L.A. Lakers: 5 Bold Predictions for Game 3 vs. Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Lakers 93-81 to take a commanding 2-0 series lead tonight.
Dirk Nowitzki led the way for Dallas with 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting. Kobe Bryant scored 23 for the Lakers in a losing effort.
Now, the Lakers are in an extremely precarious position. This is the worst shape they've been in since the 2008 NBA Finals series they lost to the Celtics.
My sincerest apologies for the forthcoming cliche, but the Lakers now find themselves face-to-face with a must-win game that will take place Friday in Dallas at 9:30 PM ET.
Here are five bold predictions for Game 3 of this exciting second-round series...
Ron Artest Will Not Play
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Ron Artest was called for one joke of a technical foul on Tyson Chandler, but he got his money's worth on J.J. Barea at the end of the game.
With the clock winding down and the game already decided, Artest charged Barea in the backcourt and leaned in for an utterly pointless elbow to the face.
The shot earned Artest an ejection.
In a not-so-bold prediction, I anticipate Artest being suspended one game for the hit on Barea.
Based on his play in the season and playoffs, losing Artest for a game might not be a bad thing for the Lakers right now.
Kobe Will Start Strong
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The Dallas fans will be ecstatic at the start of Game 3. I know it, you know it and Kobe Bryant definitely knows it.
He'll want to get going early in order to temper the crowd's enthusiasm and try to steal a little momentum away from the Mavericks.
He'll be aggressive against whoever is defending him in the first quarter.
Jason Terry Will Break Loose
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Dallas has won the first two games of this series in spite of relatively poor play from its second-leading scorer.
Jason Terry has scored 24 points on 9-of-22 shooting in the series. He'll score more points in Game 3 than he scored in the previous two games combined.
Terry is the kind of player who can get hot at a moment's notice, and the hyped-up Dallas crowd may be just the spark he needs.
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Pau's Struggles Continue
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Lakers fans around the world are already up in arms over Pau Gasol's effort in the first two games of this series.
His numbers haven't been awful, but he clearly looks flustered by the physical play of Tyson Chandler and Brendan Haywood.
Things aren't going to get any easier for him in Dallas. If anything, Chandler and Haywood are only going to play harder in front of the home crowd.
Mavericks Win and Take Commanding 3-0 Series Lead
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The Mavericks are playing extremely well right now and seem to have the Lakers figured out.
Their aggressive, physical defense has flustered every Laker outside of Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum, and they know they won't lose to one or two players.
I expect Dirk Nowitzki to have another big game as the Lakers have already thrown every conceivable defensive option at him with no success.
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