And I'm not talking about the Lakers and their 102-97 win Tuesday night over Orlando.  Nope.  I'm here to congratulate Don Ford, who was the first to correctly post the answer to today's Lakers Trivia Question! 

(Since the 1973-74 season, only six Lakers have led the team in blocked shots for a season.  Name them.)

Don's winning answer:

Elmore Smith, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Vlade Divac, Elden Campbell, Shaquille O'Neal, Chris Mihm. 

Honorable mention to Scott, who had to slog through what was apparently a poorly worded, hella confusing question.  Once he knew what it was, Scott posted the correct answer.  Thanks to all who played!  Extra thanks to those of you who reminded us that the San Diego Conquistadors existed.  Fantastic team name.  I miss the ABA, or would if I had been more than a year old when it folded/merged with the NBA. 

Anyway, for his trouble Don Ford wins nothing but Lakers Blog pride.  Until we get a bigger budget, I'm afraid that's all we have to give away.  Sorry.  Send any complaints to the Times.

BK

First Quarter

4-4 with 9:09 left in the first: Mihm goes off glass for his first basket. I like that he's switched to a white bullet proof vest under his jersey. He hadn't played very well donning the black one, and I imagine that color only accentuated his gloom. This look is a little more optimistic.

That behind the back bounce pass from Odom to Cook for the easy lay up? Um, that would qualify as "nice." It just goes to show, the closer LO is to the basket, the better off everyone is. Dude needs to live in the paint.

I love seeing Cook taking it to the glass (especially when he draws the foul). It just ain't pretty to watch. Very "clomping." (Is that even a word?) But I'll take "ugly but aggressive" over "pretty and camping out by the arc" any day.

And..... We're off! A quick note about posts.  The technology we're afforded doesn't make it easy for us to put info on the same post at the same time.  We tried it last time, and it didn't work.  So this is what you get.  Sorry.  If you're worried, just read mine.  AK doesn't have that much to say anyway.

Thirty seconds in, and Kobe has 2 points.  That puts him on a pace for four a minute, 48 a quarter, and 192 for the game.  If it were anyone else, you'd say that's rediculous. 

Not surprisingly, much of the pregame talk from PJ was about the third quarter.  You may have heard that the Lakers have struggled a little bit in that frame. Nothing new to report there, just that they have to play better. 

One interesting thing Jackson said was that it's when Kobe is in half-takeover/score mode, half laying back that the team gets stuck- mostly because they aren't sure if they should give him space to do his thing or stay within the offense.  Anyway, that's something to keep an eye on as the game goes on. 

By the way, tonight we have the pleasure of sitting directly behind Jim Hill's fantastic hair.  I swear, it's the most consistent, geometrically perfect afro I've ever seen.  As reliable as death and taxes.

Watching Mihm move around the lane emphasises the problem that having him and Kwame in the same frontcourt presents.  No doubt, Kwame is a better individual defender, but to say the guy is lost in the offense is a teeny understatement (PJ said before the game that Kwame is still struggling with the nuances of "an offense with options.").  So Jackson has to choose- offense or defense.  Put Cook at PF and the lack of interior D becomes even more magnified.   

We're gonna try another round of "Live from the Game" postings. We debuted this concept during the recent victory over the Blazers, and everyone seemed to enjoy it. Plus, the team is 1-0 in games where the K Brothers blog from Staples. What do we have to lose?

If you don't see anything up between 7:30 and 7:45, technical difficulties prevailed. Otherwise, try to stop by and say hello.

Since defense is on everyone's mind heading into tonight's game against Orlando, here's a defensive oriented question for the the day:

Since the 1973-74 season, only six Lakers have led the team in blocked shots for a season.  Name them. 

Fans don't want to talk about missing the playoffs, but at least it comes with the silver lining of a nice high pick in the '06 draft, right?  Maybe not.  It's very possible that should they end up in the lottery, this could be the year that the pick the Lakers gave Boston in the Mihm-Payton deal could belong to the Celtics (who have already traded it away to Atlanta, who have traded it to Phoenix).  In a draft that is without a clear cut #1 but is long on depth, losing the pick could be a bummer.  Either way, the Lakers still have Miami's first choice.  Will they reach the postseason?   ESPN's Greg Anthony says yes, but not necessarily because they'll pile up wins over their last 27 games.  No mention of what happens after they get there... 

Even with the new age minimum of 19, Phil Jackson believes any player they take in the draft will need some seasoning before establishing himself as a quality NBA player. 

Defense and execution have been the problem in consecutive losses to the Clippers and Boston.  Jackson has emphasized to the team that what might work one game may not in the next.  For example, in their last meeting, the Lakers had five starters in double figures and whupped the Magic in Orlando.  But that was the pre-deadline Magic, before the sun set on the Steve-O Era.  Now it's Dwight Howard's team, with Darko, Trevor Ariza and Carlos Arroyo having joined the roster. The Magic still aren't very good, but as tonight's game will show, they are different.  Luckily for the Lakers, Jameer Nelson, whose solid play helped make Francis expendable, is still injured. 

photo by Danny Moloshok/AP

Back in the 19th century, Queen Victoria established firm guidelines and standards for periods of mourning.  Two to three years for a husband.  Three months for a wife (this was the 1860s, after all).  One year for a parent or child, six months for a sibling and grandparent.  Three months for aunts and uncles, two for nephews and nieces, six weeks for great uncles and aunts, and if a first cousin kicked it, that was worth four to six weeks of Johnny Cash, man in black fashion statements and social exile. 

There's nothing in there about losing Von Wafer. 

No he's not dead.  But he has been sent to Fort Worth- which depending on your view of Texas might actually be worse- to join the NBDL's Fort Worth Flyers.  Wafer's new teammates are guys like former Kansas stars Aaron Miles and Keith Langford, Georgia Tech's shaggy haired Aussie '04 NCAA wonderkind Luke Schenscher, and Ndudi Ebi, who holds the distinction of being the high school player who made the worst decision to enter the draft early not named Leon Smith.   All that, plus Ime Udoka, who I'm sure most of you remember from his magical four game stint with the Lakers back in '03-'04.  I'm not exactly sure which one of those dudes leads the Flyers in shots, but I know one thing for sure.  Whoever it is, by this time next week Von will likely have lapped him. 

