Lots of excitement around the building tonight.  The Lakers haven't played here in what seems like forever, they're kicking off the stretch drive with a realistic chance to do serious damage in the Western Conference for the first time since the end of the Shaq/Kobe era, and (on the odd chance you've been living in a cave the last couple weeks) it's Pau Gasol's first game in Los Angeles as a member of the home squad.  Put it all together, and you're talking serious buzz.  I think even Vic the Brick had his poncho and fur hat dry cleaned. Big night. 

Some notes:

• Gasol's locker is located in the spot formerly occupied by Kwame Brown.  J-Critt's stall is currently empty.  And the media presence in the locker room, already pretty strong, has now gone through the roof with the addition of the Spanish press.  Lotta folk. 
• Don't forget, Pau is still new in the home locker room.  AK noticed at one point, he needed directions to the bathroom.
• Caught up to Trevor Ariza before the game.  Essentially, he's in limbo for a couple more weeks, when he'll be re-examined.  He told me that the foot hasn't healed as well as anyone would like, and that full recovery could be anywhere from a month to eight weeks away.  Too soon to tell, but my guess is that it'll be at the back end of that estimate, not the front. 
• Coby Karl has been recalled from the D-League, and is on the active roster tonight.  Lakers inactives (get used to this): Andrew Bynum, Trevor Ariza, Chris Mihm.  Speedy Claxton is inactive for Atlanta. 
• The Lakers will look to limit Atlanta's opportunities on the break, and on the boards, as well.  The goal is to keep them to one shot, and not let the Hawks burn them with multiple opportunities.  One key, of course, to limiting an opponent's break is to keep turnovers to a minimum, and hoist quality shots.  Both are on tonight's Lakers To Do List. 
• PJ said that with Kobe's hand, there really isn't much they can do beyond try to tape and treat it, and hope for the best.  He's going to take some abuse there, but protecting it during the game is going to be tough. 

AUDIO

• From the people who brought you Hiroki Kuroda's press conference in Japanese, we give you Pau Gasol in Spanish and English: Download pau_gasol_2.19 preATL.mp3 
• Phil Jackson: Download phil_jackson_2.19 preATL.mp3

BK