GAME#41 LAKERS VS MAGIC 1/18/10 7:30PM TNT

[DEEP3CL]

31-9
VS
26-14



GASOL | BYNUM | ARTEST | BRYANT | FISHER = 77.5 PTS PER GM 3rd in NBA




LEWIS | HOWARD | BARNES | CARTER | NELSON = 68.7 PTS PER GM 12th in NBA


ARENA: Staples Center Los Angeles,CA.
TIME : 7:30PM
TV: TNT


SERIES HISTORY & FACTS

The Lakers and Magic have played 20 regular season games since the 1999-2000 season with the Lakers winning 15 and losing 5. However the Magic have won 3 of the last 4, and took the season series last season for the first time in it's teams history. Lakers have met 41 times in the regular season with Los Angeles holding a 30-11 advantage in the all-time series. At STAPLES Center, the Lakers are 8-2 all-time against the Magic in regular season contests. The Lakers defeated the Magic in five games during the 2009 NBA Finals, marking the first time the two teams have met in the playoffs.

The Lakers are ranked 8th in scoring at 103.1 per game, while the Magic are ranked 10th averaging 101.6. The Lakers are also ranked 8th in free throw shooting percentage with a .776 average a game, the Magic are ranked 30th with a .718 average...... last in the league.

The Lakers are ranked 2nd in the NBA in defensive field goal percentage with .436, the Magic are also highly ranked coming in 5th with .441.

KEYS TO WINNING THE GAME

REBOUNDING
Rebounding will the biggest factor to winning the game. These are the top 2 defensive rebounding teams in the league, Lakers 1st & Magic 2nd. The Lakers have more front line depth than the Magic which should be more than enough to out rebound the Magic.

BALL MOVEMENT
For all the Lakers problems at the lead guard spot, the Lakers as a team still average more assist per game than the Magic. The Lakers rank 7th in assist while the Magic rank 26th, this is indicative of the lack of play makers on the Magic squad. Ball movement and pounding it into the post relentlessly will put pressure on the Magic defense to have to help Dwight Howard or Lewis in the post.

DEFENDING THE 3
The Lakers will have to limit the Magic 3pt shooting attack, they're in the top 10 but they also give up the 3 as well. In the Finals the Lakers defended Howard mostly man on man, this allowed the Lakers to stay close to range on their long ball threats.

HALFWAY TO THE FINISH BUT A LONG WAY FROM THIS

[DEEP3CL]

Magic fan here. The magic aren't playin to hot right now. I would like to get an outside perspective on what you think of the magics 1 in 4 out style, and what you guys think of Rashard Lewis as a power forward both offensvely and defensively.

Truthfully I'm not surprise by what the Magic are going through. Your GM Otis Smith thought the Magic needed more scoring but all they needed was time together. Ranking 26th in assist proves exactly what smart basketball guys thought would happen to them...... long shots from Carter and the ball not in Howard's hands.

Vince Carter isn't a play maker so his ability to create shots for others are largely what has the Magic struggling on offense in my opinion. Howard for whatever reason isn't the guy he was last season on a regular basis. Everybody to an extent has suffered because that pick up. As far a Lewis.....he was never a defensive factor and never will be, offensively he's a major threat always from deep so you have to pay attention to him.

The Magic played like crap against the Blazers, but I'll bet they'll be ready Monday if not they'll get smoked.

[dockingsched]

nice thread DEEP! big test for drew, i hope foul trouble doesn't limit his game, but i expect it.

[Hilltop]

As a Magic fan, I'm not really expecting a win given the way the team has been playing as of late.

I never thought it would come to this, but most of us will have to be more patient than initially thought. The suspensions, and the countless injuries we've suffered have taken a toll on what was supposed to be a time to "gel" for all the new players. The team has been complete for only a little more than 10 games this season, fully-healthy is another story. It might be a while before the Magic get it all together. Sigh.

