<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> November 19, 2006 - 8:00 pm ET<span style="color:#FF0000">Game aired on ESPN</span></div> <span style="color:#FF0000">Chicago Bulls</span> <span style="color:#000000">(3-6)</span><span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Kirk Hinrich</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Ben Gordon</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Luol Deng </span> <span style="color:#000000">PF</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Andres Nocioni</span> <span style="color:#000000">C</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Ben Wallace</span> <span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Chris Duhon, P.J. Brown, Thabo Sefolosha, Tyrus Thomas, Adrian Griffin, Malik Allen</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Los Angeles Lakers</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">(6-3)</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">PG</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Smush Parker</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">SG</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Kobe Bryant</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">SF</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Luke Walton</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">PF</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Lamar Odom</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">C</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Andrew Bynum</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Kwame Brown, Vladimir Radmanovic, Maurice Evans, Ronny Turiaf, Brian Cook, Jordan Farmar</span> Injury Report<span style="color:#FFCC00">LAL:</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Chris Mihm is out for season (ankle surgery)</span> Who To Watch Out For<span style="color:#FF0000">Ben Wallace</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 5.2 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 1.8 spg, 1.6 bpg</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Kirk Hinrich</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 17.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 5.9 apg, 1.1 spg</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Luol Deng</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 17.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.1 spg</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Kobe Bryant</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 22.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 5.3 apg, 1.3 spg</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Lamar Odom</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 18.6 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 5.2 apg</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Luke Walton</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 13.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.3 spg</span> Rookie Watch <span style="color:#000000">CHI:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Tyrus Thomas</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 4</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">3.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 0.8 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">CHI:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Thabo Sefolosha</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 13</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">5.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.8 spg</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">LAL:</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Jordan Farmar</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 26</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">5.2 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 2.4 apg</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Chicago's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Andres Nocioni</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 10.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg</span><span style="color:#FF0000">He has the wonderful job of trying to contain Lamar Odom, and that is no easy task in any way, shape, or form.</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">LA's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Andrew Bynum</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 10.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.2 bpg</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Bynum has been awesome thus far, but tonight is a test. He is going up against two excellent low-post defenders in Ben Wallace and P.J. Brown. Can he handle it?</span> Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#FF0000">Kirk Hinrich</span> <span style="color:#000099">vs.</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Kobe Bryant</span><span style="color:#000000">Kirk is smaller, no doubt, but he's still a tough defender. Kobe is still going to have somewhat of a field day against these smaller Chicago guards, IMO, but they are tough.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/NotesI really love both of these teams. I love Kobe, Odom, Walton, Brown, and Byum, and the entire Lakers team in general. I have loved the Bulls since I was about 8 or 9, some guy named Michael Jordan may have had something to do with that, I don't know. But I will be having a ball watching this game. CelticBalla's PredictionLike I said above, I think Kobe is going to have a field day against guards like Hinrich, Duhon, and Gordon. Sefolosha might be the only one that will actually disrupt him, but he won't be on the floor for huge periods of time. Chicago is in a slump right now as LA is cruising. It's in LA and Kobe is getting a rhythm going, I think the Lakers take it in a close one.
I'm thinking the bulls will win. They will feast on our turnovers and our inability to stop letting open 3's.
The Bulls might just be too good for the Lakers, but now would be a good time for LA to prove they can handle a better team like Chicago.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ELiiiTE @ Nov 19 2006, 09:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Bulls might just be too good for the Lakers, but now would be a good time for LA to prove they can handle a better team like Chicago.</div>I agree, and very nice setup CelticBalla. :dribble:
Nice to see Laker fans admit that the Bulls are better. :happy0144: But I think this will be a close game but I just think that after three straight tough losses, the Bulls are looking to get some revenge and will come away with this game.
FO's score prediction<span style="color:gold">Lake Show</span> 236.9<span style="color:red">Shitcago</span> -32Sorry...in a good mood today, BSU is 2-0...
Jordan Farmar is out for the rest of the game and maybe more with an ankle sprain...NO! :no1:EDIT: Wow...am I the only one here watching the game?
^ I completely forgot about it...just got back from watching Casino Royale and came straight to the pc...off to watch it now
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (LakersFan247 @ Nov 19 2006, 10:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Jordan Farmar is out for the rest of the game and maybe more with an ankle sprain...NO! :no1:EDIT: Wow...am I the only one here watching the game?</div>I was watching the game earlier. And if I saw this thread at an earlier time, I would have chosen LA ton win. They have great chemistry, the best player in the league, and somewhat of a low post presence. I think they are a VERY dangerous team come playoff time.
Bulls up by 1... didn't get to see the game, I was out. Probably just going to watch the highlights tomorrow. Damn, this was one I wanted to see.EDIT - Tied at 51.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (LakersFan247 @ Nov 19 2006, 09:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>EDIT: Wow...am I the only one here watching the game?</div>That's how I feel 4/5 times haha.But Nocioni is HOT right now. Jesus! He's hitting everything from everywhere. The three's especially, are just raining down for him.Bynum - :worthy: This kid is going to be a force in this league. I have basically fallen in love with this kid this season. Around 05 draft time, I didn't know much about him. Last year, he had a couple nice games, but didn't wow me. This year - he officially has wow'ed me. Not only is he huge and a hard worker, he's extremely active, a very good rebounder, he can block shots, he's a much better low-post defender than any 19 year old big I have seen in a long time (besides Howard), he has a soft touch, he can score on the block or from 8-10 feet. I love him.Also, Hinrich just can't catch a break, huh? Wow.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Lefty @ Nov 19 2006, 07:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I aint tryin to sound to biased here, but the Lakers are a contender for the title this year.</div>I can't argue with you there, even the announcers are admitting it.
KWAME! Wow, we have a new dunk of the night!Also, the Red Sox payed $51 million just to TALK to a Japanese pitcher? WTF is that????!?!?!!??!?!?!?!
Sooo...umm...where can I order a poster of that Kwame dunk...Damn.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Nov 19 2006, 10:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Also, the Red Sox payed $51 million just to TALK to a Japanese pitcher? WTF is that????!?!?!!??!?!?!?!</div>Yeah, big bidding war. Dude apparently has some crazy pitch...Was MVP of the World Baseball Classic...
Yeah, that was a crazy dunk by Kwame, and that jumpshot by Kobe was pretty sick as well. I am just loving how the Lakers are playing right now.