My head knows it's good news for Von.  He needs to play.  But my selfish heart wishes he could stay.  There was no such thing as garbage time as long as Von was on the court.  He was instant excitement, straight out of the old west (shoot first, ask questions later).  That's why there's a good chance I'll be wearing black around Staples for a little while.  A quick review of some of Von's greatest hits:

-a clutch 3 at the end of regulation to ice a 111-92 win over Milwaukee on December 6.

-his soaring dunk off a Laron Profit missed free throw the next night in Toronto.  Oh Canada, indeed!

-his expletive and foul laced rejection attempt on Indiana's Eddie Gill, capped by a feverish dash down the court for a desperation three which would have cut the Laker deficit to a much more manageable 23 points as time expired (Von was always ready in case they played a fifth quarter...)

So much for capitalizing on the "easy games." It doesn't come much more "silver platter" than hosting the Boston Celtics, and the Lakers managed to turn it into a 112-111 loss. In what's been become a recurring theme, the third quarter was a crusher, where the Lakers saw a slim lead plummet into a large deficit. The D wasn't tons better in the first, second, or fourth, which helps explain Ryan Gomes' career high 19 points, a few of which probably came via Delonte West's career topping 10 assists. Another bit of deja vu? Missed free throws, with Smush and LO the prime culprits. For Odom, his shortcomings at the stripe overshadowed huge play down the stretch. Some will blame Violet Palmer whistling Kobe during the Celt's final possession, a call that was technically correct, but on it's best day, a rarity during the closing seconds. But if the Lakers are gonna let a team that had only 6 roads wins stay in a game at Staples, they deserve whatever debatable fouls come back to crush them. Hats off to Ronny Turiaf, though. Desperate to make anything happen, PJ gave the rook a shot and Turiaf delivered 3 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks and endless energy. There were some mistakes, but considering Kobe thinks Turiaf knows the O better than many who've been around since October, they shouldn't hurt his shot at more PT.

111 points and they still lose? Read the box score and weep.

And if Lakers fans want to take something positive away from that mess against Boston, that's a start. Not to say there weren't any purple and gold highlights. Kobe's game, obviously. LO and Smush coming alive down the stretch was great, if you don't count the missed free throws. Unfortunately, you must, and their combined 8 for 17 represents opportunity lost. In the end, though, the defense (or lack of anything remotely resembling it) was the the Lakers' Achilles heel.

Speaking of the ol' Achilles, AK ran into Laron Profit in the locker room after the game. He said the surgery went well, he's rehabbing hard, and looking forward to a playing next season. When told about the support and concern coming from the blog's readers after he went down, Profit emphatically said to relay his thanks.

Regis Philbin in the house! Not quite sure what the occasion was behind the visit, but Regis & Kelly's decidedly less sexy half (sorry Reeg, just being real) took a little time to chat up Kobe and LO before the game. He described 2005-2006 as "the biggest season in the history of Kobe" (hard to argue that one), then asked #8 to dedicate his first trey to him. Kobe agreed, but only if Regis would stand up and emphatically pound his chest on Kobe's behalf. When Philbin conceded, Kobe said he would start cracking up right there on the court.

As for the interview with Odom, Reeg may have needed a bit more of a refresher on LO's career. Otherwise, I'm not quite sure why would ask Lamar what it was like to play with Shaq. When reminded that the two not only never played together, but were actually swapped for each other, Philbin laughed, slapped LO on the chest and exclaimed "That's right!" He proceeded to jokingly chastise himself over the lack of preparation.

Speaking of chastising, folks were giving Sasha the business over Slovenia's lack of gold medals. And by lack, we mean "zero." Turiaf reminded Sasha that the French got the gold in the Men's downhill. When Sasha responded by asking him about Martinique's medals, Turiaf just laughed and shrugged. When you're tangentially from about five different places like Turiaf, it's probably pretty easy to take pride in your homeland's Olympic success on some level.

Enjoy the game!

AK

Interesting how as the Lakers prepare to host the Celtics, a rivalry that now exists as tradition only (Honestly, is it really all that exciting to battle Paul Pierce and a bunch o' young pups?), the true buzz around L.A. surrounds the historically lopsided Lakers-Clippers co-existence. Obviously, it's a mite premature to declare "a new sheriff in town." Not until the Staples Center interior decorator has to start sizing the place up for a couple red, white and blue banners. But it wouldn't be out of line to suggest that many of the deputies in line for promotion currently reside on Donald Sterling's payroll. However you want to phrase things, it's on, people! This is legit. Any Lakers fan who says otherwise is simply fooling themselves. How can you debate it, with the "other team" clearly better, ahead in the Pacific, and jockeying with the Lakers for playoff position? Yeah, there's a difference between having a superior squad and having bragging rights, the latter of which the Clippers haven't earned quite yet. But with Brand, Maggette and Mobley locked into long term contracts, Kaman and/or Livingston expected to receive the same, and rooks like Singleton and Ewing already contributing, there's no reason to expect the "opposition" to falter anytime soon. Unless the usual Clippers karma (which goes by the name of Donald Sterling) comes back to bite the squad in the ass, L.A. could find itself watching a crosstown supremacy skirmish for years to come. And frankly, that's a pretty exciting thing, if you simply love good basketball.

The sting of Friday night's loss to the Clippers may be wearing off (then again, it may not be), but Phil Jackson is certain of one thing after a Saturday of film study- focus is an issue, with mental and physical breakdowns killing rallies and destroying positive sequences on the court. 

After two great games to open the post-break schedule, Lamar Odom's rough night against the Clippers was again the topic around the water cooler.  Jackson wonders if games against the red, blue and white add a little tension to L.O.'s world, considering his Clippers history.  It's a discussion that involves television, Jason Lee, and karmic effect- i.e., it's classic PJ.  Whatever the case, Mark Heisler notes that Odom is wearing out the Lakers organization as they've waited for him to contribute consistently.  The lower end of the supporting cast, he says, aren't the problem, but that contributions from those who had higher expectations on them (Odom and Kwame) are.  Jackson, though, again said that L.O. is making progress.   Interesting stuff in Heisler's column as well about Kobe and his renewed acceptance level among his peers. 

