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Orlando Magic Preview 3/7

So, I have some good news for you, and some bad news.  Seeing that we've had enough bad news the past two nights, I should do you a favor and give you the good stuff first.  But unlike our Lakers, I'll give you a heads up and let you know the crap is coming first.

Fresh off back to back losses, in which defense and effort were non-existent, respectively, the Lakers get a Sunday afternoon marquee against Finals opponent, the Orlando Magic.  For those of you who feel the Lakers are just bored and riding it out until the Playoffs, this is the perfect game to peak L.A.'s interest.  Nothing like a nationally televised game against a contender to wash away the stink of two bad losses.  Considering how bad the Lakers were on Thursday and Friday, it sure better be the case.  Play bad, then worse, then the Magic?  Whoo-hoo!

That's not really the bad news though.  The game's on ABC.  That means we have to listen to two and a half hours  of Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy and Mike Breen bore us to death with their shtick about the Lakers' lack of focus.    Or Lack of fire.  Passion.  Energy.  Whatever.   All of that, plus Jackson's repeated sayings and overstatements that would make Bill Walton blush, Jeff Van Gundy's tangents, and Mike Breen's lack of enthusiasm for the big plays.  This is after the treat (sarcasm) of Stu Scott, Mike Wilbon, and Jon Barry.  Yay.  I'm thinking it's time to get acquainted with the mute button.  I mean it this time.

Some kind of good news after the Jump...

Star-divide

The good news is that we haven't lost 3 straight games since Pau arrived.  It's even better that they have to restore some shine on national television.

Problem is, we don't know which Lakers we'll see.  Every time you think they're ready to put this thing together for the stretch run, they come out flat.  If there's a cause of concern heading into the Magic game, it should be the Lakers complete lack of desire to guard the 3-pt line lately (especially Kobe).  We know that's what the Magic like to do.  Maybe the Lakers are really trying to rope-a-dope the Magic by letting Miami and Charlotte shoot at will.  Maybe their secret plan is unleash some wicked perimeter defense not worth the heat and Bobacts, then force Dwight to beat them.  That would imply the Lakers big men are going to try protecting the rim. 

Who knows?  I just don't know what to think game to game.  Will we defend?  We Kobe's shot fall?  Will the Lakers stop turning it over?  Will Pau man up for good?  Will  Andrew Bynum rebound better?  I just don't know night in and night out.  I don't like that feeling.  So, I'll go with what history shows us.

History shows us Phil Jackson's teams peak when it matters - heading into the Playoffs.  Or that the Lakers relish statement games like Sunday's, that big games tend bring out the man in Pau after he's been embarrassed, that they haven't lost 3 games in a row with Pau.  Blah, blah, blah.  Let's hope these things stay true.

Expect a fight tomorrow.  The Lakers looked very tired against Charlotte.  Given that it was a back to back following a a night in Miami, no less, it's understandable (not forgivable).  The Magic will probably look exploit that lethargy by running every chance they can on defensive rebounds.  Rebounds Dwight Howard will probably gobble up.    Dwight's offense is just getting better, meanwhile Andrew's and Pau's defense seem to have regressed.  Howard's strength is going to wear on the Lakers' bigs, and most likely, put them in foul trouble is they play anything like they did in Friday.  Expect Dwight to have a great game.  That's fine.  The Lakers can handle that as long as Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, and Jameer Nelson are held in check.  This game will have to be won on the perimeter by Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, and Derek Fisher

Lamar typically defends Rashard well.  Ron Artest should shut down Vince.   Provided he covers him, which I expect.  Vince has started to find his groove lately, but most of his damage has come in throwback mode where he pretty much just goes iso.  Nothing comes in the flow of what the Magic naturally do offensively.  That only plays to Ron's strengths.   Let's just hope Jameer Nelson continues his what has been an inconsistent season for him.  Winning two of those three match-ups will do.  What I really hate to admit is, the real key is whether Kobe is going to watch Matt Barnes or Mickael Pietrus launch 3's all game?  They won't hesitate to take them, and won't miss them if left wide open.  It would be nice to see the DoberMamba.

