Dear Hornet,
That’s how you don’t give up at home.
Dear Chris Paul,
That’s how you take over at the end of the game
Dear Spurs,
HAHAHA! 44-20! HAHAHA!!!
Seriously though, did anyone else watch the game last night think “my god, Ginobili is really slow today?” I mean, he looked like Zydrunas Ilgauskas on some of his drives.
Alright, now that I’m done talking smack to people who will never read my stuff, let’s get straight to the Preview…
Marquee Matchups -
Point Guard - Derek Fisher vs. Tony Parker: Fisher held his own defensively for the most part, and he should shoot better (1-9… UGH!) than he did on Wednesday.
Advantage: Spurs.
Shooting Guard - Kobe Bryant vs. Bruce Bowen: Did Bowen look old to you in Game 1? Not so much to me. Ukoda is their Matt Harpring (too slow) and Ginibili is their Ronnie Brewer (lacks upper body strength), and neither were much good at containing Kobe. Bowen, however, is still the closest thing this league has to a Kobe stopper, and I’d imagine Pop will make sure he’s on Kobe at all times. Defensively I was a little disappointed with Kobe, especially when he “dared” Bowen to shoot the 3 that put the Spurs back up by 6 in the 4th. -that could have shifted the momentum back towards the Spurs and was an overall boneheaded play.
Advantage: Lakers.
Small Forward - Vladimir Radmanovic vs. Manu Ginobili: This is actually a cross-match, as I expect Vladdy will be guarding Bowen or Udoka for the duration of his time on the defensive end. On the offensive end, he didn’t quite pull a Peja, but 10 points in the 1st quarter while being guarded by Manu were a sight for sore eyes. The Lakers cannot ignore this match up offensively especially with Manu hampered with injuries.
Advantage: Spurs.
Power Forward - Lamar Odom vs. Fabricio Oberto: All the Spurs fans point to Ginobili’s off-night and say, “if he had shown up, we’d have won.” Lamar Odom is the answer to that assertion, as he had an equally poor night. For all his ability to get to the rim, his touch was a little hard in Game 1 and a lot of layups were missed as a result. Part of this may have been Odom being prepared to absorb fouls never came and thus loosing concentration on the shot. Once he adjusts to the Spurs defense, he should return to post Gasol form.
Advantage: Lakers.
Center - Pau Gasol vs. Tim Duncan: Yikes! That didn’t go to well did it? 30 and 18 were TD’s numbers, and he looked ever so nonchalant in reaching them. Poor Pau can only really hope to stay infront of him and make life difficult for Duncan. On the offensive end however, the Lakers really need to utilize him in the high post more, as his first step often enabled him to get past Duncan for a shot attempt. Beyond that, running a few more pick and rolls with Kobe might be a good idea.
Advantage: Spurs, slightly.
Bench -
Good news? +10 in bench points, +8 in rebounds (+3 offensive). Sasha was +25 on the night, and Farmar was +11
Bad news? Ariza isn’t expected to suit up, and after this game we go on the road.
Advantage: Lakers.
Statistical Predictions -
Alright, I’m going to keep track of statistical predictions for the Post-Season!
Here’s how it works, copy and paste the below and enter your picks instead, Closest prediction wins. Posts will only be accepted before the game starts, in this case 6:00 PM PST.
20+ Points: Kobe and Lamar
10+ Rebounds: Lamar.
2+ Blocks: Gasol and Turiaf.
3+ 3-Pointers: Fisher and Sasha.
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Kobe.
Point Margin: Lakers by 8.
Out On A Limb: Walton will play solid minutes in Game 2.
* a 20/10/6 will be considered closer than a 20/7/7 because player A is only short 4 assists while player B is short 3 rebounds and 3 assists, or 6 stat points in total, as opposed to 4 for plater A.
Game Information -
Radio: KLAC & KWKW
Television: TNT
Burning Questions -
What’s the best way to stop/slow down Duncan?
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1st Comment, Go lakers!
I think we should definitely win this game after our last performance.
after watching that game i don’t think there is a chance they will beat us in a seven game series
if they cant win when they’re up by twenty points….
20+ Points: Kobe & Gasol
10+ Rebounds: Lamar & Gasol
2+ Blocks: Gasol, Odom & Turiaf
3+ 3-Pointers: Vujajic, Vlad Rad
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Kobe
Point Margin: Lakers by 9
look for farmar and sasha to be in double figures lakers gonna expload out of the gate and I hope kobe shotts in the first half
kobe never scare like that again like you did in game 1
20+ Points: Kobe & Gasol
10+ Rebounds: Lamar & Gasol
2+ Blocks: Gasol, & Turiaf
3+ 3-Pointers: Vujajic, Fisher
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Kobe
Point Margin: Lakers by 16
Dear Phil,
Please give Ariza a shot.
