Here is a little pre-game report: <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Lakers Team Report Yahoo! Sports 10 hours, 50 minutes ago Getting Inside When the Lakers visited Seattle back on Jan. 14, they were a team facing tremendous uncertainty after just having lost center Andrew Bynum to a knee injury for at least eight weeks. The Lakers return Sunday night looking quite reinforced after acquiring center-power forward Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies and immediately catching fire. The Lakers did manage a 123-121 overtime victory at KeyArena on that night without Bynum or Gasol, with Kobe Bryant roaring through Seattle's defense for 48 points. Seattle rookies Kevin Durant and Jeff Green weren't able to stop Bryant, although Green did a decent fundamental job. The Lakers will look to get Gasol more involved near the rim after Seattle traded veteran center Kurt Thomas to San Antonio before the trading deadline. Nick Collison will get plenty of time inside for Seattle; he had 24 points and 18 rebounds in the last meeting against the Lakers. Lakers 113, Clippers 95: The Lakers had little trouble clarifying the Southern California NBA pecking order again in this domination of the Clippers at Staples Center on Saturday night. The Lakers were somewhat sloppy early yet got it together in a sharp third quarter to pull away. Lakers center Pau Gasol had 23 points, six assists, five rebounds and three blocks as his integration continues to go seamlessly. Kobe Bryant didn't have to overextend himself, finishing with 17 points and seven assists. The victory moved the Lakers into a tie with Phoenix for the Western Conference lead, because San Antonio knocked off New Orleans earlier Saturday night. The Spurs and Hornets are a half-game out. Notes, Quotes ~ Andrew Bynum's recovery from his knee injury is going fairly well, as he graduated to running in a swimming pool Thursday; he won't be back before mid-March. ~ Derek Fisher, Vladimir Radmanovic and Sasha Vujacic all rank in the NBA's top 20 in 3-point percentage. Quote To Note: "I think he's been more aggressive." Kobe Bryant on Lamar Odom's game since the Lakers acquired Pau Gasol. Roster Report Rotation: Starters ”Point guard Derek Fisher, Shooting guard Kobe Bryant, Small forward Vladimir Radmanovic, Power forward Lamar Odom, Center Pau Gasol. Bench”Guard Jordan Farmar, Forward Ronny Turiaf, Guard Sasha Vujacic, Forward Luke Walton, Center DJ Mbenga, Guard Coby Karl, Center Andrew Bynum, Forward Trevor Ariza, Center Chris Mihm. Player Notes: ~Kobe Bryant passed David Robinson (20,790 career points) for 27th on the all-time NBA scoring list with 41 points Wednesday night in Phoenix. ~Pau Gasol got a long scratch on his right shoulder from getting tangled up with Suns center Shaquille O'Neal on Wednesday night. ~Lamar Odom said he has no pain from his offseason surgery to repair the labrum in his left shoulder. ~Vladimir Radmanovic strained his right calf in the first quarter Saturday night against the Clippers, but he might be able to return Sunday night in Seattle.</div> Source I am wondering how Kobe will play on a back-to-back with his minor injury. Hopefully everything is fine.
Eh, Kobe will be fine. It wasn't a very serious injury, and he looked good playing through it last night. Anyways, this should be an easy game for us. Kurt Thomas has been shipped out, so Pau should have a pretty easy time down low. Hopefully we'll start out quicker than we did last night against the Clips. I'm expecting an easy double digit win, hopefully they don't disappoint me
I remember a couple years ago, when Seattle had RayRay and Lewis, and the Sonics were actually good...Sonics vs. Lakers games were the best. The Kobe vs. RayRay matchup was the best. They'd always go at it...it was awesome.
Tonights game should be an easy one and then they will have a 1 game lead as #1 seed in the West over PHX.
This is the type of game we have to win. Seattle is clearly an underdog, and with how well we're playing, we should just roll over them. I think we need to get ourselves a nice 15-20 point cushion by the 4th, that way we don't have to play Kobe, Gasol or Odom heavy minutes tonight.
Blowout, thats what I expect.Anyways we should win this game.Kobe should guard Durant since none of our SF's could guard him last time we played them.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bynumite @ Feb 24 2008, 06:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Blowout, thats what I expect.Anyways we should win this game.Kobe should guard Durant since none of our SF's could guard him last time we played them.</div> I would put Lamar on him. Length versus length. I'm expecting this game to be over by halftime, they don't have Wally, West or Thomas.
Blowout, I can feel it. Dude, I love Lamar when he plays like this. I'd give him $12 million/year if he can always play like this. Kobe with the step back 3. Book this game as a win.
Early on, the refs were acting ignorant towards Gasol. He got fouled by Collison then Collison got a cheap basket at the other end. Then someone cut in front of Gasol for a blocking foul and he didn't get the call.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Black Mamba @ Feb 24 2008, 09:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I disagree about the refs. They're letting them play. Everything has been consistent so far.</div> Collison got away with a blatant call, not something on the fence in my opinion.
Disagree, my friend. I like Collison's style of play, very aggressive. Gasol looks pathetic out there right now...can't catch passes, turning the ball over, missing easy shots. Odom with the step back!
There we go Gasol! I hate Fisher, I really do. I don't give a **** what Laker fans think of him, he's a ****ing ball hog and can't drive the lane for shit.
