Lakers vs. Spurs Preview San Antonio Spurs (5-8) @ Los Angeles Lakers (11-3) Friday Nov. 28, 10:30 EST Staples Center, Los Angeles TV: ESPN Previous 3 Games Lakers 120 - 99 vs. Washington - W Lakers 121 - 89 vs. Memphis - W Lakers 101 - 94 vs. Chicago - W Season Series Lakers 120 - 117 (OT) vs. San Antonio - W Last 4 Meetings @ Lakers Lakers 82 - 110 - L Lakers 99 - 95 - W Lakers 110 - 95 - W Lakers 95 - 103 - L Probable Starters Radoslav Nesterovic/Shaquille O'Neal Tim Duncan/Karl Malone Brunce Bowen/Devean George Emanuel Ginobili/Kobe Bryant Tony Parker/Gary Payton Injury Lists Los Angeles Lakers <font color="DarkRed">Shaquille O'Neal - Questionable</font> Jamal Sampson - IR Rick Fox - IR Brian Cook - Out San Antonio Spurs <font color="DarkRed">Anthony Carter - IL</font> Sean Marks - IL Alex Garcia - IL Notes The Lakers look to extend their winning streak to 24 straight at home. More importantly they get another shot at defeating the defending champions tonight and making a statement to the rest of the league. This is a nationally televised game, so you can expect both teams to be playing their best basketball tonight. The Lakers are coming off a convincing win against the Wizards, and are likely to be well rested in this marquee match-up. The big question will be if Shaq suits up, (I have a feeling the Big Fella plays), Keys To The Game Lakers - The first meeting in San Antonio went into OT, with Ginobili going off in Tim Duncan's absence. The Lakers are anxious to see how their new team plays against a healthy Spurs unit, and tonight a lot of questions will be answered for the Laker faithful. There are so many stars in tonight's game, but two players who could swing this game are Bruce Bowen and Devean George. The Spurs have had the luxury of using Bruce Bowen on Kobe Bryant in the past meetings, but this season Devean George is breaking out. I'm not sure the Spurs are comfortable with putting Gino on Devean George, because Devean has a huge physical advantage and has been a monster on the offensive glass. I think the Spurs are going to be the team that needs to make the most adjustments in this game. Last year they only had to worry about 2 players, and collapsed their entire defense on Shaq and Kobe, forcing the role players to make the big shots. This year they have to choose their poison, Payton, Malone, and George. The Spurs are a resilient team, but I don't think they are playing well enough to handle the Lakers tonight. San Antonio - The Spurs are slowly turning it around, but a 9-6 record is a disappointment for them so far. Speaking of disappointments, how bad has Rasho been for the Spurs? His lack of intensity on defense has been a big reason for their slow start. He doesn't bring it every night, and the Spurs are not playing well away from home. The Spurs perimeter game is also hurting. They have had great shooting nights, followed by miserable ones from the outside. They don't have a Danny Ferry, Steve Smith, Steve Kerr, type gunner on the bench anymore to extend defense. The Lakers weakness is on the perimeter, so this will be an interesting matchup. Tony Parker needs to have a big game against Payton. He needs to light up the Glove like he did in the playoffs a few years ago, and put pressure on the Laker interior. <font color="SlateGray">Shapecity Re-Cap I'm still enjoying the spanking the Lakers dished out. Everyone was hitting their shots and Payton led the way by controlling the tempo for the majority of the game. Despite foul trouble by the big man, the Lakers completely dominated this game. The ball movement was a thing of beauty with 4 players touching the ball before a shot went up. Tim Duncan was only effective when Horace Grant was on him and got physically beat up by Karl Malone with arm slaps and an unintentional elbow to the jaw, after he got faked out of his shoes on a Malone jumper. Lakers showed the league who the team to beat is and set the stage for Sunday's showdown from the best team in the East.</font> Prediction Lakers extend their home streak to 24! 3 more hours I can't wait!
i think L.A. takes it 104-100 i agree that Devean George and Bowen is going to be an important matchup...i think Kobe goes off on the Spurs, the big daddy probably will play but i cant wait to see how effective he is going to be
oo i think we have a reel good shot at taking this now...ccome on hurry up stupid time doesnt move fast enough sometimes
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting VAs Finest:</div><div class="quote_post">oo i think we have a reel good shot at taking this now...ccome on hurry up stupid time doesnt move fast enough sometimes</div> This isn't even our real team yet. Shaq is not fully healthy, Kobe is just getting back into his regular shape, and still we have to put it all together. It will get serious in playoff time, don't let the regular season fool you. We are the team to beat no matter what.
I'm loving this. All that talk about the Spurs being the top team. You know how we do. We got this now, not A team is getting in our way of winning it this year. Just have to stay healthy, George is playing huge for us. Look out, Karl Malone TRIPLE DOUBLE! The Lakeshow for life baby!!
Triple-double for Malone (4th career) 10 points, 11 boards, 10 assists. 2 and a half left in the 3rd, blowout city. 78/48 Lakers
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting King James:</div><div class="quote_post">78/48 Lakers</div> Holy Crap! I also am amazed that this is only Malone's 4th TD of his career
Los Angeles has just completely unloaded on them tonight. They just really came out at around mid-2nd quarter with much more energy than San Antonio. San Antonio looks like they've just been kinda walking through the game. Los Angeles got the transition game going early and than got the post game and that really set the tone. San Antonio could never recover after a miserable 2nd quarter.
If only we could of destroyed them like this in game 6 last year.. Tonights game was a joy to watch. We just crushed them. Even the lopsided score wont tell you just how lopsided this game truly was
this is def. not the team that beat us last year..i think we are def the best team in the league now...THEY DID BETTER AGAINST US WHEN DUNCAN AND PARKER WERE OUT! they showed no energy/passion for a game that actually ment something
Talk about making a statement to the rest of the league... they just blew the defending champions and favorites out. I can't wait for the Indiana-LA game- both teams are playing great ball. I think LA will ride the momentum of this blowout and win. To me, this is an early season view of the NBA Finals.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting VAs Finest:</div><div class="quote_post">this is def. not the team that beat us last year..i think we are def the best team in the league now...THEY DID BETTER AGAINST US WHEN DUNCAN AND PARKER WERE OUT! they showed no energy/passion for a game that actually ment something</div> No kidding. They came out and were supposed to be able to win just because they almost won without Tony and Tim. But, wow, they just got thrashed. Woodshed beating. Los Angeles was just obviously the better team here. And yea, San Antonio does not look at all like the team that won the title last year and was predicted to be able to contend again this year. The Lakers on the other hand, totally different. They're finally starting to completely put it together now. Gary and Karl looks like their each starting to get used to playing in the triangle. This was shown by the 28 assists last night. But, yea, San Antonio needs to figure something out to turn this slow start around. 5-9, ouch. Their very lucky that this still early and they have time to rebound from this right now. This team really needs to find some type of rhythm though. They need to find a way to win right now. They've just played awful quite a few games this year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting VAs Finest:</div><div class="quote_post">this is def. not the team that beat us last year..i think we are def the best team in the league now...THEY DID BETTER AGAINST US WHEN DUNCAN AND PARKER WERE OUT! they showed no energy/passion for a game that actually ment something</div> Easy there buddy..Spurs don't play in november,you people should know that by now.Lakers are playing better basketball and it seems they made a statement.I didn't see it but it looks like it was as ugly as the score suggests.
My latest Rubashow Rundown takes a look at one Laker in particular, check it out on the JBB exclusives http://www.justbball.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9143 Any feedback/discussion from regular Laker fans much appreciated
