<font color="RoyalBlue"><font size="3"><div align="center">Golden State (12-27) @ Los Angeles Lakers (21-16) Friday January 21st, 2005 - 10:30PM ET Tipoff</div></font></font> Projected Laker Starters <font color="Indigo">PG - Chucky Atkins SG - Sasha Vujacic SF - Caron Butler PF - Lamar Odom C - Chris Mihm</font> Projected Warrior Starters <font color="navy">PG - Speedy Claxton SG - Jason Richardson SF - Mike Dunleavy PF - Troy Murphy C - Clifford Robinson</font> Lakers lead the the season series 2-0 Lakers WON 97-88 @ Los Angeles Lakers WON 104-102 @ Golden State Key Stat The Warriors have lost their last 6 meetings against the Lakers at Staples Center, and have a 40-130 record on the road in the series. Key Match-Up Chris Mihm Vs. Clifford Robinson The Lakers need to establish Chris Mihm early in this game to get him active on both ends of the court. He has been solid in the first two meetings posting a double-double in both games. If Chris Mihm can have an edge over Cliff Robinson and Adonal Foyle, the Lakers have a better chance of pulling out the victory. The Warriors are very aggressive on the boards, and Mihm needs to avoid getting into foul trouble and spending more time on the bench than on the court. When Mihm plays poorly, Rudy T is quick to give him the hook, and usually doesn't let Mihm get back into the game. The Warriors like attacking the basket with dribble penetration to set up their outside shooting, and the Lakers need Mihm in their to alter and block shots. Clifford Robinson has been miserable in the first two meetings in this series. He's forced a lot of three point shots, and made it easier for the Lakers to defend and control the paint. The Warriors need to find a better way to make Uncle Cliffy's offense a factor. He has a nice mid-range game, and luring Odom or Mihm out to defend him will give the Warriors the space they need to operate inside. The Lakers are vulnerable to teams getting an inside-outside offensive rhythm and allowing wide open looks. Laker's Keys to the Game - Control the paint by getting Mihm involved early - Attack the rim and get to the charity stripe - Limit dribble penetration Warrior's Keys to the Game - Swing the ball around on offense - Put more pressure on the ball and force the Lakers to start their offense with less time on the shotclock - Shoot higher percentage mid-range shots instead of settling for the 3 ball Prediction The Lakers are coming off a big victory agains the TWolves and have momentum. Unfortunately, the other two times the Lakers came off big victories they had a let down game, once against the Wizards and once against the Bulls. The Lakers have had the Warriors number this season, and I predict them to have an easier time in winning than they did the other night in Golden State. Jason Richardson will be back, but I don't expect him to do much more than what Fisher did to the Lakers. I predict the Lakers to win 101-93 tonight. <font color="Indigo">Laker Fan Question of the Night? Who will step up tonight for the Lakers on offense? And which player on defense?</font>
Nice preview, this game should be easy for us. I wanna see Shasha play well tonight, I don't know why.. but I like this kid. He's already one of my favorite players. Hopefully in a few years or less I will be able to say that he is my second favorite. More importantly, Mihm needs to take advantage - show the Warriors whose the best center in the game. We all know that Caron will get his share... but what about Lamar? Lamar has his good and bad games, hopefully tonight he'll stay agressive and out of foul trouble. I also want Chucky to keep up his good shooting. Lakers win the Warriors - 93-90.
Yeah Sasha was entertaining against the TWolves the other day. He took it right at KG and made that big shot to end the 3rd quarter. I'm guessing the Lakers put Butler on JRich tonight, and let Sasha defend against Dunleavy. The last game he was getting killed inside by Spree and Wally, but Dunleavy isn't as strong as those two players, and the Warriors don't have a post threat like KG so they can help out more. Sasha is one of the best passers on the team, and he should get a lot of chances with the way the Warriors play defense. I just hope his jumpshot is on tonight like it was in the last game. *I forgot to mention, Devean George might be back for this game.
Devean George... that's a scare. Him returning can either be very good or very bad, I really hope that he contributes to the team. Ya never know... he could be exactly what we need. Yes Sasha was very entertaining... I love this guy, the way he passes. I'm hoping he'll be the Lakers primary playmaker by next year. We've needed a playmaker that can get us easy baskets all year.
Remember when I said Chucky Atkins isn't as bad a PG as many were saying, and that he just doesn't get put in the position to be a playmaker? He's not this good, but 11 assists last game, and 10 tonight, the guy really isn't that bad.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting thisbejgz:</div><div class="quote_post">was this our 3rd straight win? i forgot =x</div> No, 2nd. And anyways about the game we played great Lamar was kikcking it out. Caron was driving and Chucky was busting the shots. Chucky is playing like a more offensively Skilled Jason Kidd right now. Good game.
