<div align="center"> @ <font color="DarkRed">Philadelphia 76ers</font>(34-34)<font color="purple">Los Angeles Lakers</font>(32-36) <font color="blue">Place:The Staples Center</font> <font color="blue">Time:7:30 PM est</font> <font color="blue">TV:ESPN</font></div> <div align="center">Last Meeting: Sixers 108, Lakers 91</div> <div align="center"> Probable Starters <font size="1">(PG Allen Iverson, SG Andre Iguodala, SF Kyle Korver, PF Chris Webber, C Samuel Dalembert)</font></div> <div align="center">_________________________________________</div> <div align="center">Probable Satrters <font size="1">(PG Chucky Atkins, SG Kobe Bryant, SF Caron Butler, PF Brian Grant, C Chris Mihm)</font></div><font size="1">*Odom out with shoulder strain</font> <font color="DarkRed">Philadelphia 76ers</font> <u>Keys to the Game</u> <ul><font color="Red">PLay with intensity</font> The Sixers just barely beat the Raptors but were able to devour the Pistons the game before that. The reason why is because in the game against the Pistons they played with a sense of urgency and were able to shock the Pistons with energy. Well if they want to be successful against the Lakers then a similar situation will need to occur. This Lakers team is losers of seven in a row so they will be hungry and scrappy for a much needed home win. So which Philly team will show? The one that decimates opponents with energy and hard work, or the one that comes out sluggish on defense and just hangs around the whole game? Which ever one, will make all the difference in the outcome of this game.[/list] <ul><font color="Red">Team Ball</font> If you don?t realize, the Sixers are about to embark an important three game west coast road trip. We can't afford to loose many more games if we want a higher seeding then the eighth playoff spot so every game is vital. Against all are west coast opponents not just the Lakers, we need these players to play together and have confidence in each other. We are at our best when AI is being AI, Andre is getting easy buckets and playing hard defense, Korver is hitting three's and making hustle plays, C-Webb is making plays and hitting open jumpers, and big Sam is blocking shots and running the floor. We have seen sparks of this at times throughout the season, and the Sixers fans no what I'm talking about. It all comes down to who wants it the most and how the Sixers play as a team. Because in the West you can't rely on single performances to carry your team to victory.[/list] <ul><font color="Red">Crash the boards</font> It's almost as simple as this, whenever the Sixers are out rebounded or give up a lot of offensive rebounds they loose, or rarely edge out the win. So if are players like Chris Webber and Samuel Dalembert block out and don't give up offensive boards but at the same time pick up offensive boards then we'll be a lot better off.[/list] <div align="center"><u>Key Matchups</u></div> <div align="center"></div> <font color="red"><div align="center">Kobe Bryant Projected Game Stats: 26 points 7 rebounds 4 assists Andre Iguodala Projected Game Stats: 14 points 8 rebounds 6 assists</div></font> My Prediction: Iguodala did a terrific job on Mr.Bryant the last time these two faced off. But this time I see Kobe being a lot more active and scoring more then last time. I still think that Kobe will struggle getting his teammates involved though. This game will be a "whoever wants it the most" game. But I think the Sixers can pull it off.
Great preview. All the key match-ups you listed for the 76ers, can also be applied to the Lakers. The Lakers are in a tailspin and have played themselves out of a playoff spot for the first time in 10 years. The 76ers are battling to move up in the East and avoid having to face the Heat in the 1st round. The Lakers are in danger of falling behind the Clippers in the Pacific standings, and I think this will motivate them to win tonight. The Lakers have nothing to lose and will be loose in this game. At home the Lakers have been a much better team, and Chris Mihm is an effective player for them. The Lakers will struggle matching up with Iverson because they don't have anyone quick enough to keep up with him. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Lakers play a lot of zone tonight to impede some of Iverson's quickness. The Lakers have been embarrassing this year, but they can salvage a little by winning tonight at home in front of their fans and playing spoiler. Lakers win 87-83.
