<div align="center">@ <font color="purple">The Los Angeles Lakers (32-29)</font> @ <font color="navy">The Washington Wizards (33-27)</font> Time: 4:00 PM Pacific (Tape Delay) Place: MCI Center TV: Local</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- 13.9 ppg, 4.4 apg, 2.6 rpg Kobe Bryant- 28.6 ppg, 6.4 apg, 6.1 rpg Caron Butler- 14.0 ppg, 1.6 apg, 5.3 rpg Lamar Odom- 15.6 ppg, 3.8 apg, 10.4 rpg Chris Mihm- 10.2 ppg, .6 apg, 6.8 rpg</font></div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="navy">Wizards' Head Coach</font></font> <font color="navy">Eddie Jordan</font></div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="navy">Wizards' Projected Starting Lineup</font></font> <font color="navy">Gilbert Arenas- 25.4 ppg, 5.2 apg, 4.5 rpg Larry Hughes- 21.7 ppg, 5.0 apg, 6.1 rpg Jared Jeffries- 6.4 ppg, 1.9 apg, 4.6 rpg Antawn Jamison- 20 ppg, 2.2 apg, 8 rpg Brendan Haywood- 9.6 ppg, .9 apg, 6.9 rpg</font> </div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="purple">Bench</font><font color="navy"> Factors</font></font> (<font color="purple">Jumaine Jones</font>,<font color="navy">Steve Blake</font>) </div> <div align="center"><font size="5"><font color="purple">Key</font><font color="navy"> Matchup</font></font> (<font color="purple">Kobe Bryant</font>, <font color="navy">Larry Hughes</font>) Projected Stats <font color="purple">Kobe Bryant: 29 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds</font> <font color="navy">Larry Hughes: 24 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds</div></font> <font size="5"><font color="purple">Keys</font><font color="navy"> to</font><font color="purple"> the</font><font color="navy"> Game</font></font> <font color="purple">Los Angeles:</font> <ul> [*]<font color="purple">Kobe</font>- Kobe is going up against one of the better defenders in the league in this game. He is going to have to play smart ball, any mistakes and Larry Hughes will capitalize on them. [*]<font color="purple">High Scoring?</font>- They allowed 116 to the Bobcats, there is no way they can do that and beat the Wizards. It isn't possible, Washington will just out run them. [*]<font color="purple">Get Back on D</font>- In Washington's first win over L.A. they ran the ball. L.A. didn't get back on D. If L.A. wants to start off the road trip 3-0, they will get back and play D like they mean it. [/list] <font color="navy">Washington:</font> <ul> [*]<font color="navy">Come Out Strong</font>- They are coming off a heartbreaking loss to Boston last night. There legs are going to be tired so they need to get out early and get the crowd behind them. [*]<font color="navy">Run</font>- That is how Washington won in L.A., they ran from start to finish. Every bucket L.A. scored, they got back before L.A. To win again, just repeat that same formula because the Lakers defense has been horrible as of late. [*]<font color="navy">Recovery Game</font>- This is a recovery game for Washington, mainly Gilbert Arenas. He had a hell of a game the first time he played his hometown team, he is going to need a repeat. He struggled last night, shooting the ball horribly at 7-22, so he needs to come in here and make smart decisions with the ball. [/list] <font size="5"><font color="purple">Random</font> <font color="navy">Movie</font><font color="purple"> Quote</font>*: </font> Coach Gary Gaines: [half-time speech] I want you to take a moment, and I want you to look each other in the eyes. I want you to put each other in your hearts forever because forever is about to happen here in just a few minutes. I want you to close your eyes, and I want you to think about Boobie Miles, who is your brother. And he would die to be out there in that field with you tonight. And I want you to put that in your hearts. Boys my heart is full. My heart is full. *Idea stolen from Supersonic <font size="5"> <font color="navy">Prediction</font></font> I took the quote from Friday Night Lights. Don't ask me why lol. I think Washington is going to win this game. I want them to win. They came into Staples and beat the Lakers, I don't think we can beat them at home. They have everyone back healthy, something they also had when they beat us. It will be a good, close game..but Washington will pull away at the end. 105-97.
Lakers will win this game, if they can keep 2 of the 3 scoring threats of WAS to under 20pts each. Gilbert will have a good game there is no doubt about that. It will be close, but WAS is slumping of late, so LA has a good chance. There is about an 80% chance ill be in attendence for this game @ MCI. I will most likely be repping my bullets hat with my Lower Merion Kobe jersey....nice combo for me lol **OFF TOPIC Last time i was in MCI center for the AND1 game, i think it was 92Q had me on the radio cause they liked my jersey (not to mention almost every 5 seconds some kid would say "ayo, you see that? i tol you kobe wore 33 in highschool" or something like that)
I just have this feeling that the Wizards are going to outrun the Lakers tonight. Larry Hughes is one of the most niftiest players in the league with his quick hands so i wouldn't be surprised if kobe pops up more than 4 turnovers. I'm really going to like the Lamar/Jamison matchup though. The Lakers wil also need to beat the Wizards on boards, mainly the offensive boards. I say Wizards wn, 105-99.
