Lakers Vs Warriors Preview 11/01/06

GAME: L.A. Lakers Lakers (1-0) at Golden State Warriors (0-0) DATE/TIME: Wednesday, November 01 - 10:30 PM EST
SPREAD: Golden State -6.5 TOTAL: 202.5

Since Don Nelson last coached the Golden State Warriors, eight successors came and went without bringing them back to the postseason.

Nelson looks to end Golden State's 12-year playoff drought as he begins his second stint as Warriors coach in Wednesday's season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers, who will again be without Kobe Bryant.

The 66-year-old Nelson coached Golden State from 1988-1995, and ranks second on the franchise's all-time wins list with 277. He guided the Warriors to the playoffs in four of his seven seasons, including their most recent playoff berth in 1994.

"You just need a good coach, a coach you respect," point guard Baron Davis said. "Having a coach like him is great, because he's a personality in his own right. I don't mind following great leaders.

"He's pushing us. He's pushing me, and I'm accepting the challenge. I definitely feel that I need somebody like that. That's something I always wanted."

Under Nelson's guidance, Davis is determined to return to his All-Star form and shed the negative labels of him being undisciplined and headstrong.

With Davis running the point, the Warriors have displayed a fast-paced offense in the preseason that Nelson used successfully as coach of the Dallas Mavericks. Golden State went 6-1 and averaged 115.4 points in the preseason after going 34-48 and averaging 98.5 points last season under Mike Montgomery.

"Baron, when he's in the system and healthy, he's going to have the opportunity to be an All-Star-caliber player," Nelson said.

Leading scorer Jason Richardson returns to the Warriors after averaging a career-high 23.2 points in 2005-06. Although Richardson did not play in the preseason after having knee surgery during the summer, he is expected to start this game.

Center Troy Murphy is also expected to start after missing the final two preseason games with a broken nose. Murphy averaged 14.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in 74 games last season.

While Golden State's offense should flourish under Nelson, the defense remains a concern. The Warriors allowed the ninth-most points in the NBA last season with 99.8 points, and Nelson's clubs historically have sacrificed defensive consistency in their efforts to outscore opponents.

Golden State won't have to face Bryant, the NBA's scoring champion with a 35.4-point average last season, but the Lakers (1-0) didn't seem to miss him in Tuesday's 114-106 victory over the Phoenix Suns in their season opener.

Bryant, who underwent arthroscopic surgery in mid-July, missed Tuesday's game because of soreness in his surgically repaired right knee.

He missed the Lakers' eight exhibition games, and said before the game he hoped to return this weekend.

"It's a possibility," Bryant said. "I'm extremely optimistic - I'm an optimistic person by nature. It's such a day-to-day thing with this knee. It's much better than it was a week ago. It's just been a process building it up."

Lamar Odom matched his career high with 34 points to go with 13 rebounds and six assists, helping the Lakers overcame a 39-20 first-quarter deficit.

"I started the game slow, I took some bad shots," Odom said. "My adrenaline was going, I just had to slow down a little bit."

Odom averaged 14.8 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists last season, but struggled against the Warriors. The former fourth overall pick averaged just 8.3 points in four games against Golden State last season, his second-lowest average against any opponent.

Center Andrew Bynum also helped pick up the slack in Bryant's absence, totaling career highs of 18 points and nine rebounds. The 19-year-old averaged just 1.6 points and 1.7 rebounds last season as a rookie.

The Lakers won all four meetings against the Warriors last season, and have won nine of their last 10 against them.

For more previews check out www.covers.com.

Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 6-4
Before playing Seattle are 6-4
After playing Phoenix are 7-3
After a win are 7-3

Golden State most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 4-6
Before playing Portland are 5-5
After playing Utah are 5-5
After a loss are 2-8

A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of the LA Lakers last 5 games when playing Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 5 of the LA Lakers last 5 games when playing on the road against Golden State
LA Lakers are 9-1 SU in their last 10 games when playing Golden State
LA Lakers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing on the road against Golden State
Golden State is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Golden State's last 5 games when playing LA Lakers
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Golden State's last 5 games when playing at home against LA Lakers
Golden State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games

Next up:
LA Lakers vs Seattle Supersonics, Friday, Staples Center November 3
Golden State home to Portland, Friday, November 3

Lakers vs Warriors News
Golden State 113 Lakers 115 03/25/07
02/25/07L.A. Lakers 102, Golden State 85
02/25/07 Lakers vs Warriors preview
11/02/06 Lakers 110, Warriors 98
11/02/06 Lakers Warriors Preview

NBA Future:
Tyler Hansbrough
Tyler Hansbrough led Oak Hill Academy to a 42-1 record as a senior (won their first 42 games) o First-team USA Today All-America selection o Averaged 23.8 points, 9.1 assists and five steals in 2006 o Shot 63 percent from the floor, including 42 percent from three-point range o Had a season-high 37 points, one of nine games in which he scored 30 or more o Had a season-high 18 assists and had double-digit assists 18 times o Played for coach Steve Smith o Participated in McDonald's All-Star Game, Jordan Classic and Nike Hoop Summit o McDonald's and Parade All-America selection o Had 17 points and six assists in Nike Hoop Summit o Also played soccer last year at Oak Hill o Most Valuable Player at Oak Hill in 2005 o Most Valuable Player at World Juniors Tournament in France in June 2005 o Attended Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Md., for two years.

NBA Future:
Joakim Noah
Joakim Noah (born February 25, 1985 in New York City) is a 7'0" American basketball player who currently plays for the University of Florida in the Southeastern Conference of the NCAA.

Joakim Noah is of French, Cameroonian, and Swedish descent, born to Yannick Noah, a former French professional tennis player and 1983 French Open Champion, and Cécilia Rodhe, Miss Sweden 1978. He competed on basketball teams for several high schools, first at the United Nations International School in New York City, later transferring to Poly Prep in Brooklyn, New York and then to Lawrenceville, outside of Princeton, New Jersey. At Lawrenceville, Noah averaged 24.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game, leading his team to a New Jersey Prep 'A' state title.

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