at When: Thursday, February 8 2007 - 8:00 PM ET Where: The Palace of Auburn Hills - Detroit , MI From (channel): TNT The Lakers haven't won in the Palace since January 8th, 2002. Still, Detroit hasn't been so good when playing home this season. They're only 14-9 in home (Lakers are 19-6), Lakers are 11-13 on the road (Detroit is 15-9). Starting Lineups: <font color=""DarkOrchid"">Los Angeles Lakers</font> <font color=""DarkOrchid""><font size=""1"">G - Smush Parker G - Kobe Bryant F - Lamar Odom F - Vladimir Radmanovic C - Andrew Bynum </font> Leading scorer - Kobe Bryant 28.8 PPG Leading rebounder - Lamar Odom 9.3 RPG Leading in assists - Kobe Bryant 5.5 APG Leading in steals - Smush Parker 1.6 SPG Leading blocker - Andrew Bynum 1.7 BPG</font> <font color=""Blue""> Detroit Pistons</font> <font color=""Blue""><font size=""1"">G - Chauncey Billups G - Rip Hamilton F - Tayshaun Prince F - Rasheed Wallace C - Chris Webber</font> Leading scorer - Rip Hamilton 22.1 PPG Leading rebounder - Rasheed Wallace 8.2 RPG Leading in assists - Chauncey Billups 7.7 APG Leading in steals - Chauncey Billups 1.3 SPG Leading blocker - Rasheed Wallace 1.7 BPG</font> My prediction: L.A. 105 - Detroit 101 Los Angeles Lakers are known for winning games against strong teams and making surprising W's. I believe that Kobe, Odom, Smush, Bynum will have a good game and our bench will be OK. We need our bench. Let's hope for the best.
I'm really hoping Andrew Bynum takes advantage of this matchup vs. CWebb. He's much stronger than him and should be able to own him in the post. I'm hoping that Kobe doesn't get too exhausted on the defensive end chasing Rip around, cause we're gonna need him at his best to win this one.
Rip can cause trouble to us, with his superb off-ball running. Everyone from Detroit's starting lineup can hurt us. Smush has to bring out his best defensive skills vs Chauncey and ofcourse, Odom has to support Kobe in offense. BTW: Is this kind of game thread satisfying ?
Great game thread Flow, thanks. Revenge game for the Lakers tonight after the loss to the Pistons at Staples. And like Flow said, Lakers come to play against the elite teams, so tonight will be no different. I expect a defensive game tonight and a low scoring game. I hope Bynum abuses C Webb down low and we keep Tayshaun and Rip on a short leash. We need Odom to play big tonight and for Kobe to a good offensive outing as well. I've been looking at this game for a few days, going to drop some money on it as well, I like the Lakers tonight as underdogs Here are my bets: <font size=""1"">1) Straight Wager 02/08/07 13:05 ET 26.00/44.20 Result: Pending Lakers(LA) Pistons(Detroit) 02/08/07 (20:10 ET) Lakers(LA) +170 2) 5 Point Teaser (4 Teams) 02/08/07 13:05 ET 10.00/20.00 Result: Pending Bucks(Milwaukee) Hornets(NewOrleans) 02/08/07 (20:10 ET) Hornets(NewOrleans) +0.5 (-105) Bulls(Chicago) Kings(Sacramento) 02/08/07 (22:40 ET) Bulls(Chicago) +7 (-115) Lakers(LA) Pistons(Detroit) 02/08/07 (20:10 ET) Lakers(LA) +9.5 Lakers(LA) Pistons(Detroit) 02/08/07 (20:10 ET) Under 200 3) 5 Point Teaser (4 Teams) 02/08/07 13:04 ET 10.00/20.00 Result: Pending Bucks(Milwaukee) Hornets(NewOrleans) 02/08/07 (20:10 ET) Bucks(Milwaukee) +9.5 (-115) Bulls(Chicago) Kings(Sacramento) 02/08/07 (22:40 ET) Bulls(Chicago) +7 (-115) Lakers(LA) Pistons(Detroit) 02/08/07 (20:10 ET) Lakers(LA) +9.5 Lakers(LA) Pistons(Detroit) 02/08/07 (20:10 ET) Under 200 </font>
Phil Jackson just gave the Pistons extra motivation for tonight's game. He said the Pistons zone is "weak", I'm sure that quote will plastered all over the Pistons locker room prior to the game. LOL. The Lakers could really use Luke tonight. He was the zone buster in the Miami game, and completely picked apart their defense by attacking right down the middle of it. The Lakers will need Odom to do the same thing tonight, and hopefully Radman or Cook has a hot hand from the perimeter. The Lakers have to close out on Billups when he spots up from behind the arc, and also locate him immediately when he pushes the Pistons fast break. Billups loves to shoot 3's in transition and shoots them at a high clip. Another key for tonight's game is again, winning the rebounding battle. The Pistons are still an effective rebounding team despite losing Ben Wallace. The Lakers must box out and limit Detroit's second chance opportunities. Bynum can have a big game if he's decisive with his moves. The Pistons are one of the best rotating defensive teams in the league, so Bynum has to make a move and commit to it. If he doesn't the 2nd or 3rd defender is going to draw a charge on him, or send his shot right back in his face.
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Phil Jackson just gave the Pistons extra motivation for tonight's game. He said the Pistons zone is "weak", I'm sure that quote will plastered all over the Pistons locker room prior to the game. LOL. The Lakers could really use Luke tonight. He was the zone buster in the Miami game, and completely picked apart their defense by attacking right down the middle of it. The Lakers will need Odom to do the same thing tonight, and hopefully Radman or Cook has a hot hand from the perimeter. The Lakers have to close out on Billups when he spots up from behind the arc, and also locate him immediately when he pushes the Pistons fast break. Billups loves to shoot 3's in transition and shoots them at a high clip. Another key for tonight's game is again, winning the rebounding battle. The Pistons are still an effective rebounding team despite losing Ben Wallace. The Lakers must box out and limit Detroit's second chance opportunities. Bynum can have a big game if he's decisive with his moves. The Pistons are one of the best rotating defensive teams in the league, so Bynum has to make a move and commit to it. If he doesn't the 2nd or 3rd defender is going to draw a charge on him, or send his shot right back in his face.</div> How nice of Phil to give them extra motivation. Can't wait til the game starts.
28-17 Detroit after the first quarter. Kobe Bryant not being agressive at all, he had only 3 on 1-1 shooting.
Put this one in the books. Kobe is playing horrible. He might as well be handing Detroit the ball. This is the type of game that we could sure use Luke in. We could also use just a little bit of defense. Yeah that might help just a bit.