| 17 January 2009
Jan 16th - Orlando Magic (31-8) at Los Angeles Lakers (31-7)
This would have to be considered a huge game for both teams. LA are coming off a very tough last minute 1 point loss to the Spurs in San Antonio. Orlando are keen to be counted amongst the very elite, and can only do that with a few high profile notches on their belts.Orlando present a quandary for opposition on offense - you have the hugely aggressive Dwight Howard right up under the bucket, and from out at the arc - they're very, very dangerous. 23 3 point shots hit against Sacramento - an NBA record. Leave Howard with single coverage, and he'll hurt you. Double-team him, and their brigade of sharp-shooters will make you pay.
Defend Howard hard?
Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
The Lakers are also in a position where they are undermanned. Luke Walton's still a while away, Jordan Farmar could be out for up to another month, and whilst Lamar Odom, Derek Fisher and Sasha Vujacic should be available for the game, none are at 100%.
Still, one of the hallmarks thus far of LA's season has been the ability to win even when experiencing adverse situations. They don't always win pretty, but they've won a lot this season - and are 20-2 at the Staples Center.
The key to this game for LA will be twofold...
"Defensive intensity" is a phrase I've used a lot with LA, and no-one is more key for it than Trevor Ariza (Phil really needs to start him!). Ariza has to go out and harrass the mid-range game of the Magic mercilessly. Set the tone for the team, and don't let the shooters get in a rhythm.
LA need to get hard and physical with Orlando. Really make them work for that outside shot, pressure on their passing game.
Andrew Bynum has to rise to the challenge facing him in the form of the looming Dwight Howard. The bar's set high for young centers at the moment, and it doesn't get any higher than the Dwightmare. It would be ambitious to expect Bynum to defend Howard mano a mano, but he has to do a lot better than he did in the Lakers' 103-106 loss last December (3 points and 5 fouls in 12 minutes). Andrew Bynum has to at least put a big body on Howard, and man up.
Gauntlet's thrown down. Time for Andrew to pick it up.
LA have the height to really cause problems for the Magic. On paper it looks like they are relatively evenly matched. Bynum's 7'0, Gasol's 7'0 and whilst listed at Odom's 6'10, he has an impressive wing-span. Orlando's trio of Howard, Lewis and Tuko... Tulki... Turkeyglue... Turkoglu are 6'11, 6'10, and 6'10 respectively. And whilst Howard plays big, Lewis and Hedo are softer than marshmallow. That's not to say that they're not talented... but they really don't play as 'bigs'.
Of course, no Lakers preview would be complete without a mention of Kobe Bryant. Going to dictionary.com for this:
clutch
adj. Informal
1. Being or occurring in a tense or critical situation: won the championship by sinking a clutch putt.
1. Being or occurring in a tense or critical situation: won the championship by sinking a clutch putt.
2. Tending to be successful in tense or critical situations: The coach relied on her clutch pitcher.
3. Kobe Bryant
Going to be an interesting game, but LA are an even tougher proposition at home. Shouldn't change in a closely fought contest.
It's up to LA to provide some kryptonite to the Magic's superman.
*****
Something I saw over at TBDL today made me laugh. Out loud. And it's not often a video clip of an NBA player makes me laugh out loud. Here we go:
