<div align="center"> Los Angeles Lakers: 17-14 Minnesota Timberwolves: 17-15 Date: Monday, January 10th Time: 5:00 PM TV: KCAL, NBATV Previous Games: Rockets @ Lakers 111-104 (WIN) Wolves @ Wizards 117-114 (LOSS) <font color="purple"><font size="1">(Coach Rudy Tomjanovich)</font></font> C - <font color="Purple">Chris Mihm</font> (10.7 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 0.5 APG) PF - <font color="Purple">Lamar Odom</font> (14.6 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.7 APG) SF - <font color="Purple">Caron Butler</font> (13.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.2 APG) SG - <font color="Purple">Kobe Bryant</font> (28.5 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 6.8 APG) PG - <font color="Purple">Chucky Atkins</font> (11.3 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 3.9 APG) <font size="4">VS</font> <font color="navy"><font size="1">(Coach Flip Saunders)</font></font> C - <font color="navy">Michael Olowokandi</font> (4.9 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 0.4 APG) PF - <font color="navy">Kevin Garnett</font> (23.8 PPG, 15.0 RPG, 6.3 APG) SF - <font color="navy">Wally Szczerbiak</font> (15.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.1 APG) SG - <font color="navy">Latrell Sprewell</font> (11.8 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.9 APG) PG - <font color="navy">Troy Hudson</font> (7.8 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 3.0 APG) LAKERS - <font color="purple">Jumaine Jones</font> Predicted Stats: 8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist WOLVES - <font color="navy">Eddie Griffin</font> Predicted Stats: 12 points, 5 rebounds, 0 assists LAKERS - <font color="purple">Kobe Bryant</font> Predicted Stats: 34 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists WOLVES - <font color="navy">Kevin Garnett</font> Predicted Stats: 24 points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists</div> Although this game may seem to be an easy win for the Wolves just by looking at team statistics (where the Wolves lead the Lakers in field goal percentage and assists, among others), the Lakers do have one advantage over Minnesota: rebounding. This comes as a surprise, however, since the Wolves have the leading rebounder locked up in Minny (that being Garnett). Also, Minnesota's gameplay as of late has been all but fantastic...losing seven of their last nine and dropping to 7th place in the West. The Lakers will test its triangle offense for the second time this season, after practicing with it Sunday. The first time? The Lakers were successful against the Rockets, stabbing into Houston for a 24-point lead before halftime and eventually hanging on for the win. The Minnesota defense will surely be tested against the triangle...where Minnesota has held teams to 44% shooting all season, although Los Angeles (said to have a terrible defense) has held theirs to 43%. What is going on in Minny and LA? The last time these teams met, it was the Western Conference Finals. Kevin Garnett was the MVP and the Wolves were on top of the West. Kobe and the Lakers were climbing the mountain with them, and eventually knocked them off to advance to the Finals. Today, it's a different story, where it seems as if both Kobe and Garnett are looking around, wondering what teammate, if any, will step up and earn his paycheck. Possibly Odom and Wally? It seems to be...so watch for these two tonight, where Odom should pull down double-digits off the glass, while Szcrzcrabiojrajl-biak may be breaking down the LA interior defense all night long. Two guys off the bench that may catch fire early will be Griffin and Jones. These two will benefit most from the bench, especially Eddie Griffin, who may be brought in to torch the Lakers with threes and long jumpers. Both Jumaine and Eddie will help out on the glass, and could very well be nice to have on the court for defensive purposes as well. Look for both Griffin and Jones to ignite their teams from the bench in tonight's matchup. The Wolves may have more problems than the Lakers, but I have a feeling it's not so much on the court as it is in the locker room. Something just isn't right with this team, the same team (with the addition of Griffin) that dominated the West last season. The Lakers are experimenting with the triangle, and it could prove to be beneficial to their offense tonight...where they should take this game on the road and continue climbing the ladder in the West, 97-92.
