Not that it seemed that way for the Lakers, who entered their game Friday night in Portland on a ten game winning streak and 13-1 in February.  But alas, all good things must come to an end, and they did so courtesy of a 119-111 loss to the Blazers at the Rose Garden.  For the first time in a while, the Lakers weren't the better team when it mattered, as Portland pick and rolled, picked and popped, and generally picked apart the purple and gold once they recovered from an early ten point deficit.  This is a team the Lakers have struggled with for a while, and it wasn't hard to see why on Friday.  Brandon Roy (who missed Tuesday's game at Staples) returned to the Portland lineup with a bang, with 20 points, 12 dimes, and only two turnovers.  Jarrett Jack had ten helps of his own, along with 21 points and only two TOs. 

In fact, as a group, the Blazers took incredible care of the ball, giving it away only six times all night. 

Among Portland's taller folk, L.A. had trouble containing LaMarcus Aldridge (22/8 on 10-18 from the floor) and Travis Outlaw (18 points on 9-15).   

If Tuesday night's win over the Blazers was a summer music festival, they'd have called it Clutch'N'GrabaPalooza.  No flow, no style, and a whole bunch of technical fouls.  Hopefully tonight the aesthetics improve but the results don't change. 

Keep an eye on LaMarcus Aldridge on Pau Gasol when they find themselves matched up.  PJ mentioned last night that Gasol didn't have the same spring in his step he'd had in previous games, which is why he sat through most of the fourth.  Given his whirlwind schedule of late, fatigue wouldn't shock, but he'll need to bring it tonight.  Aldridge often had his way with Gasol on Tuesday, and crushed Tim Thomas when the Blazers played the Clips on Wednesday.  Granted, most of us could make Thomas look bad defensively. 

Brandon Roy will play for Portland- that's a big boost for them- and L.A. looks to improve on their 9-4 record on the second half of back-to-backs, and run the win streak to 11.

BK

Lakersblog mainstay "Exhelodrvr," with this gem of a response to BK, who had recently explained to another reader that considering Andrew Bynum is just now able to jog in a swimming pool, the odds heavily favor him not being ready for NBA action quite yet.

"What if they let the home team pick the surface, like in Davis Cup tennis?  Like the story of a height-disadvantaged Congressman who, after a heated debate, challenged Congressman Abe Lincoln to a duel. Lincoln didn't want to fight, so (as the challengee) when he picked the weapons, selected sledge hammers in 6 feet of water. The two ended up becoming good friends."

I don't think it needs to be explained why that's sheer, unbridled genius.

AK

Cultivating career games, Jordan Farmar is, while the Lakers harvest win after win. 

Farmar, fresh off a 21 point game in Tuesday's win against Portland came back Thursday night with a career high 24, as the Lakers rolled over the Heat 106-88 at Staples.  The second year PG's efforts were just part of yet another true group effort for the L.A., who led wire to wire for their tenth straight win. Kobe scored a little, at least by his standards (21 points), and distributed a lot (seven dimes), and his block of a Shawn Marion dunk attempt to end the third was one of the better highlights the Lakers have had this season, which is saying something since times are pretty rosy.  But, as the box shows, the Lakers had contributions up and down the lineup.  A quiet 13/11 for Pau Gasol.  13/11/6 for L.O.  9/11/4 for Luke Walton, and 12 points off the bench for Sasha.  No wonder the Lakers are quickly becoming an aspirational model for the league's downtrodden. 

Another game, another win.  Ho hum. 

Okay, "ho hum" isn't exactly the proper sentiment, but it's clear that the Lakers have reached a point where they expect to win every time they hit the floor.  And why not?  They generally do, if a 13-1 February is any indication.  The latest notch in the victory belt came Thursday at Staples in a 106-88 win over the hapless (to put it mildly) Miami Heat.  After taking the first quarter off against the Blazers on Tuesday, the Lakers learned from their mistake, coming quick out of the gate tonight and finishing the first 12 up by seven.  They'd control the flow of the game for the rest of the night.  There were moments along the way that weren't particularly sharp, where they settled for too many outside shots or tried to force too many highlight reel plays, but overall there was no question as to who was in charge. 

