Game One Predictions Hou V Lakers

Jordan Hill/Ed Davis need to make sure Dwight never gets deep post position. Dwight can finish when he's like 3ft away from the rim, but if you can push him out before the offense sets and make him go to his stale post moves, he's not very efficient at scoring.

Anyway... if Dwight doesn't play well, and Kobe + Lin have good games, the Lakers win the game regardless of how many free throws Harden shoots. I'm not very impressed with the scoring ability of Houston now that they lost Lin+Parsons.

Predicting a 112-107 Lakers win. Kobe + Lin both show up big and score 42+ combined points, and 12+ Assists.

 

Yeah. It's a pretty scary thought actually. The guy has a history, not unlike D. Wade's.

 

Forgot about hou coach. Another reason to want this win for lakers. We have rudy t on our payroll. X factor!

 

and at 2nd point plus fact that Dwight considers himself a winner and leader. See point one.

We also have Kobe and Lin and Byron that will know how best to contain or slow whatever positives Howard is bringing .... in real time.

I think we have a shot. Considering our shortness on roster of some key players, I have taken a lot of heart in how the team has competed last several pre-season games, and the last 2 without Kobe. That's Byron being a hell of a better coach than last two Clowns. Hey we beat them last year first game with Clown coach 2 and Kobe not available.

Need Boozer to have a good game and Randle to wreak havoc from the bench against their 2nd stringers. Has to continue making teams respect his shot. Can't believe some here are still bagging on his shot. Or the mechanics.

 

Don't think we are going to be able to replicate the magic from last season's first game. Pringles' offense made that happen essentially.

I predict a lost, this team needs more time to gel and lack the shooting to be able to keep up with them.

I do wish that Kobe will dunk over Dwight though.

 

Yeah it'd be great to have Kobe reach back into the past and "teabag" Dwight one more time. But I don't think that could happen with current hops. A good dunk maybe if Kobe picks his moment and knows Dwight can't quite get there to try to "send Kobe flying" just to keep it from happening. I'm sure ZERO love lost between these two guys.

 

If not a dunk then a move under the basket where he fakes out Dwight for an easy lay in.

 

Oh....I definitely think he can still get a dunk on Dwight, just not mano y mano over him with Dwight in place. Has to pick the perfect spot and angle and timing, and I fully expect to see Kobe delivering these types of dunks this year. But he's worked god know how much too hard to be back into skilled, competitive, dominating (in ways) Kobe again to risk it all with carelessness getting knocked out of air.

Then again....this is Kobe freaking Bryant, like Evel Knievel replying when asked why try to do a stunt that had a coin's toss chance of killing him.... "Do you know who the hell I am?". Quote .... unquote. Kobe is fearless, and as the good article by Ken Berger today said, he has already put the achilles and fractured kneecap literally out of his consciousness.

 

I'm Kobe F--ing Bryant (in Evel Knievel voice).

 

I'm afraid so.

 

D12 gets blocked 2x by Ed Davis and throws a tantrum. Believes that pouting gets you calls.

Ariza shows why you can't come 'home' again.

 

"We are going to get smoked."

"I'm afraid so."

 

I think we win by 5 or so points. I actually like the Lakers squad at full strength. I predict Ed frustrates Howard and Harden goes off. Hopefully Wes doesn't screw things up and Lakers come away with a hard fought win. This team has a lot of options, and if they stay healthy, look out.

 

Harden having to defend Kobe adds 6 more lapses to his defensive "lowlights" Youtube with the stupid looks on his face after each of them....

 

I predict a win as well simply because everyone is predicting a Rockets win by blow out. We are going to come out motivated and Howard seems to struggle against players that are smaller than him....plus I also just don't think the Rockets are that good this year...they're in danger of missing the playoffs actually with the loss of Parson/Lin/Asik. They're not a lock to make it by any means....

 

another story in this game is kobe proving espn and everybody that Harden is not the best SG in the league.

 

I just don't think we have the firepower to beat a team like Houston who is going to have 2 players over 20 PPG & multiple role players in double digits. I see Kobe having a great game on both sides of the ball & making a lot of people eat their words, but it will ultimately end up in a loss unless we can keep Dwight in foul trouble & out of the game, & keep him on the FT line when he's in the game.

 

Not sure people understand that this isn't the same Houston team as last year.

They lost A LOT of talent and depth, despite adding Ariza and Terry. Asik and Lin were starters playing backups, and Parsons was by far their x-factor.

We beat them a few times last year without Kobe and I'm pretty sure we're a lot more talented and structured than last year by a mile.