Wed. 12/26 - Lakers @ Nuggets - Predictions & Comments

Very important game tomorrow. We can tie the Nuggets 15-14 with a win tomorrow.

6 in a row?!? LET'S GOO!!!

MOARRRRRRRRRRR WINSSSSSSSSSSS

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Lakers (14-14) at Nuggets (15-14)
9:00 PM EST

LAKERS
Won last 5
5-8 on the road
8-10 vs. West

PROBABLE STARTERS
Steve Nash 9.3 points, 7.0 assists, 3.8 rebounds
Darius Morris 5.1 points, 2.2 assists, 1.5 rebounds
Kobe Bryant 29.9 points, 4.9 assists, 5.4 rebounds
Pau Gasol 12.3 points, 3.9 assists, 8.9 rebounds
Dwight Howard 17.7 points, 2.0 assists, 11.9 rebounds

NUGGETS
Lost last 1
8-1 at home
10-8 vs. West

PROBABLE STARTERS
Ty Lawson 14.0 points, 6.9 assists, 2.6 rebounds
Andre Iguodala 13.6 points, 4.2 assists, 5.4 rebounds
Danilo Gallinari 15.3 points, 2.5 assists, 5.6 rebounds
Kenneth Faried 11.9 points, 0.8 assists, 9.9 rebounds
Kosta Koufos 7.5 points, 0.5 assists, 6.4 rebounds

PREDICTION
On November 30th the Lakers pummeled the Nuggets thanks to a 20/20 game from Dwight Howard and a ridiculous shooting display from the Lakers (17-33 on threes). Both teams were hovering around the .500 mark at the time, and they're in roughly the same position now.

The Nuggets are probably the favorites, but this is probably a good time to bet against the odds. While the new Lakers haven't logged enough minutes together to offer a clear sense of how good they are, there are at least three things working in LA's favor. First, while the Lakers are a respectable 3-2 in second of back to backs, the Nuggets are pretty awful (2-4). Despite the fact that this is a back to back for both teams and Denver is the host team, they actually will have less rest than the Lakers, who got into Denver hours ahead of Denver (both teams going from LA). Second, the Lakers have been very good with Steve Nash and Pau Gasol as healthy additions to the lineup. They have outscored their last two opponents 114-99 in the second half and overtime. Third, Kobe Bryant is averaging 33.8 points, 4.6 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game in December. He has failed to reach 30 points only once during that span.

Lakers 109
Nuggets 103

Hoping for a win, but expecting a loss.

Well at least Denver will be on a back 2 back too and arrive in Denver later than us ...

think its a W for us. Now we are on hot hand I think we are going for 20 W streak

This is going to be another W for us. The Lakers are getting better with each game and they're figuring out how to play together.

If we win, we will replace them as the 8th seed. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?!? And if Minny loses to houston tomorrow too, we'll move to up 7th!!! We NEED this!!! I say we WIN!!!

Denver has only played 9 home games so far and just lost today on the road, they are salivating to win this game at home. I don't like our chances, but who knows we're playing excellent right now.

Also this is sad but we haven't been able to win more than 5 games in a row since April of 2011. We really need a winning streak like the Clipper have, but our schedule is going to get brutal pretty soon.

True test tonight. Playing on the road against a good team.

JoelMyersScrotalSack wrote:Denver has only played 9 home games so far and just lost today on the road, they are salivating to win this game at home. I don't like our chances, but who knows we're playing excellent right now.

Also this is sad but we haven't been able to win more than 5 games in a row since April of 2011. We really need a winning streak like the Clipper have, but our schedule is going to get brutal pretty soon.

all this. i just don't want them to get blown out and take all the air out of the recent upswing. a win would be pretty huge, psychologically, as would a beatdown loss. anything in between is neutral, as it's totally acceptable to lose on the second night of a back-to-back in denver. in fact, that's kind of a schedule loss; pop would be resting his starters for this one.

Nuggets looked really bad last night, theyre slumping a little bit and they arrived in Denver AFTER we did so they're gonna be more weary and tired than us. Just eek out a win tonight and you put yourself in the top 8 in the playoff picture

Just keep the game close until 4th quarter. Then take over in the 4th and win.

We'll win this game. Although, Dever is a tough home team, I think we can pull it off.

I actually am expecting a loss, so we'll see.

I am very confident that we'll win tonight. I can feel it.

scissors wrote:Just keep the game close until 4th quarter. Then take over in the 4th and win.

THIS!! The past to games has given me confidence in our ability to close tight games. Kobe and nash just dominate the game. Dwight does the same on the defensive side of the floor.

this is a very important game bc it'll be a mental test. are the guys focussed enough to move on from a big win and go to work and to not think its an easy when and not come out lazy and slow and get run over...

hope the team is ready for a hard game bc this will def be one. gotta remain focussed and metally tough and not think lightly of this team. Felton penetrated so easily against us and Ty can easily do the same. Faried is super aggressive on the boards and they have some good 3 point shooters. they can come out in waves and keep attacking especially at home with the altitude.

hoping for a win but expecting a loss for sure. 6 in a row would be nice but im not sold on our teams mental strength to come out strong and energetic every game especially after a back to back playing big minutes. i expect a slow lethargic start and fighting a deficit the whole game. dwight better be more assertive since no one can stop him on the nuggets

Why does people still "hope for a win, but expect a loss"?!? It seems more evident now than ever before that we can compete with any team. We've beaten better than the nuggets. And we've had more rest than them too. Hoping for a win and EXPECTING A WIN.

cant expect anything with this team yet. especially when the team is only starting to mesh, dwight isnt 100%, were starting morris, its a b2b, and rotations aren't entirely set yet either.

King of Clutch wrote:Why does people still "hope for a win, but expect a loss"?!? It seems more evident now than ever before that we can compete with any team. We've beaten better than the nuggets. And we've had more rest than them too. Hoping for a win and EXPECTING A WIN.

Heh, I see what you mean, and while we look awesome at times, sometimes the shots just don't fall (one out of every so often games).

The mile high climate seems to do that to us a lot, especially B2B, unless someone can show me the stats otherwise. I hope Kobe doesn't go 10/40 again, but a W is a W, so let's go.

Ariza3 wrote:cant expect anything with this team yet. especially when the team is only starting to mesh, dwight isnt 100%, were starting morris, its a b2b, and rotations aren't entirely set yet either.

I get what you're saying, but none of those reasons are good enough reasons as to why the lakers will lose to THIS team, in my opinion. If anything, transition baskets, would be the most worrisome aspect heading into this game if one were expecting a loss.