Lakers 98, Knicks 90 @ Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: Staples Center TV: FSN, NBATV ---------------------- Probable Starters: Howard Eisley/Gary Payton Shandon Anderson/Kobe Bryant Keith Van Horn/Devean George Kurt Thomas/Karl Malone Dikembe Mutombo/Shaquille O'Neal ---------------------------------- Injury Report: Lakers- Rick Fox-Out Jamaal Sampson-Out Brian Cook-Out Knicks- G Houston (knee) C Slavko Vranes (knee) F Macief Lampe (shin) F Mike Sweetney (tendinitis) ------------------- Keys to the game: Lakers- Karl Malone tonight returns to the Laker lineup, and with the way the Lakers almost blew the lead to the Utah Jazz, his contributions will be very appreciated. I look at Malone doing the same routine tonight. Receiving the ball in the post, looking for cutting teammates to the basket, or just turn and shoot his fadeaway jumper or his 18 footer. Also on the defensive end, he's very aggressive on defensive rebounds so I expect him to get his double-double. Shaq should have a monster game. He dominates Mutombo all the time, and if Shaq doesn't get double-teamed too often, he'll have an easy time with him all day. Kobe should be able to penetrate to the basket, and force the Knicks to keep adjusting their defensive gameplans. For Gary, to just execute the break very well, and to just make good decisions on every Laker possession. And another note....DEFENSE The Lakers played too relaxed and careless last Sunday, and if they continue to play like they did against Utah by allowing them to come back from a 21 pt lead, then this will be another dissappointing game. Knicks- They will have to double Shaq and by the way Mutombo has been owned by Shaq, he'll need some assistance in the post. Allan Houston may not play tonight because of a bad knee, so the Knicks bench will have to step up and make things happen. Also, look for Keith Van Horn to do big things tonight. I know he's been constantly booed by Knick fans, but he's capable of scoring 20 pts any given night. Kurt Thomas should have a decent game too, and if the Knicks bench shooters miss a lot of shots, look for Thomas to grab a lot of offensive boards. His rpg (10.10) speak for themselves. My Prediction: Lakers win, get their 10th straight win, and continue the streak at Staples Center.
Nice preview Laker_Fever. :thumbsup: I don't see any possible way that the Knicks could win this one. They are overmatched to say the least. They will get murdered in the Staple Center.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rudeezy:</div><div class="quote_post">Nice preview Laker_Fever. :thumbsup: I don't see any possible way that the Knicks could win this one. They are overmatched to say the least. They will get murdered in the Staple Center.</div> I know that the Knicks lineup looked completely overmatched, but hey nobody gave Utah a chance to beat us, and they rallied from a 21 pt lead to make the game interesting. I always give the underdog teams a chance because in this league, you just never know.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_Fever_834:</div><div class="quote_post">I know that the Knicks lineup looked completely overmatched, but hey nobody gave Utah a chance to beat us, and they rallied from a 21 pt lead to make the game interesting. I always give the underdog teams a chance because in this league, you just never know.</div>The Jazz are a lot better than the Knicks, their record playing in the West proves it. But you're right, there is always a chance. In this case, its very small.
Lakers should win by about 10 points. Malone is coming back, and he should have a good game because he will be ticked off.
I think the Lakers could very easily dominate this one. They have a mismatch at practically every position. Shaq will dominate and hopefully he keeps his defensive play up, as it has been a great boost and it has been tremendous as of late. Every player overall for the Lakers has been playing great. They've also been playing pretty good defense lately, better than early in th eseason, though it didn't look that great when they got up by 21. So, they will have to make sure that if they get a big lead again that they don't go and start playing lacksadasic defense. But, all in all, the Lakers are on a roll, and quite frankly, the Knicks are outmanned, don't have the power, and, without Allan Houston, don't have much firepower outside of Van Horn. Los Angeles will win this.
I want to believe this will be a blow out, but after the sight a couple nights ago it looked like the Lakers got too comfortable and the Jazz creeped back on them and almost won the game. However, the Knicks are no Jazz, but I don't think it will be a total blow out. I'll take the Lakers by 10, close game down the strecth but the Lakers will pull ahead at a point in the game.
Lakers 98, Knicks 90 The Lakers beat the Knicks last night at Staples Center 98-90 to extend their home winning streak to 27, their 12th straight win at home, and their 10th straight win overall, their record is now 18-3. I didn't like the first quarter at all. I feel the Lakers were TOO rusty and they allowed the Knicks to toy with them for a while. But everything settled down quickly, and the Knicks finally were contained well by the Laker defense. Eisley and Shandon Anderson played very well for the Knicks in Houston's absence. 26 pts a piece. My credit goes out to them, they played exceptionally hard. Kobe Bryant, the leading scorer for the Lakers scored 21 pts, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists, and yes Karl Malone back from his 1 game suspension provided 20, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. G.P. scored 17, Shaq had 18, and Devean George contributed with just 4. Another good stat to look at. Byron Russell, the man that I have slammed all season pitched in with 12, and maybe he's finally starting to relax with this Laker team. The way this team is going, is amazing. Playing with consistency, guys feeding off each other, it's great. Next week the Dallas Mavericks return to Staples. And you know what that means.
