Records: Golden State Warriors (7-5) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (11-2)
Time: 6:30 p.m. PST
Place: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA.
TV: Comcast SportsNet Bay Area
Previous Meeting: Loss, 83-107 on October 31, 2010
Starting Lineups:
Warriors: PG Stephen Curry, SG Monta Ellis, SF Dorell Wright, PF Vladimir Radmanovic, C Andris Biedrins
Lakers: PG Derek Fisher, SG Kobe Bryant, SF Ron Artest, PF Lamar Odom, C Pau Gasol
Injuries:
Warriors: F David Lee (elbow), F Louis Amundson (finger), F Ekpe Udoh (wrist), F Brandan Wright (back)
Lakers: C Andrew Bynum (knee), C Theo Ratliff (knee)
The Warriors are in L.A. for their last visit of the season. Thank God...
The last time the Warriors played the Lakers they were without Stephen Curry and the Warriors got embarrassed. It was the first game in the young season where the Warriors had been out rebounded and without Curry it was over before it began. In that game David Lee scored 0 points and grabbed three rebounds in 18 minutes. In that game it was apparent that David Lee had not figured out how to fit in the Warriors offense. Since that game he has been much better at playing like the 20 and 10 player that the Warriors traded for.
Unfortunately, David Lee is still out another 2-3 weeks and without his rebounding the Warriors are unlikely to come out of Los Angeles with a win. His replacement, Vladimir Radmanovic is not known for his rebounding presence and is considered more of a offensive player anyway. But even his offense game is not as good as David Lee's and it will be hard for him to replace the 20 points that Lee give day in and day out.
The Warriors are coming off a disappointing loss to the New York Knicks where at one point they were down 20 and came to within 2. In that game Reggie Williams came up big in the fourth quarter and picked up 11 points. That was the kind of performance the Warriors will need from Williams off the bench tonight if they have any hopes to not get blown out.
For the Lakers they will need to play some great defense at the guard position to be able to shut down both Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry. Ellis has been on fire of late and if Kobe Bryant has to chase him around the court all game that could possibly effect him on the offensive side of the ball. Derek Fisher will likely guard (I use the term guard loosely) Stephen Curry all game which may affect him as well. The Lakers will have a huge advantage at the power forward position with Lamar Odom taking on Vladimir Radmanovic. In no way do I expect the Warriors to outrebound the Lakers but I do expect to see a lot of the Warriors rebounding machine in Jeff Adrien. It should take no time at all for Keith Smart to insert Adrien in the game especially after Radmanovic gets manhandled by Odom.
The Warriors are coming off a disappointing loss to the New York Knicks where at one point they were down 20 and came to within 2. In that game Reggie Williams came up big in the fourth quarter and picked up 11 points. That was the kind of performance the Warriors will need from Williams off the bench tonight if they have any hopes to not get blown out.
For the Lakers they will need to play some great defense at the guard position to be able to shut down both Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry. Ellis has been on fire of late and if Kobe Bryant has to chase him around the court all game that could possibly effect him on the offensive side of the ball. Derek Fisher will likely guard (I use the term guard loosely) Stephen Curry all game which may affect him as well. The Lakers will have a huge advantage at the power forward position with Lamar Odom taking on Vladimir Radmanovic. In no way do I expect the Warriors to outrebound the Lakers but I do expect to see a lot of the Warriors rebounding machine in Jeff Adrien. It should take no time at all for Keith Smart to insert Adrien in the game especially after Radmanovic gets manhandled by Odom.
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