Better still, the Lakers received the sort of balanced production that has become this season's M.O.  43 points off the bench, led by Jordan Farmar's career high 24.  Four players with 11+ rebounds.  Seven of the eight players who saw some run had at least seven shot attempts, nobody took more than 14.  (The eighth, DJ Mbenga, didn't actually shoot in his 2:27.)   Up and down the box score, its easy to find good numbers for the purple and gold.  Should be plenty to fill up the "Good" category in tonight's breakdown... which comes below, courtesy of AK.

BK

I'm gonna be honest.  As much as I love wire-to-wire action, if this turns out to be anything remotely resembling an exciting game, something went horribly wrong.

AK (with the first)

Wow.  Smush got booed when they announced that he wasn't playing today.  That's the sign a dude none too popular in the City of Angels.

First Quarter

11:42 - First Laker possession, first shot put up by a Laker (Kobe), first bucket of the game.  Very little in the way of resistance.  Sounds about right.

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. 

Over yonder at the K Brothers' Internet venture SportsHubLA.com, our co-founder David Neiman has written a piece about the evolution of Kobe Bryant as a leader, a maturation process featuring up's paired with down's, unfair media treatment paired with legitimate criticism, Kobe not instilling confidence paired with lesser players not always providing him reason to feel secure, along with the inevitable "Is he the next MJ" analysis (which I'm happy to say I've never written about, nor do I plan to).  Every turn along this twisty, unpredictable road has taken us to 2008, where two-thirds of the season is in the books, the Lakers are looking like the team to beat, and Kobe Bryant is emerging as the leader many hoped he could eventually become. 

Ironically, this has all happened after The Mamba kicked off this season appearing to have as much interest in leading these Lakers as Harrison Ford had in being a presenter at this year's Oscars without a new Indiana Jones movie to promote and the apparent lure of an open bar.  But after a fairly indifferent preseason, Kobe immediately began proving many, including myself, wrong by doing what we predicted he wouldn't (or couldn't).  Both in example and through continual encouragement, Kobe wasted no time getting the best out of teammates.  Before we knew it (and even before Pau Gasol), this Laker team was looking more and more "real." A lion's share of that credit should go to Kobe and a never-better display of leadership, even if some fans will resist these props as an unintended backhanded compliment.

The NBA only hands out an official award to the first man off an NBA bench, but for the Lakers, their entire reserve panel's work merits some kind of cash prize, ribbon or smiley face.  If you ask one Kobe Bean Bryant, his pine boys are the cat's pajamas.  In particular, the work of Sasha Vujacic, Ronny Turiaf and Jordan Farmar has stood out in bright, shiny fashion.  Of course, if you're gonna credit the young Farmar, some props need to be simultaneously tossed in old man Fish's direction.  The effectiveness of the purple and gold bench has been pretty obvious all season, but if any further evidence of their prowess is required, compare the Laker second unit to that of their opponent during tonight's match against the hapless Heat.  Frankly, Miami's first unit ain't world's better.

September inspires Earth Wind and Fire to boogie, Neil Diamond to get sentimental and Kobe Bryant to have his hand fixed. 

And assuming my information is correct, who deserves the lion share of credit?

A) The formidable duo of Nancy Reagan and Arnold Drummond.

B) Jesse Spano.

C) A musically inclined child and his mustachioed father.

D) Whitney Houston.

E) Whoever this chick is.

F) The incredible, edible, yet deceptively treacherous egg.

G) The Showtime Lakers.

I'd totally forgotten about the last item, but thankfully reader Alex forwarded this gem our way.  What's even cooler, he's one of the kids dancing in front of Magic, Kareem, Riles and the Gang.  His memories of the shoot are below the jump.

AK 

PROGRAMMING NOTE:  Join us for today's edition of Purple, Gold, and Blue.  We'll have guests John Ireland (CBS/KCAL) and ESPN The Magazine's Molly Knight.  11 am. Click the show widget on the side of the page to listen, or go to www.NowLive.com.

