Hope I don't jinx you HOOPS man, but I gotta agree with the whole card, minus G STATE. I don't have an opinion on that game really so taking the points is probably the way to go. I love IND at home laying 5.5 to the woeful KNICKS. IF INDY comes out like they finished the other nite, this game will be called off at HT! Boston at home on FRI NITE is normally a $$ ticket, and the LAKE SHOW, well let's just say I heard JACKSON on a talk show today, and he's wanting to see his team blow out MEMPHIS by early in the fourth quarter tonite. That's the kind of execution it will take to lead the Lakers to a historic regular season record. He feels this team has more talent than either of the past two championship teams did but beating the BULLS 72-10 record of 95-96:
There was no way of stopping that team. They had te desire, and I told this team to practice hard and have the desire to come every game and make something special happen. And whether it was a back-to-back game or a road trip that was four games in five nights, they (the Bulls) didn't mind. They were just playing for the joy of the game.
Jackson isn't ready to proclaim these Lakers comparable, in part because he considers the quality of the Lakers' Western Conference foes too good. But the Lakers also don't quite have the single-mindedness Jackson would like.
"They would like to have it, but their ability actually to find a way to make that work on the court, day in and day out, whether it's practice or games, is lacking yet. They don't have that duration of focus."
Basically, JACKSON is pulling one of his mind game/motivators on the LAKERS knowing full well they have a fairly easy schedule the first part of this season, and he does not want them to become complacent waiting for the playoffs to start. If he seriously thinks this team can challenge the BULLS record, and gets them to believe it, it could be a long long season for everyone else in the NBA.
I think they'll come out firing vs the undermanned GRIZZLIES tonight and try and put them away early. The FH line looks really really good. I'd be wary of laying the 16.5 though, because if JASON WILLIAMS gets hot with the 3's late, he could pull Memphis back into a back door cover.
