<div align="center"> Memphis Grizzlies: 10-15 Los Angeles Lakers: 13-10 Date: Monday, December 20th Time: 7:30 PM TV: FSN, NBALP Previous Games: Nets @ Grizzlies 89-84 (WIN) Wizards @ Lakers 120-116 OT (LOSS) <font size="1">(Mike Fratello)</font> C - <font color="deepskyblue">Lorenzen Wright</font> PF - <font color="deepskyblue">Pau Gasol</font> SF - <font color="deepskyblue">James Posey</font> SG - <font color="deepskyblue">Mike Miller</font> PG - <font color="deepskyblue">Jason Williams</font> <font size="1">*stats unavailable until Sunday's Clippers/Grizzlies game</font> <font size="4">VS</font> <font size="1">(Rudy Tomjanovich)</font> C - <font color="Purple">Chris Mihm</font> (10.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 0.4 APG) PF - <font color="Purple">Lamar Odom</font> (14.5 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 2.6 APG) SF - <font color="Purple">Caron Butler</font> (13.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.4 APG) SG - <font color="Purple">Kobe Bryant</font> (27.7 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 7.3 APG) PG - <font color="Purple">Chucky Atkins</font> (10.9 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 3.6 APG) GRIZZLIES - <font color="deepskyblue">Bonzi Wells</font> Predicted Stats: 18 min, 10 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assists LAKERS - <font color="purple">Tierre Brown</font> Predicted Stats: 16 min, 8 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists GRIZZLIES - <font color="deepskyblue">Pau Gasol</font> Predicted Stats: 24 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists LAKERS - <font color="purple">Kobe Bryant</font> Predicted Stats: 29 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists </div> The Grizzlies' season has been less than fabulous so far in Memphis, and the same can be said about the Los Angeles Lakers, who are coming off a heart-breaking loss to the Wizards Friday night, after picking apart the Sacramento Kings the previous night. Although Kobe Bryant recorded his fourth triple-double of the season, the Lakers found themselves at a disadvantage once again, due to the one thing that they've yet to grasp this season: defense. If 48 minutes of an exposed weakness wasn't enough, the last five minutes were...when it mattered most. The Memphis Grizzlies have a connection...and I'm not talking about dial up. The great passing skills of Jason Williams will be tested against the Lakers on Monday for the second time this season. In their first meeting, J-Will dropped 17 points, with 6 side orders of assists, in only 24 minutes of playing time...and Memphis ran away with the win at home, 110-87. Let's not avoid the other details, that include the Grizzlies shooting 10% better than the Lakers, where Kobe went a nasty 4-19 from the field. Best in the West? Not in this game. Don't expect a poor performance from Kobe in this meeting. The Lakers are stepping it up each game, even if it's a little at a time, and Kobe's shooting has improved as well. Against the Grizzlies, you can bet on a fifth triple-double by Bryant, unless Stromile Swift is given significant minutes in the paint. Otherwise, Los Angeles will work on ball distribution in the first half, and Kobe will take over the game in the 3rd quarter. As far as the 4th goes, it will depend on how well the Lakers' defense holds up against Pau Gasol and James Posey. If the Lakers keep a nice 8-10 point lead going into the 4th, Kobe may rest up, and Rudy T will go with Jumaine Jones and possibly Sasha Vujacic before the game comes to a close. If the game is close, or they trail the Grizz, Kobe will look to get Atkins involved from beyond the arc, as well as himself and hopefully Lamar Odom...who was very effective in the win versus the Kings on Thursday. Tierre Brown and Bonzi Wells will be the "Who Dat" players of the game, the sixth men for the Lakers and Grizzlies. Brown may be tossed into the game to run with Earl Watson, while Wells will be great off the bench if the Grizzlies wanna run late in the first half, or if they need an above-average defender to make a stop in the 4th. Don't make fun of their first names, because it may be their last names (on their jerseys) that you'll be seeing most of, as both Tierre and Bonzi can beat their defenders to the hoop. As a team, both the Lakers and the Grizzlies need to avoid turnovers. The Lakers are very successful on the fast break, especially when it's caused by the opposing team's turnover...while the Grizzlies can easily take advantage of the numerous TO's that the Lakers seem to rack up nearly every game this season. This may be the biggest factor of the game, and could determine the winner of this fight in Los Angeles. The Grizzlies are going to have to get Mihm in foul trouble, then work on Lamar Odom, before they have a good chance of winning this one. Memphis has no answer to Kobe whatsoever, but they can keep everyone else on their toes defensively, and if they expose the Lakers' defense early, they'll be on the Lakers' tails the entire game. However, Rudy Tomjanovich may place Odom on "high-priority" tonight, and Kobe should get close (or end up with) a triple-double. Odom scores 17 and pulls down 10 boards as the Lakers steal one away in the name of revenge, and hold the Grizzlies to under 100 points, 95-88.
