The Lakers(28-18) continue their 8 game road trip with game number 3 tonight against the Indiana Pacers(24-21) at Conseco Fieldhouse. The Lakers currently sit in the 6th spot in the Western Conference, but only 1 1/2 back of both Houston and Utah. Finishing out this road trip and final 2 games before the All-Star break will prove key to the Lakers playoff seeding.
Tonight's game will be huge as the Lakers have to play tomorrow night against Washington in the second half of a back to back. The Pacers are a solid team, but are just as their record shows, no better than .500. At 5-5 in their last 10 they aren't coming in either hot or cold either. They ket for the Lakers will be what else...DEFENSE! Just as it has been all season, the Lakers will not lose if they play 48 minutes of good defense. They have not done so all year. In every game they have played good defense, they have come out ahead. The matchup to watch will be Lamar Odom matched up against Troy Murphy. Murphy has played well since coming over to the Pacers from Golden State and will make Odom work defensively. This will put Odom's conditioning to the test because he is not 100% coming back from his knee injury. Odom should be able to post up Murphy on the other end though, as Murphy has been critisized for being soft since coming into the league out of Notre Dame. Another matchup to watch will be Andrew Bynum against Jermaine O'neil. O'Neil, averaging nearly 20 PPG, is a tough matchup for anyone, but especially for Bynum, who has been plagued by foul trouble on a consistant basis. The Lakers' guards will have to help him out by providing pressure on the passers and make it difficult for the Pacers to get the ball into O'Neil.
Game time is set for 4 PM PST/7 EST and can be heard live on AM 570 and seen on a delay at 5:30 PM PST on Kcal 9, with LTV at 5 PM. For all those who get the channel, tonight's game will be the premier of the Lakers in HD on Kcal.
Predicted score: Lakers 102-Pacers 94... GO LAKERS!!!
Friday, February 2, 2007
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Road Trip and Kobe Suspension
Okay first of all I'll adress the bogus Kobe suspension. Anyone who has watched NBA basketball for more than a month knows elbows get thrown, arms go out, people get clipped. That is part of the game and it happens. Manu acknowledged that, as did Popovich, yet the NBA felt the need to suspend him. Make any sense? No. It didn't even deserve a fine. If you watch three NBA game tonight, I guarantee you see an elbow similar to that of Kobe's catch someone, but they won't even get a slap on the wrist. The NBA did it to send a message, but what message are they sending? That you shouldn't play hard and be aggressive? There have been players how got in fights and thrown punches and pushed people who have gotten a game, but a normal elbow in the heat of the game earns Kobe the same. It's a joke.
Now onto this road trip that is two games in. Both the Lakers and Clippers have been forced to vacate Staples for the Grammy's so as the Clips take to the road for their soon to be 7 game losing streak, the Lakers embark on an 8 game roadie of their own. After losing to the Knicks at MSG without Kobe, the Lakers took the second game of the trip versus the Celtics. Kobe played extremely well, no doubt angered by the suspension, scoring 43 with 8 points and 8 assists to boot. Smush came out of the gate quick, scoring 10 first quarter points for the second straight game, putting an exclamation point on his quarter by finishing an Odom pass with a ferocious dunk. Ronny Turiaf (the player who has the most fun in the entire league) was a monster on the boards, bringing in 10 boards. Overall, the Lakers played a solid game, winning the 2nd of a back to back. But the road trip continues...
Now the Lakers get a night off, only to take on Indiana and Washington tomorrow and Saturday. Taking a split of those two would be a good, btut hey are no doubt capable of taking both. The question that will determine their success...well it's the same as it's been all year. Can they play defense?
Now onto this road trip that is two games in. Both the Lakers and Clippers have been forced to vacate Staples for the Grammy's so as the Clips take to the road for their soon to be 7 game losing streak, the Lakers embark on an 8 game roadie of their own. After losing to the Knicks at MSG without Kobe, the Lakers took the second game of the trip versus the Celtics. Kobe played extremely well, no doubt angered by the suspension, scoring 43 with 8 points and 8 assists to boot. Smush came out of the gate quick, scoring 10 first quarter points for the second straight game, putting an exclamation point on his quarter by finishing an Odom pass with a ferocious dunk. Ronny Turiaf (the player who has the most fun in the entire league) was a monster on the boards, bringing in 10 boards. Overall, the Lakers played a solid game, winning the 2nd of a back to back. But the road trip continues...
Now the Lakers get a night off, only to take on Indiana and Washington tomorrow and Saturday. Taking a split of those two would be a good, btut hey are no doubt capable of taking both. The question that will determine their success...well it's the same as it's been all year. Can they play defense?
Welcome To Lakers Land
Welcome to Lakers Land, the newest blog dedicated to the 14 time World Champion Los Angeles Lakers. Here at Lakers Land, we hope to be able to enagage in thoughtful and intelligent discussion regarding the Lakers and be a place where all Lakers fans come to get their Lakers fix. The blog is open to any and all Lakers fans as well as anybody out there that can engage in intelligent banter. Those using profanity or making threats towards anybody on the blog will be removed. Glick and I will do our best to provide daily updates and constantly keep feeding the blog up to date information. The floor is open to anyone and everyone so go for it and as always...Go Lakers!!!
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