How do you know the Laker season is underway?  Besides watching last night's home opener, the barrage of KCAL ads and your general ability to read a calendar, since the games start on more or less the same date each year? 

Because we're busting out the ol' "Know thy enemy," that's why!

It's time to analyze, deconstruct and generally pick apart the Western Conference that houses Laker enemies.  All 14 teams.  All angles and aspects explored.  I've divvied up the contenders (and pretenders) into four categories, two of which will be posted ri ... gh ... t ...

Now.

Lamar Odom was in a car accident last night on the way to last night's game and suffered a mild concussion.  I exchanged a brief e-mail with somebody from the front office, and LO wasn't hurt much at all (especially in a way that will hinder his shoulder recovery).  I'm also happy to see that there doesn't appear to be any drugs or alcohol involved, and also to hear about Lamar's concern for the victim (not that it particularly surprises me).  We'll keep you in the loop with any developments, but for now, click below the jump for the news.

Special thanks to my girlfriend, who emailed me the TMZ article.  I knew a relationship with somebody addicted to gossip rags would one day pay off.  haha

-- AK

PROGRAMMING NOTE:  Don't forget to tune into today's webcast of "Purple, Gold and Blue."  Noon.  Click the NowLive widget on the side of the page to listen, and if you're feeling particularly frisky, log on to the site and join the live chat that goes on during the show.

Don't freak out, but if the season ended today, the Lakers would be a lottery team (and a lot of people would wonder why they spend so much on season tix).  Fortunately, Tuesday's opening night 95-93 loss to the Rockets at Staples was just the first of many opportunities to get it right.  This one, however, went wrong on a few levels, on what was an odd night off Fig.  It included boos for Kobe Bryant in the pregame introductions, the rare basketball "own goal" from Luke Walton and Kwame Brown, some lackluster effort from the purple and gold before a furious late fourth comeback ... all scuttled by a clutch Shane Battier rainbow three with 2.5 seconds to play. But the box score reveals that, despite a rough shooting night from Kobe (13-32) and the Gang (19-44), what really cost the Lakers was a collective failure from the free-throw line: 27-45.  That's 18 misses from the charity stripe. 

Go ahead and kick that gift horse smack in the kisser.

Just the first day of what is shaping up to be a typically dramatic Lakers season, with fans on edge and Kobe in limbo.

But as the old saying goes, you gotta play those middle 24 minutes as well.  The Lakers' 95-93 loss began in promising enough fashion as they held the Rockets to a sweet 16 points (if you're rooting purple and gold) and a miserable 25% from the field (if you're rooting red).  Five steals.  Perpetually active defense.  The stuff that "kick-ass seasons needed to encourage Kobe to stick around" are made of.  Unfortunately for the Lakers, Houston wasn't willing to concede the game after 12 minutes, and that second quarter is where things got goofy. 

Houston outscored L.A. 27-18 (59% FG), with the Lakers shooting under 40% from the field and the stripe.  The third featured even more bad everything, whether you're talking losing the battle on the boards, 15-8, the clanged shots or the bricked freebies.  The fourth quarter saw some spirit and a rally, along with a gap squeezed shut at 92 points apiece.  But with two ticks on the clock, Shane Battier drained a triple, putting the Rockets up by three.  Kobe ended up at the line, hit his first, purposely bricked the second, but the Lakers couldn't snag the rebound or create an overtime situation needed for a winning box score. 

Here we go, people.  There are those who doubt this team's ability.  There are those who doubt whether Kobe and the front office can work out their differences.  But for those who doubt whether Jeffrey Osborne can still bring a National Anthem, you needn't wonder.  The man still has pipes after 24 straight seasons.

Marge Hearn did the player introductions.  Very nice.  The fans love them some Marge Hearn about as much as they loved them some Chick.  A lot more than they love Kobe, apparently.  Some boos in the house for No. 24.

First quarter:

The Laker girls are now wearing ruffled bottoms with their outfits.  As BK noted, as least the organization is continuing to make improvements in some areas.

9:36:  Kwame does a good job denying Yao further position under the hoop and forces a tough shot and yet another miss.  Tough start for both teams when it comes to the ol' point generation thing.

Normally at a time like this, you'd say things like, "It's finally time for the speculation to end and the games to begin," or "After a summer of chatter, the games are here and it's time to put the words aside."  Except we all know the chatter will continue, the speculation will, in fact, not die.  Not anytime soon, at least.  Whatever.  It's tipoff time for the '07-08 season, and ready or not, here the Lakers come.  Needless to say the vibe around the team has folks (players, fans, media) a little on edge (not quite in a DeNiro, Taxi Driver way, but on edge nonetheless).  Unfortunately, the Lakers need to put everything aside quickly and get down to business, because five of their first six games are against playoff contenders -- Houston tonight, then Phoenix, Utah, New Orleans and San Antonio.  Forgive me for not including Minnesota in that group. 

No time to screw around.

Some news: Your starting lineup tonight will, of course, lack Lamar Odom.  That means Luke Walton will start at small forward, Ronny Turiaf at the four, and Kwame Brown will be given the task of bodying up Yao from the opening bell.  Oh, Kobe's fine, and will be in the lineup.  Phil Jackson said before the game that he'll once again put Kobe out on the wing and let Derek Fisher push the pace, hopefully freeing Kobe up from some responsibility on the offensive end. 