Meanwhile around the league, Friday proved that the Clippers are L.A.'s best team.  And who knows? The Anaheim Kings might someday be the big Kahuna over both.

U.G.L.Y. Lakers ain't go no alibi. They lost ugly... Ugly.

After playing with precision and focus against two sub-par teams (Heads up, Kobe! Ron Ron wants a rematch!), the Lakers reverted to sloppiness against a legit team desperate to get off the schneid. The result? A 102-83 spanking, despite Chris Kaman going down early, joining Corey Maggette and Quinton Ross among the Clippers walking wounded. The third quarter in particular wasn't pretty, as the Clips ripped off a 16-0 run. Those unanswered points were a metaphor for the contest itself, where the Lakers were outplayed, out-hustled, and some might even say, out-coached. While Phil Jackson clearly won the creativity battle over Mike Dunleavy (anyone who claims they saw a 2nd quarter LO-Kwame-Smush-Turiaf-Green quintet coming is a stone faced liar), Dunleavy seemed content to let his players win the war. Newly acquired sharpshooter Vlad Radmanovic hit 5 treys en route to his 19. Meanwhile, Staples center other "MVP" chant magnet, Elton Brand, put together a typically no frills masterpiece, punishing Chris Mihm in the post for 32 and 11, plus 4 blocks. As for EB's former teammate and good buddy LO, last night felt like a serious step backward.

If you're simply proud to see a winning L.A. team, sweet box score. If you're on the picky side, not so much.

Well, the Clippers are still the best team in town.  They sent an emphatic message to the Lakers with a 100-83 victory at Staples Friday night.  All the good stuff from the Lakers' wins this week over Portland and Sacramento (balance, scoring from L.O., defense, offensive flow, big contributions from the bench, contributions from starters not named "Kobe" or "Bryant", etc.) were somewhere between non-existent and zilch... and zilch just went M.I.A.

The good news is they shot their free throws pretty well, and managed to arrive for the tip on time.  Plus, those dying to see how an LO-Smush-Kwame-Turiaf-Green combo operate can now stop losing sleep. Not gonna lie. That was strange.

More to come tomorrow.

It's the purple and gold version of the swallows coming back to Capistrano.  Every year, around this time, Devean George is rumored to be headed to just about every city in the NBA.  Hell, at this point if yesterday you read he was traded to the New York Islanders, would it have surprised you? 

But just as the swallows always return, when the trade deadline passes Devean George is still a Laker.  In December, when George averaged 5.8 ppg and barely cracked 40% from the field (a 25.8% mark from beyond the arc didn't help).  15 games in January weren't much better.  6.1 ppg, 42% from the field, and another month below 30% from long range.   

George has been a lightning rod for criticism since he signed his four year deal heading into '02-'03.  I'm not going to defend him.  Devean has been inconsistent, struggled through injuries, and hasn't blown up as a player the way it looked like he might after his third year.  But even by those standards, his early season performance this year was weak.  Devean had been bad before, but this was bad. 

Then came February.

The second season started Tuesday with a spanking of the Trail Blazers and continued Thursday night with a big, nationally televised whippin' of the Kings.  A win tonight against the Clippers would make what has already been a very good week for the Lakers into a monumental one.  The opening is there.  L.A.'s other team seems to have caught a bit of the nostalgia bug- never a good thing for the Clippers- remembering and reliving the bad old days of Clipperdom with a five game slide.  With a win, the Lakers will pull to within 1.5 games of their crosstown rivals and generally turn the race for spots 5-8 into a dead heat. 

See what a couple victories will do? 

The Lakers have been lifted this week by strong play from Lamar Odom, and continuing contributions from Devean George.  They've come out of the break with more emphasis on going to the hoop, finding mid-range jumpers, and not settling for three pointers.  You know, the stuff we've been telling them to do all year (honestly, all we need is a Telestrator and our own broadcast tower and we'd rule this industry like kings).  That Odom and Chris Mihm had a chance to heal up for a few days didn't hurt either. 

The purple and gold have a good shot at sustaining their winning ways this week... and need to make sure it happens.  Starting with next Saturday's game at home against Detroit, the schedule takes a more difficult turn.   Here's what's on tap...

It ain't the rivalry from the Shaq-era any more (Despite what TNT's ad dept might tell ya), but with the Kings threatening to nip at their eight spot, the urgency to beat Sacto was just as intense. Thus, last night's 106-85 stomping felt as sweet as a victory against C-Webb, Peja and Jackie Christie's husband. "Ron Ron" Artest, the defensive madman (pun intended) once rumored to be joining the Lakers, spent most of his night on Kobe and held #8 to just a point above his average. Of course, when Kobe's averaging 35, "held" becomes a very relative and borderline irrelevant verb. Thankfully, since Kobe was "limited" to such "average" numbers, he didn't have to make it a one man show. For the second straight game, his buddies Lamar Odom and Devean George provided more than ample support. Odom's properly balanced output of facilitating and scoring was a welcome sight for Lakers fans. Even George's technical for hanging on the rim after a thunderdunk felt right (and the way he's playing lately, he'll gladly cut the league a check for 1K), symbolic of the overall energy increase on display. Team keeps it up, they may even match the sweat worked up by head cheerleader Ronny Turiaf. On second hand, let's just stick to realistic goals.

Scrutinize the box score all you want. A 21 point margin is worth savoring.

The second half of the season has been 100% Tacoriffic for the Lakers, who once again provided free sustenance for hungry fans with a 106-85 victory over the Kings.  Another big game from Odom, a good shooting night from Kobe, and huge 2nd half contribution on both ends from Devean George.  He's been on a nice run over the last 10-12 games, and lord knows any boost he can provide during the playoff drive is sorely needed.   

