<div align="center"><font color="Black">THE BATTLE FOR FIRST</font> VS. <font color="Purple">The Los Angeles Lakers (54-25)</font>@<font color="Indigo">The Sacremento Kings(54-25)</font> Time:12:30 Pacific Place: Arco Arenas TV: ABC</div> Head Coach Phil Jackson/Rick Adelman Starting Lineup Gary Payton/Mike Bibby Kobe Bryant/Doug Christie Rick Fox/Peja Stojakovic Karl Malone/Chris Webber Shaquille O'neal/Vlade "Floppy" Divac Sixth Men Devean George/Brad Miller Injury Report <u>Los Angeles</u> Rick Fox(questionable) Horace Grant Jamal Sampson <u>Sacramento</u> Bobby Jackson(questionable) <div align="center">Key Players Bryant: 23.7 points per game, 5 assists per game, and 5.5 rebounds per game Stojakovic: 24.4 points per game, 2.1 assists per game, and 6.2 rebounds per game</div> Keys to the Game <u>Los Angeles</u> Defense Feed Shaq Perimeter Play Smart Decisions by Bryant The Desire to win the game has to be there Role Players need to step up <u>Sacramento</u> Feed Webber when he has Medvedenko on him Watch to make sure big men dont get in foul trouble Hit outside shots Force Shaq to pass Force Kobe to take a bad shot Make Malone and Payton beat them, not Kobe and Shaq Q Rich's Input This game will decide who gets first overall in the Pacific. The Lakers need to play with heart and passion to win, and the Kings need to control the tempo. TThis game is a toss up, whoever wants it more will win.
Oh yeah, this is probably the biggest game of the year for both teams. Both not only want to take the top standing of the pacific but also want that Minnesotta's West top spot. I agree with your input the Lakers have to play defense against the merciless fast break Kings. They also have to have that desire and commitment to win the game. As for the Kings, who would have thought the return of Chris Webb has only made their offense stagnant? The ball has stopped moving and the Kings forget they're a passing team. The Lakers should take advantage of the Kings' C-Webb's return adjustment... they are not to give this team a chance. Lakers by 11.
Although that #1 seed seems out of reach for both teams now, this is most likely the game to decide the #2 spot. This is a huge game, and I expect the Lakers to come out strong, as well as the Kings. I'm hoping this will be a low scoring defensive game to get these teams ready for the playoffs.
54 35 at the half Kings. Dag, the first dunk by the Lakers was by Fisher. And Mevedenko should be leading them in scoring with all those missed put backs. And this is the first game where I said Kobe shoot the ball!! 1 field goal attempt in 19 minutes. This game is horrible so far, but they should make a come back. They always do, but I wish they didn't have to so many times.
The Kings are showing that they are for real tonight. Man this Lakers team is inconsistent. A week ago I thought the Lakers were going to breeze through the playoffs...not anymore. And Kobe with 0 points?!
Kobe not shooting until a few minutes left in the half, for a buzzer beater and going 0-1 in the first half won't get it done. I don't know if this was the coaching staff's way of trying to get the others involved first or Kobe just being stubborn, but we won't be winning any games like that. Right from the start this game was ugly, and I don't even have the game on anymore.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rudeezy:</div><div class="quote_post">Doug Christie is playing amazing and is shutting Kobe down.</div> Funny how all they kept talkin about shutting Kobe down the whole first half, when he didn't even have the ball almost the whole time. If he wanted to shoot, he could have. Stupid stubborn 1st half by Kobe probably cost us the game.
kobe: 8 pts? wen the last time he dint score in double figures...besides the game when he got injured.
Christie was also doing a great job of denying Kobe the ball and not letting him getting any uncontested shots. Kobe started forcing them in the second half which equally hurt the Lakers. Defense prevailed in that match up.
Man I blame this lost on Malone's foul at the end of the 3rd quarter. He should've just stuck his hands straight in the air cause Webber wasn't gonna hit that. I can't even remember what the final score was now. I just know Rush got injured with 11 seconds to go and they scored 85. The best thing about this game was when Malone fouled Miller and made like he was gonna help him out but then Malone said cyke. That's pretty bad if that's the best thing that happened in the whole game.
Christie played amazing D, but Kobe was too passive. We flat out sucked tonight, that is all im going to say, We sucked.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 30 standing ver:</div><div class="quote_post">Man I blame this lost on Malone's fall at the end of the 3rd quarter. </div>Yea those two points were the difference in this blow out win for the Kings. It was a dumb foul that even rookies don't make, but Malone just let his emotions have the best of him. He is not the same player he used to be and the quicker more athletic Webber was frustrating him.
great game for the fans.. both team played well.. the kings played Shaq & Kobe on defense so the Lakers can't do so much..
This is a sad day in Lakers history and for Kobe. I cant believe this. Even though Christie played some good D, come on its not like Kobe cant handle him. My little brother is a huge Queens uhh my bad Kings fan and he has a smile from ear to ear now. What the hell were they trying to do. I cant believe this. Please dont ever do this again. Now that i've seen this game im afraid what will happen in the playoffs. Even the Lakers have to play the Kings or the Wolves we aint gonna make it.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting theclown1:</div><div class="quote_post">This is a sad day in Lakers history and for Kobe. I cant believe this. Even though Christie played some good D, come on its not like Kobe cant handle him. My little brother is a huge Queens uhh my bad Kings fan and he has a smile from ear to ear now. What the hell were they trying to do. I cant believe this. Please dont ever do this again. Now that i've seen this game im afraid what will happen in the playoffs. Even the Lakers have to play the Kings or the Wolves we aint gonna make it. </div> why every time you lost you have to be a hater?!?!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Peja King:</div><div class="quote_post">why every time you lost you have to be a hater?!?!</div> Some people just don't know how to except defeat. He'll soon get used to it. jk
Man. That was one BAD GAME for LA. I was rooting for them. I though Kobe would have one of those night's he had against the Magic. Where he was 1 for 3 in the first half. But exploded with 37 Points. Guess I was wrong. At least you guys are making the Playoff's.