Plenty more on that, and more, in the audio below the jump.

Given this summer's weirdness, the Lakers didn't really have much of an offseason.  Purple and gold news has simmered some days, boiled others, but has basically run hot since the conclusion of last season's exit interviews.  Is J.O. coming?  Is K.G. coming?  Is Ron-Ron coming?  And, most significantly, is Kobe going?  Enough rumors and unsubstantiated reports to fill months worth of Us Weeklys.

That's a lot of rumors and unsubstantiated reports.

Of course, now that it's all said and done, after a tumultuous few months followed by an unsteady preseason, the bunch that finished the '06-07 season in disappointing fashion is back, more or less intact (though improved with the exchange of Smush Parker for Derek Fisher).  The regular games are about to start, which means questions need to be answered.  Seven of them.  Why?   Because that's the number of good ones I could think of before I started repeating myself.

So without further ado ...

It's been a long time coming, but the Lakers will finally play a real, live game tonight against the Rockets at Staples (7:30, TNT).  It won't put an end to the turmoil the team is enduring to start the year, but at least keeping score and counting games in the standings will give everyone something else to do.  At best, it's a return to business as usual, at worst a sideshow while KobeWatch! plays out.  Today, Kobe's a Laker (and for a while, at least, likely to stay that way), all the comments are positive, and the Lakers have hope just like everyone else.  Certainly those on the inside like D-Fish are aiming high.  The light popping on for Kwame Brown could facilitate the process.  As could a season of Kobe playing distributor as well as scorer. 

Finally, as far as previews go, it wouldn't be complete without one from Mom, who sent in a few nuggets in response to these SI.com scouting reports for the Lakers:

• "These reports are dismal."
• "I think Luke Walton is better than reported and a good leader."
• "Nobody mentions Coby with a C."
• "I think Kobe needs an attitude change. I agree that he is not the coach and should pump up his team. Let Phil Jackson criticize Bynum and the others." 
• "If they don't win and he isn't traded, there is always Dancing With the Stars" (a reference to Mark Cuban).

Word's been spreading like hotcakes that Kobe's gonna be in a suit during tomorrow's opener.  But according to a report from the Lakers' site, the official word is ... "He probably won't be."  True, Bryant, along with Lamar Odom (who'll undoubtedly miss the game) and Chris Mihm (who also sounds like a logical candidate), was on the inactive list when the official rosters were announced.  But since last season's rule changes make it so the list can be altered game to game and doesn't get filed until an hour before the tip, it's actually irrelevant (at least theoretically) whether Kobe's currently "active" or not.  We'll see what happens, but the team seems to be counting on No. 24 playing.  Something about "needing to showcase him for John Paxson."

Kidding.  Kidding.

Also, congrats to Coby Karl on making the squad.  Here's a look at everyone currently in the L.  Good  lord, is that Timberwolves roster seriously unimpressive.   

-- AK 

Only 36 hours or so until we can stop all the speculatin'.

Yep, after months of turmoil, drama and tension, the Lakers will play an actual real live game Tuesday night at Staples against the Rockets.  So for one day, maybe, the national focus will be on what the Lakers do on the court rather than what happens off it.

Yeah, we don't believe that either. 

Rumors continued to swirl, though the idea that something is going to happen quickly isn't one being touted in El Segundo, and folks in Chicago aren't necessarily buying either.  Perhaps Washington is where people should really be looking?   Kobe would have to expand his list of acceptable destinations, of course.  Cynics wonder if the constant rumors make it easier for Kobe to deal with writers who have written off L.A.'s chances to shock the world this season.  After all, if 24 gets his wish, he won't be around for the potentially ugly conclusion.  And should something happen, this information about the financial future of a couple potential Lakers might be fairly important.

At least one guy isn't all doom and gloom when it comes to predicting the Lakers' chances for success. 

And for those of us sick of being bombarded by the media's 24-7 coverage of Brian Cook, this refreshing change in focus can't come a minute too soon.  ESPN's Chris Sheridan reported yesterday that talks between the Lakers and da Bulls are not only happening, but have been for about a week or so.  Are these discussions the reason that Kobe skipped a chance at a free buffet and seeing the Blue Man Group?  Who's to say?  But in any event, a theoretical trade could be tough to swing for a number of reasons, including salary cap rules that create restrictions on when a guy can be traded and Kobe's no-trade clause, which gives him the power to veto a deal if a guy he'd prefer to ball with in Chicago is a proposed Laker.

UPDATE: The Lakers played Kobe-less (although not permanently ... for now), Lamar-less and Mo-less last night against Sacto, yet managed to escape a winless fate.  The 101-97 win featured 18 points apiece from Ronny Turiaf and Andrew Bynum, who disproved the reigning theory of most nutritionists that scarfing down pre-game birthday cake doesn't improve one's performance.  And since the main thing Phil could think of to keep an eye on the progress of the youngsters, the outings of those two pups, plus Jordan Farmar and a perhaps-still-employed Coby Karl made the night -- and the box score -- interesting.

