Lakers Vs Pistons
Lakers Vs Pistons Preview 11/05/06
GAME: Detroit Pistons (2-3) at L.A. Lakers Lakers (4-2)
DATE/TIME: Friday, November 10 - 10:30 PM EST
SPREAD: Los Angeles -3 TOTAL: 195
Still hindered by a knee problem, Kobe Bryant struggled to regain his scoring touch after missing the first two games of the season.
The LA Lakers superstar can show his most recent performance was a sign that his offensive game is coming around when the Lakers host the Detroit Pistons on Friday.
Though the Lakers (4-2) lost 101-90 to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, the good news was Bryant looking more like the player who was the league's top scorer last season as opposed to one working his way into playing shape.
Bryant led the team with a season-high 32 points, hitting 12-of-19 from the field. It was his fourth game back in action after sitting out the opening two contests while still rehabbing from offseason knee surgery.
"The knee felt pretty good," said Kobe Bryant, who was held under 20 points in each of his previous two outings. "It's getting better and better every game ... My explosion felt really good tonight. It's coming."
Kobe Bryant, who averaged 35.4 points last season, has not been creating as many opportunities for himself while playing a bit more cautiously as he tries to strengthen the knee. He's taken only 51 shots from the field through four games after leading the league with 27.2 per game last season.
Kobe Bryant averaged 39.5 points in two meetings with Detroit in 2005-06. The LA Lakers had lost three straight to the Pistons before Kobe Bryant scored 40 in a 105-94 win on March 4 at Staples Center in the most recent matchup.
The LA Lakers have split four games since Kobe Bryant's return after opening 2-0. However, they have yet to lose at home, shooting 52.2 percent from the floor in three games at Staples Center.
The Detroit Pistons (2-3) are trying to get back on track after losing the first two games of a four-game West Coast road trip. Two days after a 103-101 loss to the Utah Jazz, Detroit fell 99-86 to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.
In both games, the Pistons were held below 42 percent from the field. They were outscored in the paint for the fourth time in five games on Wednesday, and were outrebounded 50-35 by the Kings.
"Right now we're not a very good basketball team," said Chauncey Billups, who led Detroit with 25 points on Wednesday. "We've got a long way to go. We're having too many breakdowns. We're not starting off with the urgency we need. We need to get the lead and step on people."
Billups has shot 35.6 percent from the field and 6-of-26 from 3-point range for the Pistons, who have been one of the league's worst shooting teams this season at 43.3 percent.
Rasheed Wallace missed all nine of his shot attempts on Wednesday as he went scoreless, but says the Detroit Pistons can't let their struggles make them hesitant.
"Just keep playing and keep shooting," Wallace said. "You can't stop shooting. ... You can't shoot well every night. You're going to make some - it's just part of the game."
Lakers vs Pistons news:
Detroit Pistons 91, L.A. Lakers 103
Lakers Vs Pistons Preview 11/16/07
Lakers 78, Pistons 93 02/08/07
Lakers Vs Pistons Preview 02/08/07
Lakers 83 Pistons 97 11/10/06
Lakers Vs Pistons Preview 11/10/06
Lakers Vs Pistons a look back to March 06.
