Game Preview #70: Los Angeles Lakers verses The Chicago Bulls

by chgobr on Mar 21, 2009 10:10 AM CDT

The week that was - out of the muck into the 8th seed: I'm still basking in our tough, important three game win streak as we prepare to face the Lakers tonight. Paxson appears to have hit a home run with the Miller - Salmons trade. Noah, Hinrich, Gordon an all are contributing. The rotation has solidified.

I had to add this: After an unbelievable blowout loss at home 121 - 94 to Sacramento the Knicks are reeling. In today's New York Daily News there is a comment that made me feel we didn't totally get screwed with VDN verses D'Antoni.

Remember911 Mar 21, 2009 7:18:43 AM
Once again, we have the worst coach in the league. No defense and running so much that the team is tired in the 4th quarter. The Knicks are pathetic and so is Donnie Walsh for hiring Mike D'Antoni.

The weeks ahead: The odds favor the Lakers winning tonight by 4 to 5.5 points via the Vegas Insider. Assuming Charlotte wins at home against Indiana tonight and we lose, the Bulls will fall to the 9th seed because Charlotte has the tie-breaker. Monday and Tuesday we are in Washington and Detroit at home. Charlotte plays on Wednesday at Washington. That gives us a chance to be in the 8th spot even if Charlotte wins Wednesday. I know many ifs here but I'm just thinking ahead. Starting next Thursday March 26th we have a big advantage. Of the last 11 games for Charlotte 7 are on the road with only one easy game, a home game March 28th against the Knicks. The Bulls finish the last 10 games beginning with Miami at home March 26th. Of the 10 games 7 are at home and 3 on the road. All 10 are winnable games.

Tonight's game: The last time we defeated the Lakers was December 19th 2006 at home 94 - 89. Deng scored 23 points on 9 - 16 and BG had 22. Kobe had 19 points on 6 - 19. December 18th 2007 we lost at home 103 - 91 in a 4th quarter collapse after being blown out November 17th 2007 in LA 106 - 78. We lost this year November 18th 2008 in LA 116 - 109. Rose scored 25 and had 9 assists but it was Gasol with 34 ponts who man-handled the Bulls inside. Kobe added 21 and Bynum had 18. It was Gasol who exposed how terrible we were guarding or scoring in the paint. We are playing possibly the best team in the NBA tonight with, I believe, the best coach in the NBA. I know we will be out-coached. The Los Angeles Lakers are ranked 3 on offense, averaging 108.1 points per game. They start a seven game, 13 day road trip with rumblings that despite winning games they are not playing as well as they should be playing.

I believe we last won 4 games in a row March 29th 2007 at home with a 83 - 81 win against Detroit. It is unlikely it happens tonight but I did not expect them to win 3 straight against NO, Celtics and away at the Thunder.

Blogging with the enemy: I may have missed something but the only blog that I could find for the Lakers is Lakers Blog at the LA Times

Game time: 7:30, WGN TV, 1000 espn radio

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Comments

That would suck t have a seven game road trip

at the end of the year, but then again, its the Lakers and they can handle it.

by knickknack7450 on Mar 21, 2009 10:28 AM CDT reply actions

They routinely play the most home games at the start of the season though

My greatest enemy is my inner me

by TheCool1 on Mar 21, 2009 10:38 AM CDT reply actions

I'm really excited for this game

This will be a real test to see how far this team has come. Almost every time I get excited for a game like this I am disappointed. The Lakers are definitely gonna wanna get this game, they’ve been pretty underwhelming lately by their standards. Not to mention that they’re battling Cleveland for home court throughout. This is one of those games where every one of our big guys is gonna have to play well. Which means no coasting for Mr. Rose. Man, I hope we kick some Laker ass

"That's a spicy meatball-a!" - Vinny Del Negro

by Juiceboxjerry on Mar 21, 2009 11:12 AM CDT reply actions

I really really really really

really really really really really really really really wanna win this game. really

..on 2/18/09, Noc was gone..and on the next day, Larry "The Chucker" was just a bad dream...

by Belize on Mar 21, 2009 11:29 AM CDT reply actions

Should be a good one

Good game in a win by Derrick should definitely seal all ROY talk

My greatest enemy is my inner me

by TheCool1 on Mar 21, 2009 11:35 AM CDT reply actions

the d'antoni comment seems silly

they are better on defense than last year, and they are much better on offense. They won 23 games last year, so they should be grateful they have even sniffed the playoffs this year.