The Lakers are down to one last tune-up before they kick off the real games Tuesday against Houston.  Unfortunately, their chances of gaining a little more continuity and building additional chemistry took a knock with the news that Kobe Bryant's (You know, the athletic guy?  Wears 24?  Scores a lot?) injured right wrist will keep him out of tonight's exhibition finale with the Sacramento Kings in Las Vegas.  The good news is that Kwame Brown, Luke Walton and Chris Mihm should all be able to get some run despite injury issues of their own.  Hopefully, they'll be able to help the Lakers play well and show those making  less-than-rosy projections that the purple and gold will be a force.  If it's going to happen, they'll need Andrew Bynum to find some consistency at both ends, instead of sometimes one, sometimes the other.

Perhaps there's some wisdom that Derek Fisher can provide, since it looks like he could be a/the captain of this bunch.  (Lakers Blog endorses this nomination.)

BK and I are big fans of freedarko.com, a very funny, offbeat and smart NBA blog with posts we often can't link to because of The Times' language rules.  But it's a site worth checking out, especially for its three-part "First Annual Every Player Preview," which has rather amusing, rather random 2007-08 predictions for literally EVERY baller in the NBA.  Shareef Abdur-Rahim to Thaddeus Young.  Quite the undertaking, and we thought you'd be interested in what's on the plate for every Laker, plus some other players.  I giggled.  I guffawed.  I think I even chortled once.  Then again, I also have an odd sense of humor.  Anyhoo, your purple and gold fortunes are below.

-- AK

And if our intel is actually correct that could be a problem, since Kobe Bryant's wrist is now an issue.  It got banged up during the loss against Utah- which would at least explain his poor preseason play for one game- and is now just one item on the laundry list of Laker ouchies.  Between Lamar Odom's absence and guys like Kwame Brown, Chris Mihm and Luke Walton playing limited minutes, it hasn't been easy for Phil Jackson to test run, then deem the ideal starting five.  If possible, one that can perhaps elevate the Laker D from "piss poor" to merely "eh."  Of course, some would say Phil's lucky he hasn't been forced to make tougher decisions during his career, a bit of fortune that could change if Kobe were to wind up in Berry Gordy Land.  Not that Detroit is necessarily pulling out the stops to snag Kobe, but if the Lakers don't pull out some stops of their own in one direction or the other, they could find themselves mired in some serious roundball purgatory.   

UPDATE:  Just a reminder, but today's podcast can be heard by clicking on the widget on the side of the page.  BK)

Whether we're talking baseball, football, basketball, hockey, jai alai, dodgeball, Ultimate Frisbee, or any other team sport, if it has a preseason I default to not trying to find too much meaning in it.  Too many variables.  Teams protecting semi-injured players, trying different combinations, testing out end-of-the-roster free agents, and so on.  So that the Lakers have looked uglier than AK in a thong over the last couple games shouldn't be a big deal.  And it isn't, necessarily. 

Still...

My rule does have a sliding scale.  The better the team, the less preseason issues matter.  The more question marks burdening said squad, and I think you can say there are a few surrounding the Lakers, the greater the concern when things don't go well in the practice games.  While there have been some positive developments it's hard to feel comfortable about where the Lakers currently stand.  As we approach Tuesday's season opener, there are still plenty of issues looming large.  And I'm not necessarily talking about 24, either.

UPDATE:  Sorry for the delay!  Technical glitches, but we're on the air now!

Be sure to join us at 12 pm PST at www.nowlive.com for "Purple, Gold and Blue."   Or, just click the widget on the side of the blog page.  Lakers and Dodgers talk.  We love callers.  If you prefer typing, log in to the NowLive chatboard, and join in that way. 

-AK

The Lakers played bad against the Jazz, coming up with a 102-81 sour note loss during their preseason skirmish in Anaheim.  Another poor effort from the starting five, who shot a scant 16% in the opening period and offered no bright spots in the box score outside of Ronny Turiaf's ten boards. That the starting unit would feel Lamar Odom's absence is predictable, but they'll need to figure out a way to win some tough early games without him, since he'll miss another at least two weeks of action.  On the bright-ish side, LO's  experiencing no pain shooting the ball and has been cleared for all sorts of non-contact work, so hopefully once his surgically repaired shoulder is in the pink, he can jump right back into the thick of things.  Until then, Odom will wear whatever hat his quack prescribes.

To those who purchased tickets for the Lakers-Jazz rematch in San Diego, the game has been canceled due to the fires.  If you happen to be an SD local who purchased tickets, we hope you're safe and well.  And if the Lakers can provide a little soap opera style entertainment to help you get through this rough time, they're happy to pitch in.     

First, AK and I will be on the LA Times chatboard today at 1:00 pm to engage in our always lively conversation.  Go to www.latimes.com/chat, then click "Sports Chats" to get to us. I believe that'll do it.  The transcript will be posted later today.  In the meantime, those of you who pre-ordered your Larry Turner jerseys are going to be disappointed.  He, along with Andre Patterson and Elton Brown, have all been waived. 

Couldn't see that coming.  Click below the jump for the release.

BK

For those who said "Elton Brown," solid guess... but wrong.  It's actually Kobe Bryant.  If los ojos belong to Phil Jackson, he's peeping his star these days over a preseason penchant for turnovers.  It's a habit the Zen Master insists must be broken when the games start to count, although Kobe isn't all that stressed, since he sees the errant play merely the result of necessary tinkering.  If the staring is courtesy a member of the media, it's likely the result of Kobe's desire to be traded, a situation where Peter Vescey sees PJ as a buffer between player and ownership.  And as far as TNT's Kenny Smith is concerned, it wasn't that Kobe asked to be moved, but "how," in a big, bad way. 

It kind of flew under the radar last season, but the Lakers didn't play particularly exceptional defense during the 2006-2007 season.

No, you get out of town, because it's true. 

So with T-Minus one week and counting before the Oct. 30th regular season kick off, a large focus has been devoted towards preventing opponents from scoring like those "Entourage" dudes at an Ecstasy party. Thoughts on bettering the purple and gold lock down were shared by three different Lakers.  The first, Kobe Bryant, has been named to the All-Defense team seven times (most recently last season with a first team bid).  The second, Derek Fisher, has gone unnamed heading into his twelfth season, but gained a defensive rep via scrappy hustle and taking a zillion charges.  The third, Luke Walton, could very well play the rest of his career without receiving a single defensive team vote.  But the trio share a common bond when it comes to isolating the central need when it comes to being less of a sieve:

Better team D.

Last night's Lakers-Clippers match up was the winner's circle contest from the annual four team preseason "Shootout" tourney.  But judging by the way the Lakers played during a 112-96 loss, it would be easy to assume the Lakers got into the finals via a bye received.  There were scattered bright spots, with Andrew Bynum and especially Jordan Farmar coming to mind, but for the most part, the squad played like collective (if newly fast paced) caca during their box score time.  In particular, Kobe Bryant had a rough performance (1-4 shooting, 7 turnovers), although the off night isn't likely enough to temper the Laker Nation's enthusiasm for #24 or another team's interest in obtaining his services.  Even if they consider such a notion pipe dream-ish.  Know what else is a pipe dream?  A Laker season without some drama, even if Phil Jackson considers a certain amount to be a success requisite.

And who can blame the Zen Master, given how the rookie from FSU racked 24 points (including 4-5 from distance), five rebounds and a block in his role off the bench?  Unfortunately, Thornton's also employed by the Clippers, so I'm not quite sure how much good that praise does anybody.  Certainly not much for the Lakers, who played a collectively awful game in their 112-96 loss to the Clippers.  Jackson spoke well of Jordan Farmar's play (19 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists) and had a few nice words for Andrew Bynum (16 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block), but all in all, he didn't dig what just about everybody  else brought to the box score.  "I just didn't like the way we played tonight at all," admitted the coach in rather blunt fashion.  "I don't know how you guys felt about it, but it wasn't very much fun to be there watching that performance tonight."

Well, if you're sincerely curious about my opinion, Phil, I concur with that assessment.
 

Not sure how many of y'all are gonna be around, since it's just preseason for the Lakers.  But I'm also not in "February" form, so it'll be nice breaking in period for all parties involved.

AK

First Quarter

5:57 - Sorry about the delay.  I've been having some issues with the software that operates the blog (shocking, I know, since that never happens).  Anyway, Kwame just rifled a sweet pass inside to Kobe under the rack.  Kobe's couldn't finish the dunk (and sank only one of two from the stripe), but it was a really nice dish from #54.  BK and I have both always said, the guy's actually a pretty underrated passer.  That's actually why the bobbles often get to me, because aside from the potential turnover or wasted shot attempt, Kwame could really be a part of creating solid ball movement, assuming he can hang onto the rock.

'Sup everyone?  Welcome aboard for the first live blog event of the season.  I'm riding solo this evening, so forgive me if it's a short report, as this is also time to eat my dinner.  BK and the missus embarking upon one of a few celebrations for her birthday.  Along those lines, I just got back in town after a couple days of vacationing with my girlfriend (so we could get some time alone before the season kicks off and my hours get seriously nutty), so never let it be said that the K Brothers don't know how to treat a lady.  Well, they might say it, but none of y'all have earned that right.

The Lakers knocked off the Bobcats Saturday night at Staples, 113-93.  As it was in Bakersfield Thursday night, the Lakers got (as the box shows) some nice contributions from everyone on the roster.  Most everyone, at least.  But since this is preseason, what went on in the game takes a backseat to how all of might actually make an impact when the real games start.  Right now, the two biggest question marks are who will grab the most minutes behind Kobe and D-Fish at guard, and how the center rotation will shake out.  Regarding the former, Sasha Vujacic believes he's ready to break through, and so far is playing like it might actually be possible.  With the latter, there are still some issues confusing the battle between Andrew Bynum, Chris Mihm, and Kwame Brown for what will likely be a two man rotation.  First and foremost is health.  Mihm is still dealing with stiffness in his surgically repaired ankle, while Kwame isn't fully up to speed after ankle surgery of his own.  Phil Jackson says only two will get the bulk of the minutes, though if either Brown or Mihm could play the four, some of the PT problems are solved.

Offseason nuttiness aside, fans renewed their season tix at a fairly high rate.