If it sounds like I'm down on the Lakers, back to back losses will do that.  Especially since the Lakers haven't really been dominant since early in the season.  We shrugged it off then, but the cushy home start has really been put into perspective.  At this point in the season, losses are understandable.  But the road games or back to backs can't keep being used as an excuse in this quest to repeat.  The Lakers are going to have to be better in those situations than they've been.  They're going to have to better than last year, and that just hasn't been the case yet.  But our competition has gotten better.

"At the end of the day..."  the Lakers still have the second best record in the NBA regardless.   of not playing what we know isn't their best basketball.   We were at this same point last season.  Things will get better, and tomorrow I expect the Lakers to make our weekend a little better also.

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So if the Lakers lose tomorrow we all know who to blame… :) With that said, I don’t think the Lakers will allow themselves to lose.. I hope not. If the Lakers are lose tomorrow they’re virtually conceding home court to the Cavs (if the teams do happen to meet in the NBA Finals). Though, if the Lakers do lose tomorrow I guess you could say that home court would be the least of the Lakers problems.

"Embrace the battle" -Lamar Odom

by intuitive on Mar 6, 2010 4:11 PM PST reply actions  

there shouldn’t be an are there..

"Embrace the battle" -Lamar Odom

by intuitive on Mar 6, 2010 4:14 PM PST up reply actions  

Scratch that home court thing. Cavs lose to Bucks.

"Embrace the battle" -Lamar Odom

by intuitive on Mar 6, 2010 7:55 PM PST up reply actions  

Sweet.

It happened like this last year too. The Cavs gave the Lakers plenty of opportunities, just for the Lakers to give it right back.

http://twitter.com/wondahbap

by wondahbap on Mar 6, 2010 8:23 PM PST up reply actions  

ABC's coverage gets tiresome after a while

all they talk about is the cavs and lakers, lebron and the MVP race, Kobe and his focus, blah blah blah…they need to throw a change up once in a while rather then all fastballs. Its somewhat good that its on ABC cause I can watch it but the coverage is too repetitive which is why I think TNT does a better job.

"Just by the aura of D.J. Mbenga being there, the shot missed."

by shaqfor3 on Mar 6, 2010 4:23 PM PST reply actions  

personally

i think the lakers always play very horrible on abc and espn we usually own tnt. i know im talking about brodcasts but i swear mike breen is using his mind to make our shots miss

YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOARD YES!
www.reverbnation.com/czheckproductions

by Czheck on Mar 6, 2010 4:39 PM PST up reply actions  

As opposed to the players just not playing well…. Logical.

"Embrace the battle" -Lamar Odom

by intuitive on Mar 6, 2010 4:42 PM PST up reply actions  

lol

well they suck on abc then

YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOARD YES!
www.reverbnation.com/czheckproductions

by Czheck on Mar 6, 2010 6:23 PM PST up reply actions  

Right

"Embrace the battle" -Lamar Odom

by intuitive on Mar 6, 2010 7:22 PM PST up reply actions  

"You guys done with Pau?" Jackson asked. He then turned to Gasol. "Pau, I want you to meet a friend of mine."

Jackson walked Gasol into an adjacent room and introduced him to Charles Oakley, a fierce power forward in his day and a player Jackson coached on the Chicago Bulls in the 1980s.

Oakley, his hair now flecked with gray, was later asked by a reporter if he gave Gasol some strong advice.

"Always," he said, smiling.

"Embrace the battle" -Lamar Odom

by intuitive on Mar 6, 2010 4:29 PM PST reply actions  

can anybody imagine

if pau woke up 2marrow and started playin it like lebron. dunkin it. playin mean. i for one would die laughin

YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOARD YES!
www.reverbnation.com/czheckproductions

by Czheck on Mar 6, 2010 4:40 PM PST up reply actions  

so..

http://twitpic.com/171i2g

"Embrace the battle" -Lamar Odom

by intuitive on Mar 6, 2010 6:02 PM PST reply actions  

hes trying to “rodmanize” himself i guess because of his stellar D last couple of weeks
but i still prefer his old haircut…

"Just by the aura of D.J. Mbenga being there, the shot missed."

by shaqfor3 on Mar 6, 2010 6:15 PM PST up reply actions  

+1

"E-Coaches are heavy in here tonight! Take E-Sasha and put him on the E-bench on your fantasy league, that’ll show him!" - Jevon O

by altree on Mar 7, 2010 4:04 AM PST up reply actions  

sisqo came back from the 90s?

YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOARD YES!
www.reverbnation.com/czheckproductions

by Czheck on Mar 6, 2010 6:23 PM PST up reply actions  

rkelly lol

YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOARD YES!
www.reverbnation.com/czheckproductions

by Czheck on Mar 6, 2010 6:34 PM PST up reply actions  

Wow. I really expected this to happen from the start of the season, but my reaction is still "Oh sh**"

To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.

by Ben R on Mar 6, 2010 10:31 PM PST up reply actions  

double o sh**!

and i didnt see it coming at all

YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOARD YES!
www.reverbnation.com/czheckproductions

by Czheck on Mar 7, 2010 1:33 AM PST up reply actions  

I don't care

what he does with his hair, as long as we improve. BTW, I like it!

"E-Coaches are heavy in here tonight! Take E-Sasha and put him on the E-bench on your fantasy league, that’ll show him!" - Jevon O

by altree on Mar 7, 2010 4:05 AM PST up reply actions  

Im goin out on a limb and saying if we win tomorrow...

It will be because of Ronnie’s fresh cut and nothing else. Quote me.

by desecrator09 on Mar 6, 2010 7:39 PM PST reply actions  

late but,

Tony Parker has suffered a fractured fourth metacarpal in his right hand. No additional details are available at this time.

"Embrace the battle" -Lamar Odom

by intuitive on Mar 6, 2010 8:04 PM PST reply actions  

Hey guys,

I cleaned up the article a bit. Earlier, I wrote it kind of rushed. I apologize for that. I just got back and fixed some things. Hope it reads better.

http://twitter.com/wondahbap

by wondahbap on Mar 6, 2010 8:25 PM PST reply actions  

lol

It will most likely be a bad day to be VC but what about the other guys? Artest and his D hasnt been the problem…..If people (Kobe) leave the 3pt line unguarded again this game its gonna be a loong looong day for the Lakers and us fans…..Im hoping for the best but recent performances have me expecting the worst….I do like Phile introducing pau to Oakley tho, maybe he should invite him to practice and just have him beat up Pau til he gets tough ie the rock knocking the kid down in the movie til he ran him over lol Something has got to give

There has got be some changes made or we're gonna be in for a world of disappointment.......

by EmmCeee on Mar 6, 2010 10:32 PM PST reply actions  

Lamar Odom held off on letting the frustration get to him until he sees Sunday’s result.

“Most likely you’ll see us play our style of game, we’ll go to our mismatches, we’ll find out how to get in our offense, make three-four-five passes,” Odom said. “You’ll see that against Orlando, most likely. Against the top teams [like Orlando], if you don’t see us play our best, then I’ll say, ‘Oh, we got a problem and something’s wrong.’”

Still, Odom acknowledged the apparent crossroads at which his team stands.

“If you had to pick a team who had the most to lose and had the most to prove, who would it be?” Odom asked. “Most to lose, most to prove, at the same time. … That’s us.”

http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/columns/story?id=4972942

"Embrace the battle" -Lamar Odom

by intuitive on Mar 6, 2010 10:49 PM PST reply actions  

Alston mulling retirement / indefinitely suspended by the Heat

Sources close to the situation said Alston, who did not attend the game, is considering retirement.

The Heat initially announced that Alston missed the Atlanta game for “personal reasons.” But later revealed Alston has not made himself available to the team by anything other than text message since losing his starting spot at point guard before Thursday’s overtime win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

“Rafer Alston, while having made contact with the team via text message, has made himself otherwise unavailable to the team. As a result he has been suspended indefinitely,” the team said in a release.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4972973

"Embrace the battle" -Lamar Odom

by intuitive on Mar 6, 2010 11:31 PM PST reply actions  

Dennis RONman is quickly becoming my favorite Laker

1 more defensive lockdown and he will have it locked up…..And the purple and Gold hair doesnt hurt either !

There has got be some changes made or we're gonna be in for a world of disappointment.......

by EmmCeee on Mar 7, 2010 10:33 AM PST reply actions  

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