Grizzlies @ Lakers Preview

LA LAKERS (24-11) @ MEM GRIZZLIES (10-26) [GAME 36]

GAME PREVIEW (ANALYSIS):

The Lakers will look for their first 6 game winning streak since April of 2004 as they battle the Memphis Grizzlies for their 2nd meeting of the week.

The Lakers come off a 110-105 victory over Milwaukee in which Andrew Bynum put up a 25 point, 17 rebound effor to help guide LA to victory. “By far he’s much stronger,” Jackson said of Bynum.

“We told him to go to the ball. Last year a lot of them got knocked out of his hands when he was bringing it down, but this year he is controlling it.”

Kobe Bryant, LAL SG

Bynum is now averaging 13 points and 10 rebounds on the season.

Despite feeling under the weather due to an upper respatory infection, Kobe Bryant scored 37 points, with 16 of them coming in the 4th quarter. “I got a couple of reports before the game about his condition and where he was at,” coach Jackson said. “He had some nausea and some headaches and dizziness. But he said he’s be ready to play, and he was.”

“Early in the ballgame I was feeling real weak and I was trying to find a rhythm, but I was able to muscle through it,” said Bryant. “I was just trying to focus on the execution and find little things to motivate me.

With Friday’s win, the Lakers improved their record to 24-11, and made it 15 wins in their last 18 games.

MASSACRE’S MATCHUP:

Los Angeles is now 1 game back of idle Phoenix for first place in the Pacific division. A win tonight would put them a half game behind Phoenix, whom they meet with on the 17th. New Orleans, San Antonio & Los Angeles are all one game aback of the first seed in the Western Conference, LA can’t afford to slip against one of the league’s worst, record-wise, teams.

PROBABLE STARTERS:

Mike Conley Jr., Mike Miller, Rudy Gay, Pau Gasol, Darko Milicic

INJURY REPORT:

No injuries reported.

Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Luke Walton, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum

INJURY REPORT:

Kwame Brown: Moderate Ankle & Knee Sprains - Probable
Kobe Bryant: Viral Upper Respiratory Infection - Probable
Chris Mihm: Right Ankle Bursitis - Out
Vladimir Radmanovic: Sprained Right Ankle - Doubtful
Sasha Vujacic: Sprained Left Ankle & Back Spasms - Questionable

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PREDICTED OUTCOME: LA can’t take Memphis easily tonight. The defense on Rudy gay will be a huge factor in deciding the outcome of this game, as it will always be. LA has always had a tough time defending wingmen, but having acquired Ariza has helped that situation.

Los Angeles needs to take advantage of the weaker part of their schedule.

Time: 6:30pm | TV: FSN HD | Radio: KLAC AM 570, ESPN 1330

Can LA put together their first 6 game winning streak since 2004? Should Jackson start Trevor Ariza on Rudy Gay? Sound off in our CL.com forums!