Should Kobe move east, it'll mean a significant power shift in the NBA. Still a big "if," by the way- especially if opposing GMs can deal from a position of power.

Congrats to whichever member of the blogosphere purchased Big Game James' old pad. 

(UPDATE: More on Andrew Bynum's early improvement, with the focus directed towards his amped work ethic.  It's the type of development that could potentially sustain Kobe Bryant's happy mood during Friday's practice.  Happy enough that he still won't request a ticket out of L.A., whether to Dallas (although not for Dirk) or elsewhere?  Remains to be seen, although it's safe to say Kobe's pysche affects the franchise's collective psyche and should the latter remain fragile, Phil Jackson could end up coaching the Yankees next season.  Or simply go the Joe Torre route, whichever is simplest.  As for Luke Walton, nobody is losing sleep over whether he's happier starting or coming off the bench, but it's nice to know he's cool with either role. - AK)

Lost, or at least slightly misplaced, in all the attention on Kobe last night in Bakersfield was the play of Andrew Bynum.  19 points, 10 boards (six offensive), two dimes, and a block in 27 minutes.  Granted, it's preseason and it came against the Sonics, who have an abundance of young bigs, none of whom are particularly good.  Still, those are nice numbers.  More than that, standing next to the kid at practice you can see that he has changed his body.  He's leaner, but at the same time looks stronger.  That's a good combination.   It's too early to say Bynum has arrived.  Remember, he started off hot last season before fading about halfway through.  But it can only be a positive thing that a young player often criticized for his work ethic arrived at camp in the best shape of his (albeit short) career, seemingly aware of what went wrong for him last year.

Granted, this was his locker in Bakersfield's Rabobank Arena -- basketball's Pluto -- and it's hard to figure out why he'd need to keep anything stored there after last night's 126-106 preseason win over the Sonics.  But given how much attention was directed toward him removing a few items out of his full-time locker, we figured it was worth noting.  Folks had been speculating whether the hoo-hah and hoopla surrounding Tuesday's LockerGate would be a distraction for Kobe heading into the contest.  If his 20 points in 18 minutes (time limited in part to rest some tendinitis-inflicted knees) mean anything, the answer would be a decided "not so much."  For that matter, the circus atmosphere seemed to bring out a strong box score from the entire squad, including Kwame Brown, who was finally able to get some run in a non-practice atmosphere.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: So I was driving home last night, listening to even more Kobe-related sports talk, and had a mini-snap.  A fit of moral outrage (sporting version) at the silliness that has enveloped the Lakers over the last few seasons.  So once safely back in the confines of my apartment, I wrote a little bit.  BTW, I've never been more excited to have a preseason game to talk about, coming up later tonight ...)

I have a new respect for Lakers fans.

Why?  Because in reality, those who steer the franchise and the star player they pay deserve to have all of you walk away, waving your hands in disgust.  Think about where this team was after the 2002 season, hoisting a third consecutive title, tying up traffic on Fig with a third consecutive parade.  After that came two more years of legitimately high hopes and competitive basketball, and another finals run.  Since then? 

Good lord. 

(UPDATE: A reader sent in this great compilation of old Chick clips.  I think everyone can use something to smile about.  Thanks to Peter Nyboer for the link.)

After a Tuesday that was straight out of the Twilight Zone, Wednesday provided a little normalcy.  Or at least as much as the Lakers are capable of these days.  Kobe Bryant returned to practice after a three-day absence, and Phil Jackson said he'd probably play tonight against Seattle in beautiful Bakersfield.  Not surprisingly, his teammates were happy to have him back, even if they feel a little out of the Kobe loop. 

In a perfect world (or at least one where AK and I can unchain ourselves from our laptops), his return would end the Kobe speculation.  Alas ...  For those of you who spend a lot of your day on the Trade Machine constructing Kobe deals, remember that his trade kicker counts against the cap, meaning the Lakers need to bring back over $18.2 million in return for 24, assuming he's the only salary heading out.   And after the now infamous Dr. Buss interview, questions remain as to how much damage was done to the Lakers' trading position, and whether or not a team like Chicago would take the risk of bringing him in.  Ask Jay Mariotti, and the answer is (or at least should be) an unqualified yes.  David Neiman wonders if Kobe will actually get what he wants should he find a new home.  Hoopsworld's Eric Pincus says Phil Jackson has to get the team ready, no matter what is going on.

Others simply question how the hell the Lakers got here to begin with.  Once again, it might not hurt for Kobe to channel his inner M.J.

-- BK

Hey, y'all.  Click on the link to go to today's podcast of "Purple, Gold and Blue."  It was an hour of Laker talk, with David Neiman (co-founder of www.sportshubla.com and writer for a bunch of large daily papers across the country) sitting in for an out-of-town AK.  And, not surprisingly, a lot of Kobe talk.  LockerGate, trade scenarios, etc.   You'll notice, too, that the show "widget" now appears along the left side of the page.  That'll get you there, too.

-- BK

Be sure to join us at noon at www.nowlive.com for "Purple, Gold and Blue."  AK is out of town, but I'll be joined by writer David Neiman, who has worked for the Washington Post, among other publications, and is a co-founder of www.sportshubla.com. 

