Los Angeles Lakers (5-14) at Boston C Bags (5-11) 4:30 PM Pacific The Lakers' winning streak has been snapped, and the C Bags' losing streak has also come to an end. Evidence suggests that both of those recent trends will continue. Viewers might be in for some boring basketball, to boot, as the teams are both pretty bad this season, and apart from Kobe and Rondo, there are not many exciting offensive players in this game. Then again, this is Lakers vs. C Bags, and that in itself carries some gravitas. The Lakers swept the two-game head to head series last season, winning by a combined 12 points. LA's bench did the heavy lifting, getting 97 points combined. It was a total team effort, with no Laker who will suit up tonight having a strong series. One common element was a very poor assist to turnover ratio: The Lakers handed out 50 assists but turned it over 37 times. Excluding Kendall Marshall, those numbers drop to 28 and 26. The C Bags shot poorly against the Lakers, including shooting 42% on FGs, 25% on threes, and they hit only 21 FTs in the two-game series. (Perhaps) future Laker Rajon Rondo averages a double double against the Lakers in his career, but he will need help from Jeff Green (12-6-5 career vs. LA) and might even find a big lift from Kelly Olynyk, who posted a surprising 25 point, 7 assist, 5 rebound night in a narrow C Bags loss on January 17th. Projection C Bags 109 Lakers 105 Image: Lisa Blumenfeld Getty Images North America
It's weird to me how the C Bags and us have been almost identical in record the last 2 seasons. We rose to championship level at the same time, and fell off extremely bad at the same time, it's crazy how we continue to be linked like that decades after our connection started. I'm also not even sure what's better for us as this point, beating them for "pride", or losing for that top 5 pick. Sad times.
Two bad teams... while I am pro-tank this year, I'd like us to win this game. But with team, I just don't know... anything can happen.
Most said that last season too, and then a bunch of people got mad at the end of the season when it cost us the 6th pick. But like I said last season, rooting for a win watching it on tv doesn't make it happen, so it's not like we hurt the team.
I would have been looking forward to Kelly vs Mr Kelly and having the two rookies make a case for ROY (Randle vs Smart). However I hope kobe, Swaggy and the team paint this team Purple and Gold and punk them. I fully expect Rondo to dominate Lin and neutralize his driving ability. i would therefore expect to see Price (not JC unfortunately) and our other up and coming rookie point guard Kobe Bryant (shouldering the hard work and blame for our offense.)
While my brain says we should tank, but my heart just can't tank. It's impossible for me to root for a Lakers loss, much less against Boston. I simply, honestly, can't, even if I wanted, even if I tried. Let's go Lakers!
Its still early enough to the point that games dont matter THAT much. Now if its after the all-star break and the top 5 seats are getting hot, THEN its a different ball game.
If we're tanking, then we're not doing a very good job. We're ahead of Philly, New York, Charlotte, Detroit, and Minnesota. We're currently tied with Utah, Boston and OKC for total wins. The way things are going, Phoenix will get that 1st rounder. Not us.
IF thats the way things are ment to be then so be it. We could put that money towards a proven commodity.
I don't think we're actually tanking. I know for sure Kobe ain't gonna tank... my message was more directed to the people who wants us to tank. I think we're definitely not good enough to make the Playoffs, but I also think we're not bad enough to be top 5 in the lottery... not exactly the best situation for us, given the circunstances, but our situation still.
