LAKERS vs GRIZZLIES (PRE-GAME REPORT)

The Lakers continue on with their 6 game road trip. One win down, five to go. Today's victim, is the team Kobe and friends decided to turn around from their 2 game losing streak back in late December, the Memphis Grizzlies. Again another sub 500. team, but again, we know our Lakers and leave it up to them to make a sure thing blow-out into a good close game.

The Grizzlies have been in a rut losing 11 straight games. But with new coach Lionel Hollins, they hope to make a turnaround. "I am implementing a style that I play, and that style is to be a hard-nosed, defensive team, aggressive, turnaround and push the ball back up the court," he said. "We want to pressure full-court." It's pretty much the same style they played back when they played us, but I guess more tougher? Here's one thing I remember that was killing us in the previous game against the Grizzlies. They pushed the ball down hard, every opportunity they had. We missed a shot, they pushed. We make a shot, they pushed harder. And with two 7-footers out there, the Lakers just could not set their defense up by the time they came down with the ball.

Other than young Gasol, Memphis has no real threat in the paint, which means what? FEED IT INSIDE! With Bynum playing like a beast and a brotherly rivalry against the Gasols', it's just meant to be in the paint! The Gay-Mayo tandem killed the Lakers last time accounting for almost half of Memphis' total points, if we can hold at least one of their numbers down, it'll be allot easier. Hakim Warrick can be problems if you don't put a body on him, he's pretty athletic. Coach Hollins also hopes to start Conley and give him more freedom to make plays. Which means this team can be a little bit more unpredictable.

The last time the Lakers played the Grizzlies, not every Laker was playing up to par, so it was left to Kobe to save the day. With everyone healthy now, and playing well together, we need not to rely on Kobe tonight.