Lakers-Mavericks Preview & Prediction thread.

Phil · Retired Joined: 03 Aug 2001 Posts: 10007

Mavs have to be favored heavily in this game. They are on a long winning streak while the Lakers look to be going the other direction. Kobe will have to pull a 40+ ppg and 12+ apg game for us to win imo. Look for it to happen. The Lakers could redeem themselves and wipe the memory of the pathetic play they have show in their last 3 games.

Lakers 104 Mavs 99

Lakers-Mavericks Preview

Associated Press
Posted: 7 hours ago

GAME: Los Angeles Lakers (24-23) at Dallas Mavericks (37-10).

TIME: Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. EST.

The Dallas Mavericks try to push their winning streak to an NBA-best 12 games and move into sole possession of first place in the Southwest Division when they take on the slumping Los Angeles Lakers.

A deep and balanced offense and a much-improved defense resulted in another Mavs' victory Saturday, 110-91 over Seattle. Josh Howard had 23 points to lead Dallas in scoring for the fourth straight game, and was one of six Mavs in double figures as Dallas tied the longest win streak in the league this season at 11.

Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas' leading scorer at 25.4 points per contest, had 17. He's only topped the team in scoring once in the last seven games.

"We got a lot of depth, a lot of guys can put the ball in the hole," said point guard Jason Terry, who had 22 points. "Dirk's still No. 1, but if he isn't scoring, we've got other guys that can pick up the slack."

Lakers-Mavericks preview

7:30 p.m. today, American Airlines Center, Ch. 21/NBA TV; ESPN-FM (103.3), KFLC-AM (1270 Spanish)

10:54 PM CST on Monday, February 6, 2006

By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News

Series: Lakers lead 2-0 this season and 86-23 all-time.

PROBABLE STARTERS
Lakers Pos. Mavs
Brian Cook F Dirk Nowitzki
Devean George F Josh Howard
Kwame Brown C DeSagana Diop
Kobe Bryant G Adrian Griffin
Smush Parker G Jason Terry

Key matchup

Kobe Bryant vs. Adrian Griffin: Of all the amazing numbers Bryant is running up, here's a good one: He was averaging 36 points at the end of January, the first time a player has averaged that much through January since Michael Jordan averaged 37.2 in 1986-87. He finished at 37.1. Bryant clearly is on a huge scoring binge, and the Mavericks have to figure out a way to keep him from going crazy. Anything under 40 points is acceptable these days with Bryant.

Surging Mavericks await Kobe's return

By STEPHEN HAWKINS, AP Sports Writer

(Updated Monday, February 6, 2006, 9:54 PM)

DALLAS (AP) - Before the Dallas Mavericks held their last 11 opponents under 100 points, a team-record run that coincides with their NBA-best winning streak, they couldn't stop Kobe Bryant.

Before Bryant scored 81 points against Toronto two weeks ago, he had been on pace to do that against Dallas. He had 62 through three quarters, outscoring the Mavericks on his own Dec. 20, then didn't even play in the fourth quarter of the Lakers' 22-point home victory.

"He probably could have had 80, or even more against us," Dirk Nowitzki said Monday.

"The expression on his face, he was very excited. His teammates were excited. Phil (Jackson) was kind of laughing," Jason Terry said. "It was depressing on our end."

Ko8e8ryant · Star Player Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 5562

Mavs - 109

Lakers - 93

ToughKarl · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 10:47 pm Post subject:

It gonna be ugly.

mike_kb · Starting Rotation Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 384

Lakers 102 - Mavericks 100

teej · Starting Rotation Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 222

Sam Cassell ugly

LakerFan4Lyfe · Starting Rotation Joined: 30 Sep 2005 Posts: 761

Mavs 113

Lakers 89

Kobe.... 43 points 13-19 shooting 6 boards 5 assists 1 block and 1 steal

rest of the lakers below 30 percent shooting

JerryWest_44 · Retired Number Joined: 22 May 2004 Posts: 25319

Dallas doubles/triples Kobe early -- Dallas destroys the Lakers by 25+

Klassix · Star Player Joined: 12 Jun 2005 Posts: 1994

DullASS 121
LA 89

thumpinghead · Star Player Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 5657

Still without Odom and Mihm we get killed. But Turiaf and Bynum play the 4th and we make a surge, but the lead was alas to large for even Kobe. The lead came as a result of the lie that Kwame Brown can play basketball.

Nahtanoj · Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 12:17 am Post subject:

Lakers 102 Dallas 97

Kobe Bryant 55 points

tgf5 · Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 12:23 am Post subject:

Hey if these preview and prediction threads continue, might as well have some fun and do an NBA Live simulation...

