Christmas Game Lakers Vs. Heat <div align="center"> <font face="Arial"> vs. <font color="Orange">Los Angeles Lakers</font> vs. <font color="red">Miami Heat </font> Date: December 25, 2006 Time: 2:30 P.M. Eastern TV: ABC Place: American Airlines Arena </font> </div> <font face="Arial"> </font> <font face="Arial"><font color="Orange"><font size="3"><div align="center">Lakers Starting Lineup</div> </font></font></font><font face="Arial"> </font> <div align="center"><font face="Arial"> </font> <font face="Arial"><font size="1">(S.Parker, K.Bryant, L.Walton, B.Cook, K.Brown)</font></font></div> <font face="Arial"> </font> <div align="center"><font face="Arial"><font color="Red"><font size="3">Heat Starting Lineup:</font></font></font><font face="Arial"> </font></div> <font face="Arial"> </font> <div align="center"><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial"><font size="1"> </font></font> <font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial"> </font><font face="Arial"><font size="1">(J.Williams, D.Wade, D.Wright, U.Haslem, A.Mourning)</font></font> <font face="Arial"> Marquee Matchup</font> <font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial">VS.</font> </div> <font face="Arial"> You won't see these two guarding each other often but they are definitely the focal points of their respective teams offense. Kobe this season has been able to show that he doesn't need to put up huge numbers for his team to win, so it shouldn't be a shocker if you see him rack up 8 assists with Walton, Evans and others getting a lot of touches. Dwyane Wade on the other hand needs to dominate the ball for the Heat to be successful. Frankly this year the Heat haven't been that great. The offensive options after Wade are limited. If Wade is able to find a hot hand like a Kapono from the last Heat game, then you might see a Heat victory. Clearly though, someone has to step up offensively besides Wade in order for the team to succeed. </font><font face="Arial"><font size="3"> Prediction:</font></font><font face="Arial"><font size="3"> Lakers 102 Heat 97 </font></font><font face="Arial"><font size="2"> Post your predictions and game comments below in this thread.</font></font><font face="Arial"><font size="3"> </font></font>
Great first half for the Heat, we started slipping in the end of the 2nd but for the most part we're playing great. Most importantly we've stepped up our defense which is why Kobe's having a bad game so far. We got to keep shutting down Kobe, and keep playing well. Wade is playing great, when he ripped Kobe and went the other way that was sick, he does something special every game, the man is a menace
Wright has been the X-factor so far. He set a tone in the first quarter with his energy and movement off the ball. The Lakers have crawled back with Kobe being a limited factor, going 1 for 9. As Wade said at half time, it's been an up and down game, and there hasn't really been a momentum established except for the little first quarter run the Heat went on.
Monster game from Wade; he finished with: 40 points, 11 assists, 4 steals, and 5 blocks Just incredible, other then Wade the rest of the team also played decent games: Kapono got hot in the end, Posey taking charges, Zo blocking shots, and D-Wright got us started in the first half, but in the end it was basically a Wade takeover. Hopefully we could build off this big win and keep playing this way.
What a win! I was there and Dwyane Wade is ofically the best player in the NBA and I have no doubt about it. He totally out performed Kobe and Dorrell Wright shut him down as well. Dwyane did everything today and this team is looking pretty good right now with 2 in a row hopefully we get back to .500 before the new year.
<div class="quote_poster">Playmaker15 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">What a win! I was there and Dwyane Wade is ofically the best player in the NBA and I have no doubt about it. He totally out performed Kobe and Dorrell Wright shut him down as well. Dwyane did everything today and this team is looking pretty good right now with 2 in a row hopefully we get back to .500 before the new year.</div> Were you one of the ones chanting Kobe sucks btw? Just curious. That was classless, so I'd like to hear your take on that.
I wasn't because I am a Kobe fan and I think he is one of the best players in the league, plus my little brother was sitting with me. He could've played better sick or not D Wade proved to be the better player.
<div class="quote_poster">Playmaker15 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I wasn't because I am a Kobe fan and I think he is one of the best players in the league, plus my little brother was sitting with me. He could've played better sick or not D Wade proved to be the better player.</div> It's just one game though, heh. It wasn't some seven game playoff series. Now, if Wade totally outplays Kobe over the course of this season, then all credit should go to him.
