<span style="color:#FF0000">The Miami Heat</span> have played on Christmas Day only thee times. They have a 2-1 record in these Christmas day games. The worst loss (the only loss) came in 1997, where the Chicago Bulls defeated the Heat by 10 points. Final score was 90-80. The best win came last year in 2005 against the Lakers. It was a 5 point victory with the final score being 97-92. <span style="color:#9932CC">The Los Angeles Lakers</span> have played on Christmas Day every year since 1999. We were scheduled to play the Suns in 1998, but because of the lockout, that game never took place. In these 7 consecutive Christmas day games, we have a 2-5 record. Our best win came in 1999 against the San Antonio Spurs (99-93), and our worst at the hands of the Houston Rockets in 2003 (99-87). Past Meetings: The past two years, David Stern has pitted the Lakers against the Miami Heat. The first meeting went to OT, where we failed to capitalize on the last possession of the game, and ended up losing by 2 points. In the second meeting, we lost by 5 points. Injury Report:This will be the first Christmas Day matchup between the Lakers and the Heat where both teams will be missing key team pieces. The Miami Heat are missing their starting center Shaquille Oneal, who had knee surgery on his left knee, and has been out since November 17th. The best backup center in the league, Alonzo Mourning, will be taking command of the starting center job. Shaquille Oneal was second in team scoring (14ppg), third in blocked shots (1.0bpg), and was second in rebounding (7.5rpg) in 31mpg before he went down with his injury. The Lakers, on the other hand, are missing starting SF/PF Lamar Odom, who suffered a sprained right knee on my Birthday, December 12th, will also miss this meeting. His starting spot will be filled in by Brian Cook, while Luke Walton fills the SF position. Lamar Odom was second in team scoring (18ppg), led the team in assists (5apg), and led the team in rebounding (9rpg) in 37 minutes before he went down with his injury. Matchup of The Night: -As we all might have guessed, the featured matchup of tonight lies in the Shooting Guard position. Two of the most talented players in the league will be on a mission. With their parters-in-crime both out, they will put it upon their shoulders to lead their team to victory. Although I dont believe they will be guarding each other much except for maybe crunchtime when a team need shut-down defense, these two players will be putting on a show. I'm looking forward to it. Keys To Victory:<span style="color:#9932CC">Los Angeles Lakers: </span>1. Perimeter Defense: - Smush Parker is considered one of the worst defensive starting point guards in the league. He's a gambler, which shows in the steals category in the statsheets. Staying in front of his man is a differentq uestion. He often gets burned by quick guards. If he can stay in front of Jason Williams, or at least bother him a bit, it will prevent our bigs from getting into foul trouble, and confusion with rotations. 2. Rebound: -It is a fact that when the Lakers don’t rebound the ball, we tend to lose. Second chance points have killed us in pretty much most of our losses. The first step to this is our guard's defense to force up jumpers instead of driving for the foul. If Kwame and Bynum can stay out of foul trouble, we will have the ability to rebound, which will go a long way in determining the final outcome of the game. 3. Bench Production: - When our bench is healthy, it is widely considered one of the deepest rotations in the league. Vladimir Radmanovic, Sasha Vujacic, Jordan farmar, Maurice Evans, Andrew Bynum, and Ronny Turiaf have the ability to contribute significant minutes on any given night (as seen a couple of days ago when the second unit outscored the Wolves starters 34-7 in the 4th quarter). If our bench produces, Lakers will have a very good chance at winning this game. <span style="color:#FF0000">Miami Heat: </span>1. Drive, Drive, Drive: - Like mentioned above, Smush Parker is a weak defender. If the guards keep driving it to the hole, which I believe Dwyane Wade will do quite a lot of, Miami will take the advantage on the scoreboard. Having the Laker bigs in foul trouble will be big in crunchtime as far as an inside prescence and rebounding ability goes. 2. Inside Prescence: - The Laker system is (or was) based on the triangle offense. Although it isnt ran to its full potential nowadayds by the Lakers, it includes a lot of cutting to the basket. In these situations, having an inside prescence on teh defense is key to disturbing cutters. There are also lots of isolation plays ran for Kobe. If there is an inside prescence to disturb shots in the paint, the Lakers will have a hard time. 3. Bench Production: - Just as the Lakers, bench production is an absolute must if you want to win this game. As discussed above, both teams have ket stars out for this game. Starters wont be able to do it all, no matter how good your team is. Its a 12 man team, not a 5 man team. If the bench can come in and defend and pour in a couple of points here and there, your team will have a good chance to win the game.
Great preview. Hopefully we can stay undefeated against you guys on christmas. This will probably be the last year, but it should still be a good game as usual and I can't wait to see two of the top three players go at it.
::: Gets shown up with this game thread ::: :happy0144: You did an awesome job with this man, great job! This must have taken a little bit to do though, huh? I'm assuming you made all these graphics yourself? If so, great job bro. Excellent.On the game, I see the Lakers taking it. Kobe always rises to the occassion, as does Wade, but no Shaq with no other Heat player playing consistantly (outside of maybe Zo and Udonis), I see the Lakers taking this one. I most likely won't be watching this though :cry2: because my family isn't big on basketball at all, except me really. So, that does suck, but oh well.EDIT: I noticed a typo in one of your graphics: You forgot the z in Alonzo.
By far the prettiest game preview. How long did this take you?Anyways, on the game. Very nice writeup, I think the team that messes up first will be the team to lose. Hoping the Lakers can take it though. It would be a lock imo if LO was playing. So both teams have to play hard, this won't be an easy win for either team.
Thanks guys. This took me a while but I will not take credit for these amazing graphics. I got them from another Lakers Forum. I made some predictions on what each team should do to win. All in all, I think the Lakers can do it and have enough heart. But it will not be an easy game. They are playing in the home of the Miami Heat where Kobe will be taunted and the sound of the arena will boom. I can't wait for the matchup and hopefully we will come out on top.
Great preview. I think I'm not gonna be able to watch this game because I'll be at my grandma's house and she doesn't have cable there.
Good Job with the Graphics and Preview.But I'm looking foward to this game. This is a test for Kobe and Wade and the who better players are. Looking at their teams it seems like an even up matchup
Good game! Go Heat! This is one of the few times since the Finals that I'll be rooting for Wade but he's going to embarrass Kobe today..
The Refs are horrible for this game. Wade was already bailed out twice, Kobe was bailed out once, Kwame got called for 2 fouls that he didn't even commit and they called a bullsh** foul on Bynum downlow when he didn't even touch Mourning. This is pissing me off! EDIT: I forgot to comment on Kwame posterizing Zo. NASTY.
I'm loving the energy we've come out with. Everyone's looking great. And for all the shots that Zo challenges he's bound to get posterized once in a while, but he's still the best shot-blocker in the game even at his age.
At least I'm glad that you are not arguing with me about the refs. Jesus...if you breathe on Wade it's an automatic foul.
The bench is doing pretty good and Sasha is getting alot of good looks but he's missed almost all of his threes. :brickwall:
:wtf1: Wade shoots an uncontested shot with no one really guarding him and they call a foul on Kobe..? Sorry...I've had it with the refs tonight.
Kobe...MVP? :HAHAHA: At least he is passing now. Took about 10 years for him to mature but it's alright.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ASUFan22 @ Dec 25 2006, 02:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Kobe...MVP? :HAHAHA: At least he is passing now. Took about 10 years for him to mature but it's alright.</div>He'll come back. Even if he just scores 12 points but gets more assists it's still all good.As long as we get that W.