More on the game tomorrow, but sleep well tonight, Lakers fans. 

Just a few notes before the tip against Sacto-

Mihm said he woke up sore on Wednesday, but was feeling better today.  His shoulder still isn't 100%, but it's improving.  His playing time tonight is "up to Phil."

12:00 passed and L.O. was still a Laker.  He shrugged off the trade talk.

"I'm secure with my position and my abilities.  You can't wake up every day thinking about that.  It (trade rumors) is something that's gonna happen.  You can't stop it from happening.  They mentioned Allen Iverson getting traded, and he averages 30 points."

Part of L.O.'s big game on Tuesday had to do with his aggressive play moving towards the hoop and away from the 3 point line, something Jackson has encouraged him to do.  (So have we, by the way, but I have a feeling that PJ has LO's ear more than the blog does.  Just a hunch.)

"He wanted me to shoot the ball inside the threee point line.  Inside the foul line and the three point line.  The mid range jumper is always there in this offense, so he wants me to take that shot."

Not that he would say much else, but Jackson didn't seem too disappointed that the team didn't make any big moves.  Sure, he'd have taken some help, but it's not like he showed up to the game wearing a black ribbon on his lapel. 

"We had a couple things that we were close, but nothing happened on them.  (He wasn't disappointed because) This is the maybe the first year I thought we could improve or get some input from players coming in, but you get attached to these kids, you just don't want to let them go.  They're just like you're children after a while."

Jackson said he didn't think that Odom's play was affected by the trade rumors.  He was surprised Odom was confronted by Lindsay Soto on the court Tuesday night on the issue, but that internally, it wasn't an issue.  "We've been over that a few times, and assured him he wasn't going to be traded... (but) the grapvine is very deep."

The big thing we learned tonight is that Jackson is a hockey fan.  If it were up to him, they'd be able to tinker with rosters until the start of the playoffs, more like it's done in hockey (where deals can be made until a week before the playoffs... we think.) 

"I like the hockey rules.  What's the big deal?  You improve your team.  I don't know why the date is locked in like that."

That incessant "tick tock, tick tock" you're hearing is the sound of the trade deadline looming. Any action coming the Lakers way? Most likely, no shakeups big enough to make fans scream, either from joy or outrage (Unless, of course, you've always thought of Derek Anderson as the missing piece). Devean George, perennially projected to become a nomad around this time, seems destined to finish this season exactly where his career began. But no matter who the team acquires, Phil Jackson won't be looking for Mr. X to take some of the offensive load off Lamar Odom's shoulders.  Like everyone in Staples Center Tuesday night, the Zen Master was plenty happy with LO's offensive mindset against Portland.

Somewhat overshadowed by trade gossip is the game tonight against the newly non-sucky  Sacramento Kings. 7-5 since taking a gamble on Ron Artest, the Kings haven't exactly become world beaters, but they're certainly playing better when led by the volatile small forward once rumored to be heading this way. Of course, since L.A. ain't Ron Ron's new home, that means the Kings are on the road, where all five Artest era losses have come. As always for a team fighting for its playoff life, protecting their house is a must, particularly when battling a team knocking at the back door. Bet on an electric match up between Kobe and Artest. Don't bet on Kobe repeating his 51 point night from the last Lakers-Kings contest (especially if Artest is your bookie).

(photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty)

As the trade deadline approaches, the blog's been abuzz with folks clamoring for players they'd kill to see in purple and gold. Among those mentioned: Boozer. Frye. Pierce. Iguodala. K-Mart. Jermaine. Plus, the great white whale of Laker acquisitions: KG. In the meantime, Steve-O, another frequent topic of conversation, is now off the market (although never say never, since he's already been a Knick long enough to complain his way out). But it doesn't really matter, since a monster move before Thursday afternoon doesn't appear to be in the cards. Of course, it's a wacky time of year, so L.A. could have a brand new, high powered roster by the time this post is up. But don't bet on it.

But instead of more complaining about who L.A. didn't get, let's flip the script. Who would you NOT want the Lakers to bring in under any circumstances? Period. End of story. Could be anybody in the league, for a multitude of reasons. Legit superstar, but he wouldn't mesh with Kobe. Some baller that seems as un-triangle as they get. A guy who's over the hill and even more overrated. Lousy game. Great game, but lousy attitude. Great game, great attitude, but lousy contract. Great game, great attitude, great contract, but you simply think the dude's too ugly to be a Laker. Whatever, it's all good. Just make sure to provide a rationale. Extra points for a seriously random player with an even more random explanation.

Sorry. I meant to have this posted a little earlier, but got caught up in the "Great Boo Debate of 2006."

As one might expect, the mood was pretty good after trouncing Portland. Even as the squad gutted through penance sprints for missing free throws (although given the team's mediocre percentage, it's comforting to know they're not using up all the makes in practice), spirits were high and vibes positive. And after the vets were finished, the rooks kept their heads up during approximately 10 minutes of extended running. And while he didn't look particularly bitter over the extra hoofing, I did notice something with Andrew Bynum. You know that joyous spring in his step whenever he gets up off the bench and into a game? Not so much while he's chugging from baseline to baseline. Although if I were hauling 275 lbs, I wouldn't be loving life, either. But he's a trooper, for sure.

Brian Cook told me he had a good time celebrating his buddy's bachelor party in Cabo over the break. While he didn't manage to get a fishing trip in, he did find time to run every day. Honestly, I'm impressed. The closest I've ever come to exercise during a bachelor party would be hoisting shots of Patron in really rapid succession. Hats off, my man.

Luke Walton cares about your planet. While Devin Green was cleaning up Gatorade bottles on the ground (a rookie's glamor and excitement never ends), Walton semi-playfully chided him for tossing them in the regular trash can instead of the recycle bin. And damned if the message didn't get through to the youngster. On the very next clean up, Green put the plastic in its correct spot. Walton did acknowledge that the janitor probably puts all the bags in the same dumpster, anyway. But you gotta at least make the effort.

There's been a lot of banter over the last day or two regarding Kwame Brown, and how fans should be treating him.  Many of you say he shouldn't be picked on.  He needs to be supported because he's a sensitive guy, always aware of the reception he's getting from the home crowd. 

Now I consider myself a generally empathetic, patient, and good-hearted guy.  I help old people across the street, am kind to animals and children, and will occasionally well up watching the really emotional parts of movies (and not just at the end of "Miracle"). 

Fans should be careful about how they dispense their anger.  They should use good judgment.  If a guy is playing poorly but playing hurt, give him a break.  If he's playing poorly because his kid's in the hospital, give him a break.  If he's playing poorly but is averaging 35 points a game, it may not be the right time to boo- after all, a season or career of solid contribution should be considered when the Boo Devil is sitting on your shoulder and whispering in your ear (string together a few games of poor play and bad decision making and circumstances change).  Guys who throw their bodies around with reckless abandon in an attempt to overcome a natural lack of talent also deserve a little slack.  Rookies, too, assuming they have displayed a solid work ethic and practice habits.

If a player is dogging it?  Boo away.  Boo like you've never booed before.  Think of clever, biting insults and hurl them at the court (but stay away from references to a guy's family- that's out of bounds), then take your seat with a smug, self-congratulatory smile and accept high fives from the fans sitting around you.  Nobody who plays professional sports for a living should give anything but their maximum effort.  It's an insult to all the people who work hourlies to pay their salary. 

Want to start the second half of the season on a positive note? No better way to get things rolling than inviting the Portland Trailblazers over to play a little hoop. From start to finish, the Lakers had this 99-82 victory in hand. Kobe got silly in the 4th, pouring in 15 of his 27 points to help seal the deal. Devean George's 13 off the bench, his 4th straight double digit game, also helped make things easy for the Lakers. But Lamar Odom took home the Yeoman trophy, and damn well deserved it after a 20 point, 17 board effort. LO came out swinging from moment one, finding an often elusive combo of aggressiveness and coolheadedness. Actually, the game featured a nice ratio of just about everything, suggesting that proper balance and W's may not be pure coincidence. The return of Chris Mihm, wearing what appeared to be a bullet proof vest under his jersey, enhanced that balanced feeling even more. Even Kwame Brown got in the act with a solid 9 and 7. A few more nights like these might even get T.J. Simers off this back (well, probably not, but the kid's gotta have a dream). And in a nice change of pace for L.A., it was the other guys who were unable to sink a free throw.

The box score don't lie. The Lakers have not lost since the All-Star break.

Big win for the Lakers tonight over the Blazers.  They spanked around a team that is appreciably worse than they are.  Final score, 99-82.  Big games from that Kobe guy, and a monster from Lamar.  Overall, there was excellent balance all around.  Five guys in double figures.   Not much to complain about.  More on the game tomorrow. 

BK

After some technical snafus, we've decided to each run our own. 

BK: Five minutes in and both teams have scored 10 points.  For the Blazers, that's a half season's worth already. 

How does a 7'3" guy let Kobe lay the ball in without at least hammering him?  That must be why Ha didn't get off the bench until Pryzbilla got hurt. 

Admit it, you were pretty nervous watching Kwame dribble off that steal, weren't you? 

2:15- Clearly Devean got some rest over the break...   

...as did Smush.  Solid starts for both.

Time out, Portland.  1:48 left.

The Lakers look pretty good coming out of the break.  Four point lead.  Raise your hand if you're checking your online banking account to see if you've got the spare scratch to afford playoff tickets?

By the way, purple tights?  If you're anyone but Kobe Bryant and you show up at the Y in those, you're gonna get your ass kicked.   

We're in and ready to go! We'll see how this works. It could end up one serious train wreck, but we're game!

First Quarter Observations:

AK: I had never seen Ha Seung Jin up close before. That is one big boy. At 7'3", he's the first guy in the NBA I can recall who actually looks taller than he's listed.

Kobe to Odom at the rack: Nice work. Odom to Cook instead of just putting in himself. Not so pretty. Not a great sign for those looking for Odom to do some work close to the basket.

At 5:54, a left handed Kwame Brown lay up is a miss. Well, on the plus side, he hasn't lost any of his form before the All-Star break. But he did redeem himself quickly.

I lke Devean getting five quick points. If he starts a game missing a few, more than not, he's done for the night. He ends up looking more depressed than a dog in the rain.

During the Lakers-Blazers game, the K Brothers are gonna monkey around with a live, continuously  updated post from Staples. Hopefully, the building's wireless Internet will work smoothly, allowing us to provide running thoughts on all things good, bad and hilariously ugly. In a perfect world, you guys will keep adding your two cents, and it's kinda like we're watching the game together.

Of course, a lot could go wrong. Dull game. Technical glitches. AK and BK revealing beyond the shadow of a doubt that they're way less entertaining off the cuff than after judicious editing. But even if it's a car crash, who doesn't stop to check those out, right? So if you can watch the action  by a computer, join in with the (hopeful) madness. Don't worry about typing too much during the game. Y'all got Tivo. And frankly, if a home match against Portland is a particularly tight affair, Lakers fans have bigger things to worry about than any particular play they missed.

FYI - If a new entry isn't posted by around 7:30, it means there was some kind of technical problem. Our apologies.

The sky is blue and the air is crisp.  It's a perfect day to begin the second half of the season, which the Lakers will do tonight at Staples against Portland.  At 26-26, the purple and gold will need a strong performance over the final 30 games to keep their hold on the 8th and final playoff spot (Check out the standings.  As Dennis Hopper once said, "Can you hear the footsteps?"), and an even stronger performance to move up the ladder.  Here's where Steve Kerr currently ranks them. 

For that to happen, it'll take (among other things) better play at Staples, where the Lakers play 19 of their final 30 games, greater consistency from Lamar Odom, and an end to late game failures.  Don't be surprised, too, if the training wheels on Andrew Bynum come off, or are at least loosened a little.  A healthy Chris Mihm will help, too.

After a weekend of laughing and giggling like BFFs at a pajama party, Kobe has declared that his feud with Shaq is dead.  This is assuming, of course, that it's not a really slow news day the next time they meet.  Otherwise, we (the media) will probably just dredge up the story anyway. 

ESPN.com's Daily Dime takes on Kobe and the 50 point barrier, along with other pressing 2nd half issues. 

The second half of the season officially kicked off today in El Segundo as the Lakers hit the practice floor today for the first time since the Atlanta debacle, ready to put that fat lump of ugly behind them.  Given their 2-6 stretch going into the break, it probably couldn't have come at a better time.  Assistant coach Brian Shaw agrees.

"I think (we needed the break) physically and mentally.  We have a lot of young guys on the team who haven't been through the long haul and are probably hitting the wall at this part of the season.  At this stage, it's time for guys like Kobe- I know he will, Devean, guys who have been there and have been able to tighten it up during the second half of the season after the All Star break to step up and do that and show some of these younger guys what it takes to focus and start to hone in on the playoffs."

The 47 minutes Kobe played against the Hawks are as good an explanation for his weak 4th quarter free throw shooting as any, so keeping his legs fresh is a serious issue for the Lakers in the second half.  Shaw anticipates the Lakers lightening Kobe's load- at least in practice- over the final 30 games.  Granted, short of having him play with an Escalade on his back, it couldn't get much heavier. 

"On our part, in terms of practice, we'll be a little less demanding on him... As, especially Western Conference teams, start to really focus in on what they need to do, I'm sure they'll focus on Kobe and try to wear him out.  So we have to try and keep him as fresh as possible, because not only do we need him physically on the court, but as a leader showing the other guys mentally what it's going to take as well.  He's been through it, he knows how to pace himself and how to gauge when to turn it up and when to back off a little bit."

For his part, Kobe says he feels better now than he did last season, when he was fighting through ankle and foot problems.  And you thought all the time you've spent knocking on wood was wasted...

Kobe is arguably the NBA's biggest player, but his All-Star weekend concluded with a low key 8,7 and 8 against the Pistons/Eastern Conference squad. As the East rallied huge to notch a 122-120 victory, Kobe was content mostly trying to set up local hero Tracy McGrady for MVP honors. They're boys, and with T-Mac battling a slew of personal issues, Kobe likely wanted to hook a brother up with some hardware. Unfortunately, LeBron James wasn't feeling as charitable. Bron Bron's 29 points, combined with some Western conference turnovers and a dubious no-call on T-Mac's final shot (just ask King James himself), conspired to leave Kobe's good intentions all for naught. Still, McGrady appreciated the thought. And Bryant enjoyed his first All-Star weekend in eons without injury, family issues or feuds in the backdrop. If you told people last November that Mamba and Shaq would make like Abbot and Costello during 2006's All-Star Game, they'd have labeled you stupid, loco or drunk.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, there's still a second half of the season to worry about. Better believe Phil Jackson's got a lot on his mind as the Lakers embark on their final 30 games. And speaking of the team's future, if Shaq's two cents are worth a nickel, Stevie Franchise ain't the right acquisition if Andrew Bynum's development is an issue.

(photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)

The big story of today's All-Star game: Can Kobe Bryant, having fallen short of The Stilt's triple digits, leave Chamberlain's All-Star topping 42 in the dust? Interesting how before Kobe became Mr. 81, the media would speculate as to how he'd callously take the game over. Now it's like they're subliminally encouraging him to do it (so they can bash him afterwards, more than likely). As William Shatner's Capt. Buck Murdock said so eloquently in Airplane II, "Irony can be pretty ironic sometimes." Anyway, it's time to play armchair Nostradamus. What's Kobe gonna get?

Personally, I don't see him going goony bird with the points (Not that I even think he's sitting around before the game plotting his attack, but there are certain factors one can consider). For starters, he's playing with a bunch of other dudes who can put the biscuit in the basket, so everyone will want a chance (and after carrying the load for 52 games, he might relish some running mates who can score). Second, the Little General is manning the West's white board, and he's just no-nonsense enough to sit anyone he thinks is trying to dominate even this loose a contest. Third, if Johnson does let his hair down and allow someone to hoard the Spaulding, it's gonna be his boy Dirk. But fourth, and most importantly, I think Kobe's a little sick of the "What's Kobe gonna score on any given day" talk. Maybe it's just me, but that's the vibe I'm getting. Putting up 55 or some insane number would certainly encourage such babble. So why stoke the fire, especially in a game with zero actual significance? Therefore, I'm going with a sensible 26. Good enough to make memorable dent. Not enough to come off hoggy.

So 26 is my magic number. You going over or under?

AK

(photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

From this morning's inbox...

"Saw the dunking contest. That Nate Robinson is like a championship dachshund...best in show. Love MOM"

Once again, she's on the money...

... although let's be honest, Iguodala got penalized for being tall. That dunk from the other side of the backboard? Ridiculous!

First things first.  Despite words to the contrary, the LA Daily News is reporting that the Lakers have no interest in acquiring Steve Francis from Orlando.  Magic assistant G.M. Otis Smith says he's had no contact with the Lakers. But, says Vincent Bonsignore, that doesn't mean they should sit on their hands.  Here's his blueprint for a rebuilt purple and gold.  Meanwhile, Steve O has let it be known he'd love to land in Houston.  Again. 

As for the Lakers and their 26-26 record, they're not underachieving. 

It's All Star Game time.  Mark Heisler points out that recent games have lacked an interesting through line or memorable moments.  Well, there's at least one story heading into this year's edition- Kobe Bryant.  Many of his peers consider him the ultimate talent in the NBA, but is he the ultimate teammate?   After 81, some wonder if he'll take a shot at Wilt Chamberlain's All Star points record of 42.   After all, he put up 81 against a real NBA team (okay, just the Raptors).  What can he do in a game with no D?  Kobe says he's not interested in Wilt's record.  Meanwhile, despite the controversy surrounding his style and dedication to team play, Bryant says this is the most relaxed All Star Weekend he's had in a while. 

