Details: When: Tuesday, December 14th Where: KeyArena, Seattle Time (Seattle): 7:00 TV: Fox Sports, League Pass Projected Starters: <font color="green">Seattle (17-4)</font> Luke Ridnour Ray Allen Rashard Lewis Reggie Evans Jerome James <font color="royalblue"> <font color="darkgreen"></font></font><font color="purple">Los Angeles (12-8)</font> Chucky Atkins Kobe Bryant Caron Butler Lamar Odom Chris Mihm Injury Troubles: <font color="green">Seattle</font> Robert "Casanova" Swift: Strained hip, ruled out. Ibo Kutluay: Knee tendinitis, ruled out. Damien Wilkins: Knee tendinitis, ruled out. Ronald Murray: In lineup Vitaly Potapenko: In lineup <font color="purple">Los Angeles</font> Tony Bobbitt: Strained back, ruled out Brian Grant: Knee tendinitis, ruled out. Devean George: Ankle surgery, ruled out. Brief Notes: <ul> [*]The Sonics meet their old divison rivals for the first time this season. Seattle is coming off of their first home loss of the year where they lost once again to the Boston Celtics. Gary Payton and Paul Pierce torched the Sonics' guard in that game, gathering a combined 43 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. The Sonics' guards meanwhile were underachieving as Ray Allen shot a dreadful 5-23 from the field and 0-10 from the three point line. Danny Fortson had a double-double off the bench in a losing effort. The Lakers are coming off of a win but any success has been muddled by the personal problems making the news which finds Kobe Bryant at the center of it, once again. Jumaine Jones has been strong for LA off the bench, sinking 9 of 11 shots and draining 7 threes in a win over the Magic. [/list] <ul> [*]Well known rivals Ray Allen and Kobe Bryant will square off in this matchup. The two have had a war of words over the past year or so and should make for an interesting frame story in the game tonight. Two superstars who influence eachother to play harder and better than the other is always an exciting thing to watch. [/list] <ul> [*]Ronald "Flip" Murray and Vitaly Potapenko will be on the bench for the Sonics tonight. It has yet to be seen how much, if any, playing time either will get. [/list] <ul> [*]Ridnour Watch: Gary Payton took Ridnour to school for the second time this season. GP scored 21 on the 2nd year pro and held Luke to 2 points on 1 for 11 shooting and 0-2 from 3-point range. Ridnour's assignment tonight will be Chucky Atkins, whom is the "point guard", but will play second fiddle to Kobe Bryant in the ball control category. Ridnour feasibly should have a fair shot to succeed tonight against Atkins after a porous outing versus Boston. [/list] <div align="center"><u>Random Family Guy Quote</u></div> Meg: I just want to kill myself I'm gonna go upstairs and eat a whole bowl of peanuts. (Lois and Peter stare in silence) Meg: I'm allergic to peanuts. (Peter and Lois keep staring) Meg: You dont know anything about me. (runs upstairs) Peter: Who was that guy? All predictions, analysis and discussion relating directly to the game, both before, during and after, to be posted in this thread.
I don't see Flip getting any minutes, because Ray will not want to be taken out against Kobe. Radman will probably get a lot of time since he's our best chance at defending Odom, and the Divac/Mihm combo will be easier to handle for Reggie, Danny, and Nick when we play small ball.
Look for Kobe Bryant and the Lakers to come out shooting cold, while Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis light the nets on fire. I predict Sonics will win this game by 9.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't see Flip getting any minutes, because Ray will not want to be taken out against Kobe.</div> That's why you are my favorite poster on this site. You know exactly what to say to get a reaction out of me. I'm not surprised at all that you opened your post w/ that statement. For the game, I think that the play of our point guard will tell the tale. It seems to me that in our four losses our point guard production hasn't been there. This is one of the few matchups where we can honestly say that we have the edge at starting point guard. The Lakers have a very poor interior defense so if Ridnour/Daniels can penetrate the lane, they should find scoring opportunities for themselves and our bigs. I think that Rudy T is going to force our team to make plays off of the dribble tonight and really guard the three point line. Don't be surprised if one of the other Lakers--Odom, Cook, Mihm, Divac takes an unwarranted shot at Ray. Ray has a bad habit of starting a fire and walking away from it like he had nothing to do w/ it. I think that the Lakers may rally behind Kobe tonight and direct their frustration toward Allen. Kobe will act as if he's too mature to get into w/ Ray--key word act. Two great players going at it whom, in my estimation, are clowns. Should be interesting.
