their seven wins. They've defeated Utah, Detroit, Orlando and Cleveland at home and beat San Antonio on the road, giving Lakers coach Phil Jackson something to worry about as the road trip finishes. "You have to push on right on through and Charlotte's always good on their home court,'' Jackson said. "They have kind of a notoriety beating all the division leaders and they play really aggressive basketball. They're a stealing, overplaying team that you have to work hard to score on them on their home court.'' The Bobcats beat the Lakers 112-102 at home on Feb. 3 in the last meeting, giving Charlotte its first win over Los Angeles in four tries. The Lakers bounced back from a tough 101-85 loss to Miami on Christmas to beat Orlando 106-93 on Wednesday. Kobe Bryant had 27 points and Smush Parker added 18 of his season-high 20 in the third quarter as Los Angeles shot 50 percent for just the second time in 10 games. The Lakers are playing without Lamar Odom, who's missed the last eight games with a sprained right knee ligament. "We are getting better. It is just a matter of us growing,'' said Bryant, who's averaged 32 points in three games against Charlotte. "We are so young still and not having Lamar around is tough. It is a step in the right direction. Once we get Lamar back we will be even better.'' With a victory over the Bobcats, the Lakers can get above .500 on the road for the first time since beating Golden State 110-98 on Nov. 1 in their first road game of the season. Los Angeles has been perfectly average away from home, going 6-6 and scoring the same number of points as it has allowed (1,199). Charlotte has lost three straight and nine of its last 11 games. The Bobcats are 2-9 against the Western Conference and play four of their next five games on the road, where they are 2-11. Charlotte lost 114-107 at home to Washington on Wednesday despite rallying from a 16-point first-half deficit. Gerald Wallace scored 40 points - one off his career-high - and had 14 rebounds, six steals and four blocks, but it wasn't enough for the Bobcats, who made critical mistakes down the stretch. "I understand the intentions are good, but we just have to stop making mistakes and then blaming it on youth,'' Charlotte coach Bernie Bickerstaff said. "Those are basketball plays we have to make.'' Wallace has averaged 19.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.1 steals in his last eight games. He's averaged six points in seven games - two as a starter - against Los Angeles. Raymond Felton will continue to see increased minutes after the Bobcats learned on Thursday that Brevin Knight will be sidelined at least four weeks with a torn abdominal muscle. Knight, who averages 11.9 points and a team-high 7.3 assists, had missed the previous three games. Felton is averaging 13.4 points and 6.7 assists but shooting just 38.9 percent from the field. Copyright 2006 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2006-07 Stats at a Glance @ News | Players | Stats | Schedule News | Players | Stats | Schedule Los Angeles Lakers Record: 19 - 10 (.655) Standings: Second, Pacific At Home: 13 - 4 At Road: 6 - 6 Streak: W 1 Charlotte Bobcats Record: 7 - 21 (.250) Standings: Fifth, Southeast At Home: 5 - 10 At Road: 2 - 11 Streak: L 3 Season PPG: 102.9 Opp PPG: 99.8 FG%: .479 Opp FG%: .469 RPG: 39.8 Opp RPG: 39.4 Season PPG: 92.4 Opp PPG: 100.0 FG%: .428 Opp FG%: .453 RPG: 41.1 Opp RPG: 43.8 Back to Top Player G PPG RPG APG Bryant, K 26 27.3 5.0 5.2 Odom, L 21 17.5 8.7 4.9 Walton, L 29 12.1 4.7 4.0 Parker, S 29 10.6 2.2 2.4 Brown, K 22 8.7 6.2 2.1 Bynum, A 29 7.4 5.2 1.1 Radmanovic, V 28 6.9 3.1 1.0 Evans, M 29 6.5 2.2 0.9 Cook, B 21 6.0 3.6 0.8 Farmar, J 27 6.0 1.6 2.6 Turiaf, R 21 4.5 2.4 0.5 Vujacic, S 23 3.4 1.3 0.7 Williams, S 5 0.6 0.8 0.8 Head Coach: Phil Jackson Player G PPG RPG APG Okafor, E 28 14.8 10.8 1.2 Felton, R 27 13.4 3.9 6.7 Morrison, A 28 13.4 2.9 2.1 Wallace, G 28 13.0 5.5 1.6 May, S 23 12.4 6.5 1.8 Knight, B 19 11.9 3.5 7.3 Carroll, M 23 7.6 1.3 0.9 Brezec, P 17 6.1 3.4 0.2 Herrmann, W 6 4.5 1.8 0.2 Anderson, D 11 4.1 2.4 1.9 Harrington, O 15 