10-17, 9 a.m: UPDATED WITH FRESH LINKS!  Freeeeeeeeesh links!  Come 'n' get 'em.

Apparently, there are still things in Kobe's locker. 

Most days, this is not news.  But today wasn't most days.  Fueled by some chatty radio folk, rumors were flying that 24 had cleaned out his stall and thrown down the gauntlet, so to speak, in his (by all appearances) demand to be traded.  That he was done as a Laker.  That he was taking his ball (or at least his shoes) and going home.  Alas, it appears not to be the case.  Kobe denied the grand clean-out, and said he's ready to "strap it up" come opening day, assuming he's still wearing the purple and gold. 

Not that everything is hunky-dory.  Kobe skipped practice for reasons that seemed to go beyond his health -- though I think that has a lot to do with it -- and he seems a little ticked over the recent comments by Dr. Buss.  But the earth-shattering news (i.e. Kobe's been traded) hasn't yet appeared.

Right now, the odds have never looked stronger that Kobe will leave L.A., but I doubt it'll be before the season starts, or even during it.  This is not the sort of trade that can be slapped together haphazardly like some blog news post.  The Lakers will take as much time as they think they need to get the best possible deal before pulling the trigger.  If there is to be peace -- a big if, at this point -- Kobe and Dr. Buss have to start acting like partners in a business ... which to some respect they are.  At this point, some wonder if Kobe will actually find the happiness he seeks in another city.

(I'll give you three guesses as to what T.J. Simers has to say on the issue.  You'll only need one.)

So get used to this sort of high-intensity, telenovela-esque drama.  It'll be a theme for a while.

-- BK

If you're one of those types who believes that a healthy Kobe Bryant is integral to the success of the Lakers -- that would cover just about everyone on the planet, by the way -- then the news that Kobe once again sat out practice Monday to rest his achey knees will not be welcome.  He didn't speak to reporters, at least not formally, to discuss how he's feeling, but there's a very solid chance he won't play Thursday against Seattle in Bakersfield.  Of course, he might just be trying to avoid visiting Bakersfield, which is totally reasonable.  But we won't fault any of you for getting a little nervous.  At least the rest of the Lakers' walking wounded returned to the floor, in one form or another.

Given all he's been through, it's no surprise that faith has helped carry Derek Fisher.

Interesting stuff -- it always is -- from Gilbert Arenas in a recent interview.

The good news?  There were more Lakers on the floor today than there were Sunday.  Ronny Turiaf and Chris Mihm participated in a five-on-five full-court scrimmage, as did Luke Walton.  Kwame Brown got a little bit of work in, mostly during half-court drills, and received generally positive reviews from Phil Jackson.  Unfortunately, only one C/Kobe practiced, and it wasn't the one who averages 30 points a game.  Kobe sat out today with knee soreness.  It's just precautionary, but whenever the words "injury" and "Kobe" are in the same sentence, it gives Lakers fans the willies. 

Lamar Odom, of course, is still working his way back into form.  He didn't participate in contact drills, and while he'll tell you otherwise (don't take my word for it, hit the audio below), his participation in the Oct. 30 opener against the Rockets might be limited to cheering.

(UPDATE:  A panel of ESPN writers weighs in for a Kobe-centric "roundtable."   If I may interject my opinion, it's high time the media started dissecting the topic of Bryant's situation in L.A., so I'm excited to see this matter finally get a little ink. -- AK)

With the Lakers still to begin the meaty portion of their preseason schedule -- if "meaty" is a word you can use in talking about the preseason -- the training camp news machines aren't running at full capacity.  Not that there aren't discussion topics.  Health is an issue -- six players missed all or part of Sunday's practice -- and the backup PG situation is one that deserves attention, given that Derek Fisher is perfectly fine with being a 25-30 minute player this year.  All those absent bodies may be good for Coby Karl, who is pushing for a roster spot.  It's easier to have your good play noticed when there's nobody else on the floor.

Which leads me to the Question of the Day: It's only Oct. 15, yet the Lakers have already generated enough question marks to give Frank Gorshin a headache.  There's the aforementioned health issue.  There's the Kobe/Buss/state of the franchise issue.  The backup PG issue, the defense issue, the Jackson extension issue, and the Swimsuit Issue (just making sure you're paying attention).

But which one is the biggest?  What single issue has you most nervous as the season approaches?

No, not these Sundays, (Though I used to have a thing for lead singer Harriet Wheeler. Pretty, killer voice, British accent.  What's not to like?), but the typing kind. Given all that went on this week with Jerry Buss on the Kobe situation, it's not surprising to see some Sunday hoops columnists weigh in on the situation. 

• Mercifully, the belief in New York is that the Knicks won't be in position to make a good enough offer to the Lakers to get 24, making a trade with New York unlikely.  A pipe dream for Isiah Knickerbocker fans, even.  I think we can all be thankful for that.
• In Chicago, Jay Mariotti says bring Kobe in, perhaps with a deal using Ben Gordon and Tyrus Thomas as "centerpieces."  Hate to break it to ol' Jay, but that won't send Kobe to Chicago anytime soon.  Maybe if/when the Lakers reach DEFCON 5, but not right now. A trade isn't likely to happen soon anyway... if it happens at all. 
• Staying in the Windy City, Sam Smith, who floats a more realistic picture of what the Lakers would want in return for Bryant, says making a deal for him is appealing, but not without risk.
• Mark Heisler writes of P.J.'s response to it all, and is strapping in for a long season.
• Utah will be players in the Kobe sweepstakes.  Because Rob Pelinka is Carlos Boozer's agent, too?  Umm.... no. 

