<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> January 31, 2007 - 7:30 pm ET</div> <span style="color:#6600CC">Los Angeles Lakers</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">(27-18)</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">Vladimir Radmanovic</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">Maurice Evans, Jordan Farmar, Ronny Turiaf, Brian Cook, Sasha Vujacic</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston Celtics</span> <span style="color:#000000">(12-32)</span> <span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Gerald Green</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Ryan Gomes</span> <span style="color:#000000">PF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">C</span> <span style="color:#009900">Kendrick Perkins</span> <span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Wally Szczerbiak, Rajon Rondo, Allan Ray, Brian Scalabrine, Sebastian Telfair, Leon Powe</span> Injury Report <span style="color:#FFCC00">LAL:</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Luke Walton will not play (sprained ankle)</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">LAL:</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Kwame Brown will not play (sprained ankle)</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">LAL:</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Chris Mihm is out for season (recovering from ankle surgery)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce will not play (stress reaction in left foot)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Tony Allen is out for season (torn ACL/MCL)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Theo Ratliff is out for season (back surgery).</span> Who To Watch Out For <span style="color:#6600CC">Kobe Bryant</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 28.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 5.5 apg</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Lamar Odom</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 17.6 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 4.9 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 14.1 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 1.4 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 15.6 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 1.6 bpg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 10.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.9 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 12.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 5.0 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Wally Szczerbiak</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 16.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.8 apg</span> Rookie Watch <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, 1.7 rpg, 2.2 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Rajon Rondo</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 21</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#009900">4.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.2 spg</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Leon Powe</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 49</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#009900">3.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.5 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Allan Ray</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#009900">5.9 ppg, 1.2 rpg</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">LA's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Andrew Bynum</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 8.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.8 bpg</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">As A Starter: 9.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.0 bpg</span> <span style="color:#6600CC">Bynum has been playing beautiful basketball lately, and the rebounding numbers have been phenomenal (yes, I said it again - phenomenal). Perk is a tough cookie, but Bynum has the upper-hand in that matchup. He needs to take advantage of it.</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#009900">Gerald Green</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 8.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.9 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 13.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.3 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Gerald had a solid game last night, and he was attacking. I want that again tonight, no settling for 3's (unless, of course, he is open). But he'll have the assignment of Kobe, and all I can say to that is and good luck!</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#6600CC">Lamar Odom</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span></div> <span style="color:#000000">This will be an interesting matchup for both sides. Big Al will have a tough time chasing Odom around, because you have to respect him from all areas, while Odom could have a little trouble defending Al on the block. We'll see how this one bangs out.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/Notes We are on a 12 game losing streak, and playing the Lakers doesn't make it any better. Oh, and I'm going to the game. I have box seats too! Wooo!!! I can't wait! CelticBalla's Prediction We suck, we lose.
I don't fear none of my enemiesAnd I don't fear bullets from UzisI've been dealing with something thats worse than theseThat'll make you fall to your knees and thats theThe anxiety the sane and the insane rivalryParanoias brought me to my kneesLord please please pleaseTake away my anxietyThe sane and the insane rivalryParanoias brought me to my kneesLord please please pleaseTake away my anxietyLet's beat the Lakers for old times I don't know what else to say except we're absolutely awful right now...hopefully Big Al goes out and plays a great game and GG dunksI just want a good gameand Doc please dont use that f*cking lineup you used in the 3rd quarter yesterday EVER againSebastian TelfairAllan RayWally SzczerbiakBrian ScalabrineMichael OlowokandiWOW
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Jan 31 2007, 08:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>and Doc please dont use that f*cking lineup you used in the 3rd quarter yesterday EVER again Sebastian Telfair Allan Ray Wally Szczerbiak Brian Scalabrine Michael Olowokandi WOW</div> The only thing that made that lineup so bad was Wally shooting friggen negative 84%. O actually had an awesome first half, so I don't blame Doc for playing him in the 3rd. Bassy had to play because Delonte was sick. I'll tell ya though, I WANT MORE LEON POWE!!!!
We just have to hang in there. It will be another close one and then we let it slip away. I say Lamar dominates the floor and cause us to lose it overall, but I would really like to see us come out with a W for old times sake. BTW love that sig, don't agree with it but love it.
haha hilarious sig potg.god, I don't even really want to watch tonight's game, but I might. I don't want to see see f*cking wally taking up gerald's minutes and killing us. I don't want to see no defense. I don't want to see 50 by Kobe. ugh, I have a feeling this one is going to be disgusting.
Well for the Celtics they arn't gonna have much of a chance against the Lakers who get Kobe back and also Lamar Odom is shaping into form. They might as well just put a loss up in the standings and this will tie their franchise record of 13 consecutive losses....very embarrasing to arguably the best organization over the course of the league but they are now cellar dwellers.
Man, the C's arent playing half bad tonight!Gerald WAS playing great in the first half until he picked up those 2 stupid fouls on Kobe. Why cant he learn to just stay on the damn floor? But aside from that, his jumpshot is working great tonight, and I love how he is attacking the rim and getting to the freethrow line. If Delonte and Rondo just looked to give him the ball more, and involved him more in the offense, Gerald could have 17 points right now instead of 13.Ryan is playing really well also. His mid-range game is working wonders right now. And I was just wondering if he picked up 2 fouls or soemthing because he hasnt been in the game latley after starting off hot. Perk started the game off great as well. He really needs to develope some more post moves though. It is kinda predicatable. And last but not least, SCABS! 2-2 from three point line, and decent defense as well on Odom and a little bit on Kobe. Cant ask for much more out of the guy...
