@ Day/Date: Sunday, 2/1/04 At: Air Canada Centre Time: 9:30 am(PT) TV: Local Los Angeles Lakers: 27-16 Quick fact: Lakers have been a solid 5-5 in their last 10. Toronto Raptors: 21-23 Quick fact: Raps have struggled lately, only winning 3 out of their last 10 games. Probable Starters Frontcourt Shaquille O'Neal/Chris Bosh Slava Medvedenko/Donyell Marshall Devean George/Vince Carter Backcourt Kareem Rush/Alvin Williams Gary Payton/Jalen Rose Keys to the game <u>Lakers</u> <ul>[*] Throw it in to Shaq, Raps lack an inside game, let him go to work all game.[/list] <ul>[*]Scoring production out of Slava and Kareem Rush.[/list] <ul>[*]Play good on-ball defense around the perimeter, Raps won't have much of an inside game with Shaq Daddy back in there.[/list] <u>Raptors</u> <ul>[*]Raptors will have to play solid defense, as well as scoring key baskets down the stretch.[/list] <ul>[*]Make some kind of a battle occur on the inside, Toronto isn't the best inside, but get some kind of inside game going.[/list] <ul>[*]Let the offense flow, Raps have a starting lineup of scorers.[/list] Key Match-up Gary Payton/Jalen Rose A lot of the game will be decided on decisions made by the point guards, and how much production they will have to give for their team to win. The 'X' factor Will the play of Donyell Marshall/Chris Bosh be enough to take down Shaq inside? My predictions I'll pick the Lakers by 10 in this one. Raptors lack toughness inside, and Shaq will eat them alive. However, the Raptors are a scoring team. If they can keep up with the Lakers scores and play solid defense, this one could be close, but IMO they don't have a chance in this one, especially with their horrible play lately.
I'm going with the Lakers in this one. By at least 13 pts. What the Lakers have to do is Gary has to start taking more shots, and scoring at least 20 points a game. He looks like he's slacking off a bit, and since Kobe is out for a week with his lacerated finger, he'll have to step up in a huge way. Kareem Rush has to do the same. Create shots, and hitting shots. For Devean George? He just has to escape his mental troubles and play some damn basketball. And also, allow Shaq to receive as many touches in the low post, and to keep up his decent performance. Shaq scored 22 last game, and with Toronto being soft inside, there's no excuse for him to get at least 25-30. The Lakers should be ok in this one. No worries.
Looks like my new avator came just in time. Shaq Daddy has posted 22 points on 9-11 shooting, and Lakers are up 49-36 as the 1st half is about to end. EDIT: Halftime, Lakers up 54-38. LA looks great today, everything is clicking with Shaq inserted back in the lineup for his 3rd game.
This is a very close game, Raptors are outplaying the Lakers in the 4th...only down by 2 the Raptors are and they have the ball now... VC Missed a left hand lay up, then Mo Pete had to launch up a shot that barely rimed in and out. 84-80 Lakers with 1:37 left. VC just hit a three to pull it to 83-84 with 29 seconds left... what a game.
lol..Shaq just cursed on live T.V. on KCAL...I just woke up so I missed the game, but apparently he wasn't happy with the officiating...haha, did any of you guys see the shaq interview with john ireland...haha
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">lol..Shaq just cursed on live T.V. on KCAL...I just woke up so I missed the game, but apparently he wasn't happy with the officiating...haha, did any of you guys see the shaq interview with john ireland...haha</div> hahaha yeah I was just going to post about that one but you beat me to it!! Shaq: blah blah the whole f***ing game Ireland: Uh Shaq we're on live Shaq: I don't give a sh*t lol good stuff
LMAO, that was hilarious, I saw it also. I'm just happy Shaq is back, he simply dominated the Toronto frontcourt like expcted. Of anyone thinks the call on VC was a foul at the end, needs to watch the whole game. Lakers easily got screwd on a lot of calls as well. Even though I did think that was a clean strip. Good game by the Lakers, glad we could hold onto the big lead that we had in the 1st half. It was another 4th quarter collapse but LA was able to hold on during the last couple minutes of the game.
Happy Shaq is back? Thats about all you Lakers fans CAN be happy about. can anyone say 94-95 Bulls because thats where you are headed
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CANT STOP ME:</div><div class="quote_post">Happy Shaq is back? Thats about all you Lakers fans CAN be happy about. can anyone say 94-95 Bulls because thats where you are headed</div> One season away from the beginning of a second three-peat??
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CANT STOP ME:</div><div class="quote_post">Happy Shaq is back? Thats about all you Lakers fans CAN be happy about. can anyone say 94-95 Bulls because thats where you are headed</div> Don't hate on the Lakers just because the Celtics and Cavs can't win =
LOL, good win for the Lakers on the road, although Shaq didn't need to curse like that and it shouldn't have been that close! Next up Indy!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CANT STOP ME:</div><div class="quote_post">Happy Shaq is back? Thats about all you Lakers fans CAN be happy about. can anyone say 94-95 Bulls because thats where you are headed</div> You're going to come in here and try to disrupt our thunder because our team won? You should be more worried about what Danny Ainge is doing to your Celtics. Hey, there's no need to get frustrated right? At least Cleveland is on a 3 game winning streak.
Nice win by the Lakers, and an amazing play by the Glove at the end stripping VC of the ball and the chance for the game winner. I'm disappointed in the Lakers efforts, for allowing the Raptors back in this game. The Lakers need to close out teams after they take a big lead. The defensive intesity is not there like it was a few years ago. Shaq's comments were interesting, but he should deal with his frustrations behind close doors. All he can expect from this is a fine and possible suspension. It will also put a target on him and the Lakers in future games by the referees.
