Preview: Cleveland @ Los Angeles 1/12/04

Ouch. I'm changing my prediction. Cleveland by 8 but Kobe will still wreak havoc during the 4th.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Phreeze:</div><div class="quote_post">Gary might have missed a practice, but I guarantee you he won't be missing this game. It isn't a physical injury, so with the team being so short handed you can count him in to play for sure.</div>

Yea, I don't think a guy like Payton would sit out, he will show up for the Lakers. I'm just glad it's not another physical injury, we would be screwd if GP doesn't play tonight.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting allnet:</div><div class="quote_post">

Only one guy that can create his own shot.This is why depth is so important in the NBA.Lakers have basically none.

Fortunely for Laker fans the season is only in January</div>

Dude, we that lineup is with 4 players injured, of course they aren't going to be good. That doesn't mean we don't have depth, because if it happened to any other team, they would lose too.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting the MDE:</div><div class="quote_post">Dude, we that lineup is with 4 players injured, of course they aren't going to be good. That doesn't mean we don't have depth, because if it happened to any other team, they would lose too.</div>

You still have 2 all-stars to give you scoring all you need is tough players coming off the bench who will give you points,rebounds,energy and have guys who are willing to go all out to get loose balls.You basically haev no depth.Any time your 2nd unit comes into the game you can see the other team players faces light up.You have some young kids who may be useful down the line but for this season? you are pretty weak in that area.

 

Even with the Lakers 3 stars possibly sitting out, I still think LA wins tonight. I say in double figures.

 

I don't care who LA puts out on the floor tonight, Cleveland is just a bad road team PERIOD, and they are only 2-17 on the road. And who knows how horrible they look against Western Conference opponents. Lakers all the way tonight.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting allnet:</div><div class="quote_post">You still have 2 all-stars to give you scoring all you need is tough players coming off the bench who will give you points,rebounds,energy and have guys who are willing to go all out to get loose balls.You basically haev no depth.Any time your 2nd unit comes into the game you can see the other team players faces light up.You have some young kids who may be useful down the line but for this season? you are pretty weak in that area.</div>

The Laker's rotations seemed to be working pretty well earlier in the season until Karl and Shaq got injured. Obviously our bench was "good" enough to help L.A. to an 18-3 record.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting the MDE:</div><div class="quote_post"> Obviously our bench was "good" enough to help L.A. to an 18-3 record.</div>Or maybe the Laker's 4 HOFers are just that good?

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting the MDE:</div><div class="quote_post">The Laker's rotations seemed to be working pretty well earlier in the season until Karl and Shaq got injured. Obviously our bench was "good" enough to help L.A. to an 18-3 record.</div>

That 18-3 record was all down to Payton,Kobe,Malone,Shaq and George knocking down open shots.Nothing to do with your so called "depth" Derek Fisher is your only respectable player on that bench (Only thing this guy is useful for is making open threes every once in a while and crying).guys like Brian Cook and Luke Walton I feel will become very useful players in the future but for this season they aren't ready to become a factor in your rotation.

 

The most underrated man in this game will be Diop. He will be the most phyisical player in this game. He will beat up the Lakers frontline when he comes in and will just be a force on D. I think that it will be close, but the Lakers lack of good players tonight will hurt them. Don't get me wrong, with no injuries, you guys would kill us tonight.

 

I like Sampson's physical play, and I think he'll do very well today. If he gets over 30 minutes, look for a double-double.

Lakers by 12, Kobe and LeBron both have off nights.

 

Lakers shouldn't have too much trouble with the Cavaliers tonight, assuming they play again with the same intenstity that they showed against Atlanta on Friday. I would be shocked to see the Lakers lose this game, even if 'Bron does have a big night. The key matchups for my money are going to be in the frontcourt, where the Lakers will have to be aggressive on the boards in order to assure themselves a worry-free evening.