Wow. I am actually impressed at the way they played. Gerald played amazingly until he picked up his 3rd with 8:05 to go in the 2nd. His shot was falling, playing Kobe pretty tough, and made 1 or 2 great passes that I can remember. Wally came in, and its no surprise that Kobe started to go off. To Wally's defense though, Kobe was hitting some pretty ridiculous shots. Scal came off the bench and played well, stroked a few threes (then showing the kid in shock in the crowd after one of them, that was priceless), played some good defesnse. Perk hit a few nice shots, played decent D too. Gomes has been wet the last few games, and still is, he's been playing great. Rondo and West, both in there hustling. Can't ask for much more out of this team.Nice to see Tony there, despite the gigantic leg thing. Good to hear he's over it and he's optimistic about his future. Bynum has impressed me so far. He's much longer and bigger than I and even Mike had expected, as I remember him saying on multiple occasions "this kid is just so long". KEEP IT UP BOYS, PLAYING WELL TONIGHT.EDIT: One thing I forgot. GET THE BALL TO AL MORE.
Al and Delonte really need to step it up in the second if half if the celtics are going to have any chance of winning this one. Lamar and Bynum both seem to be playing really good defense on Al. He just cant seem to get anything to fall so far....Delonte is taking it to the whole which is good, but nothing is going in. He is drawing contact, but the refs aren't giving the celtics any calls (Delonte or Rondo). I have a good feeling that Big Al will have a HUGE second half, and if that is the case, Gerlad is going to have to stay hot. Im not too worried about Ryan staying hot. As long as he is getting open looks from 15-19 feet, he will have a good second half.
You brought up Rondo and Delonte not getting calls, and thats something I meant to mention in my first post, because its getting absolutely ridiculous. They're calling ticky tacky horseshit calls on one end, yet Rondo and Delonte are getting gang raped every time they take it to the hoop and aren't getting to the line nearly as much as Kobe is. Just hopefully Gerald can keep it up after that long rest he had .
I think that the reason Delonte and Rondo arent getting calls, is because they are kinda forcing the shots. Notice that the refs were giving the calls to Gerald when he drove it to the rim. I wouldnt neccessarily mind them not calling the fouls when Rondo and Delonte went to the basket, as long as they werent calling them on the other end...BUT, that isnt the case. It seems that the lakers are getting alot more calls in the first half, but hey, thats just me.
I wish I was getting this game, so I dont know whats going on, im just checking the espn scores. lakers up 10. go lakers!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ballerman2112 @ Jan 31 2007, 08:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think that the reason Delonte and Rondo arent getting calls, is because they are kinda forcing the shots. Notice that the refs were giving the calls to Gerald when he drove it to the rim. I wouldnt neccessarily mind them not calling the fouls when Rondo and Delonte went to the basket, as long as they werent calling them on the other end...BUT, that isnt the case. It seems that the lakers are getting alot more calls in the first half, but hey, thats just me.</div>I agree with that, the calls have remained consistently bad in the 2nd half. Rondo or Delonte STILL can't buy a foul. Refs slobbering all over Kobe's cock still as well. It really is too bad because the Celtics have played a pretty decent game. Gomes has played another great game, the 15-18 footer was falling with consistency again, rebounded well, hustled. Jefferson only shot 3-11, he didn't have a feel tonight, but to Bynum's credit, he played good defense. He did pick up the slack on the boards though. Perkins' hook was falling again, just didn't beast the boards like usual. That block on Odom was gigantic too. SCAL impressed me A LOT tonight. Played great D, showed good leadership, the three was falling. God, I love it when Scal has good games. Gerald came out in a very nice rhythm and was hitting some good shots, but Doc took him out with 8:05 left in the 2nd when he picked up his 3rd foul (which is what Doc should have done), and he didn't have it the rest of the night after that. He played some very good defense on Kobe too. Gotta keep his head up, had a tough matchup tonight and played well. Overall I was very impressed with the fight from this team tonight, and how well they played. The played well despite the poor ref job, which had a pretty decent affect on our offense tonight. Delonte and Rondo got nothing off the dribble, and it's kind of pathetic how they get hacked and nothing gets called, while Kobe gets hand checked and its a foul.
I dont know how any team is going to win when Kobe is playing like that. Not only is Kobe the best scorer in the league, but he makes some of the best passes out of anybody in the league as well. That dunk that he had towards the end of the game was crazy. If thats not #1 on ESPN top ten plays, then I will throw a sh*t fit. It was amazing...The celtics didnt play that bad though...They just couldnt seem to get over the hump of 5-10 points tonight. SCABS!!!! He had a killer game....Couldnt ask for much more out of the guy.
Great game by the kids.....and Scal unfortunately Kobe was lights outthat dunk BTW was amazing and MJ-likeI loved how we played all around and didn't have that many turnovers
Well what do you know the Celtics lose again 111-98 but they were actually hanging with the Lakers for most of the game until the end. I don't know when this team is going to win because right now they are playing absolutely horrible and their schedule isn't all that easy right now either. Let's just hope they don't set a record for losses in a row for the franchise.
