<u>WHO: </u> <font size=""7"">@</font> <u>WHEN:</u> Wednesday, December 27, 2006; 7:00 P.M. EST <u>WHERE:</u> Amway Arena; Orlando, FL <u>TV: </u> <u>RADIO: </u> <u>LAST MEETING:</u> Lakers won, 102-87 <u>WHY?</u> Is Travis Diener not getting more PT? <u>STARTING LINEUPS:</u> <u>PG:</u> <u>SG:</u> <u>SF:</u> <u>PF:</u> <u>C:</u> <u>COACHES:</u> <u>RECORDS:</u> Magic (17-12), Lakers (18-10) <u>PREDICTION:</u> Magic: 97, Lakers: 90 <u>MY TAKE:</u> The Magic will come out with a vengeance in this one. 3 days off has helped and will show tonight, as the Magic will run, run, run. Dwight Howard has to have 17-20 shot attempts today because the Lakers have no one that can stop him. Kobe Bryant will have a huge game, no matter who is guarding him because he only scored 16 against the Heat on Christmas day. The key to winning this game is to take good care of the ball, keep Kobe away from the free throw line, and contain their supporting cast. Trevor Ariza will get huge minutes and needs to continue his stellar play. EDIT: Hedo Turkoglu and Keith Bogans are both expected to be activated for tonight's game, Putting James Augustine, Bo Outlaw and JJ Redick back on the IL.
I'm not sure which LA team shows up tonight, the Lakers or the Fakers. I'm hoping it's the Lakers, and they come into the game with something to prove. The Lakers have been decent on the road, but they have been struggling against teams who can rebound the basketball. Without Lamar Odom in the lineup, the Lakers have struggled to control the glass, and teams have been able to get 2nd and 3rd opportunities by working the offensive glass. Kobe Bryant has been lit up by opposing shooting guards the last few outings. Teams are using picks on him to free up the guard, and Kobe seems to make the wrong decision each time the pick is set. On shooters he's going under the pick, and on slashers he's going over the pick. It should be the opposite. I don't expect LA to win tonight, but if they can steal a win in Orlando I won't mind at all.
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> Kobe Bryant has been lit up by opposing shooting guards the last few outings. Teams are using picks on him to free up the guard, and Kobe seems to make the wrong decision each time the pick is set. On shooters he's going under the pick, and on slashers he's going over the pick. It should be the opposite..</div> He's been sick this road trip though, right? Could explain why his head isn't straight. Anyway whoever wins this game is a win win situation for me, but I honestly gotta say I want the Lakers to win, more so NBA/standing reasons than favortism.
<div class="quote_poster">Franchise4Ever Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">He's been sick this road trip though, right? Could explain why his head isn't straight. Anyway whoever wins this game is a win win situation for me, but I honestly gotta say I want the Lakers to win, more so NBA/standing reasons than favortism.</div> Being sick doesn't help him, but if he feels healthy enough to play than you can't use it as an excuse. The Lakers big men have to stay out of early foul trouble. Things go south for the Lakers when Kwame picks up two fouls in the 1st quarter and plays timid basketball the rest of the game. Smush Parker has to be the player to step up tonight. He has a size advantage on every Orlando guard, and should be able to shoot right over the top of them, or do some damage in the post. I want to see a lot of this tonight from the Lakers ....
that kobe dunk was the best dunk ive ever seen in real life topping vince carters two handed slam from the foul line... i also can see myself in that pic.. its almost the end of third and we playing very "smart" and grant hill is looking really good and young again. I think we should be able to hold on to the win unless kobe gets hot
<div class="quote_poster">huevonkiller Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Smush Parker exploded in the third, I never saw that coming.</div> Who would've thought
The Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards are currently tied for first place, with a matchup between these two teams on Friday night at the Verizon Center.
<div class="quote_poster">Brian Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> Who would've thought</div> Lmao, nice. Btw, It seems like the Lakers do well against Howard for some reason.
<div class="quote_poster">GatorsowntheNCAA Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">We just aren't a very good team.</div> We gotta stop reverting to that damn "dribble once, maybe pass once, and then dribble some more, and take a bad shot" thing. Oh, by the way, I've had some terrible insomnia lately. The only time I've been able to fall asleep has been watching Magic games. This is not a joke; it's just a fact. It happened again tonight.
<div class="quote_poster">Chuck Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">We gotta stop reverting to that damn "dribble once, maybe pass once, and then dribble some more, and take a bad shot" thing. Oh, by the way, I've had some terrible insomnia lately. The only time I've been able to fall asleep has been watching Magic games. This is not a joke; it's just a fact. It happened again tonight.</div> That's not insomnia, that always happens when your favorite team is losing. No joke though, that has happened to me a lot of times when I used to watch Laker games in the 04-05 season.
<div class="quote_poster">Brian Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> Who would've thought</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Smush Parker has to be the player to step up tonight. He has a size advantage on every Orlando guard, and should be able to shoot right over the top of them, or do some damage in the post. </div> That would be me. I never imagined Smush would go off for 18 in a quarter, but I knew he could have his way against the Magic guards. It was nice to see his teammates looking for him and recognizing he had the hot hand, and it was nice to finally see PJax keep the hot hand in the game. There's been a handful of recent games when PJax has benched players who get in the zone.
<div class="quote_poster">Swish15 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">We are consistently inconsistent and it drives me crazy.</div> is that possible?
<div class="quote_poster">d-money12 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">is that possible?</div> Yup. The only thing we do consistently is continue to be inconsistent. Think about it.
