<div align="center"> <font color="Purple">Los Angeles Lakers</font> (9-6) @ <font color="Red">Chicago Bulls</font> (1-10) Date: Wednesday, December 1st Time: 5:30 PM TV: KCAL, NBALP Previous Games Lakers @ Bucks 95-90 (WIN) Bulls @ Cavs 96-74 (LOSS) Projected Starting Lineups LAKERS <font size="1">(Rudy Tomjanovich)</font> C - <font color="purple">Chris Mihm </font>(11.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 0.5 APG) PF - <font color="purple">Lamar Odom </font>(14.2 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 2.6 APG) SF - <font color="purple">Caron Butler </font>(13.6 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.6 APG) SG - <font color="purple">Kobe Bryant </font>(28.4 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 6.1 APG) PG - <font color="purple">Chucky Atkins </font>(10.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.6 APG) <font size="4">VS</font> BULLS <font size="1">(Scott Skiles)</font> C - <font color="Red">Antonio Davis</font> (5.4 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 0.9 APG) PF - <font color="Red">Luol Deng</font> (14.9 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.7 APG) SF - <font color="Red">Andres Nocioni</font> (10.0 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.8 APG) SG - <font color="Red">Kirk Hinrich</font> (13.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 7.5 APG) PG - <font color="Red">Chris Duhon</font> (3.7 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 3.7 APG) Game MVPs LAKERS - <font color="indigo">Kobe Bryant</font> Predicted Stats: 34 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists BULLS - <font color="Red">Luol Deng</font> Predicted Stats: 24 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists</div> Brandon's Analysis Last night against the Bucks, the Lakers held Milwaukee to under 100 points. When holding teams under 100, the Lakers are undefeated. However, when the opposing team reaches past 100, the Lakers are winless. Interesting statistic? Let's apply this to the Chicago Bulls, who have reached the 100-mark three times this season (one of those games going into 2 overtimes). With their leading scorer dropping just 15 points per game (Deng), you'd have to wonder how they even manage to get close to scoring above 70...but let's not underestimate them just yet. Hinrich is able to score 30+ in a game, and could be a factor tonight, depending on where the Bulls stick him into their rotation. Tonight, expect to see Antonio Davis and Chris Duhon in the starting lineup once again (for reasons far beyond my reach). However, if they don't start, Hinrich will run the point, and Gordon could see more minutes against Kobe Bryant. If Chandler starts against Odom, look for Odom to have a nice game, mainly on the offensive end. His speed and slashing techniques will prove to be too much for Chandler, who's confidence level may be at an all-time low, just as his minutes in the last few games. The biggest matchup could be Mihm and Eddy Curry. If Mihm can control the boards early, and hold Curry to under 15 points in this game, Laker fans should be satisfied. Also, this may be the time for Rudy T to use Vlade Divac, for the sole purpose of getting Curry in foul trouble and putting him on the bench early. An important player for the Bulls, starting or off the bench, will be Luol Deng. The man has been nothing less than a ROY candidate since he's been in the league, and expect nothing less from him tonight. Depending on his position on the floor, Butler and/or Odom will have to body him in order to gain position on the boards, and use their quickness to beat him to the basket. Defensively, look to see a little help when Deng has the ball in his hands, possibly from Bryant...who may have room to roam around in this game. Two key goals for the Lakers in this game: cause turnovers and force shots. The guards need to work hard to keep Hinrich/Gordon/Duhon out of the paint, whether they are penetrating or looking for the basket. Forcing them to take shots beyond 15 feet will definitely drop their field goal percentage down to the 30's, and send this young team into a panic attack late in the game. Brandon's Prediction The Lakers seem to struggle against bad teams, but it usually happens early in the game. The Bulls are having a terrible season so far, and it doesn't look as if it's going to be any better. The Lakers should easily win this game on the road, 95-85.
Like Brandon says the lakers have trouble with the bad teams. They seem to play on their level. If we do that its gonna be hard but I hope they learned from the last game and come out hard. This must be a easy win for the Lakers. I say by at least 10.
Yes,so far the Lakers have had BIG trouble with losing teams,but here's a prediction..that streak of having trouble with losing teams will stop in this game as the Lakers will have a blowout win against the Bulls,and this will be yet another domitnation game for Kobe. Lakers 100 Bulls 84
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MR_SAC_KING:</div><div class="quote_post">Yes,so far the Lakers have had BIG trouble with losing teams,but here's a prediction..that streak of having trouble with losing teams will stop in this game as the Lakers will have a blowout win against the Bulls,and this will be yet another domitnation game for Kobe. Lakers 100 Bulls 84</div> I double that!