Nice game thread by the way.

[Anklebreaker702]

Good GT Deep! We gotta get this 1!

[BigShaq]

Go Lakers, i'm Cavs fan and I want u guys to beat the Magic.
keys: rebounds , rebounds rebounds

[Slava]

I expect Bynum will outplay D12 offensively and Dwight will have a bad/foul ridden game.

If we keep their perimeter in check we win.

[Nolimit1211]

Dwight = No Offense
Rashard = All Bricks/No Rebounding
Barnes= Our ONLY Heart+Hustle
Carter = Go 2 for 15 then fake an injury
Jameer = Dribble..Dribble..Dribble Shoot


I admire your team and you guys deserve the win, I love my Magic but when guys play with NO heart and expect us to show support and pay our money to see them play like that? no no nooooo

[Desiderium]

I expect Bynum will outplay D12 offensively and Dwight will have a bad/foul ridden game.

If we keep their perimeter in check we win.

these are the games bynum fades away, the big ones.

[iamworthy]

Great GT Deep!



Bynums going to teach Howard a thing or two about footwork.

[XonezIOIzenoX]

Magic fan here, prediction, magic loses between 10-20 points, lakers will have us beat on all things on this game. Magic isn't playing like what they were suppose to be playing, they are not a elite team this year like they were last year. Yea it sucks

[TylersLakers]

Big test for Drew, and he usually loves these big match-ups. He's gotta board and be patient and aggressive on the offensive end.

Good game thread, Deep.

[DEEP3CL]

I think the X-factor player will be Ron-Ron, no way in hell can Matt Barnes guard him. Ron should take him the post as often as possible. Defensively I see Ron checking Vince but Kobe will certainly want to stick his knives in him too. Ron on Vince allows Kobe to roam but with caution because Barnes will be a deep threat for the Magic.

Drew will need to finally win one of these so called center battles, many on the Magic board believes Howard is way way ahead of Drew but in reality that isn't the case. I mean the man still doesn't have a pet go to move he can rely on when he can't dunk.

Drew is way more offensively fluid than Howard is, he just needs to be patient with his offense because I seriously doubt the Magic will send a quick double to him. In past games against Howard, Drew has been whistled with quickies but now he seems to be getting the benefit of some calls now. I suspect this time will be different, early foul trouble for Howard could spell serious trouble for the Magic.

[butter17]

Should be a good game. The magic will remember the championship last year and come out swinging. The lakers need to match the magic energy and come out and take it to them. (GO LAKERS)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kevin_405]

Nice stats Deep..

This is the start of a tough stretch for us.

Out of next 8 games 7 are on the road.. We play 4 likely playoff bound teams in Orlando , Cleveland , Toronto and Boston.

Kobe isn't 100% , Pau and Artest are just back from injury trying to gel in with the team..

Orlando is also missing Vince and Jameer post last years injury is not the same , his scoring is down and he was the major cause of all the trouble in the regular season last year..

As Deep said the Bynum Dwight matchup is the key for us

[XonezIOIzenoX]

laker fans i know you guys trying to be nice to us magic fans by saying this might be a tough match, but really lets all be honest here, its an easy match for you guys. Magic is not in the same page as they were last year, their scoring is down as well as defense. Magic is not a elite team and i have learn to recognize that. La Lakers will cruise this game like all other games at home, trust me this isn't the magic you guys should be concern about.

[The Skyhook]

I want to see big things from Drew tonight. Kobe can also become the youngest player to reach 25,000 if he scores 30 tonight.

[Anklebreaker702]

I expect Bynum will outplay D12 offensively and Dwight will have a bad/foul ridden game.

If we keep their perimeter in check we win.

these are the games bynum fades away, the big ones.

UUmmmm, didn't he just misuse Duncan & Dampier?

[Hunter103]

Game time! Here we go!

Go Lakers.

[dockingsched]

show em that footwork all game drew!