<div align="center">@ <font color="Green">The Seattle SuperSonics (27-34)</font>@<font color="Purple">The Los Angeles Lakers (39-21)</font> Time: 7:30 Pacific Place: The Staples Center TV: Local</div> Starting Lineups Luke Ridnour/Gary Payton Ray Allen/Kobe Bryant Rashard Lewis/Rick Fox Vladimir Radmanovic/Slava Medvedenko Vitaly Potapenko/Shaquille O'neal Sixth Men Ronald Murray Kareem Rush Injury Report <u>Seattle</u> Brent Barry- out Antonio Daniels- questionable Nick Collison- out <u>Los Angeles-</u> Karl Malone- out Jamal Sampson- out <div align="center">Key Matchup Allen: 22.9 points a game, 5.1 rebounds a game, and 5.1 assists per game Bryant: 22.9 points a game, 5.2 assists a game, 5.4 rebounds per game.</div> Keys to the Game <u>Seattle-</u> Ray Allen needs to outplay Kobe again Bench Play Double Shaq Offensive Boards Tough D <u>Los Angeles-</u> Feed Shaq Smart Shots Payton needs to take advantage of the rookie Transition D Bench play outside of Fisher and Rush Prediction Seattle always shows up to L.A., but L.A. just came off a win over Houston that could spark a rally, I see L.A. taking this by 7+
Great Preview Q Rich3, I think in order for the Lakers to win this one, they'll have to stick with their gameplan of feeding it to the Big Fella. Seattle looks very soft inside, and Shaq can completely take advantage of that. Secondly, is the Lakers need to get Kobe going. Kobe would love to take on the matchup with Ray Allen, and these two love to work up a good challenge, so it'll be important to give Kobe the ball and allow him to do his magic. And finally Gary Payton. This is Gary's old team, and I know he would love to put an exclamation point on some of his old teammates and coaches. I believe in the last matchup, the Lakers steamrolled the Sonics without Shaq in the lineup. Now that Shaq is back, and the Lakers have a dominant record at home, they should take this one easily. Lakers by 14.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_Fever_834:</div><div class="quote_post">I believe in the last matchup, the Lakers steamrolled the Sonics without Shaq in the lineup. Now that Shaq is back, and the Lakers have a dominant record at home, they should take this one easily. Lakers by 14.</div> Actually, in the last matchup, Seattle won. Anyway these teams haven't beaten each other on the opponent's home floor in quite a while, so I don't expect that to change tonight.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ANiMuS:</div><div class="quote_post">Actually, in the last matchup, Seattle won. Anyway these teams haven't beaten each other on the opponent's home floor in quite a while, so I don't expect that to change tonight.</div> I meant the last game in Los Angeles.
I think that this is going to be a very competetive game. In order the Lakers to come out on top, they're gonna have to feed Shaq first and foremost. Vitaly Potapenko or whoever is in at center at that time is not going to be able to guard Shaq. He's far too big and powerful for anyone on that roster to guard. They're also gonna have to let Payton take advantage of the rookie Ridnour. He's got far more experience than him and he should be able to toy with him both defensively and offensively. Also, Kobe is gonna have to either somewhat shutdown Ray Allen or outplay him on the offensive end. If they let Ray Allen get going early on, they're gonna be in trouble. If he starts off, he's gonna be hard to stop. He's a very good shooter so Kobe is going to have to blanket him on the defensive end and make sure he gets very, very, very few open looks, especially from downtown, cause, yea, he can kill ya from it. For the Sonics, they need to stop Shaq and Kobe and get Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis going early on. Plus, they're gonna have to rely on their outside shooting ability cause they don't have a legit big man who can tangle with Shaq down in the paint. If their shooters can get it going, this could be a very good game all the way through. If they start off cold and get in a hole, they could be in big trouble. So, they need to get off to a fast start and at least keep pace with the Lakers. But, even if they do this, I'm still not sure if they can knock em off. The Lakers are far too strong and have played very well since after the All Star break. I see the Lakers winning by at least 5 with Shaq and Kobe each going for over 25.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ANiMuS:</div><div class="quote_post">Actually, in the last matchup, Seattle won. Anyway these teams haven't beaten each other on the opponent's home floor in quite a while, so I don't expect that to change tonight.</div> Actually, your wrong. Lakers did win the last game played vs Seattle. Anyways, the game is just about to start, and I'm going to take LA by 7 in this one. Sonics just lack an inside presence so badly. I don't expect this to be another Kobe-Allen duel. Lakers will play smarter basketball, and I also look for LA to dominate in the 1st half, but like they always do blow leads in the 2nd half, and it ends up as a close one.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Purple N Gold:</div><div class="quote_post">Actually, your wrong. Lakers did win the last game played vs Seattle. Anyways, the game is just about to start, and I'm going to take LA by 7 in this one. Sonics just lack an inside presence so badly. I don't expect this to be another Kobe-Allen duel. Lakers will play smarter basketball, and I also look for LA to dominate in the 1st half, but like they always do blow leads in the 2nd half, and it ends up as a close one.</div> My bad, for some reason I thought they've only played once this year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe's hurt again, same shoulder I believe.</div> Yeah thanks to your boy, Ray Allen.
How did it happen? I'm not watching the game, I'm kinda busy right now. I'll catch it in the second half though. Someone update me!
Remember the good ol days when we actually had a fully healthy team? Just as malone is about to come back, we lose kobe. Are we cursed or something?
Ray Allen tried to draw a foul by "grabbing" Kobe's arm and I guess Kobe's arm just got wedged or jammed or something..he is going to the hospital to get an MRI. He will not return tonight..We can only hope for the best! DANG YOU RAY ALLEN!!!
Well his shoulder really is pretty bad. I remember AllNet saying something about him faking injuries before? Nah that shoulder was serious, you can tell thanks to your man Allen. If Kobe has to miss the rest of the season our season is over. EDIT: I keep switching channels around to try to catch more replays, but all I can see from it was that wasn't an accident. No I'm not saying this as a Kobe fan, it just seemed that way. Ray Allen all of a suddenly PULLS KOBE'S ARM when he's the offensive player??? then all of a suddenly a screen coming to run into Kobe, and him swinging his arms? That seemed almost like it was called for... I still want to see it a few more times though... I could be wrong... Hopefully I'm wrong..
let's hope for the best that kobe is out for ONLY A week or Two, but after watching the replays, i doubt it.
Remind me to chalk that up as another reason to hate RayRay Allen. Little punk better get clobbered when he drives the lane..
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting the MDE:</div><div class="quote_post">Remind me to chalk that up as another reason to hate RayRay Allen. Little punk better get clobbered when he drives the lane..</div> Yeah, a play coming from a player who was crying about playing against "dirty" Bruce Bowen.
Kobe got caught up going round the screen, not Allen's fault. I doubt Ray would ever try and hurt a player (unless your name is Bruce). More so considering Kobe and Ray are both good friends.
