<div align="center"><font color="Purple">Los Angeles Lakers</font> (32-34) @ <font color="Navy">Utah Jazz</font> (20-46)</div> When: Tuesday 22nd March, 9:00 PM (EST) Where: Delta Center Local TV: KJZZ / KCAL National TV: NBALP <div align="center">Likely Starters</div> <div align="center"><font color="Navy">Jazz</font> <font size="1">Keith McLeod, Raja Bell, Andrei Kirilenko, Kris Humphries, Ben Handlogten</font></div> <div align="center"><font color="Purple">Lakers</font></div> <div align="center"> <font size="1">Chucky Atkings, Kobe Bryant, Caron Butler, Stanislav Medvedenko, Chris Mihm</font></div> Injured List <font color="Purple">Lakers:</font> Tony Bobbitt, Vlade Divac, Devean George <font color="Navy">Jazz:</font> Carlos Boozer, Jarron Collins, Raul Lopez Key Matchup Kobe Bryant vs. Raja Bell If the Lakers are going to make the playoffs, Kobe Bryant will be leading the way. From a Lakers perspective, they have to win these kind of games. With Odom out, Bryant will be shooting a lot in this game. Raja Bell has to try to contest every shot Kobe puts up, and Bell just can't let Kobe get going. Prediction Lakers by 3.
Wow ...Ben Handlogten is one scary looking dude. The Lakers need to stop the bleeding, but it's going to be tough to compete without Odom in the lineup. The Jazz play tough inside and have decent depth at the 4 and 5 spot, eventhough Boozer is out. The Lakers have struggled against the Jazz all season, and I think this game is a coin flip. AK47 makes Kobe's job tougher on offense, because of his length and ability to recover on defense. The Lakers need two player to step up in the game, Butler is one, and someone off the bench has to score at least 12 points. If Kobe can score 30, Butler 20, and the bench matching Utah's output the Lakers have a great chance. The Lakers' playoff chances are out of reach, right now they need to focus on finishing at or above .500.
I've been going against the Lakers for quite some time now, so i guess saying a win here will change their chances. I say a 101-98 victory for them. But with both Boozer and Odom out, this is a toss up.
I had this game on in my my basement, and alll I ever heard was "KOBE GOES FOR THREE, AGAIN!....... IT'S GOOD! 10 3's!" So I decided I would rather not watch. Turns out Memo played awesome and Jazz won....... dammit....
Mehmet Okur had a huge game for Utah, 27 points, 16 rebounds and 5 assists. He also started. Gordan Giricek had one of the best games he has had for a while. Matt Harpring had a good shooting night. Good team game from the Jazz, but they really need to learn how to keep it up for more than just one game at a time.