<div align="center">@ <font color="purple">The Los Angeles Lakers (28-25)</font> @ <font color="orange">The New York Knicks (23-33)</font> Time: 4:30 PM Pacific (game will be on tape delay) Place: Madison Square Garden TV: KCAL, NBATV</div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="purple">Lakers' Head Coach</font></font> <font color="purple">Frank Hamblen</font></div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="purple"> Lakers' Projected Starting Lineup</font></div></font> <div align="center"> <font color="purple">Chucky Atkins: 13.3 ppg, 4.4 apg, 2.7rpg Kobe Bryant: 27.5 ppg, 6.6 apg, 6.1 rpg Caron Butler: 14.5 ppg, 1.7 apg, 5.3 rpg Lamar Odom: 15.5 ppg, 3.5 apg, 10.3 rpg Chris Mihm: 10.5 ppg, .5 apg, 6.5 rpg</font></div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="orange">Knicks' Head Coach</font></font> <font color="orange">Herb Williams</font></div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="orange">Knicks' Projected Starting Lineup</font></font> <font color="orange">Stephon Marbury: 21.1 ppg, 8.3 apg, 3.0 rpg Jamal Crawford: 18.4 ppg, 3.8 apg, 2.7 rpg Tim Thomas: 10.7 ppg, 1.3 apg, 3.4 rpg Kurt Thomas: 11.8 ppg, 2.0 apg, 10.2 rpg Mike Sweetney: 8.0 ppg, .5 apg, 5.0 rpg</font> </div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="purple">Bench</font><font color="orange"> Factors</font></font> (<font color="purple">Jumaine Jones</font>,<font color="orange">Penny Hardaway</font>) </div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="purple">Key</font><font color="orange"> Players</font></font> (<font color="purple">Kobe Bryant</font>, <font color="orange">Stephon Marbury</font>) Projected Stats <font color="purple">Kobe Bryant: 31 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds</font> <font color="orange">Stephon Marbury: 23 points, 9 assists, 4 rebounds</div></font> <font size="5">Keys to the Game</font> <font color="purple">Los Angeles:</font> <ul> [*]<font color="purple">Defend the 3</font>- In their last game against the Raptors, the Lakers allowed them to shoot 7-7 from 3 in the 2nd quarter, we can't let the Knicks do that. [*]<font color="purple">Season on the Line?</font>- We have to treat this game like it is the defining moment in our season. If we lose this one, I really don't think we will make the playoffs. Denver is playing good ball under George Karl and have been on a roll lately. [*]<font color="purple">Stay out of Foul Trouble</font>- It isn't that hard guys, especially Mihm and Odom, don't commit stupid fouls, it kills the Lakers when they do. [/list] <font color="orange">New York:</font> <ul> [*]<font color="orange">Attack Mihm and Odom</font>- Sweetney and Kurt Thomas need to take it to Mihm and Odom early, try to draw them in foul trouble. [*]<font color="orange">Come out Strong</font>- The Lakers are coming into this game after a hard fought, depressing loss to Toronot. If NY can come in here and hit shits right away, force L.A. to make turnovers, they should have control of the game. [*]<font color="orange">Marbury</font>- I have a feeling Marbury could explode for a huge game against Chucky. If Marbury gets going early and doesn't try to force things, he could lead the Knicks to a win. [/list] <font size="5">Random Movie Quote*: </font> Igor: You know, I'll never forget my old dad. When these things would happen to him... the things he'd say to me. Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: What did he say? Igor: "What the hell are you doing in the bathroom day and night? Why don't you get out of there and give someone else a chance?" *Idea stolen from Supersonic <font size="5"> Prediction</font> L.A. needs this win. This win means their season in my eyes, if they come in here and lose, start looking at draft picks. They are coming into this after a heartbreak loss to the Raptors so there is some motivation for them, I take L.A. 103-98.
Awesome quote man lol, I don't see why the Lake show wouldn't win this one, this should be an easy win for them.