^^^jeeez, come on give wade the credit. he played better than kobe today and there are no excuses. lets just hope kobe wont be sick for the next game
<div class="quote_poster">heyvoon Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">^^^jeeez, come on give wade the credit. he played better than kobe today and there are no excuses. lets just hope kobe wont be sick for the next game</div> I never said I didn't give Wade credit. I simply reported the News; this was just one game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Were you one of the ones chanting Kobe sucks btw? Just curious. That was classless, so I'd like to hear your take on that</div> how is it classless???...fans are suppossed to heckle and taunt the opposing team, as long as it doesn't get personal then it's all good.....but D Wade played a helluva game.
Dwyane Wade is currently leading the league in PER, and that's without Shaq. Can we finally put to rest that tired argument that Wade only puts up big numbers because he has Shaq next to him?
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Dwyane Wade is currently leading the league in PER, and that's without Shaq. Can we finally put to rest that tired argument that Wade only puts up big numbers because he has Shaq next to him?</div> Well that's not the issue, he's a great player. Just not the best imo, until I see him beating Kobe in overall PER and defense at the end of the year (The numbers are closer if you discount Kobe's rehabilitation period). And once again, I believe chanting Kobe sucks on Christmas day was tasteless.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I believe chanting Kobe sucks on Christmas day was tasteless. </div> really how is it tasteless....this is basketball, players get taunted and heckled all of the time...it isn't like they were chanting "colorado", "guilty", or "cheater"....they simply chanted "you suck"....if a grown man getting paid millions of dollars is bothered by fans chanting "you suck" then he shouldn't be playing basketball....I remember when Barkley used to get heckled back in the day and I remember him also using that as fuel for the fire....Tmac was heckled when he returned to Orlando, and he said "I hope they keep doing it"......fans chanting "you suck" are just doing their job, it's always been apart of the game.
<div class="quote_poster">THE DREAM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">really how is it tasteless....this is basketball, players get taunted and heckled all of the time...it isn't like they were chanting "colorado", "guilty", or "cheater"....they simply chanted "you suck"....if a grown man getting paid millions of dollars is bothered by fans chanting "you suck" then he shouldn't be playing basketball....I remember when Barkley used to get heckled back in the day and I remember him also using that as fuel for the fire....Tmac was heckled when he returned to Orlando, and he said "I hope they keep doing it"......fans chanting "you suck" are just doing their job, it's always been apart of the game.</div> Obviously, Kobe handled it well, but it was still unnecessary. I believe they should have layed off Kobe since the LA fans treated Shaq well, but they're not at the LA fans' moral level I guess. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Booing a guy on XMas when you're team has already blown the game wide open is weak.</div> Indeed, shape.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Obviously, Kobe handled it well, but it was still unnecessary. I believe they should have layed off Kobe since the LA fans treated Shaq well, but they're not at the LA fans' moral level I guess.</div> That's a silly comparison. Did Kobe win an MVP, 3 Finals MVPs, and 3 championships while with the Heat? I must have missed that. <div class="quote_poster">huevonkiller Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Well that's not the issue, he's a great player. Just not the best imo, until I see him beating Kobe in overall PER and defense at the end of the year (The numbers are closer if you discount Kobe's rehabilitation period). And once again, I believe chanting Kobe sucks on Christmas day was tasteless.</div> I said Wade is great (definitely top 5), with or without Shaq. That's undeniable now. These other issues you bring up have nothing to do with that.
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I didn't say Wade was better than Kobe. And the Kobe sucks chanting has nothing to do with anything I said. I said Wade is great (definitely top 5), with or without Shaq. That's undeniable now.</div> No, I was responding to both your post and Dream's, I just didn't quote both of you.
<div class="quote_poster">huevonkiller Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Obviously, Kobe handled it well, but it was still unnecessary. I believe they should have layed off Kobe since the LA fans treated Shaq well, but they're not at the LA fans' moral level I guess.</div> lol you must be joking, that makes no sence at all Kobe has nothing to do with the Heat that deserves praise. I hope Shaq got his respect after the 3 chips he helped you guys get. We're not LA fans moral level...YOU LIVE IN MIAMI!! ......thats a damn shame you even said that but anyways just because your a Laker fan doesn't make you smarter then anyone...so wtf are you talking about.
Ya i didn't find it classes either, I just didn't do it because my brother was there and yea I really don't know how you can compare that to the Laker fans treating Shaq well. They have to because he gave them 3 championships while Kobe hasn't done anything for the Heat, besides get us Shaq.