While some of the more serious issues surrounding Kobe have died down, his attempt to rise again as a pitchman is unprecedented, given what he's been through.    Will it work?  Hard to say, since the stigma of Colorado and the breakup of the championship Lakers still follows him.   The shadow of Shaq still looms large.  Kobe's shoot first style may be off-putting to some, but it's part of a larger trend since NBA's new rules opened the game for backcourt players. 

Want to shake up the traditional All Star lineups?  Try these. 

Team USA continues to take shape. 

While it may not help the Lakers this year, the NBA is looking at their playoff format. 

For nearly 48 hours after putting a beat down on Utah Monday night, the Lakers looked like they had finally broken out of the road trip funk that had dragged them back to .500.  Then Wednesday rolled around.

The verdict?  Still funky. 

The Lakers have work to do, and not a lot of time to do it.  They've fallen a full three games behind Memphis and the Hornets for the 6th/7th spots in the West, and are only a game up on Utah for the 8th spot.  Worse, the horses are gathering behind them.  Golden State, Sacramento, Minnesota (hey, if the sheer star power of Kobe can drive the Lakers into the playoffs, it's hard not to say the same thing about KG), and hard-charging Houston (shocking what a healthy Yao and T-Mac will do for a squad) are all within 4.5 games of the purple and gold.  It's a solid bet that at least one of those teams will mount a charge after the break. 

We're not quite ready to say that every game now is a life or death thing (we are, after all, talking about the 8th spot in the playoffs), but if the Lakers do want to taste the postseason, they can't afford to give away any more games.  There just aren't enough games left.  The cost of each loss will only be magnified as February ends and March rolls around.  On the flip side, they'll also have opportunities to steal games from superior opponents, which would be a major boost to the playoff drive (it's not all just negativity here on Lakers Blog). 

At 26-26, the first week out of the break is a big one.  Here's what's on tap...   

Kobe may be in Houston, elbow to elbow with other All-Stars, but he's still among the league leaders in creating buzz. As per always, folks are curious about the strength of his new found marketability.  Some want to revisit "81," a trip down Memory Lane that sparks fond memories even from Shaq. And of course, everyone's speculating how far he can take the Lakers by strapping them to his back (a situation garnering him sympathy from none other than "The Big O" himself). No doubt Kobe's at a distinct crossroads as he enters "Phase 2" of his career. But despite any uncertainties, Kobe remains distinctly glass half full when it comes to leading this franchise to greatness.

Speaking of franchises, is Stevie Francis on the verge of joining this here one? Depending on the rumors you believe, there's a definite shot. Orlando and Steve-O have had problems all season, and after picking up project Darko Milicic, the Magic are clearly looking towards the future. Is it one that includes trade bait Lamar Odom? Could be. But the Knicks sure hope not.

First things first.  In my midseason evaluation of the Lakers, I said the Lakers had shown enough in their first 41 games to indicate they could improve in the last half of the season and win 48 games.  That, I'm afraid, was a little optimistic.  Their 4-7 record since that post means the purple and gold would have to finish 22-8 over their last 30 to help me shake hands with Nostradamus.  Not likely.  In hindsight, always 20/20 of course, I paid a little too much attention to the fact that the Lakers are home for the essentially the last 2/3 of the season, and not enough to who they would host on their home floor (though in fairness, I did express worry that they weren't a good enough team at Staples to have a favorable home schedule make much of a difference).  Maybe I got caught up in their solid December and early January play.  Whatever motivated me to write it, I'm most likely going to be wrong. 

I mention this not to beat myself up for a bad forecast- if sportswriters spent all their time apologizing for that sort of thing, we'd never get a chance to write about anything else.  Besides, I've said repeatedly that injuries would toss any predictions out the window.  I mention it because that prediction goes to the mantra of the Lakers season.  From coaches, from players, from management, we've heard the same thing since October. 

The Lakers are young, and they will improve. 

Really?

I'll lay out a couple general prescriptions for young teams to get better.  Option A) Young players, full of untapped talent and potential, finally have their inner light bulb fire up and make "the leap" in the quality of their play.  This is how Hawks fans (I take a risk by using the plural) live their lives.  They look at the athleticism of Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, and Josh Childress types and say, "They're young, and just need to develop their game!"  Thus far, the results have been, um, what's the nice word for this?  Pretty crappy.  But it's easy to see the potential.   

Option B) The young team clicks as a group and develops in a system.  Less dependent on talent, more dependent on coaching and cohesiveness.  Players learn and grow from experience, learning from mistakes and developing an ability to read and react appropriately to different situations on the floor.  It's not a question of natural talent taking over, more about a player gaining through experience the same way a rookie at H&R Block eventually learns all the tricks to preparing a wicked good tax return. 

The benefit to Option A is that talent can merge with experience to truly lift a team.  In Option B, you get experience without relying on talent, and in the end, you can be limited by a lack of it. 

Which do you think best describes the Lakers?

As usual, the K Brothers speak, and the rest of the media follows. Now these writers realize Kobe's commercial has a little subtext to it, elements mirroring his real life drama. Oh, you think so doctor? Yet another case of this here blog setting the table, and our professional cohorts pigging out on seconds and thirds.

Coming up short against Atlanta left a bad taste in everyone's mouth, but Kobe's gonna put it behind him and stay positive when it comes to the next 30 games. And there's no better venue than All-Star weekend for clearing one's head, taking a few deep breaths... and giving the people what they want by going one on one against D-Wade. A friendly rivalry between the 53rd best player of all time and the 51st/52nd (give or take where you rank King James).

After last night's fiasco against (not so) Hotlanta, many of you probably think these guys don't deserve a break of any kind. But still, they have played 52 games, and that's cause for a little R&R. And given how freakin' slow the team's looked lately, five extra days to rejuvenate the legs couldn't possibly hurt matters. Besides, the rooks could use 120 hours without toting a vet's luggage. So here's a sampling of what some Lakers will be doing with their time off. If you wanna add weekend suggestions for specific players (whether on the list or not), PJ, Mitch, or anyone else, feel free to bring it.

At home games, the fine people at Jack in the Box provide free tacos to all in attendance when the Lakers win and hold their opponents to under 90 points.