Nine times?

And similar to her reaction upon learning her son Ferris had missed school nine times, Laker fans are amazed learn that with last night's 96-83 win over the Blazers, their purple and gold have now emerged victorious on nine straight occasions.  But while a nonet of triumphs would hint towards an unbridled roll at hand, in truth, this Laker win was anything but a cruise control cake walk.  For starters, bad start.  The first quarter featured various sluggish elements, whether shooting, defense and overall energy.  Jordan Farmar's insertion late in the frame provided an adrenaline shot in the arm, but despite the upped pulse on display, the Lakers were still prone to mental lapses and weak execution, often the reaction to Portland's physical style of gamesmanship.  But despite these factors, the contest remained tight, a scenario where fans have typically counted on Kobe Bryant to take over.  The Mamba didn't disappoint.  Already having laid the foundation for a terrific second half, Bryant dropped 11 in the fourth quarter and helped his squad pull out of reach.  The confetti may have fallen a mite early, but as the box score shows, it were more "glitch" than "jinx."

A nice way to describe tonight's 96-83 win over the Trailblazers, actually.  About as picturesque as Tara Reid pre-makeup the morning after a drinking binge, with negatives plenty to be found in the mix.  Two points apiece from starters Derek Fisher and Luke Walton, neither of whom brought much to the table.  A seriously sluggish first quarter, featuring little in the way of makes (37% from the field) or energy (a 13-7 rebound deficit and defensive lapses from every Laker starter).  Foul trouble limiting Lamar Odom to just ten minutes and two points in the first half.  And four quarters full of Lakers getting visibly annoyed by the Portland's physical nature and some calls not coming their way (by the end of the third quarter, I was expecting Pau Gasol to shank LaMarcus Aldridge).  Said element often led to a loss of composure, which in turn led to ball movment and anything inside-out eschewed for quick, frustration-fueled, off-target bombs. 

A far cry from how the game would have been played in "Utopia Arena."

But by the time the smoke had cleared and it was all said and done, the Lakers pulled it together, got their fourth quarter mojo working (spotlighted by Kobe Bryant's 11 dagger points) and demonstrated just how good this purple and gold team has become.  Yeah, it wasn't particularly impressive if you're looking through a "we must dominate 24/7!" lens.  But at the same time, it's easy to win when you're steamrolling from the opening tip off and never looking back.  But real teams prove their mettle by facing tests.  Tonight, the Lakers stared adversity in the face and refused to blink.  That's what this Laker team did tonight.  And they did it as a team.  Obviously, Kobe's 30/9/7 reflects a dude putting up some quality stats (more so in the second half, where he racked 22), but despite only Gasol joining him as a double figure starter, The New Jack Bauer didn't make it happen alone.  Jordan Farmar put up a career-tying 21 points off the pine.  Sasha Vujacic and Ronny Turiaf combined for 20.  And even though he didn't score much, Odom hit the glass hard, especially when it counted most (8 boards in the final frame).

In the end, tonight's victory was kinda like taking Robitussin for a cough.  It tastes like crap going down, but once enough time has elapsed for the elixir to kick in, the benefits to having taken a swig become abundantly clear.

AK  (The breakdown and copy is below)

Nine in a row!  Nine in a row!  The fans demand nine in a row! 

BK with the first quarter...

I've said it before, I'll say it again, Baba O'Reilly makes for some killer pregame intro music.  Biggest boo in the pregame intro?  For Steve Javie.  And there you have it. 

FIRST QUARTER:

10:19- Two quick hoops for Aldridge, which shouldn't come as a surprise to too many people, who saw LM beat up on LA a few times last season.  He's a really,really strong young player.  There aren't a lot of guys who can handle LO's length and have some left over, but he's one

9:29- Great feed underneath from Kobe to Gasol, and the Lakers are up 6-4.

