Los Angeles Clippers @ Los Angeles Lakers -- 3/8/05

<font color="RoyalBlue"><font size="3"><div align="center">Los Angeles Clippers (26-34) @ Los Angeles Lakers (30-28) Friday March 8th, 2005 - 10:30PM ET Tipoff (on FoxW, KTLA)</div></font></font>

Projected Lakers Starters
<font color="Indigo">PG - Chucky Atkins
SG - Kobe Bryant
SF - Caron Butler
PF - Lamar Odom
C - Chris Mihm</font>

Projected Clippers Starters
PG - Rick Brunson
SG - Corey Maggette
SF - Bobby Simmons
PF - Elton Brand
C - Chris Kaman

Lakers lead the season series 2-1

Key Stat
Thirteen of the Clippers' last 18 losses have been by margins of five points or fewer.

Key Match-Up
Kobe Bryant vs. Corey Maggette

These two always go at it when the Lakers and Clippers lock up. Both players have been on a tear offensively lately, Kobe Bryant is coming off a 40 point and 37 point performance, and C-Maggs has gone for over 30 in two of his last three games. Both players have a knack for getting to the line, and both teams also have problems getting into foul trouble. The Lakers cannot afford Maggette getting their big men into early foul trouble, otherwise the Clippers are going to dominate the painted area and make it hard for the Lakers to compete. Kobe Bryant or Caron Butler have to force Maggette to settle for the perimeter basket by baiting him into open looks. Maggette will force shots if he is struggling and the Lakers can take advantage of long rebounds to get out on the break and score on transisition baskets. Kobe Bryant has to continue being in attack mode tonight as well. The Clippers are a good shot blocking team, so Kobe and the Lakers need to get into their offense early and prevent the Clippers from getting set on defense.

Lakers' Keys to the Game
- Get started quickly on offense
- Swing the ball around to tire out the Clippers
- Box out and avoid cheap fouls early on
- Hold the Clippers to under 100 points

Clippers' Keys to the Game
- Force the other Lakers to beat them
- Work the pick and roll
- Recognize the Laker shooters in transition

Prediction
The Lakers have played well their last two games, and are looking to complete the sweep on their homecourt during one of their final homestands of the season. The Clippers are coming off a tough loss last night to the Grizzlies and could be fatigued playing 3 games in 4 nights. The Clippers got burned all night on transition defense by Brian Cardinal and Jason Williams. They have to do a better job tonight of finding Atkins, Jumaine Jones, and Kobe when the Lakers get into transition to avoid open 3 pointers and wide open layups. The Lakers have been winning games by improving their defense. They have to be strong on the boards tonight because the Clippers big men are very active inside the paint and can easily get 10 offensive boards leading to more opportunities to score. The big men on the Lakers' bench has to be ready to play tonight, because the Clippers have three capable post players coming off the bench. The trio of Moore, Wilcox, and Rebraca help the Clippers get back into games and switch momentum in their favor by getting offensive put backs. The Lakers have to take advantage of Clipper turnovers and pressure Brunson or Anderson when they bring the ball up. Forcing the Clippers to play against the 24 second shot clock is a formula for success. It makes it hard for them to feed Brand in the post and it forces them to take a lot of low percentage perimeter shots. Without Jaric or Kittles on the court, the only consistent perimeter threat is Bobby Simmons. The Lakers are playing great basketball right now on both ends of the court. They need to win again tonight to and have momentum for their 6 game road trip. I predict the Lakers winning 103-93 and leading for the majority of the game.

Laker Quote of the Day
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Bryant played with Shaw for championship seasons in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

"We've been through so many battles together," Bryant said. "He knows this offense, and he knows the ups and downs that a season can take on a player, and the mentality and emotions of a player."
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