LAL @ SA preview: Kobeless Lakers battle bad-to-bone Spurs

April 11, 2012 Leave a comment

In a possible Western Conference Finals preview, the Kobe-less Los Angeles Lakers travel to San Antonio to take on the red-hot Spurs. This is the first of three meetings in the next two weeks between the rivals and will help dictate playoff positioning. Here are 4 pregame story lines for tonight’s game:

No Mamba Snakes in San Antonio

It’s true, there are no Black Mambas in San Antonio, Texas. In case Lakers fans haven’t heard, Kobe Bryant will miss his third straight game tonight against the Spurs with a painful shin injury. Alas, there will be no Willis Reed-like entrance for Kobe from the tunnel just before tip-off as Coach Mike Brown has already ruled Bryant out for the game. Unfortunately for Lakers fans, all-stars Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker are all expected to play after sitting out a game Monday to rest. The Spurs are red-hot, winners of 11 straight before losing to Utah without their studs so the Lakers will need to come to play.

Fishing for an Identity without Kobe

Even with Kobe in the lineup, the Lakers have not looked like the same team lately. Last week they lost to an inferior Houston Rockets team at home, a game in which Bryant played but Bynum got ejected in. The Lakers followed that up with a blowout loss in Phoenix and a win in New Orleans in which they needed a 15-2 run in the 4th quarter just to pull out a 2-point victory. Without Kobe in the lineup and no Derek Fisher to save them in 0.4 seconds, the Lakers will need to find team chemistry fast or Lakers fans can expect another Phoenix-like blowout.

Derek Fisher, 0.4, 0.4 shot, Fisher Spurs, Fisher Spurs shot

Maybe the greatest shot of all-time. Maybe the Lakers shouldn't have traded D-Fish...

Big Men + Big Bench = Big Win

If the Lakers have any chance of beating the Spurs, their all-star big men will have to dominate the older, slower Tim Duncan inside. Pau Gasol has played well in Kobe’s absence and will have to stay aggressive, while enigmatic Andrew Bynum needs to just play defense, rebound and shut his mouth. The Lakers will also need more than single digit points from their bench tonight to match up with arguably the best bench in the NBA this season. Solid efforts from Matt Barnes, Troy Murphy and particularly Steve Blake will be essential tonight for a Lakers victory.

Birthday Sessions for Ramon

Other than the Lakers’ twin towers and bench output, the final x-factor tonight will be birthday boy Ramon Sessions. On his 26th birthday, Sessions will have his hands full with legit MVP candidate Tony Parker. While Parker has the rings and the experience, Sessions at this age is faster and hopefully can drop 26 points on his 26th birthday while making sure the Lakers control tempo.

Lakers fans, do the Lakers have a shot tonight without the Black Mamba? What will the final score of the game be?

 

Hunter23 contributed to this article.

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Lakers @ Rockets preview: Houston, We have a Mamba

March 20, 2012 Leave a comment

Kobe Bryant had arguably his worst game in a Lakers uniform (3-20 FG, 7 TO) as the Jazz stunned the Lakers at Staples Center Sunday night. Only their third loss at home all season, the Lakers look to bounce back on the road against the Houston Rockets on Tuesday, March 20, 2012. Here are 4 pregame story lines for tonight’s game:

Houston in Lone-Star State

Okay Lakers fans, this is getting ridiculous. The Lakers hit the road to travel to Houston where they once again face a team missing multiple star players. The Rockets will be without guards Kyle Lowry and Kevin Martin in this Western Conference matchup which means Houston will be without two of their best three players and Luis Scola will have a huge load to carry tonight. The Lakers need to take advantage of these fortunate breaks, especially against teams like the Rockets fighting for a playoff spot.

Dragic Houston’s New “Rocket Man”

Despite the absence of Lowry and Martin, Lakers point guards Steve Blake and Ramon Sessions will have their hands full with Rockets point guard Goran Dragic. Dragic has been sensational since replacing Lowry in the starting lineup and has averaged double digit assists as Houston’s new “Rocket Man.” The Lakers interior defense needs to be strong tonight as Dragic will look to get Luis Scola and Courtney Lee as many easy buckets as possible.

Kobe to lose Black Mamba mask

Maybe the plan was to lose the Mamba mask in Houston all along or perhaps Kobe Bryant is just superstitious after having his worst game as a Los Angeles Laker. Whatever the reason, Kobe is going to play tonight without the Mamba mask for the first time since Dwayne Wade’s hard foul. It will be interesting to see how Bryant bounces back after his terrible shooting night, especially without the protective mask. Stay tuned Lakers fans.

Ramon Sessions, Jordan Hill, Derek Fisher trade, Lakers trade

New Lakers Ramon Sessions and Jordan Hill should get key minutes tonight in Houston. Wake up Jordan!

Lakers and Rockets Trade Places

Speaking of new faces, the Lakers and Rockets were busy at the NBA trading deadline and will showcase some of their acquisitions tonight. The Lakers traded fan favorite Derek Fisher to Houston for Jordan Hill, who should see his first minutes as a Laker. Fisher has since been bought out by Houston but they will have their new big man Marcus Camby to match up against the likes of Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol. And of course new Lakers point guard Ramon Sessions will play an instrumental role in getting his teammates involved while keeping Dragic in check.

Lakers fans, do you think the Black Mamba Kobe Bryant bounces back from his worst shooting night in a Lakers uniform? Do you think ditching the Mamba mask will negatively affect his performance tonight?

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Timber! Lakers cut down T’Wolves behind Black Mamba, Bench & Bigs

March 2, 2012 Leave a comment

After a solid but not great start to the season, the Lakers started the second half of their schedule against the upstart Timberwolves on Wednesday night. The battle of the Twin Cities vs. the Twin Towers was filled with intriguing story lines even before tip-off, including Kobe Bryant’s concussion and the status of Kevin Love. Thanks to my friends at Barry’s Tickets, I had the opportunity to check out the matchup first hand at Staples Center:

Nice seats Barry! I think I got a drip of Kobe's sweat on me from here...

As expected, the Black Mamba started and went off for 31 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists while wearing a Rip Hamilton-like face mask for the first time in his career. Kevin Love was a late scratch with flu-like symptoms and the Twin Towers took advantage as Andrew Bynum had 13 points and 13 rebounds with 3 blocks while Pau Gasol chipped in with 15 and 5 with 3 rejections of his own. Solid contributions from Barnes, World Peace, Fisher and Murphy meant the Lakers coasted most of the game, allowing me to enjoy my beer and BBQ beef sandwich stress-free.

The win moved the Lakers into 4th place into the West and a 1/2 game behind the Clippers for the #3 seed. With the last place Kings coming into Staples on Friday, the Lakers should be able to build on their momentum as long as they don’t look ahead to D-Wade and the Heat on Sunday.

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