<div align="center"> @ </div> <div align="center">Los Angeles Lakers @ Utah Jazz</div> When: Wednesday November 3 10:30PM (EST) Where: Delta Center Local TV: KJZZ KCAL National TV: ESPN <div align="center"> Projected Starting Lineups <font color="Purple">Lakers</font> <font color="Blue">Jazz</font> Point Guard Chucky Atkins Keith McLeod Shooting Guard Kobe Braynt Gordan Giricek Small Forward Caron Butler Andrei Kirilenko Power Forward Lamar Odom Carlos Boozer Center Chris Mihm Jarron Collins</div> Injured List <font color="Purple">Lakers:</font> N/A <font color="Blue">Jazz:</font> N/A Key Matchup Lamar Odom vs. Carlos Boozer Both of these guys have moved from an Eastern team to a Western in the offseason. Boozer has the size advantage, and should look to use this down low. Odom has the speed, and should look to bring Boozer out from the hoop. Prediction The Jazz rarely lose at the Delta Center, and despite been slow starters I think they'll take advantage of a Laker team that has just played a game. Jazz 94 : 89 Lakers.
This game is gonna be interesting as Kobe will do everything to win and prove he can play without Shaq.I see Kobe having a big game but Lakers will lose as Odom has been shooting 32% from the floor and 29% from the 3-point area.Boozer will have the uppper hand on Odom also Arroyo will cause problems for Atkins on defense. Lakers 91-Utah 98
The latest is that Utah will be without both Arroyo and Lopez. So they're probably going to sign a starter soon. Okur and Kirilenko are still day to day.
This should be a close game, especially since we know we will be with out Arroyo and Lopez. Maybe a combo of Eisley, Raja, and McLeod will be enough to stop the Lakers PG's. But I have my fingers crossed that AK47 and Okur will play. And tonight the Lakers play Denver tonight, maybe the Lakers will win, I never thought I'd say that, and be give out after that game and it will be an easy kill for us Wednesday night.
Quick prediction: Boozer has a great opener for Utah. Odom will stuggle early on in the season, it won't be an exception tommorow night. Lakers: 93 Jazz: 97
Should be a great game. See how the Lakers can respond after a nice opening victory against Denver. I think Lakers will pull thru. 93-89
Arroyo and Lopez are both on the injured list now, and Howard Eisley should be starting for Utah. Okur can hardly see out of one eye, so the team will undergo a lot of changes.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Stockton:</div><div class="quote_post">Arroyo and Lopez are both on the injured list now, and Howard Eisley should be starting for Utah. Okur can hardly see out of one eye, so the team will undergo a lot of changes.</div> Well, in that case...Lakers by 10. Otherwise, I see Utah being a threat...but with Arroyo and Lopez out and Okur possibly not playing (right?), then it'll be easier for the Lakers. I just hope Kirilenko doesn't come out swinging...because I see Kobe eventually having to defend him if Butler can't hold him.
I'll have to go with realdealbneal on this one. Not just cause im a Laker fan but I see the Lakers taking this one. We had a great preseason and great opener against the Nuggets. Lakers by at least 5.
utah is at a disadvantage in this game cuz they are likely to miss 2 starters. if the lakers played the way they played last night then they should win by at least 15.
Just because Utah are missing key guys doesn't mean they won't have a great chance to win, who would of thought they would of won 40 games with the roster they had last year after losing leading scorer Matt Harpring? I will admit L.A looked real good last night but having home advantage has always been a key to Utah, I expect no different tonight. Arroyo being out hurts my fantasy team. Hope he's back soon.
The jazz wil slow the gamedown & Boozer willl control the boards, preventing the lakers from running. Matchup of the night....C-Murder and AK-47. If Caron can hand Ak, there could be hope.
I hoping we can somehow magically contain AK47 but if we even manage to hold him to his last years averages it's good. Lamar Odom VS Carlos Boozer is the best matchup by far, it depends on these two what the outcome of the gamem will be every other position except for SG is evenly matched. If Lamar gets a good game Lakers by 6 if Carlos tears it up Jazz by 9.
The biggest key to the Jazz winning is scoring, because the Lakers can defintely score. The Jazz don't really have a go to guy on offense, they spread it around. Gordan Giricek, Raja Bell, Andrei Kirilenko, Matt Harpring and Carlos Boozer have to have a good scoring night unless someone else steps up big. Otherwise, should be a win for the Lakers.
The Lakers need to contain the guards if they want any chance of winning. He sets up easy looks for the Jazz. The Lakers also need to match Boozer's and AK47's energy on the boards. And just as I am posting this the Lakers are doing neither and are down 7-0.
Kirilenko has blocked 3 shots in 3 minutes so far, all of the Lakers shots. He is having a great game all around as usual. The rest of the Jazz have been impressive so far, and are coping with the injuries, which they did most of last season.
Nice game, Jazz. You guys killed us by your shooting...51%? That's great. Kobe shot 43%, which I knew would happen once the rest of the team gave up...and the others shot 23%. The defense was weak on our side, and tough from Utah. What I WANTED to see was Butler and Kobe pulling guys out to the perimeter, then driving the lane. If you noticed, Kobe did this with Kirilenko and beat him (one-on-one) to the hoop every time. However, no matter what Kobe (or any single player) could've done, the Lakers weren't shooting good at all, and that explains the low assists totals and, ultimately, the loss tonight.
With Kirilenko and Boozer tearing apart the Lakers, the guy I was most impressed with was Harpring. He looked great, considering it was his first game in a long time. Although it's just one game, with Jerry Sloan's masterful coaching I'm confident that this is a solid playoff team if Harpring stays healthy, and Kirilenko and Boozer manning the front line.