Also, their best player is 5’9’’.

Also, a list of +6’9’’ Knicks: Jarred Jeffries has been out, danilo gallinari has been out, eddie curry has been out (of shape), tim thomas and just recently, chris wilcox. What exactly does this guy want out of this team?

by TheMoon on Mar 21, 2009 11:57 AM CDT reply actions

Getting humiliated at home by the Sacramento Kings,

the same Kings who were previously winless against the entire Eastern Conference, and who previously only had 4 road wins all season, and who were playing without a couple of guys of their own, and who have every incentive at this point to not win because they aren’t going anywhere, and in a game the Knicks really did need to stay in the playoff race -

Apparently these things aren’t conducive to calm and rational analysis. ;)

Man-slave, bring me my PB&J!

by wjb1492 on Mar 21, 2009 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Maybe

he wants to bring back Kenny Sears, Willie Naulls and Carl Braun. They could all shoot, too. And move all the games back to the Armory, where only half of the overhead lights worked. (Just a little Knicks history for ya.)

by Cannoli on Mar 21, 2009 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Don't forget they compiled several of those wins

while they still had Zach Randolph and Jamal Crawford. And prior to that trade the team was playing quite well. If the team has improved this year I would say it’s a minimal improvement and mostly because of the heat put on the players by bringing a new coach in. Everybody is probably playing harder for D’antoni which is enough in this league to affect their record.

"That's a spicy meatball-a!" - Vinny Del Negro

by Juiceboxjerry on Mar 21, 2009 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions

One should never reference a Knicks fan in trying to prove a point

It’s like trying to decipher what an 18 month old baby says, no logic whatsoever.

I’m hoping the Lakers continue to play down to their competition. Bynum is supposedly out for at least another month, so that might give them more incentive to play hard. Obviously beating the Lakers would easily be the most impressive win of the season. They aren’t banged up besides Bynum, Kobe is still Kobe, and Gasol is quietly having another fantastic season.

Confusion breeds success. If they don't know each other, opponents can't have strategy. GENIUS.

by Ozzie Montana on Mar 21, 2009 12:09 PM CDT reply actions

Accuscore simulations came out much more favorably than I expected for today

Lakers only won 56.4% of the simulations, with an average score of LA 105.5 to Chicago 102.7.

Lakers did win big in 30.3% of the simulations, though.

Man-slave, bring me my PB&J!

by wjb1492 on Mar 21, 2009 1:02 PM CDT reply actions

Go Bulls!

Wish I could watch it but my GF wants to go out tonight. : ^(

Pool and a pond... Pond be good for you.

by SoulEater7 on Mar 21, 2009 1:33 PM CDT reply actions

lame. i force mine to watch it with me.

by Gen on Mar 21, 2009 1:54 PM CDT up reply actions

When you guys go out to dinner, what type of wine pairs with souls?

"That's a spicy meatball-a!" - Vinny Del Negro

by Juiceboxjerry on Mar 21, 2009 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions

i remember salmons gave kobe a hard time when the kings beat them.

that might help but then we would put bg on trevor ariza.

by Gen on Mar 21, 2009 1:55 PM CDT reply actions

Yeah,

I’m pretty sure the Knicks people are just going crazy.
D’Antoni’s just had his players break down. They thought they were in playoff contention with some of the worst talent in the league.
It’s a minor miracle that they’re even here after so many games.

"You remember the first time you picked up a basketball video game and you had no idea how to run plays, so you just gave the ball to your shooter and you ran around the court aimlessly until a defender was far enough away and then you jacked up a shot? THAT IS LARRY HUGHES!"
-Anonymous fan letter, heylarryhughespleasestoptakingsomanybadshots.com

by Prevenge on Mar 21, 2009 2:07 PM CDT reply actions