Time: 4:00 p.m. Location: America West Arena TV: ESPN ---------------------- Probable Starters: Gary Payton/Joe Johnson Kobe Bryant/Leandro Barbosa Rick Fox/Shawn Marion Slava Medvedenko/Amare Stoudemire Shaquille O'Neal/Jake Voskuhl ---------------------------------- Injury Report: Lakers- Karl Malone-Out Jamaal Sampson-Out Suns- Keon Clark-Out Maciej Lampe-Out ------------------- Keys to the game: - In order for the Lakers to win, they have to continue their success of their last three ballgames. Which means their first priority is to get the ball to Shaq. Let him dominate the low post, let him take on Voskuhl one on one, and allow him to maintain his offensive style of a rhythm. Their second priority is to allow Kobe to make plays. Let him receive as many touches as possible, and look for him to hit as many open shots as possible. He'll have to stay consistent at all times during this game because if he struggles early, the Lakers could be in trouble. I also look for Gary Payton to be smart with the basketball, make smart mental decisions on every key Laker possession, control the fast break when it's time to run, and to just get all his teammates involved. - The Phoenix Suns have lost seven straight games for the first time since the 1996-97 season. In order for them to stop the streak, they'll have to get the ball to their big-time scorers. Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudmire. Shawn Marion is an excellent post-up player, he can shoot from any angle on the court, and he can also stroke it from the outside. Rick Fox will definitely have to find a way to get him contained. Also, Amare Stoudemire scored 23 pts in his last game at Memphis, and since Slava Medvedenko is a soft defender, Amare should be able to use it to his advantage. Laker Fever's prediction- The Lakers are 3-0 after the All-Star break, and with LA just destroying Philadelphia in that 27 pt win, the Lakers should go into Phoenix with a ton of confidence and win. Just like I've been saying earlier in my predictions, if Shaq and Kobe can get their game going, LOOK OUT!!
It's about time Lakers play on a Sunday and it's actually not a 9:00 game, can get some good rest. Anyways, with the way the Lakers are playing, I think they'll take this one easily. Shaq will not be stopped inside, and though Joe Johnson is a good defender, he will not hold Kobe down. The Lakers look dominating since the break, and it should not stop now against a horrible Suns team. Lakers by 11.
Suns always stay close they are a tough team. I think lakers are way to talented for them not to win this game. Lakers by 8
Shaq are playing together for the first time this year and are unstoppable. I'll take the Lakers by 12 on this one.
The Lakers have a good chance on winning against Phoenix. Luckily, I'll be able to watch the Suns get creamed by the Lakers :biggrin2: Lakers by 10.
Good preview. The Suns might put up a fight and scare the Lakers a few times, but in the end, I expect to see the Lakers prevail in a blowout, 107-89.
I think the Lakers will take this one, Kobe will take this one over I think and Shaq irll be right there with him...Lakers by 8+
Wow great preview Emu, I think your team will take this one with ease. Especially since the Phoenix center has absolutely no chance of beating Shaq out. Rick Fox will probably shoot very well, at least no Fisher or Devean George except as a relief. As much as I hate GP, he'll provide for you guys well, it'll be a battle for the boards among Shaq, Marion, Amare and Slava though. You seem to have the bench and offensive advantage so I say Lakers by 7.
Looking at their game against the sixers last friday, and with shaq, gp and kobe all healthy, Lakers by 11.
Damn....Lakers took a 14 point lead early in the game, but the Suns battled back from hustling and fast break baskets to put themselves up 1 at the half. Jahidi White is doing a decent job of off-ball play on Shaq, I don't give him props for the flop though. Kobe has carried us throughout the whole game, leading all scorers with 16, and Payton has struggled shooting wise, as usual. :thumbsdow Jacobsen has stepped up for the Suns and gave them a spark off the bench, and is one of the main reasons Phoenix made their comeback. Suns 47 Lakers 46 Halftime Not scared though, LA will definetley win this one, Suns can't keep the tempo up through the rest of the game. Shaq will have a big 2nd half, and things will roll like they did in the 1st Quarter.
wow wow wow kobe is tearing it up scoring like he hasn't scored still eight minutes left in the quarter, i see him end up with 44 pts... go kobe go kobe !!!!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Fishball:</div><div class="quote_post">wow wow wow kobe is tearing it up scoring like he hasn't scored still eight minutes left in the quarter, i see him end up with 44 pts... go kobe go kobe !!!!</div> Close, he ended up with 40pts
Oh man, you gotta love Kobe for what he did tonight. He simply put the Lakers on his back tonight and carried us to the victory. I'm loving this, he had a history of killing the Suns in their own arena, and he proved it again tonight. Everytime when we needed a score, he was there to deliver, big overall performance from Mr. Kobe tonight. Lakers look like a whole different team this 2nd half, as we have proven that with our 4-0 record since the break. Suns hung in it for a while, but they did not execute during the 4th quarter when it counted the most, Kobe was just too much tonight for them. Amare and Marion played well tonight, but wasn't enough to take down the Big 3. Kobe just ate apart at the Suns D tonight. Tried Marion, tried Johnson, none of it was working. Payton chipped in with 20 and Shaq put up 19 in LA's 104-92 win tonight. Box Score BTW. anyone see Shaq's 2 big blocks on Amare in the final minute of the game? Crazy!!
Managed to catch that 4th quarter All I can say is, you don't need to be a Laker fan to enjoy the basketball he played. Looked like the Kobe of old, very impressive.
The Lakers played an outstanding offensive game tonite...well, the big three at least...Their team defense is still struggling some...they gave up way too many dunks and open mid-range shots...Regardless, they seem to be getting into a groove and I can't wait to see them with Malone in there...
