The Dallas have come off a tough defeat due to a lazy second half in San Antonio and are now in Dallas looking to improve their 27-13 record. The team has clearly shown that they are capable of performing without Andrew Bynum, but at the same time they show how badly they still need his help.

This is the Lakers first game against Dallas this season and its a team that I always look forward to seeing. Kobe is known to step up against the Mavericks and has had amazing scoring outbursts against them in season’s past. This year has not been about Kobe scoring, although we all know he is still capable of exploding. The key to this game will be Ronny and Kwame on the inside. Dampier is a solid center but our back court is stronger than that of Dallas and if we can manage to stop their front line, we should have some good results.

Surely enough, Phil Jackson has a superb game plan going into this game but I’m really hoping that it include getting Dirk tired on the defensive end. With Lamar guarding Dirk, you have to believe that Dirk will return the favor. If Lamar takes up more time with the ball during this game, penetrates, makes Dirk move a lot, and then kicks the ball outside then I can’t see Dirk being all that effective on the offensive end. If Lamar can assume the penetrator role that Kobe has been known to take, then Kobe can finally act as a role player which may be even ore effective against this Dallas team.

Fisher and Farmar should be able to control Jason Terry and Devin Harris but Kobe is sure to be left with Josh Howard at some point. This will be Kobe time because although Howard is a great offensive threat for the Mavs, he unfortunately isn’t fast enough to keep up with Kobe. I look forward to Lamar finally taking control of this game and seeing what Sasha has to offer on the shooting end tonight.

Lakers win by 14 in a statement game to let the rest of the league know that they should’ve won in San Antonio and that they will stay strong in the Western Conference even through all the injuries.