Get off to a good start.
LETS GO UP 2-0!!
Lakers WINN!
-Phantomified!
20+ Points: Kobe and Gasol
10+ Rebounds: Lamar
2+ Blocks: Gasol and Turiaf.
3+ 3-Pointers: Sasha, Radman, and Fisher
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Kobe.
Point Margin: Lakers by 3
Out On A Limb: Manu Ginobili becomes a threat to us again but Tony Parker is shut down.
I don’t see why people think Kobe got “shut-down” in that first half of game 1, he only took 3 shots, he was lookin for teammates and he was measurin out the game, he can take over whenever he wants.
20+ Points: Kobe, Gasol, Odom
10+ Rebounds: Lamar
2+ Blocks: Odom and Turiaf
3+ 3-Pointers: Sasha and Fisher
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Odom.
Point Margin: Lakers by 8
Out on a limp: Ariza plays and gets reinjured
20+ Points: Kobe and Gasol.
10+ Rebounds: Lamar.
2+ Blocks: Odom.
3+ 3-Pointers: Fisher and Sasha.
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Odom.
Point Margin: Lakers by 4.
i say gasol and duncan are EVEN.
20+ Points: Kobe and Lamar
10+ Rebounds: Gasol
2+ Blocks: Odom and Gasol.
3+ 3-Pointers: Farmar and Kobe.
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Pau.
Point Margin: Lakers by 12
if we grab game 2 i think we got this series clinched. even if it goes to a game 7, it is in staples and i cant see the spurs coming to LA and winning. the lakers arent the young hornets. we have veteran leadership in kobe and fish that wont crack under the pressure of a game 7. BUT if we lose game 2, i think we are in big trouble. game 2 is the key game of the series for the lakers i believe.
lakers by 10
MVP!!
20+ Points: Kobe and Lamar
10+ Rebounds: Lamar.
2+ Blocks: Gasol and Turiaf.
3+ 3-Pointers: Fisher and Sasha.
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Kobe.
Point Margin: Lakers by 8.
Out On A Limb: Pop and Phill get into a fight
20+ Points: Kobe & Gasol
10+ Rebounds: Lamar & Gasol
2+ Blocks: Gasol & Turiaf
3+ 3-Pointers: Vujacic, Radmanovic
Closest To A Triple-Double: Kobe
Point Margin: Lakers by 11
20+ Points: Kobe
10+ Rebounds: Lamar
2+ Blocks: Gasol & Turiaf
3+ 3-Pointers: Vujacic, Radmanovic
Closest To A Triple-Double: Kobe
Point Margin: Lakers by 7
Johnny,I’m Kobefan 11,I just sometimes write as Kobefan11,sometimes as The Mamba.
see,I’m Kobefan 11
how do you ariza isn’t going to suit up, he almost did last game?
Lets go Lakers…we got this especially if Lamar Odom decides to show up tonite. I think that we should start showing the odds in vegas, u know the over/unders for all the games the lakers play…just my two cents.
WHERE IS ARIZA????????????????????????????
20+ Points: Kobe and Lamar
10+ Rebounds: Lamar and Gasol.
2+ Blocks: Lamar and Gasol.
3+ 3-Pointers: Fisher and Farmar.
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Lamar.
Point Margin: Lakers by 7.
Out On A Limb: Robert Horry will play more minutes.
2-0,Lakers,LO will be the Factor(21pts & 15 rebs).
I feel Luke is do for a “breakout” game.
Let’s win the series b4 we talk smack - one game a series dont make.
(I do recall lots of smack coming from NO after their first 2 destructions of the defendiing champs . . . and we all know how that ended.)
out on a limb: coby karl hits the clutch 3 to win the game!!!!!!!!!!!!
dont disrespect the SPURMS yet. they have excuses…… i hope LA comes out like the second half all game long this time, now that the spurs have been read and studied. no more big leads. Lakers give me heart attacks in every close game. lets hope someone on the spurms catch a cold from this crazy weather.
20+ Points: Kobe and Pau
10+ Rebounds: Lamar.
2+ Blocks: Gasol and Turiaf.
3+ 3-Pointers: Sasha and Kobe.
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Kobe.
Point Margin: Lakers by 6.
Out On A Limb: Turiaf will be the difference because of his defense on Tim Duncan.
