Smush to the line... and because he's a Laker, he missed.  There ain't nothin' free about free throws when the Lakers take them.  Something that needs to get fixed before the playoffs.  Good play by Smush to knock it away... and it doesn't matter as West hits the jumper off the inbound. 

4:40- Pinnock picks up right where he left off last night, making bad plays.  He's just trying way too hard, not that I can blame him, considering the odds he's facing.

Late rotation there by Bynum on the and 1.  That whole defensive sequence was off.  Turiaf in.

3:45- Turiaf is being guarded by Cedric Simmons, NO/OKC's #1 (one of them, at least).  Serious size mismatch in Turiaf's favor.  Let's see if he can do anything with it. 

Smush misses an open three off the kickout from L.O. in the post. 

There are kids in the section over from us yelling KOBE!  KOBE!! KOBEEEE!!!!  I kind of wish 24 would acknowledge them, just so they'd shut up.  Too loud! 

Considering who they have on the floor- I'm not sure this is the active roster Mitch and Co. had in mind a month ago- the Lakers are doing a decent job.  Brian Cook and Walton look like they're ready to enter the game.  Maybe if Luke plays a little worse, he might get to start (see tonight's pregame audio if you don't get it....)

Also, Farmar into the game.  That sound you heard was LakerTom screaming in joy.

2:00- Simmons stuffs Pinnock on the dunk attempt.  Dude just can't catch a break. 

Nice cut to the hoop by Farmar, just missed the lay in.

:04- Farmar passes to the photographers.  Looked like he thought someone was going to zig, and they zagged.  Hate it when that happens.  Overall, 26-23 at the end of the first?  Not to bad (if you need an explination as to why, check out the starting lineup.)

AK to take the second quarter.

This will be a nice test for Farmar.  Between Paul, Jannero Pargo (Ex-Laker in the house!), Bobby Jackson and even Desmond Mason (who's been on him one possession), he'll be challenged on both sides of the ball, I think.  A lot more defenders on him, and certainly a couple tougher guys to guard.

Cedric Simmons put the monster swap on Farmar's floater.  That's exactly why NO/OKC drafted him. 

They just showed Kobe on the jumbotron during that time out.  You're not gonna believe this, but the crowd cheered rather enthusiastically.

Walton with the fadeaway jumper.  I like how much he's grown on the offensive end.   Lot more sure of himself than the way he started last season.

Farmar drills the three.  That may help him get started up in the scoring department.  Sometimes that first basket can get a guy rolling.

Smush back in after the time out.  He's being guarded by Pargo.  Two dudes who both made the Lakers via training camp.  Six degress of Mitch Kupchak.

Mo Evans beating the buzzer.  I think it was because the guy to my left yelled, "Shoot it."

I'm trying to concentrate on the game, but BK keeps asking me who I'd start from his fantasy football roster.  Tell him to stop bugging me.

Great job by Smush forcing that turnover on Paul.  That's the kind of D he plays well.  Poking balls away.  it's not the same (nor enough) as strong on the ball D, but it comes in handy from time to time.

Smush draws the and-one.  He looks much more in the zone today, for whatever reason.  Much more dialed in.

Mo Evans with the bucket, scoring his 10th point.  I've said it before and I'll say it again.  I think that trade is going to be a much bigger impact than the ink it's getting.  Maybe even more than Vlad.

Nice that Bynum got to the line, but he's gotta have his hands up.  He could have converted that bucket were he ready for that pass from Smush.

DUDE! They just showed the cat who played Urkel on the jumbotron.  Big applause.  Seriously, people really clapped.

And with that airballed trey attempt by David West (not really his shot, I suspect), haltime commences.  Lakers up 60-46.  See y'all in about 11 minutes.

THIRD QUARTER

BK here.

That Peja guy can shoot!

10:02- Smush got away with one, there.  Nice aggressive move to the hoop, but then he got stuck before West bailed him out.  By the way, if I miss something, it's because Jack Haley just sat down in front of me, and his head takes up about a third of the court.

9:33- Green with the and one.  Good for him.  He's played much better tonight than yesterday.