Gotta give credit. They havn't beaten any good teams, but sure are beating the teams they should be beating. Lakers by 14.
I would not say the Lakers are struggling with weak teams, I think their problem is playing down to their competition level. The Bulls are arguably the worst TEAM in the NBA right now. They have plenty of talent, but just have not found a way to put it all together. The last game the Lakers were stung by Ben Gordon off the bench, as Chucky Atkins continues to struggle on 'D.' I'm looking for the Lakers to come out a little flat tonight, but will still win the game by double digits. Hopefully they can get a big enough lead to rest Kobe. He's logging a lot of unnecessary minutes already and the Lakers need to start getting Rush more involved. Rush needs to prove to the Lakers he's worth the extension, and if he's not in their long term plans, the Lakers need to start showcasing him to get his trade value back up.
I caught the 2nd quarter of this game, and Curry and Chandler are just dominating the Lakers on the boards. I still expect Kobe to explode for 20+ in the second half and the Lakers win.
This is something I didn't wanna see. I believe the Lakers walked into this a little too confident. Kobe was jacking up shots, and there were two reasons for that. One, not a single Laker was playing good at all, and Kobe could've thrown about 40 assists tonight, if everyone hit their shots. Two, Kobe was way too confident in his shot, even late in the game. Rudy T didn't change his game plan, either. Someone needed to stop Deng, and it shouldn't have to be Kobe Bryant. It's not his assignment. I blame each Laker...I don't care how they did. Each one was at fault in this game.
the lakers were gettin owned on the boards...chicago had 16 offensive rebounds..lakers had 6...overall chicago had out rebounded lakers 51-37 -.-
For whoever was watching this game, can someone tell me what happened to Chris Mihm? He only played 16 minutes...
I was wathcing nothing happened Rudy played Cook instead of him i dont know whats up with rudy but the way i see it hes a horrible coach. For no reason chris Mihm gets 16 minutes and Vlade gets around 6 it doesnt make sense. Oh and is it me or should Lamar be getting more than 6 shots per game?? Horrible.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheNextJordan8:</div><div class="quote_post">I was wathcing nothing happened Rudy played Cook instead of him i dont know whats up with rudy but the way i see it hes a horrible coach. For no reason chris Mihm gets 16 minutes and Vlade gets around 6 it doesnt make sense. Oh and is it me or should Lamar be getting more than 6 shots per game?? Horrible.</div> Well, I'm pretty pissed off if that's the case. Brian Cook played well last night, but that doesn't mean he's put in the paint for 32 minutes over Mihm. That's ridiculous.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheNextJordan8:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe shot us out of the game thats all there is to it, i mean cmon 3-10 3pters is horrible.</div> Not just kobe. lakers were 9-29 from 3. They were shooting so many threes towards the end of the game when each possesion was crucial. About every NBA analyst says this "you live by the 3, you die by the 3" Right now it killed them....
This was a frustrating loss. The Lakers play their best game of the year last night, and follow it up with one of their worst games of the season. Kobe shot 10 three pointers, but he forced a handful at the end of the game when the Bulls had already put them away, so the 3-10 is a little deceiving. I thought Kobe played a great game, but no one else stepped up for them in the 4th quarter. The sequence that killed us was the airball 3pt attempt by Atkins. The Lakers had all the momentum and Kobe was on fire and getting to the line. Then Atkins decides to pop a three and the Bulls went on a 5 or 7 point run taking the momentum from us and ultimately the game. The rebounding battle wasn't even close and was the key factor in the loss. Tyson Chandler was a beast tonight with 18 boards and was very aggressive inside. I have no idea why Mihm or Vlade were not on the court more. The Lakers were giving up dribble penetration all night, so it would have been nice to have Mihm in there contesting shots. He wasn't in foul trouble and was effective scoring inside. For some reason Rudy T abandoned him and Vlade and went with a small lineup. I hope we don't lapse against the Warriors on Friday.
That's hilarious, you guys think no one besides Kobe was landing his shots? As a team, besides Kobe, the Lakers had a total of 22FGM 53 FGAs. That's about 45% which is pretty damn good. There's a lot of players that shot efficiently except one that I know of... Anyways why do so many people brush of the blame to the entire team when last season ago a lot of people would be blaming shaq for any of the team's problem?
The Lakers always do this, play down to their opponents. We should of blown out the Bulls, Rudy T. must be out of his mind getting Mihm only 6 minutes and Cook got 32 minutes? That is disgusting. Atkins and Caron had decent games, Kobe had a good game..What is up with Lamar this year? We didnt trade for this Lamar, he needs to get his game straight. We just crumbled down the stretch, a very frustrating loss.