Nice preview one of these days you have got to hook me up with those graphics you put in your previews. Anyway I see the Lakers winning this one in a close game down to the wire the Griz are much better than there record shows they have been hot since Czar took over, and if they won I would not be surprised, but I take the Lakers by four in this one.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Cash-Money:</div><div class="quote_post">How did we lose.</div> Shane Battier and James Posey absolutely shut down Kobe Bryant, that's how. Accept it, you guys are just a mediocre team this year and no better than the Grizzlies.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">Shane Battier and James Posey absolutely shut down Kobe Bryant, that's how. Accept it, you guys are just a mediocre team this year and no better than the Grizzlies. </div> The Grizzlies betetr then the Lakers!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheNextJordan8:</div><div class="quote_post"> The Grizzlies betetr then the Lakers! </div> Did we not just beat you by ten points on your homecourt? Face it, the Lakers are far from one of the best teams in the NBA this season. Kobe Bryant can't isn't the type of guy who can win games for you like Tim Duncan can. That's what separates him from the likes of Jason Kidd, Tim Duncan, etc.
I belive the Grizzle could start a nice run here with the Warriors tonight they can pick up another win... Fratello has the guys looking good still a chance to slide into the 6,7,8 slot for the playoffs with a really wide open west this year after the Suns ans Sonics, and Spurs seems like its a wide open race. I don't think the sonics can keep winning at the same rate they are but I think they could be in the playoffs...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">Did we not just beat you by ten points on your homecourt? </div> Yes, very true. With that said, the Bulls are better than Garnett and his Timberwolves, and the Celtics are much better than the Sonics...since both of these teams did end up victorious over these West powerhouses. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">Face it, the Lakers are far from one of the best teams in the NBA this season. Kobe Bryant can't isn't the type of guy who can win games for you like Tim Duncan can. That's what separates him from the likes of Jason Kidd, Tim Duncan, etc.</div> That must be why Jason Kidd still can't pull off a win, even after his return.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Yes, very true. With that said, the Bulls are better than Garnett and his Timberwolves, and the Celtics are much better than the Sonics...since both of these teams did end up victorious over these West powerhouses</div> Not a good comparison though, the Grizzlies were a 50 win team last season, and to start the season were hampered with injuries to James Posey, Stromile Swift, and Jason Williams was out for a while too. The Grizzlies are 7-3 or so since Frattello came, so they're about on the same level and can be better than the Lakers considering they have a wider balance in talent and much more depth [than almost all of the league though] on their team.
Haha...okay, that's understandable. The Hornets were a playoff team last season. Well, they beat the Jazz for their first win of the year...and the Jazz had a healthy Kirilenko and Arroyo, along with Boozer. The Hornets were without B-Diddy. So can I assume that the Hornets are better than the Jazz?
Yes, the better team is the team that loses. I don't care what your record is or how good your roster looks. If you beat a team, then you are better than them. Were the Celtics better than the Sonics? Yes, they were better than the Sonics. Besides, the Grizzlies and the Lakers aren't as different as the Jazz and Hornets were. They're pretty equal on paper.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> The Grizzlies betetr then the Lakers! </div> Why is that so hard to believe?They had a couple injuries and started the season a lil slow,LA hasnt exactly been impressive either.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Real Deal:</div><div class="quote_post">Haha...okay, that's understandable. The Hornets were a playoff team last season. Well, they beat the Jazz for their first win of the year...and the Jazz had a healthy Kirilenko and Arroyo, along with Boozer. The Hornets were without B-Diddy. So can I assume that the Hornets are better than the Jazz?</div> Common, that's even worse, didn't then lose Jamaal Magloire, David West, Rodney Rogers, and Alex Garcia in addition to Baron Davis being injured and Mashburn being out for the year. That's an even worse comparison, it's a lucky win since the Hornets had lost 9 straight before that, won by 1 point, and haven't really won anything all year. The Jazz also shot under 40% in the game and didn't really play Utah basketball. The Grizzlies have actually been winning lately, please, let's not talk about it like were children, it's not an absurb comment to think the Grizz are better than the Lakers right now. The Hornets were also a playoff team in the East. If anyone is to assume that they're better than any team really with a 2-22 record, all I can say i give me whatever you're having lol. Memphis is like 3 games behind the Lakers, while the Hornets are like 9 games behind the Jazz, and when AK was there I don't even know since the Hornets only had one win then.
