Break it down old school, the Lakers are again on the winning path. 

Kobe Bryant provided the points (43) and the shots (38) in L.A.'s 106-93 win over Seattle at Key Arena.  Meanwhile, the frontcourt tandem of Ronny Turiaf and Kwame Brown were a major factor, combining for 18 points and 20 boards as the Lakers were able to control the second half, outscoring Seattle 54-37. 

Kudos, though, to Seattle for holding the Lakers .3 points under their season average for opponents points allowed.  You think L.A. struggles defensively? 

More on the game tomorrow. 

BK

A light work week for the purple and gold got off to a top notch start, with the Lakers adding the rumpled carcasses of Milwaukee and New Orleans to their stack of conquests for their first four game winning streak in a very long while.  After defeating the Hornets on Sunday, L.A. had three days off to heal (between Kobe's back, Bynum's ankle, Smush's finger, Mihm's ankle, and George's wrist, Gary Vitti has been a very busy man) and prepare for their next big test, Thursday night's game against San Antonio.

We all know how that went. 

With their 96-85 win, the Spurs reminded the Lakers that their game still has some holes that need filling if they're going to play with the conference powerhouses come playoff time.  In a way, the game could be a blessing for the Lakers.  Why?  Because flaws that don't get exploited against lesser opponents (allowing them to slip under the radar) cause serious issues against a ludicrously methodical team like the Spurs.  Every time the Lakers made a mistake, they were scored upon or prevented from scoring.  That they rolled out a red carpet in the lane for Tony Parker didn't exactly help, either (anyone who spends that much time in your paint should have to shoot more than one free throw for their troubles).  But even with the loss- honestly, are you that surprised- the Lakers still had a good week.  And with three games on tap this week, a 1.5 game lead over Sacramento and at least a chance (about as likely as your blog hosts winning a Pulitzer, but still a chance) of catching Memphis for the 6th spot, they don't have the luxury of dwelling on Thursday's loss.  Here's what's on tap...

As last night reminded us, there's a reason these guys are in first place and the Lakers are clinging to 7th. Actually, there are many reasons, if you wanna get technical about it. Start with Bruce  "Edward Scissorhands" Bowen. Whether you consider him a defensive stopper or a dude with an unwritten license to chop up perimeter players, the bottom line is he makes life very difficult for anyone looking to score. He's not the only reason Kobe shot 9-26, but he deserves the lion's share of props. Add to the list their assorted cagey veterans. Whether Robert Horry, Michael Finley or Nazr Mohammed, it's huge having guys up and down a roster with the ability to pick their spots. Guys who've been around are also less likely to compound mistakes with more mistakes. The Lakers' less experienced players? Not so much. And most of all, they've got Tony Parker and Tim Duncan, an inside-outside punch that can take over a game even while playing through injury. Throw all that into a mix with Greg Popovich stirring the pot (a chef T.J. Simers would perhaps prefer over PJ, sentiments our friend Roland Lazenby might disagree with) and you've got a team that's tough to beat without playing at the top of your game.  Looking over the box score, one hopes this wasn't the Lakers firing on all cylinders.

To be fair, two in a row against San Antonio was probably too much to ask.  In their 96-85 loss, the Lakers were given a pretty fair clinic in what they'll need to bring in the playoffs if they're going to steal a round against the Spurs, or any other elite Western Conference team for that matter.  L.A. held on for a half and even made a little run at the start of the third (six point lead!) but when San Antonio turned up the juice the Lakers didn't have an answer.  Not a very good one, at least, unless you consider a 33-9 Spurs run to finish the period satisfactory. 

Not a lot of offense outside of #8, who had to grind for each of his 23.   Some contributions from the bench- Sasha with 11, Walton with 10- but the big boys were largely shut down.  Moreover, the Lakers chose to compensate for their offensive struggles by playing some less than stellar defense (probably not the strategy Phil outlined before the game).  Smush had trouble sticking to Tony Parker (not a surprise), but the Lakers couldn't close off the lane to stop the penetration. 

Overall, it wasn't their best effort, and when you play the best team in the conference, that's what it takes.  No win, no tacos, no nothing.  Just a happy Eva Longoria. 

More on the game tomorrow. 

(photo by Mark J. Terrill/AP)

First Quarter

Hey all. Welcome aboard. 30 seconds have passed and we've already got mop stoppage. Of course, this being a TNT game, should you really expect anything to zip along? By the time this game ends, you'll be watching the Lakers play Seattle.

Kwame Brown with the little baby hook. off to a nice start. It's very weird. Until this recent offensive jag he's embarked on, I had never noticed his "scoring" music. I'm not even sure he had one picked out. And I seriously doubt the audio guys knew which buttons to push to cue his up. At any rate, it's kind of a deep, bass heavy, hip hop beat. Works for him.