•Finals Game 6 Preview: Celtics vs. Lakers
•Finals Game 4 Preview: Celtics vs. Lakers
•Finals Game 3 Preview: Celtics vs. Lakers
•Finals Game 1 Preview: Celtics vs. Lakers
•Game 5 Preview: Spurs vs. Lakers
•Game 4 Preview: Spurs vs. Lakers
•Game 2 Preview: Spurs vs. Lakers
•Game 1 Preview: Spurs vs. Lakers
•Game 5 Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
•Game 2 Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
•Game 3 Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
•Game 2 Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
•Preview: Kings vs. Lakers
•Preview: Clippers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Grizzlies vs. Lakers
•Preview: Bobcats vs. Lakers
•Preview: Warriors vs. Lakers
•Preview: Mavericks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Raptors vs. Lakers
•Preview: Clippers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Heat vs. Lakers
•Preview: Suns vs. Lakers
•Preview: Timberwolves vs. Lakers
•Preview: Bobcats vs. Lakers
•Preview: Heat vs. Lakers
•Preview: Hawks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Pistons vs. Lakers
•Preview: Knicks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Mavericks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Spurs vs. Lakers
•Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
•Lakers Head to Seattle Without Injured Bynum
•Preview: Bucks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Grizzlies vs. Lakers
•Preview: 76ers vs. Lakers
•Preview: 76ers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Cavaliers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Bulls vs. Lakers
•Preview: Warriors vs. Lakers
•Preview: Spurs vs. Lakers
•Preview: Nuggets vs Lakers 12/05/07
•Preview: Timberwolves vs Lakers 12/04/07
•Preview: Nuggets vs Lakers 11/29/07
•Preview: Sonics vs Lakers 11/27/07
•Spurs vs Lakers Preview 11/13/07
•Preview: New Orleans Hornets at L.A. Lakers
•Lakers vs Rockets Preview 12/12/06
•Lakers vs Spurs Preview 12/10/06
•Lakers Vs Hawks Preview 12/08/06
•Lakers Vs Pacers 12/04/06
•Lakers Vs Clippers Preview 12/02/06
•Lakers vs Jazz Preview 11-30-06
•Lakers vs Bucks preview 11/28/06
•Lakers vs Nets preview 11/26/06
•Lakers vs Jazz preview 11/24/06
•Lakers vs Clippers preview 11/21/06
•Lakers vs Bulls preview 11/18/06
•Lakers Vs Raptors Preview
•Lakers Vs Pistons Preview
•Lakers Vs Grizzlies Preview
•Lakers Vs Pistons Preview
•Timberwolves Vs Lakers Preview
•Lakers Vs SuperSonics Preview
• Lakers Vs SuperSonics Preview
• Lakers Vs Warriors Preview
• Lakers Vs Suns Preview
Jordan Farmar news:
•Rookie Farmar says he's living Hollywood dream with Lakers
• Grizzlies challenge Farmar
• Stars come out at Camp
• NBA considerations distant memory for pair of eager Cats
Kobe Bryant news:
•Kobe Bryant apologizes to Lakers GM
•Kobe Bryant Wins Scoring Title
•Kobe has most popular jersey in USA, China
•Bryant Proves the Best
•Wade beats Bryant for another Skills Challenge win
•Memorabilia Offered by Kobe Bryant and Upper Deck
•Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant Suspended
•Why did Kobe change to 24?
•Kobe Bryant: Won't Play This Week
•Kobe Bryant to Collab with Lil Wayne
•Lakers' Kobe Bryant ready for another run as NBA season nears
•Kobe Bryant Dunk Videos
•Kobe Bryant Videos
•Kobe Bryant Scores the Cover of NBA '07 for PlayStation
•Los Angeles Lakers All-Star Kobe Bryant Scores the Cover of NBA '07
Los Angeles news:
• Los Angeles news
•Los Angeles Concerts news
• Beckham Signs with Los Angeles Galaxy
• Top 10 Most Valuable NBA Franchise
• 10 Ten things to do in Los Angeles
• Lower back spasms from the court.
• Top 10 Los Angeles Restaurants.
• Top 10 Los Angeles Experiences
JR Pinnock news:
• Lakers sign JR Pinnock
Smush Parker news:
• Smush Parker Basketball Camp
Staples Center news:
•Get up to the minute Los Angeles Concert tour news
•Garth Brooks To Play Staples Center Benefit Shows For Fire Victims
•Bon Jovi Staples Center
•Van Halen Staples Center Dec 14th
•Wild try to continue hot start in LA
•Hyundai Returns to X Games 13 Rally Car Racing
• Rumorville Eric Clapton to play the Staples Center
• Grady Brewer wins 'Contender 2' in a split decision over Steve Forbes
• Cirque comes the LA Staples Center
Phil Jackson news:
• Lakers coach Jackson fined US$25,000
• Phil Jackson to have hip surgery
|
