Los Angeles Lakers  (34-32)

November 27, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Indiana Pacers small forward Paul George (24) holds on to a rebound during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Tonight is the Lakers’ visit to Banker’s Life Fieldhouse for some action against the Indiana Pacers.  No word on Kobe Bryant’s status for the game, but the Pacers will be prepared either way.  Paul George has stated he wants Bryant to play, and I can see that as a challenge for George.  But George wants to show that he can in fact out play Bryant, and I like that attitude and confidence of George.  Just think a year ago, does Paul George have that type of confidence for this game?

That would be quite the match up to see, but we don’t know if that happens, so I have another match up to look at.  How about Roy Hibbert and Dwight Howard duking it out in the post area?  But it does scare me a bit as a Pacers fan.  I think Hibbert does struggle against those centers who can muscle him around, and if Howard is going to play like I think he should, that could happen tonight.  Hibbert has looked so good over the past month and a half, tonight is a great measuring stick to see where he really is at.  If he can hold his own against Howard, then you know Hibbert is make to where we all thought we would be.  If I am the Pacers, I’m tossing into Hibbert early in the game to let him work and get some shots going.  The more Hibbert makes, the higher his confidence is.  He’s been playing at such a better level, so I hope that he will have that bit of confidence in tonight’s game.

The Pacers as a whole need to come to play.  I think the Lakers do look like such a better team, and they look like they could be making a run to the playoffs.  The Pacers probably won’t see them after tonight, but still picking up any wins with so few games left in the season is key.  Keep padding that lead in the division, and in that second spot in the Eastern Conference.  This should be a great evening to take in some basketball at Banker’s Life with the star studded Lakers coming in. Fans should be showing up roaring to go, and I expect a playoff like feel to this game.  The Pacers are making that push towards what should be a lengthy playoff run, and getting a big win tonight would be great.