<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#FCB135"><span style="font-family:Impact">Los Angeles</span> </span></span><span style="color:#FCB135">(28-16)</span> vs. <span style="color:#c8362d"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact">Toronto</span></span></span> <span style="color:#c8362d">(25-20)</span> </div> <div align="center"> When: Friday February 1st, 2007 @ 7:00PM EST Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON TV/Radio: RaptorsTV, FAN 590 </div> <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><div align="center"> <span style="font-family:Impact"><u>GAME PREVIEW</u></span></div></span> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>After opening a season-high nine-game road trip in disappointing fashion, the Los Angeles Lakers continue their trek Friday in Toronto, where the Raptors have been blowing out opponents lately. The Lakers (28-16) lost to Detroit 90-89 on Thursday, their fourth defeat in five games. Los Angeles trailed by as much as 17 in the first half, but managed to battle back and take a 72-67 lead heading into the final quarter. The Lakers had a chance to seal a win against the Pistons, but could not corral a key rebound before Tayshaun Prince made a game-winning 3-pointer with 4.5 seconds left. Kobe Bryant had 39 points and 10 rebounds, but didn't get a shot on the final possession, which ended with Lamar Odom's airball. ............................... A potential problem for the Lakers, however, is visiting teams haven't had any luck at the Air Canada Centre lately. The Raptors (25-20) have won a season-high six straight home games by an average of 21.0 points since a 93-90 home loss to Cleveland on Jan. 6. They are averaging 109.7 points and shooting 51.9 percent in those games. On Thursday at the Air Canada Centre, Toronto defeated Washington 122-83, matching the franchise's largest margin of victory. The Raptors, who have won eight of 11, shot 56.6 percent and made 13-of-18 shots from 3-point range against the Wizards. "More than just the 3s, it's the way we moved the basketball," Toronto coach Sam Mitchell said. "The difference is we shot the ball much better and we rebounded better." Andrea Bargnani scored a game-high 19 points, connecting on 3-of-4 of his 3s. The top pick in the 2006 draft is averaging 13.8 points on 8-of-16 shooting from 3-point range in his last four games after averaging just 4.1 points and hitting only 2-of-14 shots from beyond the arc in his previous eight. "If he continues to do that, this team is going to be a lot better," said Chris Bosh, who was named an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve on Thursday.</div> <div align="center">Source: Yahoo!Sports</div> <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Impact"><u>STARTING LINEUPS</u></span></div></span> <div align="center"> <span style="color:#FCB135">Derek Fisher - Kobe Bryant - "What I hope Andrea doesn't turn into" - Lamar Odom - Kwame Brown</span> <span style="color:#c8362d">Jose Calderon - Anthony Parker - Jamario Moon - Chris Bosh - Andrea Bargnani</span></div> <span style="font-family:Impact"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><div align="center"><u>KEY MATCHUP</u></div></span></span> <div align="center"> <span style="color:#FCB135">Kobe Bryant</span> vs. <span style="color:#c8362d">Anthony Parker</span></div> The Lakers have truly taken that next step this season, but we have here is merely a shadow of that squad. Decimated by injuries, the Lakers have little going for them aside from Kobe. This has got to be one of the simplest gamplans for Toronto. Limit Kobe and the game is ours. Anthony will need to continue to play solid fundamental perimeter defense, but he will also need to count on help from his bigs when Kobe beats with a drive. On the other side of the court, if Parker can have one of his excellent shooting nights, there'll be little the Lakers can do to stop us. <div align="center"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact"><u>PREDICTION</u></span></span></div> <div align="center">The Lakers are injured. They're on the second half of a back-to-back. The Raptors are well-rested. They're playing at home. Do the math.</div> <span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><div align="center"><span style="color:#c8362d">Toronto 108</span> - <span style="color:#FCB135">Los Angeles 95</span></div></span>
<div align="center"><u><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact">Something to look at while you wait for the game</span></span></u></div> <div align="center"></div>
They played last night, hopefully they are gassed. I'm looking forward to seeing if Andrea can keep up his strong play.
Hahahahaha great pics Chutney. I don't know what to expect tonight after last night's heart breaker. The Lakers had every opportunity to steal the game in Detroit. The Pistons put in cruise control after taking a 17 point lead, but managed to wake up when it counted and Prince did what Odom couldn't do by draining a game winner. After the game Kobe looked at PJax and said "What are we doing?" This might be the game PJax takes the leash off Kobe and puts the onus on him to score 45 to 50 points because employee 0007 hasn't shown up. Odom filled the stat sheet last night with a whopping 6 point effort. Combined Kwame and Odom managed to shoot 2 for 10. My concern is Kobe logging 47 minutes last night and taking a lot of hits in the game. He went to line 15 times last night and he had to chase Rip Hamilton around getting picked left and right. Rip is a master at running his defender into picks. Lakers just aren't playing good basketball right now.
I like the way Parker guards Kobe, so this will be a good one. Bosh should have his way with Kwame on offense and defense. I fully expect Moon to just take it at Odom and make him play defense. Btw, Calderon I predict will have 37 assists and 0 turnovers with 21 points. Moon with 32 points and 29 rebounds. Kobe: 7 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds and 17 turnovers.
plus the raps will be on high after hearing ford will be coming back to practice i can't see them losing, AND they are at home
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BasX @ Feb 1 2008, 01:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>plus the raps will be on high after hearing ford will be coming back to practice i can't see them losing, AND they are at home </div> AND Calderon will be pissed he was left off the all-star team, so, he will explode on old man Fisher.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Master Shake @ Feb 1 2008, 01:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I like the way Parker guards Kobe, so this will be a good one. Bosh should have his way with Kwame on offense and defense. I fully expect Moon to just take it at Odom and make him play defense. Btw, Calderon I predict will have 37 assists and 0 turnovers with 21 points. Moon with 32 points and 29 rebounds. Kobe: 7 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds and 17 turnovers.</div> Nice one. You forgot Moon's 37 blocks.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Feb 1 2008, 02:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Lakers trade for Gasol Man, we're lucky we face them tonight. Does this mean Kwame's not playing?</div> We own a private jet Gasol will be there hopefully! LOL.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (hustler @ Feb 1 2008, 02:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Master Shake @ Feb 1 2008, 01:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I like the way Parker guards Kobe, so this will be a good one. Bosh should have his way with Kwame on offense and defense. I fully expect Moon to just take it at Odom and make him play defense. Btw, Calderon I predict will have 37 assists and 0 turnovers with 21 points. Moon with 32 points and 29 rebounds. Kobe: 7 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds and 17 turnovers.</div> Nice one. You forgot Moon's 37 blocks. </div> Ah, my bad. I just thought this over, I'll throw in 459 steals for the hell of it.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BasX @ Feb 1 2008, 03:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>who is starting for LA at C? Ronny?</div> That's what I was thinking. I guess Ronny will start, but other then Ronny, the Lakers are pretty weak upfront. I also hope Kobe isn't to happy that he decides to go for 90 or something.
Lakers have lost their last 4 on the road with a loss at home mixed in there as well. Although the teams they lost against aren't all that bad, I see the Lakers continuing to slump. The hungry Raptors are at home & CB4 ready to perform like an All-Star.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Master Shake @ Feb 1 2008, 02:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BasX @ Feb 1 2008, 01:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>plus the raps will be on high after hearing ford will be coming back to practice i can't see them losing, AND they are at home </div> AND Calderon will be pissed he was left off the all-star team, so, he will explode on old man Fisher. </div> I agree... Jose is going to make them regret not picking him for the all-star team! He deserved to be on that roster!
