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 @ Grizzlies preview: Lakers face Memphis with #3 Seed on line

March 13, 2012 Leave a comment

The Lakers travel to Memphis on Tuesday to take on an injury depleted Grizzlies squad that is directly behind them in the standings. Here are 3 pre-game story lines for tonight’s game:

Lakers working on Memphis Beat

The Lakers come into Memphis looking to beat the team directly behind them in the extremely tight Western Conference standings. The Grizzlies are only 1/2 a game behind the Lakers in the loss column for the #3 seed in the West so tonight’s game couldn’t be any bigger for a team that has struggled to win on the road. With so much on the line tonight the Lakers need to beat a smaller, banged-up Memphis squad.

Memphis without their Grizzly Man

Make that Grizzlies Men. The Lakers continue their mini-streak of playing NBA teams without their star players as both all-star forwards Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph will not play tonight for the Grizzlies. In recent weeks the Lakers have played Minnesota twice without Kevin Love and now get another break with Gay out with a concussion. Memphis had also hoped Randolph would possibly be back for this matchup but “Z-Bo” needs another week or two of rehab. Pau Gasol should be licking his chops.

Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol, Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Gasol trade

Spain in the lane with the Gasol brothers. By the way, this tender embrace is why Pau is called "Ga-Soft."

Gasol has Marc of the Beast

While the Grizzlies will be without Gay and Randolph, they will have their first time all-star center Marc Gasol in the lineup tonight. Gasol has been an absolute beast for Memphis this year and unlike his brother Pau he is far from “Ga-soft” in the paint. Pau and Andrew Bynum will have their hands full with the Spaniard but should be able to dominate a smaller Memphis Grizzlies inside over the course of the game, especially without Randolph wreaking havoc on the boards.

Lakers need to Hold the Mayo

Given their size advantage, the Lakers need to also hold O.J. Mayo and the quicker Memphis guards to low scoring outputs tonight. Mayo is capable of going for 40 on any given night, especially if Derek Fisher is forced to defend him during the game at all. Getting into a fast pace, high-scoring shootout with Mayo and Mike Conley will only negate the Lakers tremendous advantage in the paint.

Lakers fans, do the Lakers get this big one against the Grizzlies or do their road woes continue tonight in Memphis?

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Celtics @ Lakers preview: NBA Rivals matchup as trade deadline looms

March 11, 2012 Leave a comment

After squeaking out a comeback victory in Minnesota (minus Kevin Love) on Friday, the Lakers come home to Staples Center to take on the Celtics in a matchup of the NBA’s biggest rivalry. Here are 5 pre-game story lines for today’s nationally-televised game in Los Angeles:

Rondo, Celtics eating up Boston Chatter

Boston comes into Staples just four days prior to the NBA trade deadline as Rajon Rondo for Pau Gasol trade rumors continue to fly. While both Bynum and Gasol have been the subject of numerous trade scenarios, almost everyone on Boston is reportedly on the market. The Celtics are actively trying to move Rondo, Ray Allen and Jermaine O’Neal’s expiring contract and have even warmed to the idea of dealing Paul Pierce. Like Gasol however, the Celtics veterans have all played quite well through the rumors.

Green Day at Staples Center

The Celtics and Lakers matchup at 12:30pm PST today on ABC. Despite beating the rival Heat handily last Sunday on national TV, the Lakers typically don’t play well in these Sunday day-game time slots. Kobe and the Lakers also wear their alternate white uniforms on Sundays, another bad omen for Los Angeles. Luckily the Lakers do have their own 5-Ring Clover in Bryant to counter the unlucky leprechauns.

Pau Gasol, Rajon Rondo, Gasol-Rondo trade, Lakers trade

Lakers fans would love to see Gasol play more feisty, kind of like Rondo.

Rivers, What’s up Doc?

While the Lakers have the Masked Black Mamba, the Boston Celtics have an x-factor of their own. Yes, Lakers Coach Mike Brown is a fine coach. Especially defensively. But you’ve got to give the coaching edge to 2-time NBA champion Doc Rivers in this particular matchup. Unlike Brown, Rivers is a master of making adjustments both in-game and at halftime. This could be key if the Lakers build an early lead up like they’re known to do.

Celtics no match for Lakers’ Jolly Green Giants

Green will be all over Staples Center on Sunday. Green uniforms for Boston, green beer for St. Patrick’s Day and of course the Lakers’ Jolly Green Giants. Without a legitimate big man like Kendrick Perkins and Shaquille O’Neal to man the paint, Boston has been forced to use Kevin Garnett, Brandon Bass and even Chris Wilcox at center. The Green Giants of Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol should eat the smaller Celtics front line alive if they get enough touches. After all, our Lakers bigs like Boston chowder too.

Lakers a pot of Purple & Gold at Home

Perhaps the biggest pot of gold (and purple) for the Lakers today is the fact they’re at home. The Lakers are 17-2 on their home floor, compared to a horrid 7-14 record on the road. One of those losses was against the Chicago Bulls in a game the Lakers gave away and the other one was an ugly loss to the Pacers in which the Lakers led late. In other words, the Lakers almost never lose at Staples Center.

Lakers fans — do the Lakers get the victory today at Staples to go 2-0 against the rival Celtics? Do you think all of the trade rumors surrounding Rondo and Gasol will affect them and if so, who more?

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