Sun. 3/29 - Lakers @ Atlanta - Predictions & Comments

Sunday, March 29
12:30 PM PST
TV: KCAL
Radio: KLAC-AM 570/KWKW-AM 1330
Online Radio: The Game Live



Post all your comments here...

Don't forget to read through the CL Guidelines concerning personal attacks and swearing.

We need Kobe to be Kobe for this one.

This game will be hard if we win then we could still get overall HCA if not then that's OK because Cleveland might not even make it out of the east.

Tough game. I'm proud to say this will be the second game in a row I'll be able to watch fully.

To take a page from Kobe's book : It's going to be fun. I'm looking forward to it.

No predictions, no hunches, just a need to win.

This is another team (like Detroit and Charlotte) that has given the Lakers fits in recent years, esp in Atlanta.

Last year, Horford simply out-physicaled LO and Pau. This team is athletic, young, and full of energy at home -- much like Philly and Portland. This will be a tough game. Matchup problems everywhere, and comes down to hustle.

Fish can keep Bibby from penetrating, but the inability to defend the pick and roll reared its ugly head against the Nets -- of course that was mostly Farmar and Benga. But Bibby thrives on it and can hit clutch 3s when Fish and Farmer go under/around screens. Fish needs to make Bibby work on defense to tire his legs and make Bibby try to be a finisher.

Ariza and/or Kobe on Joe Johnson will be fun. Hope Kobe's ankle is ok, otherwise we will be in big trouble as Kobe needs his legs for defense more than anything this game. He can get Joe in foul trouble if he looks to post him, and be a facilitator early, getting Pau and LO easy looks.

LO and Smith is where I worry. If Josh decides to be aggressive, look for LO to be in foul trouble, and have one of those damn fouls on a 3 point jump shot by Smith.

Al and Pau -- Pau needs to play with a passion. Attack the rim like he has shown in flashes against Duncan and Garnett, and let Horford know early this won't be like last year.

ATL is impossible to beat at home with an early lead and confidence. But when teams jump on them early - like Orlando did in a home and home with them, and Boston has done this year -- they fold. The first quarter will be the key. And it won't be easy, with the Hawks having a good home record and losing last night to Celts. Tough to beat them after a home loss. A lot stacked up against the Lakers -- Kobe ailing, Pau being tired, team on its 5th on a road trip, Jordan and Sasha really really really struggling, Powell being a no-show lately and being too slow to finish around the rim, Trevor not hitting his 3s consistently.......

Tough times......like when the Lakers went in and beat Boston and Cleveland when nobody expected them to...... I think we'll take this......and a couple of 3s by Sasha will be the key....just a feeling

SA just won in Atlanta without Tim Duncan...

I don't care, we have to win.

If Atlanta comes to play, it's going to be a tough match-up. LO will have to play big for us today, so will Ariza. If the bench shows up, that would be positive, but I wouldn't rely on them, not after what they've shown us this year.

Kobe has looked tired and beat up. Gasol must rise to occasion and burden a larger portion of the scoring load as he did in the previous game.

Most importantly, we must come prepared to play like this is the playoffs. Atl is trying hold Mia for the 4th seed in the East. They know that HC in the first round is at stake for them. This should be a good game and a Laker victory if we play with focus and energy.

PLEASE put the game away early so Kobe, Fish and Pau can play limited minutes. Bench Mob... Let's play a decent game. We need you guys to step it up, especially with Kobe hurt and Pau playing 40+ minutes a night.

KB24@CL wrote:SA just won in Atlanta without Tim Duncan...

I don't care, we have to win.

SA won in Atlanta without Duncan -- but a healthy Ginobli and Parker (Bibby can't do anything against Parker)

Boston won without KG. Again, Bibby was a liability and Boston's back up bigs are still too physical for Josh Smith and Atl's other back-ups.

Can we win without Kobe??? Doubt it. Doubt Atlanta will lose 3 in a row at home to anyone. They are due for a good game. And we don't have the PG play to really hurt them. But.....we have the depth if Sasha and Jordan play smart and within themselves, and LO STAYS OUT OF FOUL TROUBLE TO help the second unit.

Is Kobe playing?

Damn, Dallas had a 15 point lead and blew it. Dirk looks old and slow. Doesn't look like the Lakers will get any help today. They must win.

I hate that I'm not going to be at this one.

And I'm calling it now, Flip Murray will get a new career high today.

Flip Murray is trash. Joe Johnson vs Kobe should be interesting.

tigerjeterkobe wrote:Damn, Dallas had a 15 point lead and blew it. Dirk looks old and slow. Doesn't look like the Lakers will get any help today. They must win.

Yeah, now the Mavs are just getting destroyed.

F**k Dallas. They look like garbage. I want the Lakers to play them in the first round so they can punish them for being so terrible.

Kobe Bryant a game time decision.

M4mb4 24 wrote:Kobe Bryant a game time decision.

Isn't it gametime now?

ZenMaster4President wrote:

M4mb4 24 wrote:Kobe Bryant a game time decision.

Isn't it gametime now?

in 2 minutes..knowing mamba he'll be suited up and ready to go.

M4mb4 24 wrote:Kobe Bryant a game time decision.

Why did you even mention that?

This is Kobe we're talking about. He'll play.

I like the Hawks, I hope this is a good game.

I'm home and ready to watch...let's roll, gents.

Link?

Game time! I'll be watching it on Sportsouth

Let's go Lakers. Jump on em early.

I can't believe this! They're showing girls softball on sportsouth instead of the game!!!!

HOW LAME IS THAT???

Kobe with a flu bug was well.