If this pregame report is full of typos or misinformation, it's only because I'm typing with one eye on my Commodores, and the other on this screen.  Like bald version of Tony Shalhoub's character in Men in Black.  But maybe it's a good thing, (segue on the way, people) because while Vandy is looking for a big win against an elite, #1 ranked squad, so too is Portland looking to score one for the little guy against the West's top dog (bam, there it is!).   The Lakers are looking to avoid a let down and run their consecutive wins streak to nine.  They'll have to do it without Vlad Rad, who will miss tonight's game, and likely Thursday as well.  Could be more, but nobody's quite sure yet.  His MRI showed nothing more than a strain, which was a relief to Radmanovic, who was worried the injury could have been Achilles related (the tendon, not the hero), since the pull was at the bottom of his calf, just above the ankle.  Luke Walton will get the start tonight, but as you'll hear in the audio, down the road big minutes for the don of Custom Comfort Mattresses could be tough to come by. 

Other items of interest:

• Lakers inactives: Mihm, Bynum, Ariza.  Portland scratches James Jones, Greg Oden, Darius Miles.
• It's corned beef night in the media room.  They've got a whole theme, with sour kraut, rye bread, mustard, potatoes, etc... but then are also serving something called "Greek Nachos."  Essentially, pita bread with fixins.  It's an odd combo, to say the least.
• Brandon Roy won't play tonight for Portland, a note that probably should have come above the previous one. Without Roy, Portland will likely start Jarrett Jack and Steve Blake in the backcourt, with Aldridge, Pryzbilla, and Travis Outlaw.  The Blazers have been slumping bad, losing eight of ten, but could be inspired knowing that perhaps a crack at a playoff berth is out there now that Yao has gone down. 
• PJ talked a little about the Yao injury, and how it could change the face of the W.C. race.  Needless to say, it hurts them.  Things are so tight, any injury to any team could be the difference between finishing in the top eight and going home early. 

AUDIO:

• Phil Jackson: Download phil_jackson_1_2.26.mp3
• Phil Jackson II: Download phil_jackson_2_2.26.mp3

BK (more after the jump)

The Western Conference race may have lost one contender today, as the Rockets are expected to announce Tuesday that Yao Ming will undergo season ending foot surgery to repair a stress fracture.  Needless to say, this is a major blow to Houston, who have won 12 games in a row and made themselves players in the W.C. playoff race. 

More on this to come, I'm sure. 

BK

What with their perch atop the Western Conference standings, their widely acknowledged improvement, and their consistent ability to turn an out of town arena into a home away from home this season.  But it'll be no bed of roses, no pleasure cruise maintaining this level of play, which is why backs are off-limits for patting.  There's a mission at hand, one that lasts another 26 games and begins anew with tonight's game against the Blazers, who'll be missing the services of its Roy/ROY. Planting a purple and gold flag in the ground requires continued production from a newly freed Lamar Odom, a seriously fired up Jordan Farmar (now looking like their lead guard of the future) and even Coby Karl, who may not play a lot, but the fans (and writers) are inspired whenever he succeeds. 

In other words, if you wanna see a Lakers-Celtics finals beyond simple projections or simply results as rosy as the future John Ireland sees, the pedal must remain affixed to steel.  Thankfully, the requisite focus won't be diluted should Phil Jackson get hit with a fine for his criticism of ref Brian Forte (captured here with new-fangled video technology).  Whether sincere or sarcastic about his odds of getting billed, writing a check to the league is pretty old hand for The Zen Master.

The Lakers, fresh from last night's road win in Seattle, took it easy today in El Segundo, getting a later start than normal and keeping the workout relatively light.  "We have a lot of guys who have played a lot of games.  We need to still keep our rhythm, but not suspend ourselves with too much activity," Phil Jackson said.  After all, things are going pretty well.  Eight straight victories, with an opportunity to run it to nine tomorrow against a slumping Portland team on Tuesday.  Big picture, things look good as well.  "Our schedule is favorable, because we've played the majority of our games on the road.  So we have a relatively good home schedule," Jackson noted.  Still, "we have a lot of work to do."  True enough. Now that Lakers fans have regained the taste for winning, expectations have gone up.  People ain't screwin' around no more. 

