Thurs. 2/7 Lakers @ Celtics - Predictions & Comments

Thursday, February 7th
Live: 5:00 PM PST
TV: TNT
Radio: KSPN-AM 710/KWKW-AM 1330
Online Radio Link: http://espn.go.com/espnradio/losangeles/play?s=la

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I will feel confident about this game if Howard played.

win.

Preview coming...

We need either Pau or Dwight.

This team looked downright UGLY in the games where both those guys were injured.

tough game . but i am confident that we can win at boston but it will be a very hard and tough game. go lakers

JoelMyersScrotalSack wrote:We need either Pau or Dwight.

This team looked downright UGLY in the games where both those guys were injured.

This.
I don't think Pau will be able to play, so I hope Dwight is. If we have Dwight and he doesn't have a bad night then I think we get the W.

a win would have me ecstatic. Actually I expected us to lose to the Nets without Howard and Artest...

if we win this one, it will be an eye opener for the rest of the league that we are back for good.

Don't count on Dwight. Pau is gone for at least this road trip. It's all about team/individual pride. Let's hope these new guys continue the great play. No Rondo is a great help so there is space for Lakers to kick butt.

Uh oh, too many people are expecting a win. That usually results in a loss.

If Howard doesn't play, does Clark start at the 5?

We need this game. I pray Dwight comes back. Even a Dwight with a banged up shoulder and a back that isn't quite right yet would help tremdously. If he plays, we can pull this out...

WIN ! Celtics are on a back to back games and their old vets (KG, Pierce, Terry) will be tired after playing today at Toronto, not to mention their best player Rondo will be out as well.

Hopefully Dwight is able to play for us though

QUICK PREVIEW
Lakers (23-26) at Celtics (25-23)
8:00 PM EST

LAKERS
Won last 3
8-16 on the road
10-8 vs. East

PROBABLE STARTERS
Steve Nash 11.9 points, 7.8 assists, 3.0 rebounds
Kobe Bryant 27.6 points, 5.4 assists, 5.2 rebounds
Earl Clark 7.5 points, 1.1 assists, 6.0 rebounds
Metta World Peace 13.2 points, 1.5 assists, 5.7 rebounds
Robert Sacre 1.6 points, 0.2 assists, 1.3 rebounds

CELTICS
Won last 5
17-9 at home
9-8 vs. West

PROBABLE STARTERS
Avery Bradley 8.1 points, 1.2 assists, 1.9 rebounds
Courtney Lee 7.5 points, 1.5 assists, 2.3 rebounds
Paule Pierce 18.5 points, 4.1 assists, 6.2 rebounds
Brandon Bass 7.5 points, 0.9 assists, 4.9 rebounds
Kevin Garnett 15.1 points, 2.1 assists, 7.4 rebounds

PREDICTION
The Lakers won two close games over Boston last season. The teams have not met this season. The Lakers will be without Pau Gasol, and Dwight Howard seems like a long shot to play. For their part, the Celtics will sorely miss Rajon Rondo. Still, there are plenty of stars on the floor for both teams. Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash have both struggled slightly in their careers against Boston, but Antawn Jamison and Jodie Meeks have had slightly better numbers against Boston than they do overall, so look for that duo to step up. Earl Clark against Garnett could be fun to watch.

The Lakers are building a respectable body of work. They're now in the middle of the pack as far as Road Win% goes, they're 10-8 against the East, they have won six of their last seven, and their defensive rating is up to 16th in the league. None of those numbers are great, but they're all far better than they were two weeks ago. Without Howard and Gasol, the Lakers are going to struggle again. I have a great deal of confidence in the team, but the numbers aren't quite in favor of LA yet. At home, they'd be a six point favorite.

Lakers 98
Celtics 100

Gonna be a good game. Both teams are not taking this game lightly so I expect an all out war.

Mamba mode needs to be activated. IMMEDEATELY! We NEED this game. Severely undermanned, kobe and nash will need to have amazing games in order to get this W.

Trodgers, what are Wheelchair's numbers against the Lakers since MWP joined the team?

I have a bad feeling for tonight.

If Howard can't go tonight.... this should be a blow-out loss we have no interior presence without Howard and KG would eat us alive......

Scnottaken wrote:Trodgers, what are Wheelchair's numbers against the Lakers since MWP joined the team?

wcsoldier81 posted this in the MWP thread:

Pierce only had 3 games above 20 ( and threes game above 50% shooting) in 13 contests against us since Metta is a Laker ... it better not change tonight

18 pts on 44% shooting during the Finals
17.5 pts on 41.6% from the field in the 6 regular season games

^ We'll likely see the ball in Pierce's hands a lot more with Rondo out, and hopefully that stat continues to be true tonight.

So, Nash, Kobe, Metta, Clark, Jamison?

Picked up a game in the standings last night with both Portland and Houston losing. Would be nice if the Lakers didn't lose tonight to actually gain some more ground on that front.