LeBron and Kobe tonight

LeBron and Kobe tonight
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-lakeweb16feb16,1,5872922.story?coll=la-headlines-sports&track=crosspromo
By Steve Springer, Times Staff Writer 11:17 AM PST, February 15, 2007

The scene is symbolic of the Lakers' recently-completed eight-game journey into
despair: LeBron James grabs a rebound, goes coast to coast and dunks at the
other end last Sunday in Cleveland without a single Laker so much as touching
him.

Those embarrassing five seconds tell it all. The Lakers' 3-5 trip and a
subsequent loss to the New York Knicks upon their return home Tuesday can be
best explained in two words: Defensive breakdown.

With the solace of the All-Star break looming, the Lakers have one more chance
to get it right it.

And wouldn't you know it, tonight's final game before the break, at Staples
Center, comes against James and his Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers, playing for the second night in a row, are coming off a 99-98
loss to the Utah Jazz. Overall, they are 10-15 on the road.

And center Zydrunas Ilgauskas is not expected to play, the cause of his absence
termed "personal reasons."

steve.springer@xxxxxxxxxxx
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