LA Lakers @ Phoenix Suns
The Lakers are 1-0...Last game was a win 112-110 vs Rockets
The Suns are 0-1...Last game was a loss 106-92 vs the Trailblazers with a game to be played tonight vs the Jazz....
The Lakers are coming into this game off a close win versus the Rockets...Gasol posted 11 boards and 2 blocks...more than that...he outscored Kobe (27 points) with 29 points...The Lakers overall posted some pretty great numbers in this one...the Suns...well not so great...9 turnovers by Nash added to the teams 19 total turnovers...Jason Richardson offered some light as he dropped 22 and went 3-4 from beyond the arc...Lets take a look at some key matchups:
SG Jason Richardson vs SG Kobe Bryant
Not that this means they are equivalent...but how much Richardson scores can determine how well the Suns will do...He is an x-factor for this team and will take on a bigger scoring role for the Suns...Kobe of course will do Kobe...but look for him to look for his teamates down low vs a Suns team that is suspect in that area...
PF Lamar Odom vs PF Hedo Turkgolu
Both players really playing out of their SF positions due to injuries and lack of size....Offensively...the match up goes to Odom who can really penetrate and get inside...defensively....Odom again....Turkgolu isnt really suited for a PF match up where as Odom is far better at playing the PF role....
FINAL NOTES:
For Phoenix look for Steve Nash to shoulder most of the load...no one really established a good rebounding streak, no one on the Suns team posted more than 6 boards...On the Lakers side...Pau Gasol is coming off a hot game vs the Rockets...Shannon Brown (PG) also provided a spark with 16 points and 4 steals....The Lakers overall had 11 steals...
Prediction: Lakers 114
Suns 98
Denver Nuggets @ Houston Rockets
The Nuggets are 1-0 and have a game to be decided on Friday Night vs the Hornets...
The Rockets are 0-2 with a 132-128 loss to the Golden State Warriors
The Nuggets had a pretty solid game vs the Jazz...winning 110-88...Shelden Williams (PF) grabbed 16 rebounds....Melo had 23 points and Billups helped him and others get there with 8 assists...For the Rockets...Luis Scola is averaging 27 points and 16 boards a game...some pretty solid stats for a team thats slowly re-integrating 7 '6 center Yao Ming...Kevin Martin has also posted some nice scoring numbers...droppin 25+ in both games...but...somehow these great numbers have not translated into wins...although the Rockets managed to score 128 and 108 points in their first two games...
KEY MATCHUPS:
PG Chauncey Billups vs PG Aaron Brooks
Both gaurds do an excellent job of managing the teams and getting everyone the ball....who will put up more points in this Old vs. Young match up?
PF Luis Scola vs PF Al Harrington
Well obviously in recent seasons Luis Scola has provided more upside than Harrington...who has faced injuries...the more versatile Harrington should pose a threat to the Rockets and Scola due to his athleticism and ability to shoot from deep....
FINAL NOTES:
Possible playoff match up here...both teams have great depth on their rosters and can run the tables and get fastbreak points in a hurry....this team may come down to who plays better defense rather than who scores more...
Rockets 101
Nuggets 97
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Utah Jazz
The Jazz are 0-1 with a game to still be decided vs. the Phoenix Suns
The Thunder are 1-0 after a win vs the Chicago Bulls 106-95
This will be an electric matchup and a playoff preview...Kevin Durant started his season off with a spark with 30 points...This Thunder team looked really in sync and showing alot of team chemistry...Jeff Green also offered some nice production with 15 points...The Jazz are coming off a loss vs the Nuggets...they seem to have hit a wall in stopping the Nuggets fastbreak...a slow start for Deron Williams with 17 points and 6 assists...
KEY PLAYER MATCHUPS
PG Deron Williams vs PG Russell Westbrook
These guys both know how to dish the ball and find their teamates for big scores...who will score more points in this matchup? Also lets put steals into this factor..both guys are among the quickest in the NBA and can get to the ball quick...
SF Kevin Durant vs SF Andrei Kirilenko
Two very explosive forwards...obviously just between saying the two names Durant is the favorite and rightly so....last years scoring champ....30 points to start the season...looks good for him...but Kirilenko is also very explosive and is has great defensive upside as someone who has the size and strength to be able to keep up with Durant...dont expect the slow start by the Jazz to hinder the numbers he puts up....
FINAL NOTES
Russell Westbrook had an extremely good game with a double double ( 28 points...10 rebounds...6 assists)...he looks to keep up this intensity but it will be tough vs a Jazz team that in recent seasons has been solid defensively....down low, it looks like the match up should go to the Jazz with Millsap and Jefferson healthy....
Prediction
Thunder 105
Jazz 95
Heres the rest of this weekends games...hope you enjoy!
FRIDAY
Denver Nuggets @ New Orleans Hornets
Chris Paul had 17 points to go along with the 16 assists...needless to say they looked pretty solid vs the Bucks...The Nuggets have also had a good showing...but with back to back games...Denver may be a little tired...
Hornets 98
Nuggets 89
Milwaukee Bucks @ Minnesota Timberwolves
The T-Wolves came off a close loss vs the Kings...Luke Ridnour looked good with 20 points...but this is vs a Milwaukee team featuring Brandon Jennings...a healthy Andrew Bogut...and Carlos Delfino who was hot from behind the arc and dropped 19...
Bucks 91
Timberwolves 88
Memphis Grizzlies @ Dallas Mavericks
The Grizzlies had some mixed stats here...PG Mike Conley dropped 23...Gay had 10 boards...and of course...they didnt show much defensive intensity vs the Hawks who already have lots of offensive firepower...Look for Dirk Nowitzki to go berserk and Jason Terry as well (22 points last game)...
Mavericks 117
Grizzlies 101
LA Clippers @ Golden State Warriors
Monta Ellis had a crazy night vs the Rockets with 46 points...this explosive Warriors team will be going up against a solid team in the Clippers...Rookie Blake Griffin had 18 points and 14 rebounds in his NBA debut...this ought to be a close one...With Kaman and Griffin down low...the Warriors may have a little trouble getting the boards...
Clippers 100
Warriors 96
SATURDAY
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Memphis Grizzlies
This game may not be much of a challenge...but hey its the NBA...and you never know what happens...the Wolves can put up points..but maybe not enough to stop the tandem or the 3 headed beast or...4...or...well...how they can stop the Grizzlies starting five will be tough...
Grizzlies 112
Timberwolves 98
New Orleans Hornets @ San Antonio Spurs
This is another big game this week...between two teams that really fly under the radar...The Spurs played a great all around game vs the Pacers...Tim Duncan had 23 points and showed that he could still be productive with less minutes...the Hornets look to continue their charge...Marco Bellinelli will be the man to watch...he is an absolute marksman and can spot up from anywhere on the floor...
Spurs 98
Hornets 97
SUNDAY
Dallas Mavericks @ LA Clippers
Ehhhhh...this one is tough...alot of great matchups in this one...Chris Kaman sharing time with Blake Griffin as far as covering Nowitzki....Baron Davis vs Jason Kidd....this game will come down to whoever's bench can put up....
Mavericks 108
Clippers 92
Golden State Warriors @ LA Lakers
This looks like a David vs. Goliath match up here...and rightfully so...both teams in their second games off of a back to back but its an interstate game so...we shall see...
Lakers 105
Warriors 91
Opening weekend of the NBA...alot of teams showing some spark and the excitement continues....enjoy the weekend and see us back on Saturday for a preview of the NFL week 8!
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