Gm 8: 11/11/15 Lakers at Magic GAME THREAD

[KobeMVP888]

(1-6) at (3-5)

Wednesday, November 11, 2015, 4:00 PM PDT
Amway Center, Orlando, FL

Referees: TBA

Line: Magic -7.5

GAME PREVIEW: LAKERS AT MAGIC

By winnersandwhiners.com

The Los Angeles Lakers hit the road to take on the Orlando Magic. Los Angeles takes on the Miami Heat on Tuesday night. On Sunday afternoon, the Lakers fell 99-95 to the New York Knicks. The Orlando Magic are coming off a 97-84 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Monday. Last season, the Magic and Lakers split their two regular season meetings. This matchup will feature two terrific young backcourts. Can Kobe Bryant lead the Lakers to victory?

Defense Must Improve in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Lakers have the firepower on offense to score with most teams. The Lakers average 104.3 points a game, which is fourth in the league. They have seven players that average at least eight points with Jordan Clarkson and Kobe Bryant leading the way at 16.5 points a game. The problem in Los Angeles is the defense. The Lakers are 29th in points allowed (110.7). Roy Hibbert and Clarkson have been respectable this season on defense, the rest of the team has struggled. In the last two games, the Lakers have used Metta World Peace. Despite being 35-years old he is a terrific competitor who is capable of playing good defense in stretches. Maybe World Peace can spark the team.

Magic miss Nikola Vucevic in Loss

The Orlando Magic looked fine without star center Nikola Vucevic in their win against the undefeated Toronto Raptors on Friday night. On Monday things changed when the Magic lost 97-84 against the Indiana Pacers. The Magic finished the game shooting 40 percent to go with 21 turnovers, which led to 21 Pacers points. It was evident that they missed someone who they can just throw the ball to down low. Evan Fournier led the Magic with 21 points on 4-of-9 threes. Victor Oladipo added 15 points and seven rebounds. Vucevic’s (knee) status for the game on Wednesday is unknown.

The pick: Los Angeles Lakers +7.5

The Lakers will likely lose this game, but it won’t be by more than a few possessions. Assuming Vucevic is out, the Magic don’t have enough to put the Lakers away convincingly. The Lakers have an edge with Clarkson and Randle. The Magic of course still have Tobias Harris and Oladipo.

http://winnersandwhiners.com/nba/11-11- ... rediction/

[lakerevolution]

Road:

1) Warriors (no logo)
2) Worriers
3) Weary-ers

Or all of the above.

Checking in for growth and perseverance. These are the days we never visualized would come, an ultimate punishment for shining so brightly during Stern's early and late years like jeweled bookends. Only the coming of the Jordan filled the shelf with an Eastern story - but Chi-raq ain't the East Coast by a longshot. And the tobacco-spittin' horse-abusing Spurs provided a Bush family-like reliability to Stern's regime - though he hardly paid them any mind. That's why I love Popovich for President.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers officially have the league's easiest schedule - so it's up to the West to keep pushing the envelope and re-creating winners. The Warriors are what every Eastern team would love to look like, and there's no shame in admitting that the Lakers need to emulate that formula if we want to get back to the future and overtake the Celtics. Those Celtics. Keep a weather eye on those Chowderheads. That's the only team I'm remotely concerned about, from ownership to GM to coach and players.

#17, 18, 19

[3Peatkb24]

3Peat checking in. I just want to see the young guys improve at this point.

[KobeMVP888]

3Peat checking in. I just want to see the young guys improve at this point.

We'll get plenty of that (and MWP, of course)because Kobe's out for a second consecutive game with a sore back. Byron Scott is optimistic that he'll play Friday, but what if this is a herniated disc? That would be the end. All those years I felt that Kobe would be stronger than most to the end because of all the hard work he put in, but it turns out that he just beat himself up. Oh well. Rest is for the weak I suppose.

[3Peatkb24]

3Peat checking in. I just want to see the young guys improve at this point.

We'll get plenty of that (and MWP, of course)because Kobe's out for a second consecutive game with a sore back. Byron Scott is optimistic that he'll play Friday, but what if this is a herniated disc? That would be the end. All those years I felt that Kobe would be stronger than most to the end because of all the hard work he put in, but it turns out that he just beat himself up. Oh well. Rest is for the weak I suppose.

Yep, if it's a disc he's done. He isn't going out like we all envisioned but still has had a hell of a career. A Top 5 player of all-time IMO, 3rd all-time scorer, 2 Finals MVP's, an MVP, and 5 Championships including being part of a 3peat. After we beat Boston in 2010, I felt like his legacy was cemented no matter what would happen after that. I was glad he could pass Jordan on the scoring list. You know that meant a lot to him.

[Julius Russell]

These are some young guns we're playing.

Really interesting match ups between
Payton-Russell
Clarkson -Oladipo
Randle -Harris/Gordon

[3Peatkb24]

These are some young guns we're playing.

Really interesting match ups between
Payton-Russell
Clarkson -Oladipo
Randle -Harris/Gordon

Yeah both teams are young. I love these matchups just to see how these guys play against one another. Should be a good game. Last I seen we were up 8-3 early and looking sharp.

[3Peatkb24]

Orlando up 48-45 at Half. I have been following it off and on. Pretty competitive game.

[Julius Russell]

Russell trending up. Still a process.

[Julius Russell]

I want this W!!!

[KobeMVP888]

I want this W!!!

Missed the game and the fucker didn't record like it was supposed to, but my life is a whirlwind so I dont give a shit. I'll watch Compacto tomorrow. Looks from the stats like D-lo had a "progress" game tonight. Baby steps. I'm good. Patience is truly a virtue!

[3Peatkb24]

Yeah that was a tough way to lose. At the buzzer like that. Oh well, from I have seen from the highlights the guys fought hard.

[Julius Russell]

Losses help.

Laker fans don't like Lou for some reason. Russell shot more, he got inside some but he's still a baby.
We have to board better

[lakerevolution]

We just cant keep anybody from taking over the 4th quarter, can we? This collection of players is not a team yet.

[KobeMVP888]

yet.

The. Operative. Word.