Lakers @ Spurs (12-3-03) @ Time: 7:30 Place: SBC Center Channel: KCAL(LA), NBATV, KENS(SA) ------------------------------------ Probable Starting Line-ups: Gary Payton/Tony Parker Kobe Bryant/Manu Ginobli Devean George/Bruce Bowen Karl Malone/Tim Duncan --------------------------------------- Injury Report Lakers: Rick Fox(Out/foot) Brian Cook(out/finger) Jamal Sampson(out/Back) Spurs: Sean Marks(Out/Knee) Anthony Carter(Out/Knee) Alex Garcia(Out/Foot) ----------------------------------------- Keys Lakers- They know the Spurs are hungry having dropped the first two to the Lakers and one to the Clippers, they need to feed the ball to Shaq and get Rasho in foul trouble, Malone needs to keep Duncan in check, Payton needs to hold Parker down and Kobe needs to stick with Manu...Kobe shoulg get 25 atleast if this is a tight game, this could be another blow out. Devean George might be the deciding factor in this game..he needs to hit shots...he will be given shots because the Spurs will be focusing on the big four, they also need strong bench play from Fisher. Spurs- They are going to come out with fire in their eyes...they need to show that they are the NBA Champions and they can beat the Lakers. Duncan should get the ball a lot and if Malone lets him get going early then it can be a long night for Malone and Laker fans across the country. Bowen needs to hit his 3s he gets..he hasnt hit many this year against us. ------------------------- My Prediction: Lakers in a tight one 105-103 --------------------------------- Hey Shape i didnt know if you were going to make one...if you want to delete mine and make one go ahead
Nice preview VA. :thumbsup: I don't see this one being another Laker blowout. The Spurs will hopefully play with some pride this game. I think it should be a close game. I am going with the Spurs in this one. I think they have something to prove and will get the job done. Plus the Lakers are due for a loss.
The Lakers played this last Sunday, so they should be rested. We are 2-0 vs. the Spurs and finally broke the SBC Center curse earlier. I have a feeling that the Lakers continue their streak and win in a close one, 98-95.
I don't know, Duncan might be a little fired up after that suspension. But I will give this one to the Lakers, simply because Rasho can't play defense to save his life. He looks confused in that photo.
I don't like making predictions, I like to post about the recaps and stuff, but were gonna smash them, straight up.
Actually Rasho's defense has been more than decent.He has also blocked alot more shots than I expected from him.That said the way Spurs are playing Lakers will likely win...The season series between these two teams is going the same as last year but the other way around.No Shaq for the first game last year...No Duncan for this year's first meeting.The results are also going the same way.Very odd.
Hmmmm Spurs Lakers again?? Great...but I do question the NBA on scheduling. We already played this team twice. Once in November, and already last week at STAPLES Center. But anyway on to the Lakers. I'm sure some people may think this game might turn into a Laker masacre, but I don't think so. The Lakers don't play well at SBC Center, and the numbers clearly show. And not to take anything away from the Lakers 120-117 double OT victory, but if Tony Parker or Tim Duncan played in that game, maybe there would be a difference? But since full squads are going tonight, it should be an exciting game. I expect the Lakers to do what they did last week. DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE!! The Lakers held the Spurs to 87 pts last week and the Pacers 77 pts, so I expect them to come out with that same intensity. I'm also looking for Malone to play better D on Tim Duncan, if they contain him, they have a good shot of winning the game. And also whoever is guarding Ginobili which probably is Gary Payton, I hope that they can contain him. I'm tired of watching that guy beat us up and down the floor. With all this said, I say lakers by a easy cool 10 pts.
Lakers 90, Spurs 86 What a game last night. The Lakers beat the Spurs 90-86 to put their record to 15-3, while the world champion Spurs fall to 9-10, the cellar in the Midwest Division. What a difference a year makes. Last season, the Spurs swept the regular season series from the Lakers, but this time the Lakers are 3-0 against them. Kobe Bryant scored 21 pts, but 10 of his 21 points came in the fourth quarter as they erased a nine point deficit. Gary Payton shot 6-13, 16 pts, 2 rebs, 6 assists, Shaq scored an easy 15, Karl contributed with 16, and Devean George who to me is really proving himself this year, scored 18. The Lakers are trying to make a statement that once again they are back to really do some damage this season, and just like what Gary Payton said... ``We buckled down and did what we're supposed to do,'' ``We're trying to make statements to everybody that we're for real this year. It's going to be hard to beat us.'' Next game is tonight at Dallas on TNT. Should be another exciting one.
Now Lakers @ Spurs was a good game. Our players stepped up, I never have to speak on a recap of the Lakers games. It's simple, teamwork. All 5 starters in double figures. However, I don't think the Mavs give Lakers any trouble tonight. We have way to many weapons for there defenders to slack on defense like they do. We'll blow Dallas out the building tonight, IF everything is clicking.
This game will be a very close game, much like San Antonio's game last night. But with the way the Lakers are rolling this year, I'm going for the Lakers to win this one. Just like what Gary Payton said last night, they are sending a statement to this league that this team will be very tough to beat. I'm looking for the same gameplan like I expect every night. For Shaq to get the ball in the low post and dominate Fortson. In the first meeting in the season opener, Shaq had his way around Fortson, and he was tough to defend. (Who can defend Shaq?) I'm also expecting Kobe to have a decent game. Michael Finley is a ok defender, but Kobe can take on anybody, and still can score 25 a night. Also, I look for Gary Payton to jumpstart this offense, run the fastbreak, and make things happen on every Laker possession. Karl Malone, he'll get the ball in the post, look around for cutting teammates, or just fall back and hit his fadeaway jumper, or shoot his 18 footer. This Laker defense will have to shut down the perimeter because Dallas lives and dies off that. With all these things that I've said, the Lakers should win by 5 pts.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_Fever_834:</div><div class="quote_post">This game will be a very close game, much like San Antonio's game last night. But with the way the Lakers are rolling this year, I'm going for the Lakers to win this one. Just like what Gary Payton said last night, they are sending a statement to this league that this team will be very tough to beat. I'm looking for the same gameplan like I expect every night. For Shaq to get the ball in the low post and dominate Fortson. In the first meeting in the season opener, Shaq had his way around Fortson, and he was tough to defend. (Who can defend Shaq?) I'm also expecting Kobe to have a decent game. Michael Finley is a ok defender, but Kobe can take on anybody, and still can score 25 a night. Also, I look for Gary Payton to jumpstart this offense, run the fastbreak, and make things happen on every Laker possession. Karl Malone, he'll get the ball in the post, look around for cutting teammates, or just fall back and hit his fadeaway jumper, or shoot his 18 footer. This Laker defense will have to shut down the perimeter because Dallas lives and dies off that. With all these things that I've said, the Lakers should win by 5 pts.</div> Good points, but I have a lot of confidence in my Lakers. Not A team can touch us right now. We are steam rolling, we've beat the best, we've proved were the team to beat for sure. We are too powerful for the Mavs, they will get nothing in the post, all of their shots will come from the outside. If we play good defense, like I said in my other post, we will blow Dallas out the building tonight.
The Mavs are 10-0 at home to don't expect an easy win.With Dirk out Lakers will win...but It should be a good game worth watching.These kind of games always are.
