<div align="center"> Los Angeles Lakers: 16-13 Dallas Mavericks: 20-10 Date: Wednesday, January 5th Time: 7:30 PM TV: UPN21, NBALP Previous Games: Lakers @ Spurs 100-83 (LOSS) Bucks @ Mavs 123-104 (WIN) <font color="purple"><font size="1">(Coach Rudy Tomjanovich)</font></font> C - <font color="Purple">Chris Mihm</font> (10.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 0.5 APG) PF - <font color="Purple">Lamar Odom</font> (14.4 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 2.6 APG) SF - <font color="Purple">Caron Butler</font> (13.2 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.3 APG) SG - <font color="Purple">Kobe Bryant</font> (28.5 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 6.8 APG) PG - <font color="Purple">Chucky Atkins</font> (11.0 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 3.7 APG) <font size="4">VS</font> <font color="royalblue"><font size="1">(Coach Don Nelson)</font></font> C - <font color="royalblue">Erick Dampier</font> (8.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 0.9 APG) PF - <font color="royalblue">Dirk Nowitzki</font> (26.7 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 2.8 APG) SF - <font color="royalblue">Josh Howard</font> (12.6 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.5 APG) SG - <font color="royalblue">Michael Finley</font> (17.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.8 APG) PG - <font color="royalblue">Jason Terry</font> (9.5 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 4.2 APG) LAKERS - <font color="purple">Jumaine Jones</font> Predicted Stats: 10 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist MAVS - <font color="royalblue">Jerry Stackhouse</font> Predicted Stats: 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists LAKERS - <font color="purple">Kobe Bryant</font> Predicted Stats: 30 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists MAVS - <font color="royalblue">Dirk Nowitzki</font> Predicted Stats: 34 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists</div> After the terrible beating we took against the San Antonio Spurs, playing the next day is going to be tough...in fact, not tough...incredibly tough. I'm sure the Lakers would be satisfied to play the Hawks or the Hornets (no offense, guys), but the Mavericks? Give us a break. Not only do we have less than 24 hours to rest up, but we also have to play yet another MVP-caliber player in Dirk Nowitzki, and his loaded roster, in Dallas. Talk about stacking the odds against us. Dampier and Nowitzki are going to destroy us on the boards...no doubt about that. If the rebounding doesn't get us, the inside scoring will...and that includes everyone driving in for layups and dunks, not just Dirk dropping 30+ on us. Terry, Howard, Finley, Nowitzki, Stackhouse, Daniels...all of these guys can score at will...and we all know how great our defense is (sarcasm mode ON). Dallas will score 100 points...and I wouldn't be shocked if they added another 100 to it. Guys on the bench...everyone is tired in Lakerland...so we could see more of our bench again. Jumaine Jones could be our spark late in the game, but who knows. His defense could help out alot against Howard and Stackhouse...and hopefully, Jones can come out firing and hitting shots, which can help us out extremely well when we find ourselves down by a big margin against the Mavs. One last thing that the Lakers need to stress: teamwork. The Mavs will show their ability to play as a team tonight...so the purple and gold need to focus on passing and setting good screens, instead of making this a one-on-five game. Two assists total in the first half...count them, two...against the Spurs last night. R-I-D-iculous. The Lakers are battered and beaten from the Spurs, and may not have enough time to recover for this game against the Mavs. Dirk will be on fire, and Kobe's efforts will fall short again. The Mavs will win in Dallas, 112-102.
Great preview..Its the game I've been waiting to see all season! Mavs have had excellent first quarters during the home stand and should continue to do so today as well. I expect Mavs to win by 10 and Kobe to score about 50 something
Good preview Brandon. If Dampier can take control on the inside this one should be a breeze. Howard or Finley will have to contain Bryant to keep him from getting hot, but we play good at home. Mavs in a close one 109-107
I cant wait to see this. I have a feeling Dirk will be hot tonight. This is gonna be a fun game to watch tonight. 109-92 Mavs
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">We won and held Kobe to 32 points.</div> Wow,why is that so funny?Yes,great defense on kobe holding him to ONLY 32 points.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting samoan-maverick:</div><div class="quote_post">Before Josh Howard.</div>