<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Kobe is coming off a 53-point game while Washington, with Arenas averaging 28 points a game, begins a four-game Western Conference swing.By Jerry Crowe, Times Staff Writer12:18 PM PST, December 17, 2006Back in townBack in townKobe Bryant, fresh off a 53-point effort Friday night against the Houston Rockets, leads the Lakers against the Washington Wizards tonight in Staples Center.Bryant, rallying the Lakers from a 21-point deficit, played a season-high 54 minutes in the 112-101 double-overtime victory over the Rockets, making 17 of 38 shots and coming within two assists of a triple-double.He has scored more than 50 points 13 times in his career.Tonight's game ends a long stretch of mostly home games for the Lakers, who by game's end will have played 18 of their first 24 games in Staples Center, including a "road" game against the Clippers.The Lakers, who lead the NBA with 13 home victories, open a six-game trip Tuesday night at Chicago and will play 20 of their next 30 games on the road leading into the All-Star break in February. They are 2-4 outside Staples Center.The Wizards, led by former Van Nuys Grant High star Gilbert Arenas, are 2-8 on the road as they embark on a four-game trip that also will take them to Denver, Sacramento and Phoenix before Christmas.Arenas, who scored 27 points Friday night in a 106-95 victory over the Miami Heat, averages a team-high 28. Former Laker forward Caron Butler, coming off a 30-point effort against the Heat, averages 18.7, and forward Antawn Jamison sverages 18.4.</div>http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-lakewe...=la-home-sportsThe Lakers can definetly win this won, but it all depends on who comes out with the most energy. You can bet that Caron Butler of the Wizards and Kwame will play with some extra intensity tonight.
You hollywood bitches are going down. No Odom, no chance. Kidding. I think it will be a VERY competetive game, our entire big three has to pretty much be amazing tonight. Especially at LA, where the Lakers are 13-3 and we're a dismal 2-8 on the road. I hope Stevenson tries to keep Kobe in check, but that's too much to ask from him. We should go back to our defensive gameplan which we used last Wednesday against Denver, let the star score his points, but lock everyone down. Similiar situation against LA. Players like Parker or Vlad Rad should not be scoring more than 20 pts. In the end, Lakers will most likely take it, but we will give you guys a very difficult team to handle with. Good luck to both teams.
A matchup to keep an eye on is Luke Walton versus Caron Butler. Butler has the mentality and athletic ability to do some damage to Luke on both ends.Also, Antawn Jamison will likely have his way with Radmanovic. Arenas should be guarded by Kobe. Kobe needs to shut him down. For this particular game I'd like to see Evans getting big minutes. Smush will probably get in foul trouble early if he guards Arenas, so I guess Evans will see minutes regardless.Given that Etan Tomas is out, we should have our way with them in the paint. Pound it inside and The Wizards will be in trouble. Inside outside, please. Kwame should take this opportunity to show them up. Two handed dunks only, please. Not sure of the outcome in this one. It'll be a tough game....They have the advantage that we don't have anyone but Kobe to guard Arenas. We have the advantage down low. We could almost afford to put Kobe on Arenas, as long as we make sure to feed the post on the other end. If we can make sure to dominate the paint and the boards, we should have a good chance at a win. :dribble:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Zards @ Dec 17 2006, 04:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You hollywood bitches are going down. No Odom, no chance. Kidding. I think it will be a VERY competetive game, our entire big three has to pretty much be amazing tonight. Especially at LA, where the Lakers are 13-3 and we're a dismal 2-8 on the road. I hope Stevenson tries to keep Kobe in check, but that's too much to ask from him. We should go back to our defensive gameplan which we used last Wednesday against Denver, let the star score his points, but lock everyone down. Similiar situation against LA. Players like Parker or Vlad Rad should not be scoring more than 20 pts. In the end, Lakers will most likely take it, but we will give you guys a very difficult team to handle with. Good luck to both teams. </div>I agree with this, hopefully Odom out doesn't hurt us that much.
Kobe is on fire tonight. He is draining threes from everywhere. Vlad Rad is actually playing well tonight as well which is good to see. Kobe missed a dunk also but on the way up was slapped in the back of the head and they didn't call anything... :thumbdn1:
Wow...Radmonovic has 20 points tonight. :rock: But sadly, Gilbert Arenas is playing superb as well and we are now down by 10. :brickwall:
What a block by Kobe! But we are still down by 7....we gotta make a push for it.EDIT: Arenas has 41 points...ugh..
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (7Goat @ Dec 17 2006, 08:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think it's safe to say that the Lakers lost.</div>It's still not a set win for them...but you are probably right.
WOW, incredible game. Amazing game by the Lakers, first of all. Kobe was great as always and Vlad Rad filled in the void from 3 pt land (so much for keeping him in check). I thought we were going to lose this game, but with Gilbert scoring 60 pts, you'd have to pretty much expect it. I just want to say if you guys had Lamar Odom back, we would have lost by at least 10. The Lakers also have a tremendous amount of heart.. we were up by 13 or so with 2 minutes to play in the game and then Cook hits a huge 3 to send it into overtime (but we had about 6 seconds after that to win the game). I now realize that Lakers are a VERY good team on the perimeter. I underestimated them in that category. They have tons of players who can knock it down from there: Kobe, Walton, Vlad Rad, Vujacic, Cook, Farmar, etc. The thing that just ticks me off a bit right now is what Kobe said in his quote about Arenas' 60 pts. I thought these guys had mutual respect for each other. I respect Kobe's game incredibly, but you have to show a little more love than that. (if you guys dont know what I'm talking about, go to the Gil 60 pts thread in the General NBA section) Great game by both teams.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Zards @ Dec 18 2006, 04:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>WOW, incredible game. Amazing game by the Lakers, first of all. Kobe was great as always and Vlad Rad filled in the void from 3 pt land (so much for keeping him in check). I thought we were going to lose this game, but with Gilbert scoring 60 pts, you'd have to pretty much expect it. I just want to say if you guys had Lamar Odom back, we would have lost by at least 10. The Lakers also have a tremendous amount of heart.. we were up by 13 or so with 2 minutes to play in the game and then Cook hits a huge 3 to send it into overtime (but we had about 6 seconds after that to win the game). I now realize that Lakers are a VERY good team on the perimeter. I underestimated them in that category. They have tons of players who can knock it down from there: Kobe, Walton, Vlad Rad, Vujacic, Cook, Farmar, etc. The thing that just ticks me off a bit right now is what Kobe said in his quote about Arenas' 60 pts. I thought these guys had mutual respect for each other. I respect Kobe's game incredibly, but you have to show a little more love than that. (if you guys dont know what I'm talking about, go to the Gil 60 pts thread in the General NBA section) Great game by both teams.</div>There is nothing wrong with what Kobe said...he gave him respect by saying that he tipped his hat to him and would be ready to face him next time. Besides, half of Arena's points came from the freethrow line. What do you want Kobe to say...? AMAZING INCREDIBLE.... Nothing can really impress Kobe as far as scoring...and the fact that he didn't really guard him for most of the game plays a part in statement. He couldn't guard him later in the game because of his 5 fouls...If Kobe didn't have those 5 fouls, I would bet my life that we would have won the game. Odom would have helped alot too. Kobe had a good night as well with 45 points,over 10 rebounds and 8 assists.
I hope Lamar being out doesn't mess us up to much. Hopefully he'll recover quick because we need him.
