Fri. 12/28 - Lakers vs Blazers - Predictions & Comments

Friday, December 28th
Live: 7:30 PM PST
TV: TWCSN
Radio: KSPN-AM 710/KWKW-AM 1330
Online Radio Link: http://espn.go.com/espnradio/losangeles/play?s=la

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Quick Preview

Lakers (14-15) vs. Blazers (14-13)
10:30 PM EST

LAKERS
Lost last 1
9-6 at home
8-11 vs. West

PROBABLE STARTERS
Steve Nash 10.4 points, 7.2 assists, 3.4 rebounds
Darius Morris 4.9 points, 2.2 assists, 1.5 rebounds
Kobe Bryant 30.2 points, 4.9 assists, 5.3 rebounds
Pau Gasol 12.6 points, 3.9 assists, 8.7 rebounds
Dwight Howard 17.5 points, 2.0 assists, 11.8 rebounds

BLAZERS
Won last 1
4-9 on the road
10-7 vs. West

PROBABLE STARTERS
Damian Lillard 18.6 points, 6.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds
Nicolas Batum 16.0 points, 4.0 assists, 5.7 rebounds
Wesley Matthews 15.0 points, 2.4 assists, 2.9 rebounds
LaMarcus Aldridge 21.1 points, 2.2 assists, 8.3 rebounds
J.J. Hickson 12.8 points, 0.8 assists, 11.1 rebounds

PREDICTION
On Halloween the Lakers went to Portland (where they cannot buy a win). They were drubbed 116-106. In LA, things have gone better for the Lakers facing Portland. The loss at Denver wasn't exactly a return to the struggles of old, but it was a sign that not everything is going to be easy for the Lakers.

LA must contain the shooting of Portland. There are just too many good shooters; if LA sags off them as they have, this could be a long night for LA. I don't think that will happen though. Both Pau Gasol (plantar fasciitis) and Wesley Matthews (hip) are dealing with injuries. Gasol is probable; Matthews might be less likely to play.

Portland is holding onto that 8th seed. With a win, the Lakers would tie them.

Lakers 109
Blazers 101

This should be a win, nothing else needs to be said. Losing games like this early in the season (Orl, Ind, Utah, etc) really did a number on our record. Can't afford to lose any home games to non-elite teams anymore.

Portland never wins in L.A. so I fully expect a win.

We'll win this game.

we better win. we gotta play hard from the start. go after EVERYTHING. play with intensity and desperation bc we are a desperate team now. get dwight involved on O early so he'll be a monster on D. getting buckets boosts your energy on the other end.

would like to start the game off going to dwight either in the post on on pnr with nash.

lillard and batum as well as LA are prob gunna kill us. so i guess Morris/Kobe/Metta/Pau are gunna have to play very hard on D and smart. Metta better bring it..bc last game was forgettable. play smart on D bc they can hit those 3's so kobe better not be ball watching and close out on his man or dont leave him period.

Pau/Dwight gotta work together to defend LA as well as penetrating guards.

we just gotta play together. play with intensity and energy for the entire game. play desperate. we gotta move up the standings NOW.

Texas Lakers Fan wrote:Portland never wins in L.A. so I fully expect a win.

This. Of course we always lose in Portland, too.

.500 here we come. Again.

I expect a win here, lets try to get another winning streak going.

come out with the right energy and effort on BOTH ends from tip off. get dwight going VERY early and get him engaged so he will be on BOTH ends. Meeks, Kobe, & Metta shoot well as well as Pau who should be aggressive but wont bc hes hurt.

hoping for a win but not expecting anything good.

fair officiating tonight? probably not.

We should win this one.

Wow, anyone see those umm tats behind Gasol during warmups? Noice!

Ariza3 wrote:fair officiating tonight? probably not.

take it for what it is worth, but i heard from a source that stern specifically instructed his officials tonight to give the game to the blazers. not even sure if its worth watching.

Over/Under..... Lillard 25 pts

JoelMyersScrotalSack wrote:This should be a win, nothing else needs to be said. Losing games like this early in the season (Orl, Ind, Utah, etc) really did a number on our record. Can't afford to lose any home games to non-elite teams anymore.

This. Have we still played more home games than any other team? We are running out of them already.

Rooscooter wrote:Over/Under..... Lillard 25 pts

Depends on how many mins Kobe plays him on D.

Kidding guys, kidding. I think.

Lillard 40 point game easy

Great Morris is starting again

Battle Tested20 wrote:Great Morris is starting again

it's ok he is only there for 6 min

i hope lillard balls out (fantasy) but the rest of the blazers suck

Forklift wrote:

Battle Tested20 wrote:Great Morris is starting again

it's ok he is only there for 6 min

don't underestimate the amount of bad he can do in 6 minutes......

No more excuses tonight. Put your big boy pants on and dominate!

Toggling the Mizzou vs. UCLA game... Bruins looking good

Pau with the fade.....from 4 feet.... ugh