Kobe didn't speak to the media, and Jackson played coy on the issue of possible fines connected to last night's ejection and his postgame comments, in which PJ implied ref Brian Forte, son of veteran whistlebearer Joe Forte, might be a) the beneficiary of a little nepotism, and b) something of a red-ass.  "Let's say that because the explicitness of your reporting," PJ grinned, "I'll just let it lay where it is right now."  I was left with the distinct impression that Jackson doesn't care an iota if he happens to get dinged by the league.  It's not the first time, it won't be the last... and besides, he's rich. 

Which could explain his urge to take off early.   Maybe catch the tail end of the Oscars, see how his pool picks were holding up (word is he picked upset Best Actress Marion Cottilard, which provides one's ballot a major boost), dish via text with friends over the fashion do's and don't's and who looked good while pregnant. 

Or he was just pissed about the over the back's going unwhistled and figured, "My team's gonna smoke these chumps as it is, so this would be the perfect game to inform an officiating crew what a lousy job they're doing."

Probably one or the other.

In any event, this 111-91 win over the Sonics featured a quick Laker lead that was never relinquished or in jeopardy, with and without Bryant on the court.  And frankly, Kobe didn't need a ton of time on the hardwood to put together a pretty good stat line (21/4/10, 8-13 shooting), work that help create the foundation for a cruise control victory in his absence.  Plus, his teammates weren't exactly slouches with their two cents.  Yet another double-double from Lamar Odom, 22 from Pau Gasol, and a baker's dozen off the bench from Sasha "I'm a Machine at any time of day" Vujacic were just the highlights of a roster greasing a box score from top to bottom.  That action illustrates why your Los Angeles Lakers have leapfrogged past the recently embarassed Suns and currently sit atop the entire Western Conference  (which ain't the only poll they're topping, FYI).  When oats are being felt in such fashion, a team can even overcome refereeing botches that fester at a hereditary level.

Is it premature to start thinking about "34?"         

If the Western Conference was a Monopoly board, the Lakers would live in prime Boardwalk real estate while the Sonics slum it down around Baltic Avenue.  Maybe Oriental, if you want to be generous.  Either way, it's a team in desperate need of a Get Out of Jail Free card.  So when the Lakers took the court Sunday night in Space Needle City, it was with the expectation that they'd beat the snot out of the Sonics. 

They didn't disappoint.   

LA jumped out to a big early lead, outscoring Seattle 34-18 in the first quarter and never looked back, winning their eighth straight, 111-91.  As has been their custom this year, the Lakers had production up and down the roster, with seven players in double figures led by Pau Gasol with 22 points.  Kobe had 21 with 10 dimes in an ejection-shortened evening of work, and L.O. logged yet another double-double with 19/11.  Once again, the Lakers took better care of the ball (11 TOs), and did plenty of passing (28 assists on 45 FGs).   With the victory, the Lakers take the lead in the ever-crowded W.C.  Enjoy this one, Laker fans, because unless AK and I have a hole in our collective pop culture knowledge, a ninth straight win Tuesday night against Portland, sweet as it might be, will not provide as seamless an opportunity to dip into the classic TV vault.

More on the game tomorrow.

BK

It's Oscar night, but if the Lakers drop this one, they'll be getting a Razzie in the morning.  Hopefully, it'll be a "Best Picture" sort of night, with many purple and gold Best Actors.

BK

This season, the Lakers have grown into a Pacific Division and Western Conference juggernaut, and are once again thinking championship while the Clippers have crumbled under an almost comical parade of injuries.  LAL has been red hot, while on Friday LAC won consecutive games for the first time in 3 1/2 months.  In short, when the two local squads met on Saturday night at Staples, absolutely nothing had to give. 

It didn't.

The Lakers weren't razor sharp early, but were in control throughout and used a big third quarter push to put cruise to a relatively easy 113-95 win, good enough to put them in a tie atop the W.C.  It was all about balance for the Lakers, who had six players in double figures, led by Pau Gasol with 23 and Lamar Odom with 20.  With all that support, Kobe, who tweaked a rib early, was able to lay off the gas. 