Well....I can't make any predictions. It seems lilke whenever teams are playing on national tv, they always play different than how they do in their season(or maybe it's just how I feel). But I feel that the Sixers will be leading by about the marging of 6-9 throughout most of the game, and the Lakers making it close the final minutes and Sixers hold on to win.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting iversonfan3:</div><div class="quote_post">Well....I can't make any predictions. It seems lilke whenever teams are playing on national tv, they always play different than how they do in their season(or maybe it's just how I feel). But I feel that the Sixers will be leading by about the marging of 6-9 throughout most of the game, and the Lakers making it close the final minutes and Sixers hold on to win.</div> yeah, well i think the sixers will be up by like 10 or 12 after the first half, and then the lakers will get on a run. i think the fourth quarter will be a close game, but i think the sixers will win this. i just wish that the sixers will close out games better. a lot of their games always comes down to the last minute. i mean, if they win it's fine, but if they lose it hurts real bad. i think the key for the sixers to win is to start strong, and hang on to the lead.(which they are not so good at)
Man Kobe's handles are terrible in this game, he keeps losing the ball all on his own, 6 TURNOVERS ALREADY! Somehow the Lakers have a small lead in the 3rd. The 76ers are getting inside all they want, but they can't finish right now. Andre Iguodala is a beast on the break, he's had two or three monster dunks already and is turning Chucky into a poster child out there.
In my mind, this game has assured a spot for Andre Iguodala in the 2006 Dunk Contest. National (well, ESPN) exposure is just what he needed... A very, very sloppy game. If I wasn't a Sixers fan, I might've tuned in to Desperate Housewives... Very boring besides the Iggy dunks. I couldn't stand seeing the poor jump shooting and ball handling (Iverson/Kobe). We have now won 5 out of our last six. Now we have Sacramento... They beat us in Webber's first game as a Sixer. Let's have a different result this time around. BTW- Anyone notice the great play of 76ers' F/C 'Luke' Jackson? ;-)
The game was very sloppy and poorly played by both teams, but I think the Webber/Iverson combo is finally starting materialize. I saw the two running the "Chris Webber offense" that sacramento really loved to run all the time on the high post and Iverson seemed more comfortable taking advantage of webber's passing skills. Things may finally be turning for the better in philly. Yea, Luke Jackson played excellent. I didn't know he was even on the team till now. He kind of looked like someone named Mark Jackson though.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting subrock:</div><div class="quote_post">The game was very sloppy and poorly played by both teams, but I think the Webber/Iverson combo is finally starting materialize. I saw the two running the "Chris Webber offense" that sacramento really loved to run all the time on the high post and Iverson seemed more comfortable taking advantage of webber's passing skills. Things may finally be turning for the better in philly. Yea, Luke Jackson played excellent. I didn't know he was even on the team till now. <font color="DarkRed">He kind of looked like someone named Mark Jackson though</font>.</div> no he doens't, luke's white and mark's black. plus, luke has curly hair. what are you talking about? by the way, do you mean luke walton? because there's no player on either team named luke jackson.
Well played game and good for Philly to slam the door shut on the Lakers playoff hopes. How about Iggys dunks? I bet the NBA is kicking themselves for not putting him in it. Well done by AI on the 15 assists stat and Webber with the 14 rebounds. The Sixers are now making their move. Their back above .500 mark since November and are now in playoff position. Hopefully we can keep this up and get a W against C-Webb`s old team, the Kings.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting yao ming:</div><div class="quote_post">no he doens't, luke's white and mark's black. plus, luke has curly hair. what are you talking about?</div> if you had watched the game on ESPN, you would have heard the announcer call Mark Jackson as Luke Jackson.
Yea haha man I was like Luke Jackson? I think he meant Walton lol. But man how many dunks did Iggy have! And was my prediction on target or what, I predicted they were gonna be leading by around 6-9 points(which they did) then the Lakers come back in the third, and the Sixers hold on at the end.
This wasn't a good game for us. We looked way to slugish. Besides that it was an off shotting night for both of are stars so lucky we got key performances by other players like Iguodala. We're going to have to need to show improvement in the Sacramento game though or we'll get ran out the gym.
