The Memphis Grizzlies have turned into a run and gun team under Tony Barone. They are 2-3 under Barone and are on pace to becoming the highest scoring team in the league with their new uptempo offense. Andrew Bynum will matchup with both Pau Gasol and Stromile Swift tonight. Both of these players present different challenges for Bynum, and both run the floor well. Bynum has to be ready to spring back and forth to avoid easy break away baskets from the Grizzlie big men. Bynum played well against the uptempo Nuggets, but Gasol is a more polished scorer than anything Denver had to offer. Staying out of foul trouble could become an issue for Bynum if he's not sharp to start the game off. Another area of concern for the Lakers has been offensive rebounding. Teams have been killing the Lakers on second chance opportunities. The Grizzlies have a lot of long, athletic high flyers who get after the glass. Rudy Gay, Hakeem Warrick, and Alexander Johnson all earn minutes by being active on the glass and tipping in missed shots. The Lakers have to box out and control the paint, so they can dictate tempo and pound the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies are the worst defensive unit in the league right now, so the Lakers have to be mentally prepared for a heckyll and jeckyll effort by Memphis. If the Lakers find themselves down by a lot early on, they need to chip away at the lead and not get disgruntled. Memphis will allow you back in games, and the Lakers have to take advantage of their poor defense. If the Lakers take a big lead, they have to ready for a Memphis run, because of the explosive offensive players this team has, and the sharpshooting 3 point specialists, Mike Miller, Eddie Jones, and Chucky Atkins. These guys have the greenlight to bomb away from behind the arc. Lakers have played poorly against the weaker tier teams in the league. They lost in triple OT to the Bobcats, so they can't take a team like Memphis for granted. The Lakers have to secure an early lead and continue to play disciplined basketball for 48 minutes. This is a game the Lakers should and must win, to keep pace with the rest of the elite teams in the West. Losing tonight erases what the Lakers were able to pull off against the Mavericks. I expect a focused team to come out tonight for the Lakers, and a victory. Go P&G!
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Lakers have played poorly against the weaker tier teams in the league. They lost in triple OT to the Bobcats, so they can't take a team like Memphis for granted. The Lakers have to secure an early lead and continue to play disciplined basketball for 48 minutes. This is a game the Lakers should and must win, to keep pace with the rest of the elite teams in the West. Losing tonight erases what the Lakers were able to pull off against the Mavericks.</div> That has been our problem all season long. We win against top notch teams, but we lose against teams like the Bobcats and the Bucks. I think this upcoming game will be a huge test for the Lakers. After coming off an exciting win against the Mavericks, will the Lakers enter tonights game flat footed, and uninterested? Will they underestimate their opponents once again? Like I said, this should be an easy victory for us, but you never know. I just hope the players enter the game with the right mindset. Either way, I can almost guarentee you Mike Miller will have a huge game
Eddie Jones. My favorite player during his tenure with the Lakers along with Cedric Ceballos. I forgot he plays for Memphis now. Should be a fun game for us Laker fans.
Lakers should win this and they better. They always play half-assed basketball against the teams below .500.
I can't wait until the Magic play the Lakers on Friday because the Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum match up is very intriguing. Both of these guys have all the tools to be dominant centers for years to come and watching them square off is really exciting. Bynum was very impressive against the Magic in their last meeting (on December 27). He had 13 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block and shot 6-8 from the field in just 13 minutes of action. He was the most impressive big man on that night and outplayed Dwight Howard. Now that he will get the chance to start against the Magic, it'll be interesting to see if he can duplicate this success. He's been playing really good lately and he's definitely the future of this franchise. When the Lakers first picked him, I was skeptical. I had never heard of him and it seemed awfully high to be taking a high school big man. Now after seeing him play, Bynum's ceiling is extremely high and the Lakers made the right move drafting this kid.
I've always been a Laker fan first and Magic fan 2nd. They've been my east coast team since Penny and Shaq. As much as i love D12, I hope Bynum has a big game on him..
Brian Cook with the EARLY foul, why do I have a feeling it's going to be an ugly game for him? Mike Miller just went out.
Bynomite with an EASY dunk! Early 4-0 lead, and smush with the BLOCK after Kobe rejected one! Cook with the miss and Kobe bails out Rudy Gay with the foul. Mike Miller tweaked his right shooting wrist, he looks to be in obvious discomfort. Kobe with the 3!
Kobe misses the 3 this time. The Lakers are playing at a quicker pace, I don't think they want to get pulled into that style against this team. Kobe hits two at the line to put the Lakers up 9-1. Rudy Gay with the two over Luke. Agh, Bynomite is to slow bringing the ball up, he needs to get that quicker. Ugh, Rudy Gay blocked Kobe from the back, nice block. Grizzlies turn the ball over, and Bynum is blocked by Alexander Johnson.
Gasol is so f'n ugly. Kobe draws the foul on Gasol and puts the Lakers up 13-5. Kobe has 7 early points. Rudy Gay travels, another Grizz mistake. Walton misses an easy shot, and then Bynum gets called for 3 seconds on defense.
Mike Miller is back in, I'll be keeping an eye on him. Lakers up by 7, despite shooting 37% early. Kobe called for his 2nd foul early, wrapped his arm around Alexander Johnson. Stupid foul. Miller misses his first shot. Bynum had great position twice, and they ignored him. Luke misses a 3. Gasol just left Cook FROZEN, forcing Bynum to foul to avoid the dunk. Timeout.
Seems like a very fast-paced game, why aren't the Lakers slowing it down and putting the clamps on this team? I hate games like this, the Lakers have to learn to win with defense.
<div class="quote_poster">Brian Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Chucky Atkins checks in. lol. I wonder if we'll get a Laron Profit sighting tonight</div> They cut Laron Profit along time ago bro. Lakers need to go on a 20-0 run with Sucky Crapkins in the game.
L.A is up 13-7 after Gasol splits a pair of FT's. He's so ugly. Smush draws the foul, nice attack. Damon Stoudamire gets his second foul, Chucky Atkins checks in. Smush hits both. 15-7. Evans with the rebound, Smush hits the beautiful J from the corner. Atkins draws the foul on Smush, c'mon Smush, we're talking about Atkins here. Atkins hits one of the FT's. 17-8 Lakers. Brian Cook misses the ugly Jumper, and Jones hits the two. Mo Evans travels. Bynum had good position, again.
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">They cut Laron Profit along time ago bro. </div> Whoa. I didn't know the Grizzlies cut him. We should sign him and release McKie Btw, the Grizzlies coach reminds me of the Sopranos guy