Big game for Kobe Bryant, not as big for Ray Allen, because Kobe was the one who said "Don't put me and dude in the same breath" , so he'll have to prove he's a level above Ray. On the other hand, Ray Allen had his worst game of the season against the celtics and he'll try to make everyone forget about it. Can't wait for the game to start, if kobe doesnt go for 45 I think the sonics will win by 8 points.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BODY_COUNT:</div><div class="quote_post">if kobe doesnt go for 45 I think the sonics will win by 8 points.</div> And if Kobe does go for 45 he will alienate his teammates and we will win by 15 .
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jurassic:</div><div class="quote_post">And if Kobe does go for 45 he will alienate his teammates and we will win by 15 .</div> that's true, but if the game turns into a kobe vs ray allen thing, their performances will be crucial...i hope the sonics bench does its job as they always do and things will be fine
If it turns into Kobe v Ray, I'm thinking we win because we have more outside of Ray. If Kobe goes for one of those near 20/10/10 games, we'll be in trouble.
If Sonics don't go cold from the 3pt line they are the favorites to win this. I take em by 8 if they stay on fire.
Good to see we're not biased in this thread. It all depends on Kobe. Seattle have more depth and probably more weapons, but you never know what Bryant brings to the floor. There's always the chance he'll slip into a one on one ego mode with Ray, and if that happens he could either score 50 or shoot 8-30. Interesting times ahead. But if you're relying on Kobe to ice gamewinning FTs, you're relying on the wrong guy. Now a game winning jumper? That's more accurate.
^ We're not, but Real Deal's prediction sounds like a movie script with Kobe in the main role lol in my previous post i forgot to say that our bench should kill the lakers bench, there's no doubt in my mind radmanovic, a. daniels and fortson (and maybe flip if he comes in) are way too much for any of the lakers' bench warmers...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BODY_COUNT:</div><div class="quote_post">^ We're not, but Real Deal's prediction sounds like a movie script with Kobe in the main role lol in my previous post i forgot to say that our bench should kill the lakers bench, there's no doubt in my mind radmanovic, a. daniels and fortson (and maybe flip if he comes in) are way too much for any of the lakers' bench warmers...</div> Why, because Kobe makes two free throws to end it? If I wanted to make a movie out of it, I'd have Kobe dropping 25 in the fourth quarter (including a half-court game winner) on Allen...and the Lakers win by one, after a miraculous comeback after Kobe missed the second and third quarters with a sprained ankle.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Real Deal:</div><div class="quote_post">Why, because Kobe makes two free throws to end it? If I wanted to make a movie out of it, I'd have Kobe dropping 25 in the fourth quarter (including a half-court game winner) on Allen...and the Lakers win by one, after a miraculous comeback after Kobe missed the second and third quarters with a sprained ankle.</div> LoL That would be Tight haha.
Serious question, has Kobe hit any clutch shots in this new era without Shaq? Either way he shouldn't have the chance too tonight, Sonics should take care of this one by 8-10 points.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Serious question, has Kobe hit any clutch shots in this new era without Shaq? Either way he shouldn't have the chance too tonight, Sonics should take care of this one by 8-10 points.</div> He has missed two. The problem is he's having to play way too much, and he's exhausted by the 4th. We need a PG, actually...Ridnour? jk
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Seattle (17-3)</div> its...4 losses now...not 3...probably just a typo from the last game...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting RiverspoonJones:</div><div class="quote_post">Ah, LakoRz homers, you are going to lose. Ridnour is too handsome.</div> And he has 6 assists in the first quarter thus far.
