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A day without Smush...

Is a day without sunshine?  Without bold, occasionally questionable fashion choices?  Without entertainingly named Cadillac SUVs?

Whatever the answer, it's no surprise that Smush Parker didn't accompany the Miami Heat on their trip to Staples for tonight's game.  After all, he hasn't accompanied them anywhere since Pat Riley revoked his "I'm Welcome Around Miami's Practice Facility!" card.  It's unfortunate, too, because given the Heat's current woes, the Return of Smush could have made for a nice little side note in an otherwise dull matchup.  (My guess?  He'd have heard some boos.  Just a hunch.) The numbers certainly favor the purple and gold.  The Lakers are working towards their tenth straight win while the Heat on Tuesday finally won their tenth game of the season. L.A. is 19-7 at home while Miami is (gulp!) 4-22 on the road, including 13 straight losses. Overall, the Heat have dropped 26 of their last 28, while the Lakers have rocketed to the top of the Western Conference. 

This isn't a good team the Lakers are playing tonight.  Still, it's always fun to watch Dwyane Wade, even the injured version, and assuming L.O. gets a few cracks to go at and D up Shawn Marion, that's usually entertaining.  Hopefully, everyone gets exactly what they want: Lots of burn for Coby Karl. 

AUDIO: A jovial Phil Jackson, who fielded a lot of more "meta" questions not related to tonight's game. How Gasol will adjust to Bynum's return.  What it might be like to play with Pat Riley.  The multitude of T's that have been called lately, including the first of the season on him.  That sort of thing.

BK

Your Trevor Ariza/Vlad Rad updates!!! First, Ariza, which actually contains little in the way of an actual update.  Monday remains his day for a reevaluation and until then, ain't much happening.  For what it's worth, he said the foot actually feels fine, which makes it feel kind of mind boggling when he's told it's still not healthy.  At any rate, he's growing frustrated, but remaining patient.  As for Vlad Rad, he won't be playing, but he's hoping for a Sunday return.  He said the calf injury is more stiff these days than actually painful and he managed to pull off some light jogging.  That said, it's still pretty touch and go, since the obvious concern is not making it worse.

AK


Comments

Vlad and Ariza updates just means more Walton and Odom time. Hmmm.

Hugo...sup man.

We need to get your ass and Tim-4-show..all of us together for the playoffs!

or even before then..whatchasay?

Who else is in colorado springs/denver

Good nickname for our bench squad.

THE FACTORY.....

B/c they are all MACHINEESSSSS

hehe..

Colorado..2nd home of the lakers!

one thing i HATE about the lakers being great now are the bandwagoneers coming out everywhere..sucks

we all know where the true fans STAY!...right in this blog baby

go lakers!

go lakers!

AK,

I hope you mentioned liquid sea minerals!

GO LAKERS!

Hopefully we'll see a lot of Coby Karl tonight.

GO LAKERS!

where can I watch the game online??? I Hate that its only on TNT...

vlad ariza get well!

that answer from fire32 was weak. charles, you're the man. you were just teaching him how to be on a forum like this one.

mavs doing their choke dance again..

damn.

Let's all welcome Riley with a Bang! Go Lakers! Blow them up!

GO LAKERS!

Did anyone see the curious ending to the Spurs/Mavericks game?

Dallas had the last posession and THEY TAKE J-KIDD OUT OF THE GAME???

Hello? What happened to needing his mental toughness for closing out games???

What's the over/under on Wade flops tonight?

Sasha and Farmar stroking it through the net.

Thnks for the link

Regardless of how many experts you hear say it, it's still true: The road to the NBA Championship goes through Von Wafer.

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Our Bloggers
Andrew and Brian Kamenetzky
Andrew and Brian Kamenetzky are contributing writers to ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com, and co-authored Fishing on the Edge, the autobiography of 2003 Bassmaster Classic champion Mike Iaconelli, bass fishing's bad boy. While both grew up in St. Louis without NBA basketball, Andrew became a die hard Lakers fanatic after moving to L.A. to attend USC. That he managed to find a job requiring him to obsess over his favorite team, the same activity that prompted him to waste time while working other jobs, is pretty incredible. As for Brian, his baptism into pro hoops fandom has been provided by the "All Lakers, All The Time" citizens of Los Angeles. Beats the hell out of covering the Bucks.
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