<div align="center">@ <font color="Yellow">The Los Angeles Lakers (35-19)</font>@<font color="DeepSkyBlue">The Denver Nuggets (32-26)</font> Time: 9:00 Eastern Place: The Pepsi Center TV: Local</div> Starting Lineup Gary Payton/Andre Miller Kobe Bryant/Voshon Lenard Rick Fox/Carmelo Anthony Slava Medvedenko/Nene Shaquille O'neal/Marcus Camby Sixth Men Derek Fisher/Earl Boykins Injury Report <u>LAL-</u> Karl Malone Jamal Sampson <u>DEN-</u> Francisco Elson Mark Pope Jeff Trepagnier <div align="center">Key Players Kobe Bryant: 22.7 points per game, 4.6 assists per game, 4.9 rebounds a game Carmelo Anthony: 19.8 points a game, 2.8 assists a game, 6.3 rebounds a game</div> Keys to the Game <u>LAL-</u> Feed Shaq Play tough D Hit open Shots Bench Play <u>DEN-</u> Nene needs to have a decent game Carmelo has to have a good shooting night Team Chemistry, they are slipping Rebounding will be critical in this one Prediction I think Kobe has a big game, shuts up the crowd, Lakers by 6
Excellent preview Q Rich3, I really like the Lakers chances in this one. The Lakers are coming off four straight wins in excellent fashion, and the Denver Nuggets are currently holding the 8th spot in the Western Conference, but are reeling. (5-5 in their last 10) I think in order for the Lakers to win, they have to stick with their usual typical gameplan. Feed the ball to Shaq, let him take advantage of Denver's slim, small frountcourt and allow him to get into a rhythm. If he slumps early, Lakers could be in trouble. Kobe Bryant is averaging 33.5 points these last 4 ballgames, and I feel he's going to just explode on Voshon Lenard and Carmelo Anthony (if these two square off against each other) It'll be very important for Gary to get Kobe the ball. Allow him to penetrate to the basket, hit outside shots from all areas of the court, and from the perimeter, and finally to get his teammates involved. When he drives, I'll also be looking for him to dish off to his teammates whoever is under the basket. Defense is key. Especially shutting down Denver's Voshon Lenard who loves to hit from the outside. My prediction is...Lakers by 12.
Lakers will win this one. Denver does not have the size and toughness, nor strengh to hold The Big Fella down in the paint. He will have his way all game, and with Kobe's current 2nd half break out, I expect him to have another big game. Denver will keep it close in the 1st half, but the 2nd half will be ALL Lakers. LA by 12.
You guys should make a schedule and decide who does what preview for each week. Would make more sense that way.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">You guys should make a schedule and decide who does what preview for each week. Would make more sense that way.</div> We already got that covered.
I think the Lakers win. If Kobe keeps playing this well, he's gonna be next to impossible for Lenard to shut him down. Plus, Kobe is a lot younger and that will help him in the late stages of the game if Lenard is guarding him than. Plus, they have no answer for Shaq down low. Camby is a nice player to have, but, he's not big enough or strong enough to guard Shaq. Shaq is just too powerful. The only way they'll do anything is by doubling or triple teaming him. Than, in order for them to score, Melo will have to find a way to score. He'll either have Kobe or Fox guarding him throughout most of the night. Either way, that's a fantastic defender guarding him. He's gonna have to be able to hit the open jumper also cause with Shaq in there, it not only changes your defensive game plan, but, it changes your offensive. And, they'll also need someone outside of him to step up and have a big game. Whether it be Miller or Nene, whoever, someone needs a big game for them. But, in the end, Shaq and Kobe are just too much for this team to stop. I think Lakers by 12 in the end with Kobe and Shaq each going for over 25 at least.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting cArMeLo15:</div><div class="quote_post">73-61, go Nuggets. =)</div> Sob sob. We're losing. And Denver is killing from behind the arc.
This is disturbing. More respect for Carmelo Anthony... he's doing amazing. (And so is Kobe, har har)
So far Kobe's been playing an amazing again. 30 pts 10assists and 7 boards right now. He's also shooting well so far again, I guess thats good? Stupid Shaq keeps making dumb passes though, that one doesn't help. I also don't get how Andre shoots FTs at such a high %, he shoots his freethrows like Shaq! Oh well atleast it works for him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting cArMeLo15:</div><div class="quote_post">Holy shit, how pathetic.</div> You wanna know something pathetic? Laker defense..... What a huge block by the Big Fella! We might have a chance at this one, it's going to take some defensive stops though. Something I find unlikely as of now.