As always, nice preview. If the Lakers played like they did against Houston Rockets the other night then we will have hardly any problems winning this one. For the Lakers to win this we need to take better shots, make the extra passes and get agressive. I want to see Kobe attacking the rim as well as Lamar Odom. These guys can really draw the foul and get the finish. But most of all we need to remember: DEFENSE. If you have nothing to do, then play some DEFENSE... yes Chucky, i'm talking to you. Kobe Bryant's shot seems to be off, and this is making me wonder. His free-throw shooting hasn't been close to perfect like usual, lately. Hopefully he's been working on them and considering the fact that they're playing the T-Wolves, I would assume that Kobe will be taking a fair share of free-throws. Hopefully he can make every single one of these. I'm taking the Lakers over the Wolves. 107-101
This game wont go over the 100 points. Great preview al usual. Cant add anything. Lakers win this one. 94-89
The Lakers are very capable of winning this game. The Wolves are coming off of a loss to the Wizards and the Lakers are looking good in the triangle. Kobe will have a good game, but I think Lamar will chip in another 20 point performane. I take the Lakers in this one 95-90
At the beginning of the year, I would've picked Minnesota to destroy but they are slumping so bad right now. Give me the Lakers 100-99 on Kobe's first buzzer beater of the season (I believe).
this game should be good to watch considering the lakers are going to use the triangle offense again. lakers by 7. 96-89
Should be a great game. KG will get his as always, but if the Lakers can get some solid contributions from Odom and Butler we will prevail
Jeez,how did the Lakers manage to beat the snot out of the Wolves on the boards.Mihm went crazy.Minnesota is hurting after this one.
Twas a spanking, Minnesotta is crumbling as we speak, too many problems on that team. Was it the defense on Garnett, or was Garnett just off today, though he got to the line, he shot a decent 5-12. Kobe shot pretty good, he hit 6-11 three's, and that was the story of the game for the Lakers, the three point shooting and second chance oppurtunities seemed to be what won the game for y'all. 14-17-2 from Mihm, nice, nice, and Caron didn't shoot too well, but grabbed 11 boards in the game. I would've like to watch this one, Minnesotta is now just 1/2 game ahead of the 10th place team in the West, you know after we beat them, I said, no big deal, then they lost to the Knicks, Grizzlies, Bobcats, and Wizards [Yayy!], and today they lose to you guys at home. The crumble has begun, Minnesotta is 2-8 in their last 10 games.
Actually no they shouldn't play like this all the time, this was a good game, but if the Lakers shot 35 three's every game, and allow the other team to shoot 47% from the field, they won't even win 40 games by the end of the season.
Im talking about winning. keeping the energy level up in the 4th. To many laker games with them losing in the fourth. They played with heart even without Kobe. Thats something to feel good about. Kobe was taunted by fans, and he pumped his fists in the air sayin his team could do it without him. On the other side of the ball, I feel for KG right now He lead the team in almost all catergories this game. Seems like its 1v5 right now.
What a game, Atkins really got his game going after starting 0-7...Mihm was a monster on the boards, and Kobe had a great game. Garnett has had some bad games, he didn't play too well in the crunch against the Wizards, he missed some easy shots. The crumble has begun, I believe it is time for Minnesota to shake things up abit, give Garnett some new faces there to work with.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe 8 Ball:</div><div class="quote_post">What a game, Atkins really got his game going after starting 0-7...Mihm was a monster on the boards, and Kobe had a great game. Garnett has had some bad games, he didn't play too well in the crunch against the Wizards, he missed some easy shots. The crumble has begun, I believe it is time for Minnesota to shake things up abit, give Garnett some new faces there to work with.</div> Yha Lamar and Caron for KG. Lets go cupcake pull the trigger. Well give him kobe to play with.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting yanix:</div><div class="quote_post">wow we won?! lol. did anyone see the game? how was the triangle? did they perform good.</div> I saw the game, and no I didn't see them run the Triangle, granted I was watching the game half asleep until the 2nd half. The Lakers one tonite because they were bombing away (and hitting) from the perimeter. The T-wolves' perimeter rotation was horrible though. The lakers defense wasn't much better until the end, where Mihm really made his presence felt. I haven't had the chance to see the wolves play much this year, but their play down the stretch was peculiar. With the Lakers pushing them, the Wolvers went to the post, not to Garnett, but to Olowakandi! WTF? Needless to say, the Wolves weren't very successful with that strategy
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheNextJordan8:</div><div class="quote_post">Yha Lamar and Caron for KG. Lets go cupcake pull the trigger. Well give him kobe to play with. </div> It would be a miracle come true!
I did not see jack from this game. I was hearing about it from Real Deal I believe in the jbb chatroom though bitching about Atkins lol. Glad they got the win though. :thumbsup:
LA played a great game against a winning team,and came out for the win against the T-Wolves.I Thought Atkins played really well last night,and with his 23 points and 7 rebounds and assist's was a good acid for the Lakers,besides Kobe's 31 point game. I Think this victory will help boost confidence in the Lakers as far as the Lakers can beat quality teams.