3.1 2.1 0.3 Voskuhl, J 24 2.6 2.8 0.5 Ely, M 17 2.5 1.4 0.5 Robinson, B 19 2.4 2.1 0.8 Head Coach: Bernie Bickerstaff Tonight's Games Time (ET) Nat'l TV Game Notes Chicago @ Toronto 7:00 pm RTV , NBALP CHI | TOR Preview Orlando @ Washington 7:00 pm NBALP ORL | WAS Preview L.A. Lakers @ Charlotte 7:00 pm NBALP LAL | CHA Preview New Jersey @ Miami 7:30 pm NBATV NJN | MIA Preview Milwaukee @ Cleveland 7:30 pm NBALP MIL | CLE Preview Indiana @ Detroit 8:00 pm NBALP IND | DET Preview Denver @ NO/Okla. City 8:00 pm NBALP DEN | NOK Preview Seattle @ Minnesota 8:00 pm NBALP SEA | MIN Preview Atlanta @ Houston 8:30 pm NBALP ATL | HOU Preview New York @ Phoenix 9:00 pm NBALP NYK | PHX Preview Philadelphia @ Portland 10:00 pm RSNP , NBALP PHI | POR Preview Sacramento @ L.A. Clippers 10:30 pm NBALP SAC | LAC Preview Boston @ Golden State 10:30 pm NBATV BOS | GSW Preview Full Scoreboard Back to Top Dec 28 2006 8:29PM
The Lakers will probaly win this. But, the Bobcats are known to beat out the good teams as the Spurs.
In the future make sure to just post a fraction of the preview, and provide a link to your source. Thanks. The Lakers sound focused for this game, which is a positive sign. I just hope these young guys don't have their New Year's party plans on their minds, and take this team lightly. The Bobcats matchup well with the Lakers, and they win games when teams allow them to stick around. Lakers have to come out with energy on defense and take a commanding lead by halftime to put the doubt in the Bobcats having any chance at winning this game. Looking forward to the Gonzaga reunion of Morrison and Turiaf.
Heh, thats if Turiaf gets in playing time, which I hope he does. There's only so long you can be a cheerleader before getting annoyed with the lack of playing time.
We HAVE to win this game ! Bobcats are still a good defensive team and they have some solid players like Knight, Felton, Morrisson, Emeka. I still think that this is anybody's game.
This is a very winnable game. But judging from our history, we underestimate them, start out slow and sloppy, and lose. I hope they can prove me wrong
Kobe Bryant is off to a quick start in this game. He has 12 points on 5/6 shooting. Lakers lead 20-12 early in the 1st quarter. Go Lakers!
<div class="quote_poster">authentiq Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Right when Kobe sits down, the Bobcats go on a 15-4 run.</div> Matt Carroll is a Laker assassin. Lakers have been outscored 10-22 so far in the 2nd quarter. Game is tied at 40.
Kobe's looking good so far...and might I ask, as I'm not watching the game, who is guarding Matt Carroll? Cause he's lighting it up right now, and that's really quite pitiful.
Kobe has the "SCREW MY TEAM-MATES" look on. Wouldn't be surprised If he goes for 50+ 23 already and already taken 17 shots (not a dig just saying) he looks like he is on a misson.
Farmar and Sasha were guarding Carroll, well actually no one was really guarding him. Kwame Brown got his hand stepped on and has left the game, but now he's back. Time from Fruit Loops to step up.
<div class="quote_poster">AllNet Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe has the "SCREW MY TEAM-MATES" look on. Wouldn't be surprised If he goes for 50+ 23 already and already taken 17 shots (not a dig just saying) he looks like he is on a misson.</div> Yeah he does, and he's due for a breakout game. He's getting tapped on his last few shots though. Adam Morrison looks terrible.
it's odd, Kobe's agressive every offensive possesion looking to shoot but he's not finishing the ones up close. His jumper has been really nice so far though.
Adam Morrison is a weird player, he started the season well and was shooting the ball consistantly, then he goes something like 4-28 from the floor in 3 games, starts to get back on form and goes on another bad streak. When he struggles shooting the ball.....It's really bad.
why doesn't it surprise me that the Lakers let the lead slip again. Our transistion defense it crap!!!
Lakers give up 42 points to the worst team in the league during the 2nd quarter. Can you say pathetic?
