Don’t expect a long preview, it feels like we did this just a few days ago. Double Yao. The one thing discussed after the last game here was that the Lakers waited until the second half to start doubling Yao Ming in the post. Not so coincidentally, that’s when the Lakers went on a big […]
Game Preview
Preview and Chat: The Dallas Mavericks
Odom’s status. The official word has come down and it looks like the Lakers are without Odom for the next four weeks at least. Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride. Saving Kwame. Another great post at Lakernoise by Roland Lazenby, this one about the turnaround in Kwame Brown: Yes, Kwame Brown […]
Preview and Chat: The Houston Rockets
14-6. It was the record we hoped the Lakers would come out of that heavy home schedule with, and even with the toughest tests ahead I think we’ve learned a lot about this team through 20 games. And there are a lot of reasons to be excited. Due to a couple of big games I’ll […]
Preview and Chat: San Antonio Spurs
Spurs Point differential: +9.2 The Lakers are going to have to keep these guys under 100 points if they are going to give themselves a chance. The Spurs and the Lakers have almost identical offensive ratings, so this one comes down to the Lakers playing above board defense and the Bynum/Brown duo showing up enough […]
Preview and Chat: The Atlanta Hawks
The Reverse Ewing. Most of you are probably familiar with ESPN.com’s Bill “The Sports Guy” Simmons, who coined the phrase “the Ewing theory” for when a team overachieves without its star. He based it on those Riley-coached Knicks of the 90s, who had some good games sans Ewing. And while the evidence is anecdotal, I […]
Preview and Chat: The New Orleans Hornets
Man, Byron Scott had a sweet stroke. I was inclined not to like Byron Scott when he came to the Lakers because he was traded for personal favorite Norm Nixon (the guy I wanted to model my game after, as much as a fifth grader could in the YMCA league). But Scott could shoot, providing […]
Preview and Chat: The Indiana Pacers
What Laker has the best +/- number this season? When you ask what player is most often on the court when the Lakers are doing well, the standard answer is Kobe. But so far the guy leading the way this season is Kwame Brown — the Lakers are +11.7 (per 48 minutes) when he is […]
Preview and Chat: The Los Angeles Clippers
Slowing Kobe. All eyes will be on Bryant after his version of “The Closer†on TNT Thursday. And remember, the last time he faced the Clippers Kobe put up 20 in the first quarter. The Clippers in that game, and likely tonight, went with Quinton Ross on Kobe, the Lakers countered by posting Kobe up […]
Preview and Chat: The Utah Jazz
Let’s start with good news. The Lakers catch the Jazz on the second game of a back-to-back, and one where they have to fly in from Salt Lake. The Jazz are 3-1 on the second game of back-to-backs this season, and they come in to Staples having beat San Antonio last night. Remembering the last […]
Preview and Chat: The Milwaukee Bucks
Thanks. Just want to say a quick thank you to Rob and Gatinho for holding down the fort here while I spent four days unplugged/with the family/overeating/mourning Notre Dame. Great job, as always, guys. 50 ways to beat the East. Looking for a good reason to bet the Lakers tonight? How about this: In the […]