In an unrelated but interesting note, Jackson questions Kevin Garnett's perception of the franchise, at least in terms of why KG was leery of coming to L.A.

BK

10.13 Update: Slow work day as the team heads back to the mainland, a hopeful and confident Andrew Bynum in tow.

Amidst all the Buss N' Kobe hooplah, it's tough for some to remember that the Lakers actually have preseason games to play.  Given that, for the time being, said games are being played in Hawaii makes them tough to watch all the way through (some of us have to go to work, you know).  So if you missed any or all of L.A.'s 119-106 loss Thursday night to the Warriors, their second straight preseason defeat at the hands of Golden State, nobody will revoke your "I'm a Laker Fan!" Card.  What you didn't see was another sloppy game from the purple and gold.  25 turnovers, which, as the box shows, helped Golden State take 19 more shots from the floor and outscore the purple and gold in every quarter.  So there's still work to be done on that end.

Those would be hardwood issues.

Yesterday, the Laker Nation was taken aback after hearing Lakers owner/billionaire/"chicks who hang out at Hyde" enthusiast Jerry Buss reveal that he not only fielded (and dismissed) offers for disgruntled Lakers star Kobe Bryant this offseason, but that he's still open towards dealing the uber-guard, should #24 remain underwhelmed by life in L.A. and the incoming players be to snuff.  Words that even took Shaq off guard a bit. 

Today, the Times published more of Doc B's thoughts, with topics ranging from Andrew Bynum's development and the relationship between Phil Jackson and the Buss child he doesn't date.  Less potentially controversial stuff, I'm guessing.  Which is good, since there is actually a game happening this evening at 10 pm PST (KCAL 9), so it would nice to focus on items less dramatic, if equally surprising.  For example, it's not often The Zen Master throws praise- even semi-backhanded- Vlad Radmanovic's way, so it would be cool to see the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens pick up where his preseason has thus far left off.

And by the time we touch down in L.A., I expect many of y'all to be buzzing about this interview with Jerry Buss in the Times.  Maybe it's just me, but Doc B. doesn't sound much like a dude expecting a long future with Kobe Bryant in purple and gold.  At the very least, he doesn't sound like a dude who opts not to mention players by name when discussing their trade value (or declare the rest of the team as having little to none). Probably not the approach I'd have used.

Obviously, BK and I can talk more about it after we land, but I wanted to make sure everyone got to see it while there was time for a quick post.

AK

(UPDATE, 10.11: We're in the air this morning, so you'll have to discuss the news amongst yourselves... hopefully comments will get pushed through reasonably fast.)

Actually, Hudson's mostly been known of late as an oft-injured dude with a contract Minnesota deemed quite regrettable (and a rap CD the consumer deemed quite forgettable).  But he did can a jumper with a tick on the clock, supplying the Golden State Warriors a 111-110 win over the Lakers in the purple and gold's preseason kickoff.  Kinks were exposed on both sides of the ball (and Kobe's still getting used to his new role as "Kid Facilitator"), but it's also early and the box score listed a "DNP" next to Kwame Brown, Lamar Odom and Luke Walton's names.  At any rate, a preseason loss is certainly not as big an issue as those keeping Jeannie Buss sleepless during the off-season, so that's certainly comforting.  Besides, y'all need to maintain some smiles, because someone needs to cheer up The Critter.

(FYI: BK and I are in New York for some meetings today and tomorrow, then fly back to L.A. Thursday morning.  Thus, there will be times when we're unable to update comments.  We've alerted the mother ship to keep an eye on things, so hopefully that'll keep everything humming.)

How's that for some hedging?  Although realistically speaking, there's only so much concrete info about this year's squad that can be gleaned from tonight's preseason opener against the Golden State Warriors (KCAL, 10 p.m. Pacific time).  But there are some potential clues.  To begin, the state of Kwame Brown's surgically repaired ankle, a topic garnering a split opinion between the center and his coaching staff.  If nothing else, should Kwame play tonight, it'll possibly go a way toward impressing Tex Winter (although if he sits, Larry Turner blows up even more in Dr. Triangle's head, so somebody's guaranteed to come out a winner).  A few shots falling could also provide a taste of what's coming in Vlad Radmanovic's "first" season as a Laker.  Fans are obviously curious if Phil Jackson's new defensive scheme will bear lockdown fruit, so here's a preview of sorts.   A few nice moments here and there could quell the negative vibes permeating from a rough summer for Mitch Kupchak.

Or at least rested Sunday morning, since the two-a-day pace currently "enjoyed" at Laker camp has begun to spark some wear and tear among the troops.  And since Phil Jackson is at least the third wisest coach in the NBA, he opted to cancel a practice for the sake of maintaining future health.  He may very well have used the free time to reflect upon what he's seen so far over the last week.  Like the surprisingly productive play of Coby Karl (impressive on many a level) and Elton Brown (a kid familiar to those in the NBDL "know").  Or the serene and improved manner in which Jordan Farmar has embarked on his battle for minutes behind Derek Fisher.  Besides a likely gig as the team's starting lead guard, Fish brings to the table mucho sageness and the unquestionable credentials of an unquestioned leader. 

