Cavaliers @ Lakers Preview <div align="center"> <font color="DarkRed">Cleveland Cavaliers</font> (11-25) @ <font color="Yellow">Los Angeles Lakers</font> (22-11)</div> Monday, Jan. 12, 10:00 pm Eastern Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA TV: TNT Vegas Line: Lakers -8? Season Series: Cavaliers 0, Lakers 0 1st Meeting Previous Game Cavaliers 82 @ Celtics 107 Hawks 67 @ Lakers 113 Last 10 Games Cleveland: 4-6 (Lost 2) Los Angeles: 4-6 (Won 1) Head Coaches Paul Silas/ Phil Jackson Probable Starters LeBron James/Gary Payton Kedrick Brown/Kobe Bryant Eric Williams/Devean George Carlos Boozer/Stanislav Medvedenko Zydrunas Ilgauskas/Horace Grant 6th Men Tony Battie/Derek Fisher Injury Update Cavaliers Ira Newble - (thigh contusion) Bruno Sundov Lakers Karl Malone Rick Fox Shaquille O'Neal - out <div align="center">Players To Watch LeBron James/Kobe Bryant James: 19.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.50 steals Bryant: 22.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.84 steals</div> Fast Facts The Cavaliers beat down a Shaqless Lakers in Cleveland last year, but lost to them with Da Big Fella in LA to split the series. Keys To The Game <u>Cavaliers</u> Keep a hand in Kobe's face at all times Go to Big Z out of foul trouble, keep feeding him the ball Box out, be aggressive Attack the basket, make freethrows, don't turn the ball over <u>Lakers</u> Get the ball out of LeBron's hands early Double Ilgauskas on the blocks every time Keep a body on Carlos Boozer, keep him off the glass Zone it up, make the Cavaliers shoot The King's Take I don't give the Cavaliers a shot in this one to be honest, I don't see how they could beat any team playing the way they have. If they do want to win however, James must keep close to Kobe scoring wise, and the role players must step up. There is no reason why the Cavaliers, the NBA's best rebounding team, should have trouble putting up big numbers against this weak LA front line. The play of Boozer, Ilgauskas, and Battie will tell you if this game is won or lost. James loves the spotlight, I look for him to have his best game since the Christmas day game against McGrady. Lakers win however, by 8 (told ya I got no faith) <font size="1">Please visit NBA.com</font>
With no Shaq and no Mail, Cavs lead at half by 8. Kobe makes a run in 3rd. Cavs lose by 10+ w/ Kobe scoring 30 or better. p.s. Cavs suck.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting cArMeLo15:</div><div class="quote_post">If they lose to the Celtics, how do they beat the Lakers? Lakers by 12.</div> Well, the Celtics are a better team than the Lakers without Shaq and Karl. I would not be shocked if the cavs lost by 12 though, just 4 points higher than the 8 I called.
Great Preview Kj, I think Cavs will take this one. LeBron is a good enough PG to be able to handle the likes of the Glove. They look to have the advantage both ways, offensively and defensively, particularly power and rebounding ability. Cavs by 6.
eh Payton's defense will break down Bron's low ball handling ability. As long as LeBron posts on Gary then he should be fine. face to face, payton will rip him everytime he penetrates to the basket.
My bet is we see a lot of Devean George on James. He has the size to absorb that 6'8" 240 lb frame. Would help keep Kobe and Payton out of some foul trouble too, and they will be needed to play major minutes.
good call, that would be good news for bron b/c he is a hell of alot quicker then devon and should be able to draw fouls from him left and right. (if LBJ is on his game that is) i just hope he doesnt stand around the opposite side of the ball waiting for a pass like he usually does. he needs to be more mobile. he catches alot of lobs that way. btw, the Lakes are probably going zone this game. <font size="1"><font color="Red">Use that edit button mate - KJ</font></font>
I think that the lakers will keep Payton on him because why would they not put their best defender on our best scorer? It would be nice if Devon "overrated one" George is on LBJ but highly unlikely in my mind. I think that Boozer,Z, and the back court play of Wags and LBJ will win this game. It will be a team effort but in the end, I think that an undersized, undertalented, overaged Lakers team can't keep up with the Cavs. Cavs win by 6. Box score will be LBJ: 28 Payton: 14 Brown/Wags: combine for 28 Kobe: 36 Williams: 8 George: 9 Boozer: 17 Medvidenko: 2 Z: 24 Grant: 8 The Bench of the Cavs, keeps the Lakers in this game............no that is not a misprint, the bench of the Cavs will keep the Lakers in this game like Miles will turnover the ball about 4 times.
I think that LBJ will score 20+ and get atleast 10+ in either rebounds or assists. I think this will be D.Wagners game back where he really shines i think he will get 15+ points and him and brown will combine for a total of 35. In the 4th quarter i think that Z will have a really bad timed turn over and D.Wagner or LBJ will get the ball back and take it to the rim and the cavaliers will win it by 3.
Gary Payton's defense has been weak this season.He can still get steals by getting in the passing lanes but his overall defense has been very average to say the least.Lebron needs to use his size downlow,while on the other end we all know Payton is a great post up player so therefore Lebron will have a tough time on the low block.Although because of LJ size Gary might have problem turning and getting to the basket.You know Kobe is going to try and steal the spotlight away from Lebron,try to light him up to show people "I'm still the real deal" Lakers by 11
Home court advantage and experience I feel will get the Lakers home in this one. LeBron needs to deliver the big performance people expect from him every week, but hasn't come in the last few. GP will try and trash talk him, LeBron just needs to concentrate on the game and look to score. Lakers by 9.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Amherstcavsfan:</div><div class="quote_post"> Boozer: 17 Medvidenko: 2 </div> Medvedenko shoots way too much to only score 2 points. He'll get at least 15...
I think the Cavs need this game against a big market on prime time national tv. I doubt they will play as embarrassing as they have the last 2. I believe they have done well on national tv, it is just the other games they they just act like it's a common scrimmage with nothing to lose. As a fan that drive sme crazy. We will see in this game, I will be hanging my head early no doubt and understand that no lead is safe on our part.
I expect the Cavs to give it a valiant effort with it being on national TV and against the Lakers. I expect a back and forth game throughout, with Kobe eventually taking over in the last 5 minutes and beating us in a close one. Lakers by 6.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mr_Infante:</div><div class="quote_post">I predict the game to show alot of LeBron nail bitting between the timeouts.</div> So what, I may be downloading porn during those timeouts :mrgreen:
