Wicked game on all accounts. We never really let them back into the game all night, and I loved it.

For one of the first times all season, we came out strong pretty much every quarter and finished strong as well... gotta love that.

Very interesting how nice the back court of Smush/Sasha worked. I think their total effort had to do with some of Smush's steals. But this guy, Smush Parker, has strong fingures. with the smallest contact he takes the ball out of anybodies hand. The surprising play of him, Smush, and Sasha is certainly great news for The Lakers. Tonight they just took all the small fast guards out of the game really early. And after that shot block by KOBE it was all over....Watchout for the Raptors though. alot like the lakers they have played some close games. Their record looks much worse than they really are.

The Lakers have to get that game in Toronto - 3 straight wins, even though the one to Charlotte was barely a win, would give a young team a lot of confidence. After all, if you're playing the right way - defense, good shots, etc., you would want to be rewarded. But lots of encouraging signs tonight.

Kwame B. is probably going to be out for much longer than expected. It seems the Lakers are playing better without him, especially Mihm. Why aren't the Lakers pursuing the Bull's Tim Thomas who would be a great fit?

For all the Kobe haters who said as Kobe goes so does the team. Ha! Ha, I say! You can see that when everybody OTHER than Kobe plays offence & defense, the team can win. As the team learns the offence and becomes more confident, Kobe will still score without being a ball hog. So I say, as the team goes, our wins go not Kobe. Great team game!

For once, nothing negative to say. Period. Give our boys some love when love is due! This was a solid performance that we've been waiting for. Normally, us bloggers seem to want to point out a certain facet of the game so that we can feel we have credibility to provide a perspective that makes us look like a coach. Give me a break. Can we let up on OUR team that finally seems to have done what we've asked!?! (Like they care what we think) Best 48 minutes of the year. Smush stepped up (again) and is trying to make himself look legit since PJ called him out. NYC style. KOBE PLAYED WITHIN HIMSELF AND THE NEW LAKERS!!! Lamar did everything we've been asking....we crashed the boards! The Lakers just kept playing their game---crucial on the road. Sometimes you get a lead and play down to the opponent. I didn't see that at all. We kept on it...like we should on the road...and played the game we've all been asking for. Nothing more to say. Great game TEAM! I'm still applauding...

First I want to say good game guys!!! I hope with the win tonight it will give the LAKERS the confidence that they are lacking in each other. Second the Lakers need to work on getting the same type of performances from Smush that they got tonight, every night.

Side note have you guys thought about how many fans are on this blog from other city's? Im a Laker fan from LA liven in Florida and I dont have the NBA package so I get my Laker info from AK/BK so I just wanted to thank you guys.So thank you for giving me my fix!!!

This is the best performance for the Lakers this season.

They have the capability of playing very well. Hopefully as they gel as a team, they can be more consistent and can play better.

Play smart. Play hard. Play as a team. That's the mark of a champion.

The Lakers have that in them. They have to want it every day, however, in order to be a great team.

They lead Utah by 15 points - but lost the game in the second half, the fourth quarter when they lost concentration and did not play smart and hard.

They lead Minnesota by 18 points - but lost the game in the second half, the fourth quarter when they lost concentration and did not play smart and hard.

Now, they lead Milwaukee by 19 points. And they maintained their intensity, smart, hard work, and teamwork! Wow! Best game of the season.

This team has a lot of potential.

It's nice to see Kobe working within the flow of the team game rather than forcing bad shots or trying to draw fouls all the time.

Hopefully Kobe works on avoiding faking a shot with every shot, heeding Phil Jackson's remark. This way, he can work to get better shots rather than taking wild ones. Through the years, it was evident that Kobe - because of his predictable fake then shot - was easily contained by taller players. By learning instead to work on positioning himself for a better shot, rather than faking a shot to create space, Kobe will be more consistent and will be in a better position to take a high percentage shot. This will also help Kobe work with the team since he then wouldn't be dribbling so much - causing teammates to stand around watching him.

Great game tonight. Toronto is a must win for this team. If they get out of Toronto with a W, this team will have the confidence they need to step it up to the next level and get a little streak going. We need to stomp them out of their building and show no mercy. 5-1 on the road trip, sticking to it.

Phil Jackson is enjoying teaching this team. It's a blessing that Kwame has been out. There were too many things going on at once for this club. Kobe was adjusting to playing the 3. Lamar was making his shift to the 1/Pippen role. Smush Parker was adjusting to starting in the NBA. They were all adjusting to the triangle offense.
The thing you can begin to see is that the Laker coaching staff is just so fundamental in its approach. Tex Winter's system requires the players drill in all these basic elements of the offense. Once that becomes the practice habit of the players, then improvement starts to break out all over the roster. The players are now beginning to click with the basic looks of the offense. Once that happens, the coaches have a chance to move them into the world of options available in that system.
All of these things begin to add up, and the pressure on Kobe eases a bit. We think of John Paxson as the guy who hit the big shots for the Bulls (especially over the Lakers in 1991 and the Suns in 1993), but Paxson has told me about the days before Michael came to trust him in the offense, how hard they were on Jordan and how hard they were on the team.
You can see the trust spreading through the system as these new and young players find their way. First, they struggle to find their spots on the floor. Once they get used to finding them, they struggle with knowing what to do once they get there. Then it becomes a matter of their learning to read the defense and taking what the defense gives them. Each of these is very hard, takes quite some time. There will be plenty of opportunity for backsliding and mistakes as well. But the progress is tangible. It's also an incredibly fun thing to watch, Jackson building a team, building its confidence.
One of the nice factors is that people all over the league are beginning to see Chris Mihm as a legit NBA center, a factor. You hear less talk about his lack of consistency, his poor play on the road, or his excessive fouling. Phil's approach is having a dramatic impact with Mihm. The hope is that Kwame Brown will come back from his hamstring injury with a better sense of himself and the game. He'll need time, but if he's willing to work, I think we could see change begin to take hold with him as well.

Roland Lazenby
author of The Show

Wow.....BRAVO! What an exhibit. Smush had a great night that should boost his confidence and LO; what can you say? If you didn't look at the stats, one could asume that he had another average night. HE KILLED IT AND HE DID IT UNDERCOVER ALA ELTON BRAND STYLE!! I would like to recind my outlook of 2 wins tops and am calling for us to drop only ONE! Kobe was near perfect (still a few wild ones, but I don't mind a few) and really had the team involved. I can't wait for tonight.....

Guys,

Last night's win felt great.

SMMMMUUUUUUSSSSH!!!!

Lamar was great.

Everyone was solid.

We did let our lead slide a bit, but things still looked real good. I expect us to be .500 after tonight.

Hey, Blogmeisters! Could you set up some subject where we discuss primarily how great Kobe is?

I mean, I don't know what's up with Lakers fans (real and unreal) that we like to pick Kobe apart. Upon reflection, I suppose it may be because we rely upon Kobe so heavily and we all know he's one of the NBA Greats, but shouldn't we be thanking him instead of constantly trying to bring him down?

I mean, he is 3 assists short of passing Gail Goodridge (GAIL GOODRIDGE!) on the Lakers all-time assist rankings for eight place. That's huge!

I'm not too excited yet about this Laker win. I want to see a little more balance. LO won't be able to have a monster game like that every night, so we need to get some more balance.

As I predicted yesterday, the Lakers came out with a lot of energy. In case you guys missed the post, I suggested that since the Bucks were considered one of the elite teams in the east, the Lakers would show up. They show more energy on the road when the team is considered good.

Hoopefully Toronto tonight won't show a lot of energy, because lately in back-to-back situations the Lakers are dead in the second half.

To all recentley converted Clipper fans...... Where are you today?............I read all of the posts above.. what happend to all of the guys demanding that we trade Kobe? He looked like a good teamate last night....his trade value has gone up.

To the real fans......... keep the faith. and like KB8 Fan said above, the sky is NOT falling just Kobe Js.

see what happens when a team just puts the effort out there? basketball isn't rocket science as the lakers do their best to make it so sometimes. basketball is the ultimate example of a team sport. if the lakers put out at least the same tenacity and smarts at both ends, they'll be alright the rest of the way. this is the kind of game they can build on. kudos for everyone!

I have the league pass as well and the best moment of the night was the announcer saying, "Lamar goes left, score", after beating his defender but before he had made it to the hoop. You gotta love it when a team doesn't do their homework.

Very nice game Lakers. Just don't let it go to your heads just yet and come in over confident vs Raptors. Still tough road games ahead, so 2-4 might be the best they get.

I, too, would like to see Von Wafer more, hopefully he can get some more minutes tonight against Toronto to help keep the energy up.

I hate the Raptors--lame-ass expansion team with a cartoon dinosaur as a mascot.

They are the Mighty Ducks of basketball.

Based on Ramy's post, what do you guys think of this trade scenario: Devean and Devin for Earl Watson. The money is close enough to make it work. The Nuggets need frontcourt help, the Lakers need backcourt help. This would allow the Lakers to play more 3 guard fronts like they did last night. It also gives the Lakers one less roster spot that they can use to sign another player (not Sprewell) that can help them up front. Remember, th

For those of you who are upset at all the "trade kobe" and "ballhog" talk, I'm just letting you know that a lot of people will feel this way until the Lakers start winning. Kobe has to win a championship for all this criticism to go away.

Trade Kobe Bryant while he still HAS VALUE!!!! If the Lakers don't trade Bryant soon, he will get injured and lose value in what they can get in a trade. Those who say 'Kobe needs to have confidence in his teammates' fail to accept the fact that ALL of Kobe Bryants' teammates are PROFESSIONALS who GET PAID to be Basketball players!!! There is no TRUST ISSUE. They get paid to preform their jobs as NBA players, if not,..then they get released. Kobe has no right to even infer about a 'trust' issue, he just needs to PASS THE BALL!!!

Trade Kobe for LeBron James!!!!!
Fire Mitch Kupchak,.....he was NEVER a standout MBA player during his career,...so how does he know about personnel!!!
Lakers need to hire a GM that was a former Laker player that was an ALL STAR player, that KNOWS players!!! Not some former bench jockey as GM that...'couldn't shoot a pea in the ocean' nor make good Managerial decisions. Maybe that is why the Lakers can't get any Quality Veterans to play for them,.....Kobe Bryant(ballhog) and Mitch Kupchak (bench jockey)

A real perfect game. A true team game. It's not a Kobe team or Phil team, it is a team of many players and coaches. If Lakers could play this type of game against then they can play like that everytime or at least most nights. Go Lakers!!!

Steven,

You're insane. You should stick to posting commentary on Professional Lacrosse blogs about teams you've never even seen play.

I think your words would be more valuable in that regards.

To those suggesting we don't get over excited about this win: It's obvious that this team has a long way to go, why bother pointing out the obvious?

To steven: Please get a clue. Team chemistry is not built overnight. It takes time for players to get to know each others' games. With the exception of Kobe, who on the team is a champion? These players need to earn Kobe's trust, just as Kobe needs to bolster their confidence. In a way it's a catch 22, but since the guys look to Bryant for leadership, he needs to take the initiative here. He did exactly that in this game, which gives us hope for the future.

As far as GMs needing to be allstars, let me point out that Isiah Thomas is an All-Star and R.C. Buford isn't. It means nothing.

Veteran players are looking for either: Top dollar or a championship contender. The Lakers can offer neither of those things at the moment. If, however, the team can parlay this performance into an identity (as in a TEAM concept), then we will look much more appealing to FA's.

J-