<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> November 30, 2006 - 10:30 pm ET<span style="color:#FF0000">Game on TNT</span></div> <span style="color:#6666CC">Utah Jazz</span> <span style="color:#3366FF">(13-3)</span><span style="color:#3366FF">PG</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">Deron Williams</span> <span style="color:#3366FF">SG</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">Ronnie Brewer</span> <span style="color:#3366FF">SF</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">Andrei Kirilenko</span> <span style="color:#3366FF">PF</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">Carlos Boozer</span> <span style="color:#3366FF">C</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">Mehmet Okur</span> <span style="color:#3366FF">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">Matt Harpring, Derek Fisher, Gordan Giricek, Paul Millsap, Jarron Collins</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Los Angeles Lakers</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">(9-5)</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">Kwame Brown</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Andrew Bynum, Vladimir Radmanovic, Maurice Evans, Jordan Farmar, Ronny Turiaf</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:#6666CC">Carlos Boozer</span><span style="color:#3366FF">Season Stats: 21.9 ppg, 12.8 rpg, 2.9 apg</span><span style="color:#6666CC">Deron Williams</span><span style="color:#3366FF">Season Stats: 16.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 9.0 apg, 1.3 spg</span><span style="color:#6666CC">Andrei Kirilenko</span><span style="color:#3366FF">Season Stats: 7.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.5 apg, 0.9 spg, 2.9 bpg</span><span style="color:#6666CC">Mehmet Okur</span><span style="color:#3366FF">Season Stats: 15.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Kobe Bryant</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 24.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 5.2 apg, 1.3 spg</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Lamar Odom</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 19.7 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 4.9 apg</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Luke Walton</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 12.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.2 spg</span> Rookie Watch <span style="color:#3366FF">UTA:</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">Ronnie Brewer</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 14</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">5.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.7 spg</span> <span style="color:#3366FF">UTA:</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">Paul Millsap</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 47</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">6.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 0.9 bpg</span> <span style="color:#3366FF">UTA:</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">Dee Brown</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 46</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">0.3 ppg, 1.0 apg, 0.6 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">5.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 2.6 apg</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">Utah's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#6666CC">Matt Harpring</span><span style="color:#3366FF">Season Stats: 12.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 52% FG</span><span style="color:#6666CC">Harp is a very good 6th man, he's tough, and he's pretty reliable. He's basically a poor man's Wally Szczerbiak. He needs to come in off the bench and cause problems for LA's wings.</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">LA's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Kwame Brown</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 8.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.1 bpg</span><span style="color:#6600CC">Kwame has been playing well lately, except for Tuesday night. He needs to play real tough, rebound the ball, and stay out of foul trouble tonight. Boozer, Okur, Kirilenko, and Millsap are great rebounders, Kwame will have to really bang tonight.</span> Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#6666CC">Andrei Kirilenko</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Kobe Bryant</span><span style="color:#000000">Kirilenko has one of the best all-around games in the NBA. He's capable of a 5x5 on any given night, and he's an excellent defender. Kobe, IMO, is the best basketball player in the entire world. We'll see what AK47 can do. </span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/NotesThis is going to be an incredible game, I really can't wait! I love Kobe, I love Odom, I love Deron, I like Boozer/AK/Okur, I'm a Brewer fan. I love how Utah has started, and I really like this Laker team. CelticBalla's PredictionI think this is going to be an excellent game, maybe one that comes down to the last possession. I have a gut feeling about the Lakers pulling away with this one at home though. Utah will be tired after playing San Antonio last night (and winning). LA had yesterday off. I say Lakers win in a nail-biter.
I think the Lakers can pull it out, IMO they should have won the last game against the Jazz after leading by 5 with a little over a minute left in the game but they couldn't hold on. If the Lakers can close out and actually penetrate inside instead of taking a million threes the Lakers should win this one. Look for Kobe to have a good game tonight as well....
Yeah I'm picking the Lakers since they are at home. Utah's record is misleading as I think they'll cool down.
Ok, I picked LA in their last game agaisnt Utah and I am going to stick with them again. This time, it will be at their own place and they are coming off of a loss and they are going to be hungry for a win. Utah is going to be tired because of the Spurs game as well. Kwame Brown and Andrew Bynum are going to have to play great and limit Utah's offensive rebounds. If they can beat Utah in rebounding, I see LA winning this game no question.