February 7, 2006

Game 4/5 1st 2nd 3rd 4th TOTAL
LA Lakers 26 33 30 12 101
Dallas 22 28 33 24 107

LA Lakers
Player POS MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OFF REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
K. Brown C 39 2-7 0-0 0-2 3 8 2 1 1 3 2 4
B. Cook F 21 2-3 2-3 4-4 2 7 1 0 0 0 3 10
D. George F 38 5-10 0-2 1-2 2 8 3 1 1 1 3 11
K. Bryant G 48 16-34 4-15 5-6 3 8 9 3 2 2 2 41
S. Parker G 41 9-14 2-4 3-3 1 6 6 3 0 3 1 23
S. Vujacic 10 1-2 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2
V. Wafer 7 0-0 0-0 1-1 0 0 2 1 0 2 2 1
A. Bynum 24 4-6 0-0 1-2 1 3 0 1 2 1 1 9
L. Walton 4 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
R. Turiaf 4 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
D. Green 3 0-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
S. Medvedenko 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
TOTAL 39-78 8-24 15-20 12 41 23 11 6 12 16 101
.500 .333 .750

Dallas
Player POS MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OFF REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
E. Dampier C 37 9-18 0-0 6-8 4 9 0 2 0 6 5 24
D. Nowitzki F 46 12-20 2-6 0-0 2 10 4 1 4 2 5 26
J. Howard F 39 2-5 0-0 3-3 1 3 3 1 1 2 3 7
J. Terry G 42 6-20 2-6 5-6 0 2 10 3 0 2 1 19
D. Harris G 25 5-10 1-2 1-1 1 3 3 0 0 0 1 12
J. Stackhouse 22 4-7 1-2 1-1 2 5 0 0 0 2 4 10
K. Van Horn 7 2-2 0-0 1-1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 5
D. Armstrong 5 1-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2
M. Daniels 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
R. Marshall 15 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 2
J. Powell DNP -- Coach’s Decision
A. Griffin DNP -- Coach’s Decision
TOTAL 42-85 6-16 17-20 10 34 25 9 5 15 19 107
.494 .375 .850

Man I hope this shows up well.

Highlight: Bryant's near triple double not enough to overcome the Mavs with 5 players in double figures and 3 of them at least 19 a piece.

Tarzan008 · Star Player Joined: 23 Jun 2005 Posts: 2761

Dallas will get there points,105 or so......On the road this team at this point minus odom and Mihm not including Kobe will be hard pressed to get more than 55 combined.......The Mavs since Kobe hit them for 62 have not allowed a 100 in a game( 11 in a row),they got a wake up call from Kobe....

Kobe will need 50 just to contend......And he best not 'wait for the game to come to him" :roll: .....By the time he figures the other guys are not going to keep up with the Mavs it will be a large enough hole that Kobe even in a hot streak cannot help the Lakers out of......

Kobe has played the great teamate these past games,being trapped ,tripled and still scoring about 35 per game since his 81.....Taking less shots,trying to get his teamates involved,but for what? We have not looked worse this season.....

He will have to keep his low post position,and not get pushed out,the other guys have to make decent entry passes to him down in the block,then Kobe can do his thing......

Kobe must be in strike mode from the outset.......attack and attack some more.....Keep this thing within range,and hope along the way the other guys can help enough.....

I think the Mavs will be very aggressive against Kobe,real tough,and I can only hope the refs watch for this.....I think Kobe will make a living at the line with near 20 freethrows in the game,he must drive and get these guys thinking,not being free wheeling on offense.....

I would hope to see George in there for a good 36 minutes,and hope that the others pick it up from these past games,there is only one way from where they have been lately,they cannot sink lower......

If Kobe can get 50,we have a chance,it's just that way these days.......

Mavs 105
Lakers 95 with Kobe getting 40......if Kobe can get 50,Lakers 105......

TooCool · Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 1:07 am Post subject:

I really think the Lakers will break out and dominate the Mavs despite their 11 game win streak. Who cares about that? Bobcats came out strong despite losing 13 straight. Doesn't mean the Mavs will be all that powerful just because they won 11 straight.

Lakers 112
Mavs 94
_________________

lakerfin · Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 1:59 am Post subject:

Lakers 105
Mavs 97

if Mihm is playing

StaPles Center · Starting Rotation Joined: 18 Apr 2001 Posts: 856

My Prediction:

Spurs fans will also be Lakers fans today !!!

Hades · Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 7:04 am Post subject:

A blowout if Mihm and Odom don't play.

StaPles Center · Starting Rotation Joined: 18 Apr 2001 Posts: 856

Warlord23 · Starting Rotation Joined: 02 May 2005 Posts: 239

Go get 'em Lakers and do us Spurs a favour

StaPles Center · Starting Rotation Joined: 18 Apr 2001 Posts: 856

Klassix · Star Player Joined: 12 Jun 2005 Posts: 1994

vvbandit · Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 10:57 am Post subject:

Lakers- 89

Dallas- 110

DuncanIdaho · Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 11:01 am Post subject:

Kobe will destroy the Mavs again. George needs to play the best D of his life on Howard and Cookie needs to take out Diggler with a flagrant, then the Lake Show might win.

kells1220 · Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 11:16 am Post subject:

Maybe Dallas will pull a Laker on us and snap our losing streak. I hope the Lakers win. It'll take a lot of Kobe and a lot of luck.