<div align="center"> Cleveland Cavaliers: 21-12 Los Angeles Lakers: 18-15 Date: Thursday, January 13th Time: 10:30 PM TV: TNT Previous Games: Bobcats @ Cavs 100-98 OT (WIN) Lakers @ Nuggets 95-83 (LOSS) <font color="darkred"><font size="1">(Coach Paul Silas)</font></font> C - <font color="darkred">Zyrundas Ilgauskas</font> (16.5 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.6 APG) PF - <font color="darkred">Drew Gooden</font> (13.8 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 1.6 APG) SF - <font color="darkred">LeBron James</font> (24.4 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 7.2 APG) SG - <font color="darkred">Ira Newble</font> (5.9 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.0 APG) PG - <font color="darkred">Jeff McInnis</font> (15.3 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 5.6 APG) <font size="4">VS</font> <font color="purple"><font size="1">(Coach Rudy Tomjanovich)</font></font> C - <font color="Purple">Chris Mihm</font> (10.9 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 0.7 APG) PF - <font color="Purple">Lamar Odom</font> (14.2 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 2.7 APG) SF - <font color="Purple">Caron Butler</font> (13.4 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.3 APG) SG - <font color="Purple">Kobe Bryant</font> (28.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 6.7 APG) PG - <font color="Purple">Chucky Atkins</font> (11.4 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 3.9 APG) CAVS - <font color="darkred">Anderson Varejao</font> Predicted Stats: 7 points, 5 rebounds, 0 assists LAKERS - <font color="purple">Tierre Brown</font> Predicted Stats: 8 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists CAVS - <font color="darkred">LeBron James</font> Predicted Stats: 29 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists LAKERS - <font color="purple">Kobe Bryant</font> Predicted Stats: 30 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists</div> The second best team in the Eastern Conference visits STAPLES tonight to take on the Los Angeles Lakers. In many people's eyes, this isn't Cavs vs. Lakers; it's more like, eh...LeBron vs. Kobe, maybe? I mean, who isn't awaiting this matchup? Kobe is stronger and more dominant than previous years, and LeBron is more experienced and playing better than 98% of the players in the league...as a second year player. This collision should be something to watch. The Lakers are a great rebounding team...defensive boards, especially. How does that fare against the Cavs? Well, Cleveland's front court (Big Z, Gooden, and James) are all very good rebounders. Tonight, the Lakers will be lucky if they blow out the Cavs on the glass. Mihm had a 17-board game the other night, which is honestly surprising, since he's averaging a mediocre 7 a game (for our starting center). Odom is doing fantastic, so look for another 10+ night on the glass for him. One thing the Lakers do not want to do is let LeBron work his magic early. What exactly do I mean? Driving and penetrating...dishing the ball out to everyone that's in a wine-colored jersey...pretty much dominating the ball, but with consistency. Caron may be on him most of the game...but you'll definitely see the LeBron/Kobe matchup tonight. The defender, whoever it may be, needs to force LeBron to his left and close the lane quickly, making him shoot a jumper in traffic. Do this...and then worry about his eyes and passing. Odom and Gooden should be a good matchup, where Lamar needs to get physical and use his strength to manhandle Gooden in the post (is it possible?) and bring him out past the wing and drive to the hoop. Odom can do this...but it's a matter of attacking hard and not backing down that Lamar seems to have trouble with. If Odom can take advantage of Varejao when he's in the game, he may not have to attempt to pound into Drew Gooden after Varejao leaves the floor. Otherwise, it's going to be a long night for LO. Atkins and Tierre...where's the D? McInnis isn't among the elite point guards in the NBA, but he will throw dimes all night long if Atkins/Tierre are caught sleeping on the defensive end. If the Atkins Diet scores over 15 in this game, you could see Snow out to defend him on the perimeter. If Chucky's wrist isn't hitting shots, expect 25+ threes from the Lakers. This game should be fun to watch. It's not really hyped...at least not to my knowledge...but you can expect to see replays of it in your Top 10 on SportsCenter Thursday morning. The Cavs will get help from their bench in this game...especially from Varejao and Traylor, possibly Snow, but the Lakers should win this one at home, 95-91.
Fancy preview there RealDeal. Two clashing characters go head to head tonight. One, a brilliant offensive gift from the basketball Gods, the other, The kid that was sent to match his intensity. If our "defensive specialist" Ira Newble :snickers: can force Kobe 1 Kanobe into some hard shots, it will make it easier for the Cavaliers to stay in this game. Lamar Odom is one of those PF's that Drew Gooden can't seem to hold down. Like Elton Brand, Antoine Walker, or any other offensive PF, Drew Gooden will simply get ran. We will see alot of my homeboy, ANDERSON VAREJAO tonight to try to drive Lamar insane. The curley locks will just get too annoying, mark my words. JMac needs to stop letting opposing PG's look so damn good, im afraid that our ole friend Chuck, will do just that, chuck up some 3 balls in Mac's face all night long. Even an old homeboy of mine, Tierre Brown will get some good looks at three if JMizzle is defending him. I expect to see alot of Eric Snow time during the 2nd half to try to contain LA's backcourt so we aren't blown out by JMac's terrible defense. The Key tonight for the Cavaliers is, the one, the only, Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Chris Mihm is a good athletic center, but he is also foul prone. With Z moving and juking his long arms around, don't be suprised to see ole Chrissy boy being benched for most of this game. Even though Im an optomistic Cavalier fan, I do think that the Cavaliers can pull a road victory in the bright light city. But in reality, the Cavaliers aren't a good road team at all. 7-9 this year on the road, pitaful. Cavs lose this game Cavs fans (if theres any of you out there reading) But expect a very, VERY entertaining game.
