What's new

Game 1: Utah Jazz @ Los Angeles Lakers, 8:30 p.m MT..Game Thread

I think that the game depends most heavily on defending Gasol (think Favors, Jefferson, or Kanter) and slowing down Kobe (think a Hayward encore and maybe some psychological activity by Bell and then some unsuspected frustration from Burks).

Ebanks and McRoberts make for a tall 3-4 combination for the Lakers; I'm not sure that this is the time to try Millsap against them for very long (although those players are young); better for him to match up against Metta. I think that you want Hayward and Bell starting on the wing, with Bell on a short leash, and Burks coming in to annoy (and to receive a short lesson from) KB32.

Millsap having trouble against McRoberts?? Don`t see it. Millsap owns fools like that.
 
Millsap could own McRoberts with his right hand tied behind his back. McRoberts is trash.

As for Ebanks, the wing player opposite of Kobe always has it easy. Everyone concentrates on Kobe, giving them wide open looks. Can Ebanks shoot?
 
I do not agree about McRoberts Cyrone. He is high energy guy with good rebounding and shot blocking skills plus he is taller then Paul ~3 inches. Of course it will be easier then going against Bynum or Gasol but don't expect Millsap to dominate him down low.
 
Ebanks' shot looked pretty good last night. He went 4-5 and his stroke looked pretty good from midrange.

The lakers overall looks better than I expected and had a lot of defensive energy. Maybe in 3rd game in consecutive days they be more lethargic.
 
Millsap could own McRoberts with his right hand tied behind his back. McRoberts is trash.
Maybe so, but Hayward on Ebanks and Millsap on Metta is probably a better matchup than Hayward on Metta. So the more important thing is to have Millsap in there for most of Metta's minutes, because Millsap is much stronger than Hayward. If PM gets some PT when Peace is not center court, than that's OK, too, but Hayward and Bell have some good history defending Kobe, so I like the concept of trying them together (if Bell is not too old).

As for Ebanks, the wing player opposite of Kobe always has it easy. Everyone concentrates on Kobe, giving them wide open looks. Can Ebanks shoot?
Whether the other wing player has it easy or not, Ebanks showed he could score a bit. Play-by-play lists him with four jump shots (not sure how far out) and a layup. He had a nice little contribution toward the end of the second quarter against the Bulls starters (Deng and Hamilton on the wing) where he had 2 assists and a jumper on b2b2b possessions. Could've been beginner's luck, and I don't know much about him, but he seems like a player that both hayward and Millsap can handle, but Millsap is betta on Metta, so my theory is to start Millsap only if Metta starts.

This will probably a good game, in any case, to give some time to Millsap at the 3 alongside two bigs (some combo of Favors, Jefferson, and Kanter). With Odom gone, Bynum suspended, and McRoberts (and Murphy) as his feeble replacements, Utah matches up pretty well against this team--as long as Kobe is a bit tired.
 
One thing everyone has overlooked so far, is that the Lakers are going to be Jimmered the night before they play the Jazz. Can one recover from a Jimmering in 24 hours? I doubt it. They will still be reeling when they report to ESA. Easy win for the Jazz.

That would be an easy win, since the game is in LA.:cool:

Dang, missed that. The point still holds, though.

You must be talking about all the broken ankles on LA after being Jimmered.
LA will have to take us on without any guards, advantage Utah.
 
Back
Top