8:12- Nice pullup by Linton Johnson on Evans.  Then he fouls L.O. on the other end.  Love it when LO goes to teh hoop. 

Good play by LO down low there.  Fought off about three Hornets to get the bucket.

Peja misses a jumper with Green sort of in his face.  Not sure if it affected the shot, but man alive, Green can jump.  If I'm drafting a team for my Jumping Fantasy League, he's a first rounder.

6:46- A ticky tack foul brings Farmar back into the game for Smush.  Smush didn't like that call, and this time I agree with him.  At least he didn't get T'd up.  Farmar got beat off the pick there on Paul's hoop...

5:43- Great play by Green on the putback.  By the way, you think teams will give Bynum that jumper from the elbow any time he wants it?  I do. 

FYI- Fantasy Jumping League?  Not sure how exciting that one is.  I'm just taking Green, that's all.

Two nice plays in a row by Evans.  In the end, he could very well have a bigger impact on the season than Radmanovic.  Great pickup.

I can hear you guys saying, "But he gave up Chiek Samb!" I know.  That's how good I think Evans will be!  You'll forget Chiek Samb! 

3:10-  C'mon Ronny!  How do you expect to get some PT if you can't stick with Chris Paul on the perimeter!  MOve those feet!  Seriously, though, that was a bit of a mismatch on the switch there.  I doubt Ronny liked looking at that. 

3:00-  Farmar turns the ball over to Paul.  The ROY is giving Farmar a tough go, not that you wouldn't expect that.  Then he gets an 8 second violation.  Occasionally, he's gonna look like rookie.  Timeout on the floor.

2:41- These are the sort of games I wish Wafer were available to play in.  What's the over/under on the number of shots he'd have taken by now?  46?  52? 

2:31- Farmar and Paul jump ball.  Hops for the little people!  Farmar ought to win that one, given his performance at the combine... and he does. 

1:35- Nice play by Pinnock to cut to the hoop when Farmar needed a lil' rescue.   Would have been better if he made the shot, though.  Still, on this team, it's nic e to see anyone remember to cut to the basket.

:40.5-  Okay, nearly three quarters through, turns out this Chris Paul guy wasn't a flash in the pan.  Great move to the hoop for the and one.

Pinnock finally gets a bucket on the other end.  Good thing, too.  As AK said after he missed his last shot, "Pinnock's gonna shank someone if he doesn't get a bucket soon."  And with that segue, here's AK for the fourth!

Farmar scores inside immedately to start the quarter.  There's a big difference between being matched up against Chris Paul and Jannero Pargo.  Pargo's a good defender, but just knowing you don't have to defend Paul makes a difference.

Pinnock drives to beat the shot clock, misses the layup.  If you run into the guy on the street, give him a hug.  Dude could probably use it.

Now that's why everyone loves Ronny Turiaf.  He swats the living crap out of Cedric Simmons' shot to the point of knocking the dude over, then immediately helps the guy up.  Dude could run for office.

Spectacular job by Farmar floating that shot in to beat the block attempt by Simmons.  Absolutely terrific.  And Walton's pass was nothing to sneeze at.

One good turn deserves another.  Farmar sets up Luke for the trey.  Pac-10 at work.

LO sort of shoved Brandon Bass down picking up second foul.  Here's the thought bubble I just pictured:  "Eh, I got five more of these babies. Screw it!  I'm pushing someone."

Such a great pass by Odom to set up Evans for that three.  Just pretty.

Bynum misses working under the basket, but I liked that he used the left.  That's the only way he's gonna get that shot working.  He does, however, need to pick it up under the glass.  While I like his 4 assists, they shouldn't outnumber his boards (3).

Mo Evans hits another basket.  You guys are always looking for nicknames.  Since the characters on "Good Times" were the Evans family, what do you guys think about nicknaming Maurice Evans "Kid Dyno-mite?"  Thumbs up?  Thumbs down?  Or are we sticking with "Mo" (which a lotta folks seem to call him)?  Just getting a consensus. 

And there you have it.  113-106 Lakers.   Evans leads all scorers with 27.  No Lakers hurts himself.  Solid evening all around.  Thanks for dropping by.

AK