<div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"><font color="Green">Memphis Grizzlies </font> (50-28) @ <font color="Purple">Los Angeles Lakers </font> (53-25) </div> <div align="center">Time: 7:00 p.m. PT Location: Staples Center TV: FSN, NBALP</div> Season Series: Grizzlies 2, Lakers 1 11/10/03 Grizzlies 105 Lakers 95 11/23/03 Lakers 121 Grizzlies 89 1/21/04 Grizzlies 88 Lakers 82 Previous Games: Cavs @ Grizzlies 92-74 W Blazers @ Lakers 91-80 L Last 10 Games: Grizzlies 8-2 (Won 1) Lakers 7-3 (Lost 2) Head Coaches: Hubie Brown/Phil Jackson Probable Starters: Jason Williams/Gary Payton Mike Miller/Kobe Bryant James Posey/Rick Fox Stromile Swift/Karl Malone Jake Tsakaladis/Shaquille O'Neal Sixth Men Shane Battier/Devean George Injury Report Grizzlies Troy Bell Ryan Humphrey Dahntay Jones Lakers Kareem Rush Jamal Sampson Horace Grant <div align="center">Players To Watch </div> <div align="center">James Posey & Shaquille O'Neal</div> <div align="center">Posey: 13.7 ppg, 5.00 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.64 spg O'Neal: 21.5 pts, 11.50 rebs, 3.0 assists, .45 steals </div> Keys To The Game <u>Grizzlies</u> In order for the Grizzlies to keep winning and move up the playoff seedings, they'll have to do the following: <u>Wave's Grizzlies Prediction</u> The Grizzlies have to be able to keep Kobe Bryant down on defense with James Posey, yet keep James Posey free. Since Bryant is their greatest offensive and defensive threat, and Posey is our greatest offensive and defensive threat with no Gasol, we'll have to look to switch up the match-up from Posey/Bryant on defense to Miller/Bryant on offense. Basically, we want our stronger defensive players, such as Posey and Battier, to take Bryant on defense. And we want our weaker offensive players to take him on offense, such as Miller and T.Smith. Although, saying keeping Bryant down and doing it are different. The Grizzlies might have to play the frontcourt of Tsakalidis and Wright. Having Swift against Malone is an unfair missmatch. Not only is Malone a better rebounder and scorer, but he is also thirty pounds heavier than Swift. Lorenzen Wright and Malone have similar body types, so that would be a good matchup. Memphis also needs to get more fastbreak points than Los Angeles. Statistics show that Memphis wins that majority of their games when they get more fastbreak points than the other team. For example, the Grizzlies blew Cleveland out of the gym the other day and outscored them by a large margin in fastbreak points. However, against the Jazz the other night, the Grizzlies lost the battle in fastbreak points and also lost the game. <u>Lakers</u> If the Lakers want to start another winning streak, they'll have to do the following keys: First things first, get Shaq the ball. I'm tired of watching him standing around like a stick. Get him the ball in the low post, and I'll look for him to "try" and muscle his way to the basket. Shaq has been having trouble dominating opponents in our last two ballgames because of the constant double teams he receives every night. If Shaq really wants this losing streak to end, he's going to have to find a way to maintain an offensive flow and score buckets early. Kobe Bryant has to lower his ego, and get his teammates involved in the game. He is taking too many shots, and he is forcing too many shots. All you see is clanks off the rim. If Kobe Bryant doesn't get into a rhythm, the Lakers could be in a slump in the beginning moments of the game. Also, he really needs to cut down in the turnover ratio. Laker Fever's Prediction After coming off 11 straight wins, we have lost 2 straight games overall, and after the Portland loss, we seem to be out of sync both offensively and defensively. With all the negativity, I'll give you this quick fact. Los Angeles is a lifetime 17-0 against Memphis at Staples Center. The Grizz aren't no pushover team, they'll make this game close from start to finish. Lakers by 3.
The Lakers did their part tonight and the Kings also had a huge let down against the Suns. My eyes will be glued to tomorrow's Kings vs. Lakers, BRING IT ON!
Is it me or does Jake Tsakaladis look like Frankenstein in that picture? Right down to the busted ass teeth. Lakers by 7, with Gasol out the Lakers are taking this one all the way but not without a fight by Hubies team.
Lakers won 103-95. They trailed by 19 at the first half, and rallied to win the game. I think it showed how bad the Lakers want to claim the first in the West. Too bad Timberwolves also won yesterday and that stretched the lead back to 1.5 game over the Lakers.
Yea, the Lakers are very determined right now. They want that #1 seed in the worst of ways. And yea, Sunday against Sactown will be huge. That will, in all likelyhood determine at least the #2 seed in the West.
