<div align="center"><font color="blue">Dallas Mavericks (18-6)</font> at <font color="Purple">Los Angeles Lakers(13-11)</font> Tuesday, December 20th, 2005 Staples Center, Los Angeles 10:30 local @ </div> [div=50%] <font size="3"> Projected Starters</font> <div align="center"><font color="yellow"> <font size="1"><font color="Purple">(S. Parker, K. Bryant, L. Odom, B. Cook, C. Mihm)</font></font></font></div> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Kobe Bryant - 31.3 PPG Leading Rebounder: Lamar Odom - 9.3 RPG Assist Man: Lamar Odom - 5.3 APG The 'X' Factor: Chris Mihm (9.4 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 0.8 APG)</font> <font size="3">Keys to the Game</font><ul> [*]<font color="Indigo">Getting involved</font> - The Lakers have seen many games were Bryant is scoring 50% of their points, the Lakers need to shoot at a high percentage to stay in the game [*]<font color="Indigo">Defense</font> - Lamar Odom will have his hands full with Dirk Nowitzki, but other Lakers such as Smush and Mihm will need to step up with defense and rebounds (in Mihm's case) [*]<font color="Indigo">Rebounding </font>- The Lakers need to maintain a rebounding advantage over their opponent, they are currently averaging 2 more rebounds per match. Dallas have been rebounding great lately, so if they want to stop them they need more rebounds (Minnesota had more, and they nearly won). Lakers are averaging less rebounds than Dallas per game[/list][/div] <font size="3">Projected Starters</font> <div align="center"><font color="blue"> <font size="1">(J. Terry, A. Griffin, J. Howard, D. Nowitzki, E. Dampier)</font></font></div> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Dirk Nowitzki - 26.1 PPG Leading Rebounder: Dirk Nowitzki - 9.2 RPG Assist Man: Jason Terry - 3.8 APG The 'X' Factor: Erick Dampier (5.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1 BPG)</font> <font size="3">Keys to the Game</font><ul> [*]<font color="Blue">Feed Dirk First</font> - It's obvious if Dallas wants to win that Dirk will need to have an above average match to outplay Kobe, so we need to get him on a role at the beginning [*]<font color="Blue">Defense on Kobe Bryant</font> - He torched us last game, including a great play towards the end. Josh Howard should try to put a body on Kobe and not let him dominate. Look for Devin Harris or Jason Terry to help out from time to time [*]<font color="Blue">Lamar Odom </font>- So far this season, Odom hasn't been able to get back to his Miami play. Unfortunately, Odom plays well against Dallas as he is the type of defender who matches up well on Dirk. Dirk needs to be careful of Lamar's left hand and perimeter skills (which he doesnt face often)[/list]<font size="3">Did you know? </font><ul> [*]When Dallas has more than 20 assists (this season) they are 5-0[/list]<font size="3">Prediction</font> This should be a comfortable game for the Mavericks, as long as the right people step it up. Play defense, hit your open shots, and this should be easy. The Lakers are an explosive team at times, so they should give us a scare, but I am fairly confident with Dallas. However, don't be surprised if the Lakers win as they have been playing like a team possessed lately beating some top tier teams Dallas 109, Los Angeles 94
Nice thread. The key for the Mavericks is to let Kobe score all he wants but contain everyone else and thats how you win. Make Kobe hog the ball and throw up those shots that are impossible to make instead of paying all of your attention to Kobe and leaving a guy open for the easy shot.
wtf, dont let Kobe score all he wants.... last time we employed that nash lit us UP. Play agressive D on Kobe, force Kobes team to get into the game .... <font color="Red">no swearing</font>
Mavericks will destroy the Lakers. I have to admit I went to the Lakers and Rockets game and the Staple Center and it was wonderful. I shook almost every hand of the Lakers (Cook, Walton, Sasha, Odom, Mihm, Brown, Parker, and George) but what they didnt know is i sneezed on my hands and never washed my hands. So they should be too sick to play this game. We Win because of my heroics. Mavs 98 Flakers 90
PJax challenged Lamar Odom, after another one of Odom's disappearing acts against the Rockets the other night. The Mavs still have a bad taste in their mouth from their latest loss to the Lakers. Everything seems to be pointing to the Mavs blowing out the Lakers, but I expect this to be a competitive game. In the game at Dallas, the Mavs had several open looks, but just didn't make them. The player who concerns me the most is Josh Howard. The only player who can really match up with him is Devean George. Huge advantage for the Mavs on both ends of the court. Having Howard, also allows the Mavs to put more pressure on Kobe Bryant on the defensive end. Howard & Griffin can trap, and force Kobe to give up the ball or take a difficult shot. The last two games, his teammates have been passing up shots and relying on Kobe to do everything again. A lot has to do with players getting into early foul trouble, and also fatigue. The only way the Lakers win this game is if they attack the Mavs and win the rebounding battle.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting VeNMaN:</div><div class="quote_post">wtf, dont let Kobe score all he wants.... last time we employed that strat fuckin nash lit us UP. Play agressive D on Kobe, force Kobes team to get into the game ....</div> Accually Nash didnt have any assists and he scored alot but they lost because he didnt give assists to any other teamates and noone else got involved....
Cuban's not gonna rest til he takes out everyone he doesnt like. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">First, Jackson on Cuban, in the Los Angeles Times: Speaking of the Mavs' arena, Phil said it's "a place where the owner runs around, pumps up the volume, intimidates the referees and … has announcers as hired cheerleaders, which is an intimidating force." Second, Cuban on Jackson, in the Dallas Morning News: "All he did was prove he doesn't know anything about marketing. And he probably should look up in the stands to see whether the fans are having fun, because those are the people who allow him to be overpaid." You know the beauty of those two statements? They're both right.</div> http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=keown/051220 Mark Cuban v. Phil Jackson I'm taking my boy Cuban.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting miles:</div><div class="quote_post">Accually Nash didnt have any assists and he scored alot but they lost because he didnt give assists to any other teamates and noone else got involved....</div> Yes, but Kobe is averaging 30... If we let him take all the shots he wants, he could very well have 50... And that was vs a weak Phx team btw.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Yes, but Kobe is averaging 30... If we let him take all the shots he wants, he could very well have 50... And that was vs a weak Phx team btw.</div> I think its actually easier to shut down all the role players that play alongside Kobe rather than trying to lock Kobe down. In my opinion, the best strategy is to just stick a good defender on Kobe like Howard or Daniels one on one but making sure the other players get shots. Sure Kobe will be fifty points, but the other players won't give the Lakers enough to win. By the way, any word on Marquis Daniels' injury?
If we win tonight, I think we tie with San Antonio. Amazing it's so close, we've taken 10 more shots then them but only made 1 less or something
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting samoan-maverick:</div><div class="quote_post">Mavericks will destroy the Lakers. I have to admit I went to the Lakers and Rockets game and the Staple Center and it was wonderful. I shook almost every hand of the Lakers (Cook, Walton, Sasha, Odom, Mihm, Brown, Parker, and George) but what they didnt know is i sneezed on my hands and never washed my hands. So they should be too sick to play this game. We Win because of my heroics. Mavs 98 Flakers 90</div> Duh! Obviously didn't work out. You could've just shook hands with Kobe and came out.
yah, just realized that... Im not sure if Kobe can keep playing like that and expect to win the 2nd half. Someone needs to step it up. BTW, Im following the game via NBA.com Its not on any cable channel as far I can tell.. I've been checking.