I was just about to say something about the dunk. It was nasty! Kobe 10 for 16 in the first half...he is on fire. Mo Evans played very well also. Very impressive 2nd quarter for the lakers.
L.A.Wow, what a way to finish the half by Kobe! It wasn't just that dunk, it was the entire first half, really. Kobe looks excellent out there, he's really on a roll right now. I have watched the Lakers about 5-6 times this year, Kobe in 3 of them, and Kobe has had 20 point halves in 2 of those 3 games (including this one).Lamar Odom was playing pretty well all around, but he needs to be more aggressive going to the basket. Kwame Brown was alright, but not good enough. Boozer has been excellent, Kwame needs to guard him better and bang with the Jazz. Turiaf brought a ton of energy as usual, I love this guy's heart and passion. Smush Parker needs to pick it up. Parker's defense has not been good tonight, and he's not attacking like he can and does do. Maurice Evans was phenominal off the bench with his hustle, grit, and hard working plays. Jordan Farmar has really had a tough night so far offensively.UtahBoozer has been exceptional, once again. He's hitting jumpers, getting some easy buckets around the basket, he's rebounding. Deron Williams has run the offense very nicely. He's finding open men and getting the ball to them at the right times, he has scored a little as well. Ronnie Brewer played excellent defense. Okur knocked down some shots, he needs to cut back on the fouling though. AK47 needs to do more as well, he's been fairly quiet in all aspects thus far.The keys for Utah to come back in the game are perimeter defense and bench play. The Utah bench has been fairly quiet. I'm looking for a guy like Harpring or Fisher to make a difference in the second half.
Kobe is on FIRE! You can tell that he really wants to win this game...just look at the expression in his eyes.EDIT: He has made 10 in a row! :rock:
Kobe is officially back. He is shooting a crazy percentage and he has 45 points in the 3rd quarter. I hope that they leave him in for the whole game because I want him to break 60. Those last two threes in Giricek's eye were amazing.
Oh my god!! KOBE BRYANT!!! I know I'm a Celtics fan, but can I join the chants, just for this one time? "MVP! MVP! MVP!" He is unstoppable, nothing is getting in his way right now. 45 and it's not even the end of the 3rd. He's unbelievable, I'm so happy I am growing up watching such a great player.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (LakersFan247 @ Dec 1 2006, 12:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Kobe is on FIRE! You can tell that he really wants to win this game...just look at the expression in his eyes.EDIT: He has made 10 in a row! :rock:</div>Yup, you can definitely see the fire in his eyes right now. I love it.
Kobe ends up with 52 to end the 3rd quarter and takes a much deserved rest on the bench to end the quarter, and what a 3 by Odom at the buzzer! GO LAKERS!
52 points through 3 quarters, and "30" points in the 3rd. This is by far the best single player performance I have seen of the year. He is making everything that he shoots and its such a great thing to see.The shot by Odom at the end of the quarter was ridiculous as well. And this is why I love the Lakers!
Utah proving that they were a fluke to start this season. I expect Utah to come back to earth. Lakers look very solid. Luke Walton has seemed to really help their chemistry.
Great win for the Lakers. Kobe Bryant is an unbelievable. But you could definitely tell Utah was tired tonight, which is expected on a back-end of a back-to-back where you beat the Spurs the night before. Kirilenko and Okur did not have good games, and the Utah bench wasn't on par. Deron Williams was solid and Boozer played pretty well, but that's it. La was just too hot to handle tonight.
I did'nt see all of the game tonite but Kobe gettin' 30 pts inthe 3rd quarter is something special. the Lakers are seriously dominating the Jazz in this game. I did'nt know the Lakers had it in them.
Wow, Kobe Bryant is amazing. 11 straight buckets during the 3rd quarter. I didn't expect Utah to win this game, This is their 4th game in 5 nights. They don't handle back-to-back games very well let alone 4/5.Mo Evan's played pretty well, I love his energy off the bench.
Despite Kobes great game, alot of other players for the Lakers had good games as well. Maurice Evans played fantastic with good outside shooting and drives to the basket. Turiaf in the first half brought alot of energy off of the bench to give them a big push, and Farmar had great shooting in the 2nd half. All around great game for the Lakers, and an even better one for Kobe Bryant.
Lamar played very well tonight as well with about 15 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists, awesome statline which he has been doing alot lately.