Well, im bout to leave for the MCI center here in about a hour or 2. I hope Kobe has a huge game as this is the first time i get to see my player live. Im gonna try and remaine nuetral but i cant promise anything, as i said im going with a diehard wizkids fan so it should be fun to say the least.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe 8 Ball:</div><div class="quote_post">I think Washington is going to win this game. I want them to win. </div> Shame on you. The Lakers need this game way more than the Wizards do. Besides, you live here now ... I already got some guys coming down there to deport you from this state for that remark, lol .. In all seriousness, I think the Lakers come in much more focused today after what (almost) happened to them in Charlotte. Kobe has always eaten Hughes alive (I think he's averaging 35+ ppg against him in their careers) and I expect no different tonite. The key is for Odom to keep Jamison off the offensive glass. If the Lakers limit Washington's 2nd opportunities, I think they will take this.
The Lakers need to play defense. If they can play defense, and Caron & Odom show up...they can take this one. And Mr. Mihm needs to stay out of foul trouble. Blah blah blah... we know the drill. =)
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Shame on you. The Lakers need this game way more than the Wizards do.</div> I don't know man, the Wizards have lost a lot of games lately, due to injuries, and also due to having some road games, but they're losing momentum, and could be losing confidence. The Wizards need to start winning games to gain their momentum back as they go into the post-season, and also not to lose home court advantage, so they need the game just as much. Wizards are at home, so I say the Wiz take this one. Arenas will rape Chucky Atkins, and expect another big night from Hughes. I'd like to see Kwame start, but I'd expect him to come off the bench, if the Wizards can add a good inside effort to the outside play this should be their's. Washington 105 - Lakers 99
i wan them to win but i think it wil l be a close loss, for the lakers under 5 points,unless odom goes off and kobe gets 40
Even though LA are starting to get hot and Washington are in bad form, I think that the Wizards will beat the Lakers because of bad defense. The Lakers have got to watch out for the 3's.
lakers r in this down by one on odom three pointer at buzzer. odom has nine points and three rebounds, kobe has seven.jamison and arenas have 2, hughes has 10 lakers down by 8,settling for threes again.jacked up three in a row.the wizards are pulling away..lakers losing 22 to 30 kobe saving lakers righ twhen it looks like its over.back to back threes for kobe. lakers down by 4.30 to 34 lakers back into the game .illadvised three by ckucky.lakers down by 4.throwing stupid threes.they are 2 of 8 lakers getting slaughtered.down by nine now.jamison is shut down but hughes has 14 and arenas has eight. we are down 42 to 33 another dumb three,4-11,down by 11.our shots arent falling.kobe isnt touching ball enough.34% from field.still down by eleven mihm and atkins are 0-7,4 points.the need to step it up. kobe hasnt touched it for like 4 straigh tpoessesions lakera are playing terrible defense.keep on fouling.down by tewlve.48-36,they are hoping tio be down single digits at halftime. ugly ugly ugly ugly that all i have to say.down 14.51 to 38.rape.lakers are getting raped odom has 4 fouls at halftime
The only bright spot for the Lakers in this game was Caron Butler who had 20 points on 9-18 shooting, and grabbed 11 rebounds. The Lakers as a team shot 35.2%, and also took 34 three's only making 10. The Wizards did fairly well, Hughes had a big game with 21 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals. Arenas wasn't too hot today [I forgot he had an injured knee], but Haywood picked up the slack scoring 16 points on 7-7 shooting, and Kwame added 9 points and 11 rebounds. Jamison exited the game after only playing 8 minutes, and was 1-4 with 2 points in that time. Good win for the Wizards!
all of you guys who insulted lebron, tmac, etc .... look at what your kobe did in today's game.. 18 points? KOBE WHO ???
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting whatever:</div><div class="quote_post">all of you guys who insulted lebron, tmac, etc .... look at what your kobe did in today's game.. 18 points? KOBE WHO ???</div> OMG BREAKING NEWS..KOBE HAD A BAD GAME, YES..KOBE HIMSELF HAD A BAD GAME. Is he not allowed to have a bad game? Sorry to bust your bubble kid, but people are allowed to have bad games...your post was also against JBB guidelines...baiting, so get the act together and make smar, intelligent, good, readable posts..or do us all a favor and look for another website to post at.
sorry man, i was just so pissed when looking at other thread mocking other players besides kobe. But i guess i shouldn't get angry and wrote something like that... Once again to all kobe's fans, i apologize.. just ignore my previous post.
No problem, everyone reacts with haste. I do all the time, I will admit. Kobe fans can be ignorant at times, I am not like that. Its the fans that say things like "Kobe is the greatest because..(and list stupid reasons)" that get Kobe a lot of haters. Its cool, no hard feelings...
man, i just got home from this game.....and only have 1 word to say about it....Embarassing! There was alot of laker fans, and the place was packed...of all the games the lakers play like highschool kids, its the game i go to and kobe didnt do much....mihm played like a kid along with chucky. The wizkids were nice tho, i was sitting right at their entrence.
