Massacre’s Matchups: Game 1 Preview

It’s time.

Time for Kobe Bryant to take the stage yet again in the post-season. Time for the Los Angeles Lakers to demonstrate why they are one of the most storied franchises in all of sports. Time to begin the journey for yet another championship banner to hang in the rafters.

Sunday morning, the Lakers begin their 2007-08 post-season in the STAPLES Center against a prolific Denver Nuggets squad, whom they defeated on 3 seperate occassions throughout the regular season.

The Lakers enter post-season play having claimed the highly-coveted number 1 seed — meaning home court advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs, a component that will pay huge dividends for a team as young as the currently assembled Laker unit.

For Allen Iverson, it’s no unfamiliar task being matched up with Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. The veteran guard led his 2001 Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA Finals, only to match up with the Western Conference powerhouse, L.A. Lakers.

Iverson scored 48 points in a game 1 victory, handing the Lakers their only loss that post-season, but Philadelphia failed to come away with another victory in the series, as they lost, 4 games to 1.

“A team that’s won 50 games and is the eighth seed [Denver Nuggets], I think that’s remarkable,” said Lakers Guard Kobe Bryant, who is averaging a shade over 25 points per game in his career against the Nuggets.

“We have a lot of confidence,” continued Bryant. “We have some experience as well. We’re ready to go. We just have to move the ball. We’re a great team when everybody’s moving and cutting.”

Though the Lakers are favored to advance past Denver and into the 2nd round - the Nuggets aren’t a team to be taken lightly.

“Their productivity’s been really high,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “They’re a real quick-hit type of team. We’ve got to do a job. We won’t curtail our guys from getting up and down the court. We have to know what are good shots and what aren’t in the transition game.”

The Lakers defeated Denver all 3 times - without Gasol in the lineup.

Missing young Center Andrew Bynum since mid-January, Gasol filled the void of an inside prescence for the Lakers, who immediately climbed in the standings upon the arrival of Spanish forward, who is averaging roughly 17 points per game in his career against the Nuggets.

“I knew I could be a great fit,” Gasol said. “The system, the players, the style of their game - it all felt right.”

Andrew Bynum and Trevor Ariza are not expected to return this series.

Denver Nuggets Starting 5:

Denver Nuggets Injury Report:

Nene: Out - Right groin strain

L.A. Lakers Starting 5:

L.A. Lakers Injury Report:
Trevor Ariza: Broken Foot - Out
Andrew Bynum: Left Patella Subluxation - Out

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Time: 12:00pm | TV: ABC | Radio: KLAC AM 570, ESPN 1330

Will Lamar Odom keep up his spectacular play in the post-season? What kind of challenge do the Nuggets pose to the Lakers? Sound off in our CL.com forums!

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