On The Real - Warriors vs. Lakers

Golden State Warriors (12 - 27) @ Los Angeles Lakers (21 - 16)

Date: Friday, January 21st
Time: 7:30 PM
TV: FSN, NBALP

Previous Games
Nuggets @ Warriors 107-97 (WIN)
Wolves @ Lakers 93-90 (WIN)

— Projected Starting Lineups —
Warriors

C - Cliff Robinson (9.0 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.8 APG)
PF - Troy Murphy (16.2 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 1.3 APG)
SF - Mike Dunleavy (11.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.5 APG)
SG - Jason Richardson (21.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 3.6 APG)
PG - Speedy Claxton (12.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 5.9 APG)
Coach - Mike Montgomery

Lakers

C - Chris Mihm (11.0 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 0.7 APG)
PF - Lamar Odom (14.6 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 2.9 APG)
SF - Caron Butler (14.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.4 APG)
SG - Sasha Vujacic (4.0 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 1.0 APG)
PG - Chucky Atkins (12.2 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 4.1 APG)
Coach - Rudy Tomjanovich

— Who Dat? —

Warriors
Derek Fisher
Predicted Stats: 15 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists

Lakers
Jumaine Jones
Predicted Stats: 9 points, 4 rebounds, 0 assists

— Who Got Game? —

Warriors
Jason Richardson
Predicted Stats: 23 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists

Lakers
Lamar Odom
Predicted Stats: 25 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists

— Brandon’s Analysis —
I always enjoy watching Derek Fisher play. Tonight, I’ll feel the same…but the difference is, he’s not wearing gold.

The Warriors are trying to swim their way out of the deep Pacific waters…but will it happen? Not with the Lakes they’ll have to conquer. :) But the difference is, the Warriors aren’t really looking at this game as being a chance to move up for a playoff spot…not yet, anyways. Instead, Golden State sees this as an opportunity for revenge…for the games that we’ve won, for them picking up Fisher (which I believe was a “golden opportunity”) and, well…just because. The Lakers can’t take this game too lightly though…the Warriors have J-Rich back, and they seem to always cause us problems everytime we meet.

There are two Warriors to watch for in this game: Richardson and Fisher. Fish will play great at STAPLES, and J-Rich could abuse Vujacic tonight, depending on how long Rudy T keeps the young kid in the game. Okay Laker fans…on three…one, two…three…where’s BOBBITT? Maybe a little dramatic, but I’m guessing Tony is keeping busy watching the Laker backcourt struggle defensively, and thinking to himself, “Why didn’t I just stay in bed this morning?”

Your fast break connection of the night…will be Atkins to Butler. For the Warriors…Speedy to anyone. The Lakers need to improve their transitions…well…defense, shooting, pick and rolls…a lot of things, but fast breaks will be an important factor in this game tonight. If the Lakers push for the 2 on 1, possibly 3 on 1…and don’t hold the ball and back out, we can have some easy buckets on the break, which could be nice to look back to if we’re barely holding a lead near the end of the game.

— Brandon’s Prediction —
With everything in place, this could be another exciting game at STAPLES. Although some would consider Warrior games boring, this team will fight against teams such as the Lakers and the Wolves, proving this against Denver the other night. However, the Lakers are playing at home, and Mihm should have a good game…where the Lakeshow will pull away late in the fourth and win this one, 98-90.