Game #26 LAKERS @ MAGIC 12/20/08 4PM

[DEEP3CL]

21-4VS20-6
ARENA
AMWAY ARENA
ORLANDO,FLORIDA 4 PM PST
TV KCAL
RADIO KLAC 570 AM

LAKER STARTERS

FISHER - BRYANT - WALTON - GASOL - BYNUM
MAGIC STARTERS

NELSON - PIETRUS - TRUKOGLU - LEWIS - HOWARD
KEY MATCH UP

VS


It's a gauge test for 21 year old center Andrew Bynum tonight in his battle with 23 year old Dwight Howard. Howard comes into tonight's game with averages of 20.8 ppg 14.1rpg and 3.8bpg, while Bynum enters at 13.1 ppg 9.0 rpg and 2.0 bpg. These two big titans will be clashing for many years to come.

Series History Verses Magic
Lakers lead series 30-9, LA has won 3 of last 4 in Orlando. The Magic have never beaten the Lakers back to back in games during it's existence.Howard is 2-6 for his career against the Lakers.
Last Game
LAKERS -Lost To Miami Heat 89-87
MAGIC -Defeated San Antonio 90-78

Key's To The Game
Rebound : No reason the Lakers should struggle to get boards against the Magic. Outside of Howard they aren't a physical team on the boards.

Defense : The Lakers must contest and close on the Magic shooters especially Lewis and Turkoglu, both are deadly from 3 range.

Interior Play : Pau and Andrew must touch the ball and touch it a lot. The Magic have no true Power Forward on their roster. Getting Howard in foul trouble will change the way the Magic play. The Lakers biggest mismatch is Pau against Lewis......No way he stops Pau
It's Winning Time

[Jajwanda]

Defensively they should simply ignore the SG position of Orlando especially with Pietrus out. Put Kobe at SF against Turkoglu as he's done in the past (he's done just fine).

Stay with your man and let Howard do what he will against Bynum. Do not collapse and give the ball to three point shooters. Once again, the Magic aren't barn-burners. If you allow Howard to go off (not even guaranteed he will) you will be just fine. It's Turkoglu and Lewis that matter most.

It's on offense where the issue lies against these guys. They have no player that's healthy (Pietrus) to slow down Kobe who can penetrate and dish to the three point guys. Force Howard to help on Gasol and pound it until he's in foul trouble. Remember we have depth on the front court they have Cookie.

[hermes]

hmm Magic are 20-6? must be one of those sneaky good teams


GO LAKERS

[dockingsched]

we're going to see a lot of odom/gasol and odom/bynum with lewis playing pf

[hermes]

so a lot of odom? are gasol and bynum going to split time on howard?

[Bay_Areas_Finest]

They have no player that's healthy (Pietrus) to slow down Kobe who can penetrate and dish to the three point guys.

Actually, Courtney Lee is our best defender at the SG position. I'm sure he'll get plenty of time on Kobe. Not saying he'll stop Bryant (as that is very tough to do), but Lee will definitel slow him down a bit.

Good luck to you guys, though. All I can hope for is a close game throughout and that Ariza doesn't go for 25 against us.

[Erik Eleven]

Did anyone see James Worthy's D12 imitation on the post game report last night? "Aaaaandreeeeeeeeewwwwwww, come out and plaaaaayyyyyy, I'm waiting for you".

Rebound, rebound, rebound. Positioning, positioning, positioning. Claim your territory, Drew! The paint is yours — claim it.

I'd love to see Bynum getting deep position on D12 all night. So far, he hasn't done a good job getting position down low this year, so that's a tall order against Howard. Also, when boxed out, he needs to just do a simple spin move (without hooking) everytime a shot goes up.

KAJ needs to tell Andrew to watch game tape of prime Barkley and Shaq instead of playing PS3. Plant yourself in the paint, box out and get the rebound. No second chance points allowed for Howard, no put-backs. And yeah, no fouls.

Really, Bynum's funk can easily be fixed. He just needs to get better position down low and be more aggressive on the boards. The guards need to feed him the ball more.


Three keys to the game:

• Turnovers. Magic can not be allowed to run the break for easy looks. The ridiculous turnovers must stop. Crisp, safe passes or the Lakers will lose this game.

• Rebounding. D12 is a complete beast. Nevertheless, he can't be allowed to control his offensive board for put-backs or he'll go for 35 points, get Bynum in foul trouble and win the game for them. Defensive rebounding could potentially win the game for us.

• Control the tempo. This is done by taking care of the above two ^ and just executing the offense with sharper focus. Swing the ball around until an open look presents itself. Be patient, and get Pau a lot of mid range touches.

[Tommy Trojan]

I see another loss if Bynum continues to play like he has been playing.

[The Skyhook]

well Andrew Bynum prepare to be absolutely dominated tonight by Mr Howard. Rashard and Hedo is going to make it rain because we leave every great 3 point shooter open.

[AgEnT50]

Good luck to both teams toniiight....


According to the Orlando Sentinel. . . .Pietrus will be returning tonight, but will not start

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports ... hould.html

[hermes]

remember Kwame's good game against us? lets hope Ariza does the same

[RocketPower23]

Bynum better grow some balls tonight.

[CITYOFANGELSX3]

Looks like no farmar tonight.

He tore his latteral miniscus in the 4q last night.

[wfiles]

how long will farmar be out?

[Minhee]

Farmar is out for a while and there is no timetable for his return. Looks like there will be more Farmar and Ariza to play PG. Maybe we really need to look at Marbury.

[CITYOFANGELSX3]

I think sasha will be gettin the bulk of the back up pg minutes now. Maybe have kobe dribblin up the court with Sasha the sg is also an option.

Bynum 2 fouls 1:05 into the game.

[CITYOFANGELSX3]

lmao luke block

[Minhee]

Bynum is an idiot

[CITYOFANGELSX3]

Howard to the bench!

[Hunter103]

Quarter could have gone worse... Let's hope Howard stays in foul trouble.

With Farmar out, who's the backup PG? Sasha?