My prediction:

Cavs 92
Lakers 105

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Amherstcavsfan:</div><div class="quote_post">The most underrated man in this game will be Diop. He will be the most phyisical player in this game. He will beat up the Lakers frontline when he comes in and will just be a force on D. I think that it will be close, but the Lakers lack of good players tonight will hurt them. Don't get me wrong, with no injuries, you guys would kill us tonight.</div>

Pleaaase....Diop? Slava Medvedenko should have a replica of his best game as a Laker last week, and with Horace Grant being out for family reasons, either Brian Cook or Luke Walton should enjoy their extended minutes of their season and pick apart the average Cavs frontcourt. Lakers will take this one definitely.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_Fever_834:</div><div class="quote_post">and pick apart the average Cavs frontcourt. Lakers will take this one definitely.</div>

Average? So one guy averaging 14 points 7 rebounds,another averaging 12 points 10 rebounds while having another big man off the bench averaging 6 points 7 rebounds is bad? My word....You are acting like you still have Shaq in the middle.

Cook + Walton + Medvedenko=World's softest tissue

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Phreeze:</div><div class="quote_post">Committing adultery didn't happen until after the contract was signed. At the time he had arguably the most credit in the league. Although now he's probably lucky to even have the contract, At the time it did sound like a lousy contract.</div>

I know that, that is why I said it did not help his situation with Nike.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting allnet:</div><div class="quote_post">Average? So one guy averaging 14 points 7 rebounds,another averaging 12 points 10 rebounds while having another big man off the bench averaging 6 points 7 rebounds is bad? My word....You are acting like you still have Shaq in the middle.

Cook + Walton + Medvedenko=World's softest tissue</div>

I call it average because check out their record. Obviously there are some problems in both their backcourt or their frontcourt. Brian Cook has been a decent talent on the floor when he gets extended minutes, and he's been contributing close to getting double-doubles. Luke Walton too can do the same, but Laker fans know Phil Jackson will not give a rookie enough minutes to showcase his skills on the court. Medvedenko? I'm sure you watched highlights on SportsCenter....26 pts and double-digit rebounds? I look for him to repeat a close if not exact performance tonight. Acting like I still have Shaq in the middle? I believe this is the final game Shaq will sit out.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting allnet:</div><div class="quote_post">
Cook + Walton + Medvedenko=World's softest tissue</div>

Cook was incredibly soft in college, but he seems to have improved in that aspect in the pros (tougher on defense at least). I don't know if you've seen him play lately, but I would venture to say he's about average rite now. Give him some love for his improvement

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_Fever_834:</div><div class="quote_post">Pleaaase....Diop? Slava Medvedenko should have a replica of his best game as a Laker last week, and with Horace Grant being out for family reasons, either Brian Cook or Luke Walton should enjoy their extended minutes of their season and pick apart the average Cavs frontcourt.</div>

Are you aware that the Cavaliers are the best rebounding team in the entire NBA? Yeah, average frontcourt all right.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_Fever_834:</div><div class="quote_post">I call it average because check out their record. Obviously there are some problems in both their backcourt or their frontcourt. Brian Cook has been a decent talent on the floor when he gets extended minutes, and he's been contributing close to getting double-doubles. Luke Walton too can do the same, but Laker fans know Phil Jackson will not give a rookie enough minutes to showcase his skills on the court. Medvedenko? I'm sure you watched highlights on SportsCenter....26 pts and double-digit rebounds? I look for him to repeat a close if not exact performance tonight. Acting like I still have Shaq in the middle? I believe this is the final game Shaq will sit out.</div>

The record is down to lack of experience,they have no real shooters or scorers in the backcourt( not counting LJ).Boozer is really a stud inside when he goes to work in the low post.Big Z has a nice touch for a big man,knows how to score around the basket.So It's not really fair to judge their frontcourt as average just because of their poor record.

As for Medvedenko? He scored 26 against a very weak and sad Hawks team.I really am feeling sorry that Buckets is in that sorry state of a franchise.Not to dis-credit Medvedenko as doing what he did was impressive no matter who it was against.However I don't see him getting that tonight,It was a career game for him.Don't see him out-doing that performance.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">Cook was incredibly soft in college, but he seems to have improved in that aspect in the pros (tougher on defense at least). I don't know if you've seen him play lately, but I would venture to say he's about average rite now. Give him some love for his improvement</div>

Actually I have seen him play recently,he has a good future in the NBA.Has a nice touch,can board a little and works hard.Although he still does play a bit soft when going up against some of the bigger tougher bodies.Getting Shaq to teach him how to take the ball strong should improve him in that area of his game.