Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: Key Arena TV: KCAL, NBATV ---------------------- Probable Starters: Gary Payton/Brent Barry Kobe Bryant/Ray Allen Devean George/Rashard Lewis Stanislav Medvedenko/Vladimir Radmanovic Shaquille O'Neal/Jerome James ---------------------------------- Injury Report: Lakers- Jamaal Sampson Brian Cook-Out Rick Fox-Out Sonics- Nick Collison-Out Andu Sesay-Out ------------------- Keys to the game: Lakers- The Lakers are coming off a blowout win at home against the Celtics last Sunday, and they'll really have to continue the momentum to Seattle. Just read an article from the LA Times that Karl Malone suffered a setback and he is likely out for this game. So Slava will really have to step up, and do a decent job of scoring in the paint and controlling the boards both offensively and defensively. Also Kobe will really need to get going. His last two ballgames haven't been decent, and he'll really need to get involved in the offense early so that he wouldn't have to find himself in a offensive slump. Shaq should have another monster game. He'll have to dominate the post, hit as many FG's as he can, and get to the foul line and hit FT's because we all know Shaq will receive as much contact as possible. Gary returns to Seattle where he has been for 12 seasons. It will be interesting to see how the Key Arena crowd will react to him. Sonics- I feel the keys for Seattle to win this game will be on the progress of these two players, Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. Ray Allen is now back from his injury, and even though he'll he coming off the bench, easily on any given night, he can light it up from anywhere on the court. He's also a deadly 3 point shooter, and the Lakers have difficulty defending the perimeter. Rashard Lewis is one of the best young players in the league, and also like Ray Allen, he can be very dangerous on all areas of the court. And he can also score from the perimeter, so now the Lakers have two players to worry about. Vladmir Radmanovic is listed as a forward but ranks #12 in the league in 3 pt field goals made at 51.0% so this Sonics team is definitely loaded. Forgot to mention about Ronald Murray....he's averaging 18.1 points per game and ranks #11 in the league in FG's per 48 minutes, #7 in the league in FG attempts, and #13 in the league at points per 48 minutes, so these stats show that he definitely can score at any given time, so Kobe will face a really tough task. Laker Fever's prediction- With Karl still out of the lineup, and with the Lakers blowout win of Boston, I feel they have enough confidence in themselves to go up to the Pacific Northwest and get the job done. Also, Gary Payton's return to Seattle should energize and fire him up a bit. Lakers by 4.
Nice preview. IMO the Lakers are just too strong and talented. Ray ray will have a vrey good game and keep it somewhat close. But Kobe matches him. Lakers by 6
Ray Allen is back now. Ray Allen will start. Flip Murray didn't even start when he was out Daniels did.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kid Canada:</div><div class="quote_post">Ray Allen is back now. Ray Allen will start. Flip Murray didn't even start when he was out Daniels did.</div> Alright...fixed that. :thumbsup:
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting VAs Finest:</div><div class="quote_post">i dont think karl is playing in this one, i was watching espn.com and malone suffered a setback</div> I just put up an article, looks like Slava will go as his replacement...Gotta do more editing.
Payton should roast the Sonics, his former team. If you remember, he and Ray Allen were traded in the Seattle-Milwaukee trade last year. Should be a good match. Lakers need to improve a bit on the road, and this is a good game to start. Lakers-96 Sonics-90
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting The Prophecy:</div><div class="quote_post">Nice preview. IMO the Lakers are just too strong and talented. Ray ray will have a vrey good game and keep it somewhat close. But Kobe matches him. Lakers by 6</div> Ray will have a very good game? I highly doubt he will play more than 20-25 minutes in his first game back, he won't make a impact. I look for the Sonics to work him back into the lineup. I'm going to see how the rest of the week goes before I can make my prediction.
Actually, Ray has already been back for 3 games, all in the starting lineup, and lit up Houston for 28 points in 38 minutes tonight.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Purple N Gold:</div><div class="quote_post">Ray will have a very good game? I highly doubt he will play more than 20-25 minutes in his first game back, he won't make a impact. I look for the Sonics to work him back into the lineup. I'm going to see how the rest of the week goes before I can make my prediction.</div> I take it you havn't been following his return.He had 24 on his first game back...Struggled against the Wolves but got back to his normal game with 28 points and 8 rebounds tonight.
Really? My bad then, haven't had time lately to sit down and catch a lot of NBA action. This may change my whole prediction around, this will be a game that goes down to the end.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Purple N Gold:</div><div class="quote_post">Really? My bad then, haven't had time lately to sit down and catch a lot of NBA action. This may change my whole prediction around, this will be a game that goes down to the end.</div> I agree. As average of a road team the Lakers are, this game will definitely go down to the wire.
Sorry I'm late but I say GP and the Lakers are going to take this one. It's his old home and he should come out showing what he can do making the Sonics wish they had him back. It's going to be fun watching him play this game IMO. Lakers by 7.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting allnet:</div><div class="quote_post">Ray Allen owns Kobe but I feel Lakers will get the win Gary Payton's first return to Seattle</div> Lol-I dissagree that Allen owns Kobe. Anyways, Lakers will take it, easy.
One thing is for sure about this game, Shaq will be going to the free-throw line a lot. Against Houston the Sonics used three different centers on Yao, I can only imagine they would do the same thing against Shaq. This game could be decided purely on Shaq's ability to make free-throws.
Payton will have a huge game against his former team, the team which he had hoped he can finish his career with. Lakers to win by 10.