Bruce Bowen hits a jumper to make it 9-7. I asked him and Popovich before the game about the "Edward Scissorhands" nickname PJ gave Bowen. Both thought it was pretty funny. Popovich described it as "clever and creative." And Bowen acknowledged that he's "been called worse." When told it was probably a compliment (at least in a roundabout way), Bowen laughed again and replied, "It sure don't sound like it." But both were definitely amused.

I've been looking around, and this far, no sign of "Manu Girl." I'm very, very bummed. BK said he may have heard her, but he can't verify it.  I'll be searching for her during every time out. And if the words in this post feel a little tear stained, you'll know I never found her.

Robert Horry enters the game. Lakers fans give him a hearty, sincere cheer. That's it, Laker Nation. Do the right thing.

For a dude with a supposedly hurt shin, Tony Parker certainly doesn't seem to be having trouble moving around at the speed of light. And yes, exactly as one would expect every time Parker scores, Eva Longoria cheers like a woman who knows the entire arena is watching her. And likes the entire arena watching her.

If Tony Parker opened a clinic to teach wanna-be NBA PG's how to shoot that tear drop, he might actually make as much loot as he does in the NBA. He makes that too easy. Nobody in the NBA does it better.

Nick the Quick enters the game. Doesn't get quite the love Horry recieved from the crowd.

Marcia Cross just joined her Desperate Housewives co-star Eva Longoria. I'm not making a joke. They're actually sitting together now. Call me a purist, but once Marcia Cross' Melrose Place reign ended, she was dead to me. 

End of the first: Spurs 25, Lakers 21. Actually not a horrible quarter for the purple and gold, but they gotta stiffen up a bit on D, especially in the middle. The Paint's becoming a free for all.

First things first.  There is nothing wrong with your television.  Craig Sager's outfit really is that color.  If you haven't seen it yet, you'll know what I'm talking about when it happens.  I'm actually worried my typing will be off because I looked directly at his pants. 

Second, let me say that while Eva Longoria isn't a bad looking woman, I wasn't so impressed seeing her live tonight.  Nothing to go that crazy over.  I'd seen her out before, and this just confirms my previous impression.  It's all about types, and she's not mine (and no, I'm not saying that because I'm worried my fiance reads this thing.  I can assure you she doesn't).

So, as you've noticed, Parker is playing.  It'll be interesting to see if Smush can stay in front of T.P. even with the bum leg. 

9:50- It's a double dose of Kwame.  First he bats the Odom miss out to the perimeter, then cleans up inside with a nice little turnaround bucket.  And before I can even finish the sentence, he draws an offensive foul on the other end from Duncan.  That's three good plays in about 30 seconds.  Not something you heard much in October.   Good to be able to say it now. 

8:50- That said, Kwame will need to step out on Duncan.  He can't let him take too many wide open jumpers from outside, because TD can hit that.  It's a good test to see him drawn away from the basket.

'Cause we're live blogging tonight. Just giving everyone a heads up. Be there or be... somewhere else, I guess.

AK

Interested in pushing Kobe Bryant "all in?"  Give it a shot at the Lakers 3rd Annual Casino Night & Poker Invitational, benefiting the Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation.   Lakers players and coaches will be there, as will Dr. Buss himself.  Not enough for you jaded, star-fatigued L.A. residents?  AK and I will be there, too. 

Now that's celebrity power.

It'll all take place at Santa Monica Airport's Barker Hanger, Wednesday, April 12 at 7:00.  For tickets, call Ticketmaster (310.285.6031).   We'll have more info, I'm sure, as the event gets closer.  In the meantime, I'll be nose deep in all those Doyle Brunson books. 

BK

... whoever the world eventually declares Michael Jordan's heir may have to earn the honor while sporting bare legs. Doesn't the NBA have better things to worry about?

Know how people sometimes talk about hating somebody for so long, they don't even remember why anymore? That pyschology may be somewhat applicable to Spurs hatin' Lakers fans, at least from the perspective of the players/coaches they're cheering or booing. With L.A.'s roster more tossed than a Cobb salad since the threepeat run, it just don't feel the same no more for the participants. That being said, tonight's match up at Staples is far from meaningless. The Spurs are trying to snatch up as much home court as possible throughout the postseason. The Lakers, meanwhile, are trying to hit their first five game winning streak since '04 and keep those challenging for their seed at bay. The timing ain't bad for the Lakers, with every San Antonio PG suffering through one injury or another. Does said gimpiness provide optimism equal to Chris Mihm's regarding his eventual return?  Well, give the game a quarter or so before deciding for sure.