A little entertainment for the big game tonight! Oh Lord!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2hnw22MZwg
we have to accept that we just escape on a 20 points,however its a nice game to watch.i did not the 1Q i woke up late.i was upset on kobe for not taking a shot on the oppening minutes.i mean i want him to start the game and finish the game because i want him always on an mvp mode.I like the lakers defence no need to double tim gim him the points in the paint in a hard way rather than giving tony and manu the penetration and kickout on the open 3.that’s the only thing im scared of.
30+ Points: Kobe
20+ points: gasol
10+ Rebounds: Lamar.
2+ Blocks: Gasol and Turiaf.
3+ 3-Pointers: Sasha,fish and kobe
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Kobe,lamar
Point Margin: Lakers by 7
Out On A Limb:i have to wake up 5am.
lakers come out hot, play hard and blow the spurs out tonight.. make a statement.
Why do you keep calling him Paul Gasol?
Quit it lol…
out on a limb: Kobe takes 1 or 2 bad shot and a couple of a.s.s.h.o.l.e.s on this site will say kobe should have took himself out of the game. isn’t that right as4sure?
20+ Points: Kobe and Gasol
10+ Rebounds: Odom
2+ Blocks: Gasol
3+ 3-Pointers: No One because Spurs will probably play tight D on Sasha and the Same D on Fisher
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Kobe.
Point Margin: Lakers by 3
Out On A Limb: Melo Drives into Staples Center walls after having too many to drink
uh. . I’m pretty sure i’ve only called him Pau Gasol
It is funny… the real kobe lap dogs were really upset that kobe took only a couple of shots in the first half, but what if kobe shot 20 shots that first half and iced his teammates. That would have told his teammates that kobe didn’t believe in them and they would not have won the game. Kobe played it excellent by involving his teammates and therefore they were in position to strike in the 2nd half. So stop knocking kobe Dingleberry and appreciate this new kobe. The MVP kobe who is finally truly understanding the game. I know you want him to shoot 40x but that is becuase you don’t understand winning involves the whole team not one player. I hope you can learn to appreciate who kobe is this yr. A team player and MVP and not a solo act.
It is funny… the real kobe lap dogs were really upset that kobe took only a couple of shots in the first half, but what if kobe shot 20 shots that first half and iced his teammates. That would have told his teammates that kobe didn’t believe in them and they would not have won the game. Kobe played it excellent by involving his teammates and therefore they were in position to strike in the 2nd half. So stop knocking kobe Dingleberry and appreciate this new kobe. The MVP kobe who is finally truly understanding the game. I know you want him to shoot 40x but that is becuase you don’t understand winning involves the whole team not one player. I hope you can learn to appreciate who kobe is this yr. A team player and MVP and not a solo act.
LOL, give him a break. After all, he is a dingleberry.
to all the forunate ones whom r going to see the game @ Staples, please no booing!!!
im sorry! let me rephrase that to all the fortunate people heading out to Staples please please save you’re boos for the spurs only ok!!!
20+ Points: Kobe and Pau
10+ Rebounds: Lamar, Pau
2+ Blocks: Pau & Ronny.
3+ 3-Pointers: D-Fish, Kobe, and Sasha.
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Kobe.
Point Margin: Lakers by 14
Out On A Limb: Lamar makes a lay-up…
and “* a 20/10/6 will be considered closer than a 20/7/7 because player A is only short 4 assists while player B is short 3 rebounds and 3 assists, or 6 stat points in total, as opposed to 4 for plater A” ***player A…little spelling mistake…
20+ Points: Kobe and Gasol
10+ Rebounds: Lamar and Gasol
2+ Blocks: Gasol and Turiaf.
3+ 3-Pointers: Sasha and Vlad
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Gasol
Point Margin: Lakers by 5.
Out On A Limb: Kobe will explode in the fourth for 20 in that quarter alone
20+ Points: Kobe
10+ Rebounds: Odom and Gasol
2+ Blocks: Odom and Gasol.
3+ 3-Pointers: Kobe and Sasha
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Lamar
Point Margin: Lakers by 8
20+ Points: Kobe and Lamar
10+ Rebounds: Lamar.
2+ Blocks: Gasol and Turiaf.
3+ 3-Pointers: Fisher and Farmar.
Closest To A Triple-Double*: Lamar.
Point Margin: Lakers by 3.
Out On A Limb: Farmar is only + in +/- stat.
check this out:
check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF-KagTq7qY
bam!
on AM570 i heard norm nixon say that arza will be in uniform tonight
ooooh
i’ve been waiting for ariza to come back, sad to see he wasn’t dressed on wednesday, hopefully he is today
Lakers win.. everybody scored.. nice..
alright, in the end the lakers were up by about 30 right, why didn’t they put in mihm. i mean if you gonna play him play him now when we are killing them