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Magic @ Lakers Thread; 1/12, 10:30 PM, Staples Center
Topic Started: Jan 11 2007, 04:33 PM (1,176 Views)
MAGICMANEVAN
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Orlando (22-14) at LA Lakers (23-13)
Magic - 1st Southeast / 2nd East
Lakers - 2nd Pacific / 5th West

What: Regular Season Game #37
Where: Staples Center
When: January 12, 10:30 PM
Broadcast: TV -- Sun Sports, Radio -- AM 580 WDBO


The Orlando Magic are streaking again, and so is forward Dwight Howard.

Howard enters off the best game of his career as he looks for a seventh straight double-double when the Magic visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.

The 6-foot-11, 265-pound Howard has been the catalyst during the current five-game winning streak for Orlando (22-14). He's added to his Eastern Conference-leading total of double-doubles in every game of the run after notching his 29th in monster fashion in a 91-76 victory at Golden State on Wednesday.

Howard had a career-high 30 points and a season-best 25 rebounds -- one off his career high -- to help Orlando end a four-game road skid. It marked his fourth game this season with at least 20 points and 20 boards.

"I was nervous," Howard said. "I'm just glad we got the win. ... I've been trying to push myself in practice to get every rebound, every block, trying to score every time and also getting my teammates involved -- and try to implement that in a game."

The Lakers have won nine straight home games against the Magic, dating back to 1996, and 14 of the last 16 meetings overall after a 106-93 victory on Dec. 29 at Orlando. Howard was limited to 12 points and eight rebounds -- the only game of his last 13 he's failed to notch a double-double.

Los Angeles (23-13) will probably use either center Andrew Bynum or forward Brian Cook to defend Howard.

Bynum had a difficult time for Los Angeles in a 102-77 loss at Houston on Wednesday despite finishing with 11 points and 11 rebounds. The 7-footer was on the receiving end of several of 40-year-old Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo's five blocks.

"Andrew needs to learn from him (Mutombo) and talk to him when he can to get some pointers," Lakers guard Kobe Bryant said. "I always went out of my way to talk to the great players when I got in the league to learn things from them and he can do the same."

Bryant was held to 20 points -- eight below his season average -- and went 6-for-18 from the field for the Lakers, who were held to a season-low point total. Bryant suffered a minor groin strain in the second quarter and left the game with 3:33 left after playing 34 minutes.

Bryant said after the game the injury was "tight," but said he would be ready to play on Friday.

"I will let it chill and I should be fine," said Bryant, who is averaging 19.8 points over the last four games on 38.7 percent shooting, including 3-of-15 from 3-point range.

The Lakers have had their ups and downs this season and this week was no different. They ended Dallas' 13-game winning streak on Sunday before suffering losses at Memphis and Houston on consecutive nights.

"We had a four-game win streak and now we are hitting a low and we have to get out of our funk," Los Angeles forward Luke Walton said. "It (stinks) that we are not playing well and we have to get this thing together."

Orlando could be without forward Trevor Ariza, who suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee Wednesday in the first half. The Los Angeles native is two points shy of reaching 1,000 for his career.
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Magic.Man
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There's a stream for this game. You know the deal.. " http://www.myp2p.eu/NBA.htm "
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TheFalcon
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Air Gortat
This game better be served with a heavy dose of Dwight Howard. The Lakers have no player who can stop him - and we should exploit that to the fullest.
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Tony
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Dwight Howard = MVP
It's gonna be a tough game. Hopefully Kobe won't explode on us, if we can contain him and Dwight has a big night we should get a win. But it's not gonna help us that Ariza isn't playing.
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TheFalcon
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Air Gortat
A win here puts us in a tie with Clevland for the number one spot in the East.
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NYCMagicFan
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Old School
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This has to be a big game for Dwight. Like TheFalcon said, they really dont have anybody who should be able to stop Dwight. He should have close to another 20/20 game at least.
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Black and Blue
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Have You Hugged Your Van Gundy Today?
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If we win this, we are tied for #1 in the east. GO MAGIC!
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Punisher
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Pure domination
This will be a tough game. We need Howard to dominate both sides of the court.
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melbournemagic
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Our "Kobe Stopper" (Ariza) will definately be missed tonight.
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Magic333
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McGrady and Howard... What could have been
Kobe has been struggling lately, so don't worry to much about him, unless he scores 10 points in the first quater. Just in case Put Dooling on Kobe... I think he will be up to the Challenge. He can slow him down. Just like what he did to Lebron when cleveland was here.

The Magic focus should be on the Lakers Roll players. They are one of the best roll players in the league. If you can stop atleast Smush Parker, and Bynumm from getting their shots or making their shots, then you have a shot at winning.

Also, give a heavy dose of Grant hill. He may be old guys. But it looks like he might be quicker than Kobe. Also he can make Kobe work harder on the defensive end. Which might make him tired enough, and miss some shots. Remember that cross over people. That was nasty :yes:

So those are the keys. Of the game. If we do that, than we could see the Magic walk out of the Staples Arena with a win :happy: .
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adamosthegreek
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Kings of Europe
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Still undefeated when Keith starts, although I think G-Hill and Hedo will be starting at SG and SF. No Kwame to stop Dwight but don't count out Bynum.
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kjbucs01
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Sixth Man
i love that clip....i remember watching that game and watching tmac and kobe dueling it out....wasn't it christmas day?
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dxwwf3
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Legend
Need a big win tonight.
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dxwwf3
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Legend
Great start
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JAnthony019
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Sixth Man
Good luck guys!
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