<u><font color="Purple">L.A. Lakers</font> @ <font color="LightBlue">Denver Nuggets</font></u> Date: Wednesday, 1/7/04 Where: Pepsi Center Time: 7:00 pm(LT) TV: Local, NBALP Recent Games <u>Lakers</u> <ul> [*]January 6, Lost 106-90 @. Minnesota [*]January 4, Lost 101-98 @ L.A Clippers [*]January 2, Lost 111-109 @ Seattle [/list] Streak: Lost 3 <u>Nuggets</u> <ul> [*]January 5, Lost 98-74 vs. San Antonio [*]January 3, Lost 84-76 vs. Atlanta [*]January 2, Won 106-96 @ Portland [/list] Streak: Lost 2 Records <u>Lakers:</u> 21-9 <u>Nuggets</u> 20-25 Last 10 <u>Lakers:</u> 3-7 <u>Nuggets</u> 4-6 Head Coaches vs. Phil Jackson vs. Jeff Bzdelik Probable Starters vs. Slava Medvedenko/Marcus Camby vs. Horace Grant/Nene vs. Devean George/Carmelo Anthony vs. Kobe Bryant/Voshon Lenard vs. Gary Payton/Andre Miller Injury List <u>Lakers</u> F Rick Fox G Jannero Pargo <u>Nuggets</u> G Jon Barry F Mark Pope Keys to the game <u>Lakers</u> <ul> [*]Score more from the outside. (No Shaq or Malone) [*]Payton will have to step up on the outside [*]Keep Denver off the outside [/list] <u>Nuggets</u> <ul> [*]Take advantage of Shaq and Malone's absence [*]Rebound [*]Utilise the home court advantage [/list] Key Match-Ups <u>Backcourt play</u> As Puple N Gold has pointed out in his preview, backcourt play will be the main factor in this game. Inside play will likely be below standard, so the smaller players like Andre Miller and Gary Payton will have to step up and deliver. Gary is an experienced guy, and I think this will help the Lakers during the game. Carmelo will also have to push it up a notch and use his size to deliver both on the inside and outside. Playing tight D will be imperitive to slow down the opposing team. The 'X' factor Outside shooting percentages. Jump's prediction This should be a tight and exciting game. Lakers are under-manned, and therefore the remaing players will have to deliver on a high level. Especially the big men, Slava Medvedenko and Horace Grant. Denver have a real chance at this game, as they should be able to out play the Lakers on the backcourt. Watch for Voshon to produce some nice numbers, with Carmelo leading the scoring charts. Denver gave the healthy Lakers a run for their money in the Staples Center, so I expect to see them produce a solid win in this game. Nuggets by 5. <font size="1">PS. Had to rush this one a bit. Sorry. Watch for a full on Jump-TimFlem production at the weekend</font> Purple N Gold's preview
Nuggets by 6 Kobe goes off though. All eyes will be on Melo too, he has been very inconsistent the last few weeks.
Kobe is in for a rude and harsh awakening from the Denver fans, but I think he will come up huge in this game, and they Lakers will slip this one out by 2
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting allnet:</div><div class="quote_post">MESSAGE FOR ALL FATHERS WHO LIVE IN DENVER Keep your daughters at home.</div> LOL very funny.
And I got a post similar to that deleted in the Kings' forum. -___- Anyway, Nuggets toyed with them tonight. Without the tag team big man presence, they really had no interior defense. No Nugget started played more than 30 minutes, except Miller (31).
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Andre Miller and Carmelo Anthony combined for 40 points and 15 assists as the Nuggets routed the Lakers 113-91 on Wednesday. Earl Boykins added a team-high 22 points and Chris Andersen pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds for Denver, which closes out its four-game homestand on Friday against Utah.</div> <font size="1"><font color="Gray">Earl Boykins led all Nuggets in scoring in Wednesday's win.</font></font> Recap Box Score Always nice to see Boykins have a good game.
Boykins killed them...Kobe was booed all game...during the introductions and everytime he touched the ball...
I don't want to hear any other player as even being considered for the 6th man award. It is the Earl Boykins "once I come in the game, you can't stop me" Award.