^excuse me good preview k8b. you know how we do knicks win this won. just cause we've been on a roll lately. ya know we got maurice taylor
Im going to this game....the Garden. My first NBA game (ive been to a few And1 games) but never a NBA game (i know, i live near DC and missed out on many MJ games). But i will be rocking the KB8 Jersey, and my boy who is a wizards fan is gonna be cheerin along with me. I hope the Lakers step up the D in this one and if history proves right LA will win and Kobe will have a Huge game.
kobe always plays good in ney work.but allan houston rapes when he plays us. i remeber one game he score 54.lakers must win
Of course the Lakers need this win. After the game in Toronto we need a win big time. That was not something we wanna see again. Lakers know they need this win bad so they are going out to win. Lakers by 4
Tim Thomas shows flashes of Michael Jordan doing free throw line dunks, and sick fade aways, as he goes on to score 50 points, and officially becomes better than MJ by leading the Knicks to a 5 point win.
The next two games are must win victories for the Lakers. The urgency became even greater for the Lakers because the Clippers, Nuggets, and TWolves all won yesterday closing in a game closer to the 8th spot. The Lakers are not learning from their mistakes and continue to lose when they don't play defense. They need to stay out of early foul trouble, lately Odom, Mihm, and Atkins, have all been riding pine in the first half, because they pick up 2 or 3 early fouls and are forced to be benched. The Lakers bench isn't good enough to make up for any of those three on the bench and it usually leads to a Laker loss. Tonight the Lakers need to recognize who can and cannot beat you offensively on the Knicks. The Knicks have no post up game, so the Lakers don't need to worry about double team and leaving open the Knicks 3pt shooters. Marbury and Crawford are the main offensive weapons for the Knicks, so the Lakers need to focus on stopping one of them and force the Knicks to beat them with other players. The Lakers have to box out tonight and just play fundamental basketball. Malik Rose and JYD are going to be very active on the glass, and will do all they can to get their team second chance opportunities or create chaos inside to get a cheap put back. The Lakers have to match their effort and use their bodies to block these players out. Limiting turnovers has to be another priority for the Lakers. They have been killed all season long in the turnover battle. The Lakers cannot allow a team like the Knicks to have the edge in turnovers tonight, otherwise it's going to be another loss for the Lakers. Limiting mistakes is the formula to win on the road. I predict the Lakers winning a very close game 100-94.
The Lakers have it beat when you look at the stats. The origianl line up for the Lakers outdo the Knicks in rebounds, points and assists altogether. Hopefully they play up to their potential.
I predict another windmill baseline jam by Kobe Bryant at the MSG Nobody on the Knicks can even check Kobe. Put Ariza or whoever on him, and he'll school them. For some reason I feel like Atkins will have a big game, because Kobe will attract so many double teams, thus giving Chucky open 3 point shots. Lakers By 9, 104-95 Atkins: 17 Points 4 Assists Bryant: 34 Points, 9 Rebounds, 7 Assists Marbury: 28 Points, 7 Assists, 5 TO's
Our defense is stinking it up again tonight. The Knicks scored 25 points in the 1st quarter and already have 32 points in the game. If the Lakers give up a 100 it leads to a loss, the defense has to step up tonigth. The Knicks already have 6 steals.
Mo Taylor is killing us off the bench, ugh, lucky for us Grant is playing hard off the bench, otherwise Lakers would be down by 10+ right now. Kobe needs to take advantage of Penny guarding him and close out the half strong for the Lakers to take a nice lead into halftime.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bobcats:</div><div class="quote_post">Tim Thomas shows flashes of Michael Jordan doing free throw line dunks, and sick fade aways, as he goes on to score 50 points, and officially becomes better than MJ by leading the Knicks to a 5 point win.</div>You Jinx! Tim Thomas is had a big first half and with 12 points on 5 for 7 shooting.
Closer than what I expected. Dead even at the half. Let's see what's really good at the end of the game. I'm taking us because we're at home and playing in K8B's destinations in the near future...The World's Most Famous Arena...Madison Square Garden!
