<div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"><font color="Purple">Los Angeles Lakers </font> (41-21) @ <font color="Navy">Utah Jazz </font> (31-32) </div> <div align="center">Time: 6:00 p.m. PT Location: Delta Center TV: KCAL</div> Season Series: Lakers 2, Jazz 0 12/07/03 Lakers 94 Jazz 92 1/24/04 Lakers 93 Jazz 86 Previous Games: Nets @ Lakers 94-88 W Jazz @ Blazers 91-70 L Last 10 Games: Lakers 8-2 (Won 3) Jazz 5-5 (Lost 2) Head Coaches: Phil Jackson/Jerry Sloan Probable Starters: Gary Payton/Carlos Arroyo Kareem Rush/Aleksandar Pavlovic Rick Fox/Andrei Kirilenko Slava Medvedenko/Tom Gugliotta Shaquille O'Neal/Jarron Collins Sixth Men Derek Fisher/Raja Bell Injury Report Lakers Karl Malone Jamal Sampson Kobe Bryant Jazz Matt Harpring Curtis Borchardt <div align="center">Players To Watch </div> <div align="center">Shaquille O'Neal & Andrei Kirilenko</div> <div align="center">O'Neal: 21.4 pts, 10.80 rebs, 3.0 assists, .45 steals Kirilenko: 17.0 pts, 7.90 rebs, 3.1 assists, 2.02 steals </div> Keys To The Game <u>Lakers</u> Feed the ball to Shaq, allow him to dominate Jarron Collins inside Since Kobe is out, Kareem must make better decisions with the basketball and cut down on careless mistakes Allow Gary to make wise decisions on every Laker possession, and to start the transitional game whenever necessary Must control the glass, second chance opportunities, and defense from all areas <u>Jazz</u> The backcourt of Arroyo and Pavlovic must have better shot selections, rather than shooting 36 percent from the field in their last game Collins has to find a way to provide a fair share of the boards and second chance shots Kirilenko has to find a better shooting touch than 2/19 in his last game Raja Bell wil have to improve on his 21 point effort to keep his team in the game at all times Laker Fever's Prediction The Lakers always have trouble coming off back-to-back games. Especially going on the road where fatigue sets in dramatically. But with the performance Shaq has been achieving for the past two games, I feel he'll be the difference maker in this one since he realizes Kobe and Malone are out with their injuries. I also look for Kareem Rush to have a productive game since he's hitting his outside shot with a ton of confidence. Lakers by 6.
I think this is a very winnable game for the Lakers if they feed Shaq, I think they should feed him, and I think they will feed him, Lakers by 7
Lakers in a close one, but Malone's team gets the last laugh, even if he doesn't play. This is also a homecoming for Bryon Russell remember.
lakers in a close one, 92 to 89. shaq is just to much to handle for the jazz. also keep an eye on rush, he has been making some huge shots.
This should be a close game.The Lakers will need to feed the ball to Shaq in the post if they want to win this one.Andrei will need to play great ball if he wants to lead his team to a victory.I predict Rush will play great in this game and that the Jazz win by 3.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ANiMuS:</div><div class="quote_post">The Collins brothers get to be Shaq's bitch on consecutive nights. I'm pumped for some action baby!</div> Haha, Jarron is better than Jason, and he doesn't play as much. Greg Ostertag will get to be on a new poster.
The Lakers have found their rhythm on defense and are starting to shutdown teams for long periods. The Nets couldn't buy a basket late in the game last night, as the Lakers have begun to turn it up a notch for the playoffs. It's a shame Malone couldn't make it back for this game and put up big numbers against his former team. The Lakers have the superior offense and defense, and should take this one by at least 8 points. The Jazz always bring their 'A' game against the Lakers, so I don't see a blowout, it should be close until the final quarter. AK47 might to be a handful for us, the key to stopping him is to not let him find his shooting touch. His entire game relies on his ability to hit the mid range jumper, without it dropping the Lakers can hold him to a lot of low percentage shots. If he is forced to drive to the hoop, Shaq's presence will intimidate him and alter his shot.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BallerAK47:</div><div class="quote_post">Jazz by 7</div> Bold prediction there missy.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Q Rich3:</div><div class="quote_post">Bold prediction there missy.</div> Not really. Jazz play great at home. Also Jazz almost beat the Lakers in LA when they just didn't have Malone. Now they are without Malone and Kobe. Yes, The Jazz had Harpring, but also Kirilenko didn't play the entire 4th quarter. Its not really that bold of a prediction
To add to all the players missing today Slava isn't going to play either, he stayed at the hotel for some kind of infection or something... lol the list continues to grow...
All tied at 25 in the 2nd right now....was hoping to see Malone back in this one, but I'll think we'll run away with the game in the 2nd half.
Hey George is hurt too now! just another injury to our list of injured players!! He's one of only 3 guys who has played all season for us too... YEA!
DAmn why do we keep losing people, George was in a slump, but I guaruntee that he would of played better when Malone came back, Well More Luke Walton, that is good...I didnt see the injury is it bad? I saq Rush had 10 points early in the second how is he playing?