For those of you (and by "you," we mean "Faith") who included Bruce Bowen on their '08 free-agent wish list, sorry!

While the battle to start at the five may be the Lakers' front-line issue in training camp, the question of who will be the third guard is also one of great import.  You got your choices, for sure.  There's J. Crit, J. Farm, the other (C)obe and Sasha Vujacic.  All have their virtues ... and in the case of Sasha, he'd better show them quickly or he could be looking for work because he currently occupies the "guy with a guaranteed contract most likely to get cut anyway" position on the roster.  Meanwhile, talk that Ronny Turiaf could start at the four means Lamar Odom could see more time at the three.  Not an unpleasant proposition for him.  All he needs to do now is get healthy. 

As for those bigs, Andrew Bynum is getting some solid early season reviews.  He just might need a little TLC.

Luke Walton spent Friday nursing a sore hamstring that kept him out of practice.  But time at practice may not be all he lost.  After the afternoon's run, Phil Jackson mused about the possibility of having Ronny Turiaf start at the four, which would push L.O. to the three and Walton to the bench.   Granted, as Turiaf noted, it's an idea P.J. has kicked around publicly for a while now, and at this point in the preseason there's not even stone in which to set things.  How the rotation shakes out at the beginning of the year will depend on health as well.  But should Ronny become a starting PF, it'll be a nice coup for the potential free agent, one of five Lakers who could in theory find new homes next year. 

Here's a little more from Mo Evans from media day. 

Textgate aside, there was little controversy and lots of smiles at Monday's media day.  It's a sunshiny attitude that has apparently been carried over the Pacific to Hawaii.  But underneath the veneer of optimism, are there serious problems facing the purple and gold?  That, by the way, is a rhetorical question.  We know the answer, and it's yes, at least in terms of competing for a title.  It'll be easier to measure progress with the team when guys heal and the rotation becomes more settled.  There are positional battles to be fought, first at point guard to back up D-Fish, and also at forward and center.  Whoever plays will need to bring it defensively, and team cohesion on that end will be at a premium as the Lakers try to overhaul a defense that was wretched last season.  That'll be easier to build once everyone is participating fully in practice.  On that front, there's good news, as Kwame Brown is making progress.  Andrew Bynum seems to be as well, a good thing since there's plenty of heat on the kid.   

At this point, Lamar Odom has been included in a dizzying amount of trade rumors.  So many, in fact, that it wouldn't surprise to hear him linked to a deal with the Ottawa Senators.  But yesterday, L.O. made it very clear he'd like to stick around, in case there was any doubt.  Meanwhile, Andrew Bynum, himself tossed into every deal under the sun, has a contract option that needs to be picked up by the end of the month.  Call it a formality.  As for Kwame Brown, he apologized to his team for the distraction caused by his disorderly conduct charge, but emphasized he wasn't actually in the car when the incident went down.  P.J. emphasized that Kwame needs to be more conscious of his off-court behavior.

And as we continue to provide more verbiage from media day, you can click below the jump for words from Mo Evans and Luke Walton, via AK.

Hey, y'all.  After much work and preparation, AK and I, along with a couple of partners, are ready to launch SportsHubLA (www.sportshubla.com).  The idea is to create a one-stop shop for L.A. sports fans, providing news, original content from writers with local ties, and all the information (ticket info, team and media websites, blogs, etc.) that fans need on a day-to-day basis.  Because we value your opinion, we'd really appreciate it if you would check out the site and give us some feedback.  Over the next few weeks, we'll be tweaking and modifying the site to make it even better and to work out the kinks.  No suggestion is too small or too out there.

Hopefully, you'll find it a valuable resource in your local sports universe and will become a regular reader.  Thanks for checking it out and letting us know what you think.  Post comments here, or e-mail us at our kambrothers@yahoo.com address, or at ak@sportshubla.com or bk@sportshubla.com.

-- BK

To go with the media day interview transcripts, we also have some audio as well.  Some people, after all, are visual learners while others are auditory.  We don't want to discriminate. 

We'll start with Derek Fisher.  Since the first time they nailed a peach basket to a pole, I doubt the addition of a player who isn't even in the top 50% among starters at his position has been more welcome.  Fisher isn't an elite point guard.  He never really was, even when he was a younger player without the mileage.  But a) he can still play, b) almost by definition he can't help but improve on what the Lakers trotted out in the PG rotation last year, and c) as we all know, neither one of those factors tells the entire story of why the Lakers brought him back. 

Listen to the clips, and you'll understand.  I believe the word is "intangibles."

PROGRAMMING REMINDER: "Purple, Gold and Blue," with Andrew and Brian Kamenetzky, will kick off at noon at www.nowlive.com.  Just click on our show icon and you can call in or join the chat board.  With camp open, there's plenty to talk about.

The Lakers have moved past the meet-'n'-greet stage of training camp (otherwise known as media day), and actual