<div align="center"> Los Angeles Lakers: 19-15 Golden State Warriors: 11-26 Date: Saturday, January 15th Time: 7:30 PM TV: KCAL, NBALP Previous Games: Cavs @ Lakers 98-94 (WIN) Warriors @ Sonics 103-84 (LOSS) <font color="purple"><font size="1">(Coach Rudy Tomjanovich)</font></font> C - <font color="Purple">Chris Mihm</font> PF - <font color="Purple">Lamar Odom</font> SF - <font color="Purple">Jumaine Jones</font> SG - <font color="Purple">Caron Butler</font> PG - <font color="Purple">Chucky Atkins</font> <font size="4">VS</font> <font color="blue"><font size="1">(Coach Mike Montgomery)</font></font> C - <font color="blue">Cliff Robinson</font> PF - <font color="blue">Troy Murphy</font> SF - <font color="blue">Mike Dunleavy</font> SG - <font color="blue">Speedy Claxton</font> PG - <font color="blue">Derek Fisher</font> LAKERS - <font color="purple">Tierre Brown</font> Predicted Stats: 10 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists WARRIORS - <font color="blue">Mickael Pietrus</font> Predicted Stats: 8 points, 2 rebounds, 0 assists LAKERS - <font color="purple">Lamar Odom</font> Predicted Stats: 30 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists WARRIORS - <font color="blue">Derek Fisher</font> Predicted Stats: 18 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists</div> Lamar scores 30+ and pulls down double digits off the glass, while this entire game depends on how well each team shoots. Fisher will catch fire, Dunleavy will be cold, and look to see Odom and Butler attack the basket all game. I'm still in depression mode about Kobe's injury...the next preview will be better. Replacing Kobe in the preview was tough...time for the Lakers to man up and play ball, like they should've been doing since the first of November. Lakers over the Warriors, 94-90.
The Lakers responded well to Kobe's injury against the Cavs the other night. The team rallied and stepped up the intensity, particularly Odom and Butler. Fortunately for the Lakers their next 10 games are against a lot of teams currently below .500, and it gives the players a chance to gain confidence and improve the team chemistry. Speedy has been on fire since J-Rich got injured, and he's always been a Laker killer. The Lakers need to discourage his dribble penetration and live with Speedy shooting from the outside. If Speedy gets into the middle of the paint, the Warriors could get into rhythm offensively and start torching the Lakers from the perimeter. The Lakers did a poor job against the Cavs, giving up a lot of uncontested layups, and have struggled all season with their perimeter defense. The Lakers won't have to worry about much of a post up game, so Mihm needs to be aggressive and quick on the rotations to help slow Speedy down. Odom is in the spotlight now and gets to play with more freedom and creativity. The Laker starters should be able to hold their own, but the Laker bench is going to be the key to a victory. Sasha came in and had an impact against the Cavs with some crisp passes and timely steals. I'd like to see him shoot the ball with more confidence, and he should get a lot of looks against the Warriors. Brian Grant also needs to provide a spark, because the Warriors are a good offensive rebounding team. I'm predicting the Lakers pull out win in a highscoring chaotic game. 111-108.
As i can recall,the Warriors have always given the Lakers a hard time.I Don't think this game will be very different at all.Despite Kobe's injury,i do see Odom,and Atkins stepping up to the plate and maybe start a new trend for the Lakers...maybe...Anyways this will be a close game as the Warriors will fight down to the finish,but in the end i'll predict a Laker win. Lakers 103 Warriors 102
Im sure they can pull out a win on the road w/o kobe. they have alot of home games coming up, so hopefully the crowd will help
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe 8 Ball:</div><div class="quote_post">SASHA IS STARTING TONIGHT, HE WILL BE STARTING IN PLACE OF KOBE BRYANT</div> He is playing good to, 8 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assits, 19 minutes. he has hit 2/2 from 3 point land and is shooting 3/4 from the feild in total. good job in my eyes. I know d fish is hiiting a lot of shots, but sasha is getting a ton of screens set on him for fish to get open. good job sasha keep it up.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MR_SAC_KING:</div><div class="quote_post">As i can recall,the Warriors have always given the Lakers a hard time.I Don't think this game will be very different at all.Despite Kobe's injury,i do see Odom,and Atkins stepping up to the plate and maybe start a new trend for the Lakers...maybe...Anyways this will be a close game as the Warriors will fight down to the finish,but in the end i'll predict a Laker win. Lakers 103 Warriors 102</div> ODOM!!!!!!!!! YHA Damn man nice prediction.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Billa_Bong:</div><div class="quote_post">He is playing good to, 8 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assits, 19 minutes. he has hit 2/2 from 3 point land and is shooting 3/4 from the feild in total. good job in my eyes. I know d fish is hiiting a lot of shots, but sasha is getting a ton of screens set on him for fish to get open. good job sasha keep it up.</div> Sasha played great in the first half but what happen to him in the second? Come on Rudy!
I missed the game, but it looks like Lamar took over, great! Sasha looks like he played good, I hope he moves ahead of Tierre in the rotation...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe 8 Ball:</div><div class="quote_post">I missed the game, but it looks like Lamar took over, great! Sasha looks like he played good, I hope he moves ahead of Tierre in the rotation...</div> he started over tierre didnt he?
^^ Well he started over JJ. But in the second half he didnt play. Which was dissapointing i think it was beacause of Derek Disher.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheNextJordan8:</div><div class="quote_post">^^ Well he started over JJ. But in the second half he didnt play. Which was dissapointing i think it was beacause of Derek Disher.</div> he did a little, Derek was hot and they were setting 2 screens a possesion for him to get open, they started doing the same thing with Dunleavy, that's why they were in the game, screen and shot.
I'm glad the Lakers won without Kobe again, but I was not impressed with the victory. The Lakers should beat a team like the Warriors easily, even though Kobe is out. The Warriors have a lot of talent, but they are a predictable team. If the Lakers played this way against most teams in the NBA, they would be looking at a loss. The team played well, but there were only 14 assists as a team. The Lakers dominated with the one on one matchups, but there wasn't much movement on offense, and a better rotating defensive team would give the Lakers a lot of problems. On the positive side, the Lakers were a lot more efficient from behind-the-arc. I'd much rather see them shoot 12 to 15 three pointers a game, than 30+. They also won another game even though they gave up 100 points, and the Lakers were outstanding on the glass, offensively and defensively. Mihm seems to be the key to the Lakers success, whenever he has a strong game the Lakers come out victorious. He has had three double doubles in his last 6 games and the Lakers were 4-2 in that stretch. Getting him off early on offense should be a priority for the Lakers to get him confident and active on defense.