Last night, they were 0-2.

A game that initially looked like a prime opportunity for taco distribution quickly turned into a layup drill for the Atlanta Hawks, who took down the Lakers 114-110 Wednesday night at Staples.   Like many of you, Phil Jackson couldn't quite wrap his head around this one, marveling at "the capabilities of this team to disappoint."  After building an early 15 point lead, the Lakers simply stopped playing defense against the league's youngest team, allowing the Hawks to shoot nearly 55% for the game.  Jackson urged his squad not to take Atlanta, a (previously) 4-20 road team plucked straight from the Eastern Conference's soft underbelly, too lightly.  With a tougher March schedule looming around the corner, the purple and gold need to take advantage of weaker teams.  Instead, they let the Hawks snap their 23 game road losing streak against Western Conference foes. 

That's bad. 

Some fun ugly stats of the game:  Lakers FT%- 55.6, including 40.0 in the 4th.  Out rebounded 42-25.  Lakers attempted 32 three pointers (are we the only people who think that's just a few too many?).  Not a single minute of Von Wafer, who would have made the loss of tacos seem less painful.   Browse the box score, and find more of your own (it's like a statistical "Where's Waldo" game- some are obvious, some you have to search for).  Want more fun?  Check out the shot chart. 

The loss drops the Lakers to .500 heading into the All Star break, giving fans plenty to talk (complain?) about until Tuesday night when Portland arrives at Staples.  One thing fans won't be discussing around the water cooler is the relationship between Phil and Kobe.  All the worries of last summer have gone away as the relationship between megacoach and megastar has been fine.  Injuries are an issue, with Chris Mihm still out and Kwame Brown receiving an MRI and CT scan on his bum left foot (both were negative).  Not to mention long term injuries to Slava, McKie, and Laron Profit.  But don't expect big bold moves at the deadline. 

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, no doubt prompted by AK, breaks down Kobe's new commercial and its significance.  USA Today also analyzes the life and times of newly marketable #8.

TJ Simers chats, in his own special way, with Phil Jackson.

From a gentleman seated behind press row around Section 111-

"Can somebody sack up and play some defense for God sakes?"

Yep.  That about sums it up.

Almost quittin' time.  This ought to get you there.  Complete the following:

"Losing to the Hawks tonight at home would be more painful than ___________________."

Extra points for creativity and originality.  And remember, this is a family website.

Maybe it's because if Kobe's new commerical played more often, it would be a TNT Law & Order rerun. Or because last night's Outside the Lines was all about Kobe reentering the pitchman universe. But whatever the reason, that new spot's on my mind today, and not just because from a purely artistic standpoint, it's pretty damn cool. I dig the black and white. Aside from just looking great, it feels like a metaphor representing how the world sees Kobe: Black and white, with no middle ground (Unless, of course, it's a metaphor representing me thinking I'm deep when it comes to subtext). Those drums in the back ground, slowly rising in volume, create a vibe of Kobe getting ready to ambush his opponent. Yeah, it's similar to that ad where Amare tells people he doesn't care if they hate. But that's more about the "hating" culture infiltrating every aspect of an 18-35 demo than writers running outta ideas. Besides, "The LeBrons" and "KG's alter egos" are way more copycat and I still like both quite a bit. In terms of creating an effective spot, thumbs up.

In some ways, though, I wonder if that effectiveness is a potentially good or bad thing.   

Perhaps taking their lead from the Lakers Blog midseason evaluation- we are nothing if not trend setters- the Lakers one by one sat down with Phil Jackson to discuss their play and the direction of the team.  One common theme:  underachievement.  Lamar Odom feels that age isn't an excuse.  The team's record should be better... something about which most of you would agree.  Who says regular fans don't have anything in common with superstar athletes? 

One underachiever is Kwame Brown, who was apparently rattled by the boos he received Monday night at Staples against Utah.  The flip side is that Brown, with only 3 double-doubles in 41 games, may be achieving exactly to the level of his ability.  Only time will tell.

Great article about Rudy T's rebirth as a Lakers scout. 

A loss tonight against Atlanta would do to things.  First, it would make Laker tickets easier to score, because about half the Laker Nation would hurl themselves into post-game Figueroa traffic.  Second, it would leave the team at .500.  But a win would give them a full two game cushion on the Jazz, and pull them to within a game of the Grizz if Memphis loses tonight against the Ron Artests. 

Here's a preview.

On my way home from running my Valentine's Day errands this morning (got to stay out of the doghouse, you know?), I heard a soundbite of Jeannie Buss basically saying she didn't think the Lakers would make a move before the deadline.  I tend to agree, and have for a while.  They might make a deal that helps them around the margins- a cheap vet to provide depth here or there, but I would be surprised if the Lakers did more.  Could they do something bigger?  It would be hard, given their lack of marquee talent and reluctance to take on long contracts.  Guys like George could move since his expiring contract gives him value, but I'd be shocked if the Lakers picked up anyone who has a deal that extends past next year (short of an offer so good they couldn't refuse).  George may be more valuable to the Lakers simply by letting his contract expire.  Same deal, smaller scale, with Slava, who is less appealing to other teams because of his injury. 

That said, the latest rumor has them sending Odom out of town for Penny Hardaway- Bynum and Frye have also been tossed around in that deal.  To flip L.O. for Penny would clear up big time cap space for the Lakers next year, but it would cripple their chances of making the playoffs this season. 

That brings me to today's question:  Would you trade L.O. for cap relief and risk missing the playoffs this year, but theoretically free up money to try and improve the team this summer?  Or would you hold on to L.O., see what happens this year, and stick to the Summer of '07 plan?   

Does L.O. fit into the long term picture in L.A. well enough to keep him, and try to add a pure #2 to the Kobe/Odom nucleus?  Or should the Lakers move him, start the cap clearing a season earlier than expected, then build more after next year? 

BK

Admit it, you got a little nervous last night, didn't you?

The Lakers let a 26 point lead shrink to 7, but managed to hang on and push the Utah Jazz a game and a half behind them in the race for the 8th and final playoff spot Monday nig