


Time: 9:30 PM EST, 6:30 PM PAC
Place: Delta Center
TV: Local, NBATV
Los Angeles Lakers (1-0) To Battle Vastly-Improved Utah Jazz (0-0)
LOS ANGELES (Ticker) Nov 03 -- After winning their first game of the season, the Los Angeles Lakers will fly to Salt Lake City to face the Utah Jazz, another team which vastly improved compare to last year. The Jazz will parade a very awesome frontline with the newly- acquired duo of Memo Okur and controversial forward Carlos Boozer plus a versatile player in Andrei Kirilenko.
“I hope we can duplicate our last night win but I know it will not that easy,” said Coach Rudy T.
“After our practice yesterday, I watched the Nuggets-Lakers game. Lakers seems more quick and athletics compared to the Lakers I met in the Finals,” Memo said.
Fatigue factor will be a concern for Lakers as they battle a hard fought overtime game against the Denver Nuggets last night and immediately flew to Utah this morning.
“Yeah, we’re a little bit tired, on last night game and traveling here. But we’re professional, we have to give everything we have to give a good fight”, Bryant said.
“Actually I’m more concern with my team, we didn’t play competitive basketball for few days, we might be rusty and that’s what in my mind right now”, Coach Jerry Sloan said.
Jazz will be playing without their starting point guard Carlos Arroyo, Mcleod will start in his place.
Tonight's Key Matchup:
Lamar Odom vs. Andrei Kirilenko
This match-up will feature two versatile forward in NBA today. Both Odom and Kirilenko can play multiple positions, can score anywhere in the court, can rebound, pass and play good defense. Odom, coming from a big 29 points and 16 rebounds including the game winner shot while AK47 will be fresh from the pre-season games. Whoever wins this match-up will definitely give his team a big chance to win the game.
Probable Starters:
Los Angeles Lakers (Last Season Stats)
C-Chris Mihm – (11 PPG, 10 RPG)
PF-Lamar Odom – (29 PPG, 16 RPG)
SF- Caron Butler - 914 PPG, 6 APG)
SG-Kobe Bryant - (32 PPG, 8 RPG)
PG-Chucky Atkins – (10 PPG, 6 APG)
Utah Jazz (Last Season Stats)
C-Memo Okur- (9.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG)
PF-Carlos Boozer- (15.5 PPG, 11.4 RPG)
SF-Andrei Kirilenko- (16.5 PPG, 8.1 RPG)
SG-Gordon Giricek- (11.3 PPG, 1.7 APG)
PG-Keith Mcleod- (2.7 PPG, 1.8 APG)