Should be a GREAT game. <font color="Red">Expect The Un-Expected!</font> I would not rule out someone like Caron Butler or Lamar Odom being the top perfomer of this game. Remember these guys have had this game circled on their calendar all year too. All the focus will be on Shaq/Kobe and who knows it might be another player who takes the spotlight. I'm hoping it's Wade, because he indeed has something to prove. He's having a great year and I'm sure he'd like nothing better than to have a great game against Kobe. Many people believe Wade is achieving his numbers solely because of Shaq. But the truth is Wade is a SuperStar with or without Shaq. The beauty of sports is that you really don't know who is going to step up on a nightly basis. Any team can win on any given night. So I'll look for the unsung heroes: Haslem, Caron Butler, Rasual Butler, Odom, etc. I think Shaq will have a big night as well as Wade. And of course Kobe could go out and drop 50 !!! I just want a good clean game. No flagrant fouls or fights. But, we all know what happens <font color="Red">"when a Corvette hits a brick wall."</font> Can't wait to see Kobe turn the corner and dry to dunk on Shaq. You know he's gonna try!!! Kobe & Wade = CLUTCH Will be a nail bitter if it's close in the final minutes. <font color="Red">I'll take the Heat by 6.</font> By the way, what's the spread on the game ???
First off, great preview Real Deal. NBA fans; it doesn?t get much better then this. Last year the X Mas day match up of Tracy vs. Lebron didn?t disappoint us, and I doubt a Kobe vs. Shaq match up will disappoint us. We all know Kobe and Shaq will get theirs, but whatever team wants to win, the supporting casts will have to step up. If the players just play the game instead of worrying about matchups or individuals performances this game should go down to the final wire. Kobe is going to have a monster game, I anticipate him to have about 40 points 6 rebounds and 7 assists, Shaq on the other hand will dominate but will settle down due to none other then Dwyane Wade, I expect him to have a monster game as well, slicing threw the Lakers interior scoring easy buckets and dishing to Shaq, I predict about 29 points 5 rebounds and 9 assists for Wade. In the end, Coach Van Gundy is going to have to make a choice, the ball will either be in Shaq or Wade's hands, while trying to tie the game the Heat run a pick and role Shaq is open and takes a little jump hook as time expires, it goes threw and the foul, but Shaq bricks the game winning free throw. Then Kobe takes over in overtime as the Lakers get ahead by 2 with 3 seconds left, by surprise Damon Jones is wide open at the top of the key, he hits a three to give the Heat a 1 point lead and eventually the lead.
I'll post my prediction the night before. I say the Lakers will come out firing and lead by 10 or less by the half. But the Heat will star going to Shaq every possesion and will make a comeback and win by 5+. But I think we'll see Shaq swat Kobe at least twice and Kobe will have a couple monster slams. (not on Shaq though) Merry Christams to everyone and their families!
IMO... I think if the Heat play their real game.. we can come away with a blowout. The lakers can't match us player by player. They have no answer to Shaq... we can still stop Kobe, I mean the Pistons did it... but they coulnd't stop Shaq. It's much easier to stop guards than big men, and we have that advantage. Plus Wade will not shoot under 50%... it's virtually impossible, and if he does it's like 10-21 like yesterday vs. Sacto, not 6 for 17.. that's complete bs. He hasn't shot that bad all year, not even against the leagues best defender Artest last year in the playoffs, I don't think just having Kobe on him will make him shoot 6 for 17... Artest is a better defender and couldn't even guard him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mr.Wade:</div><div class="quote_post">Plus Wade will not shoot under 50%... it's virtually impossible, and if he does it's like 10-21 like yesterday vs. Sacto, not 6 for 17.. that's complete bs. He hasn't shot that bad all year, not even against the leagues best defender Artest last year in the playoffs, I don't think just having Kobe on him will make him shoot 6 for 17... Artest is a better defender and couldn't even guard him.</div> Impossible for Wade to shoot 6-17 (35%)? It's virtually impossible for Wade to shoot under 50%? This season... Mavericks 113, Heat 93 (<font color="Red">Wade 6-18 shooting...33%</font>) http://www.nba.com/games/20041111/DALMIA/boxscore.html Blazers 99, Heat 87 (<font color="Red">Wade 5-13 shooting...38%</font>) http://www.nba.com/games/20041123/PORMIA/boxscore.html Pistons 78, Heat 77 (<font color="Red">Wade 6-17 shooting...35%</font>) http://www.nba.com/games/20041126/MIADET/boxscore.html Heat 106, Celtics 104 (<font color="Red">Wade 7-18 shooting...39%</font>) http://www.nba.com/games/20041128/BOSMIA/boxscore.html Heat 101, Bucks 96 (<font color="Red">Wade 5-15 shooting...33%</font>) http://www.nba.com/games/20041208/MIAMIL/boxscore.html Heat 106, Wizards 83 (<font color="Red">Wade 0-4 shooting...0%</font>) http://www.nba.com/games/20041213/WASMIA/boxscore.html Heat 117, Magic 107 (<font color="Red">Wade 6-20 shooting...30%</font>) http://www.nba.com/games/20041219/ORLMIA/boxscore.html
good Luck to the Heat fans! Im hoping for a great game win or lose! ITS ALL ABOUT MY LAKERS! GO KOBE!!!! ITS YOUR BIRTHDAY!!!!
<font color="blue">Again, I ask to please respect both teams in this game. There's obviously going to be a winner, but for the losing team, there's always a second chance, and that's on St. Patricks Day. Avoid baiting and personal attacks...anything that violates the JBB Guidelines. Good luck to both the Lakers and the Heat, and Merry Christmas to all of the members of JBB. -Brandon</font>
<font color="blue">Again, I ask to please respect both teams in this game. There's obviously going to be a winner, but for the losing team, there's always a second chance, and that's on St. Patricks Day. Avoid baiting and personal attacks...anything that violates the JBB Guidelines. Good luck to both the Lakers and the Heat, and Merry Christmas to all of the members of JBB. -Brandon</font>
Oh god, everyone is like "WHAT WAS WITH THE DAMN HANDSHAKE BETWEEN KOBE AND SHAQ?" but what`s the big deal. They probally didn`t want all the stupid ABC publicity. Anyway, strong 1st half for both teams. I loved Shaq`s alley, I think it was right in Mihm`s face.
This Odom vs Laettner matchup should be exploited by the Lakers all day, Odom will kill Laettner, let's just hope they don't do it, or Haslem comes back in before they decide to.