If anyone was looking for more clues that the Lakers could be a championship caliber team, Saturday night's 113-95 smackdown of the Clippers could be a good one.  Not because they beat LAC- a lot of teams have been doing that this season, including some fairly craptastic ones- but how.  The Lakers didn't play particularly well in the first half, yet still finished it with an eight point lead.  Then, over the first five and a half minutes of the third, used a 21-8 run to blow the game open, at which point they put it in cruise control and the Clippers never threatened.  Why should that be encouraging?  Anyone who has watched the Spurs over the last few years would recognize this sort of win.  Lord knows they've done it to the Lakers enough.  Fans at home think they're sticking with them, get up for a sandwich, and when they come back to the TV a three point deficit is suddenly 12.  One or two of those big pushes a game, and you rack up a lot of wins. 

Even better for the Lakers, they didn't need a high-effort game from Kobe to get it done.  41:33 of PT, but only 11 shots, nine trips to the line, and a fairly minimal offensive burden.  L.O. continued his strong-as play, with 20/10/4 in 41 minutes.  Pau Gasol had 23, Sasha Vujacic chipped in with 17, and the Lakers had big second half showings from Derek Fisher and Luke Walton after a raggedy first half for both. 

Click below for the breakdown. 

No Kaman, probably no Cassell, and a crowd that may have more Lakers fans in it.  But remember, this is technically an away game.

BK

FIRST QUARTER

Lakers get off to a good start, with a Fisher three, but at the 9:48 mark, a couple early fouls has the Clips up by one, 6-5. By the way, they do "Lights On!" here, and I don't like it.  You get used to the nice dark background giving  a good contrast to what's happening on the court. 

9:01- Gasol takes Aaron Williams across the lane and drops in a right handed hook for the and-one.  That's a matchup the Lakers ought to exploit.  Williams is a solid defender, but Gasol is more skilled, and Tim Thomas isn't good enough on that end to stick LO.

8:14- And as I type that, Odom loses Thomas on a screen, and blows by him for a dunk.  I appreciate the timing.  Kobe follows on the next trip with a layup in the paint.  They can live there tonight, with Kaman out of the lineup.

Few players in the locker room.  Even less verbage from Phil Jackson before the game.  The Zen Master's pregame media powwow came and went at a considerably quick pace.  He mumbled something about wanting to catch the 6:30 rerun of Seinfeld on TBS.

Kidding (although if it was the "Little Jerry Seinfeld" episode, that's worth ducking out from the media ASAP). 

Truth be told, there just weren't a lot of queries tossed Phil's way.  Asked what most concerns him about the Clips, Phil simply gave his opponent their due.  "They're talented.  They've got a young kid, (Al) Thornton, that's coming along.  Corey Maggette's playing very well.  Cuttino Mobley's got some pretty good scoring potential.  (Chris) Kaman's having a real good year.  They have the potential to put together a really good year."

Phil was then informed the former Caveman will be out for tonight's game with a sore back.

And we now had one less thing to talk about. 

It's hard to find a clip of great moments in the LAL/LAC rivalry, since it's been so one sided over the years the term "rivalry" really doesn't apply.  That doesn't mean the relationship is totally highlight free.  Any time you can get Magic, Kareem, Swen Nater and World B. Free in one YouTube reel, it qualifies as Must See (Internet) TV.  Plus, it's both the debut of Magic and the three point line, making it a nifty little slice of hoops history.

My understanding is, by the way, that this was the last time the Clippers appeared on national television.

BK

Forget Kobe.  The biggest beneficiary of the Pau Gasol deal has likely been Lamar Odom, who has played killer ball since the lanky Spaniard donned the purple and gold.  Six double-doubles and one trip-doub in eight games, with averages of 14.6/12.8/4.5.  And ironically, now that he's freed from the need to score, he seems to be doing so more efficiently, shooting over 62% from the floor in L.A.'s last eight games.  It's clear L.O. is in a very, very comfortable place right now.  Good health helps for sure, but a change in role/expectations helps even more.  Now, Odom says, he can "just play."  We've written on this site for while that when the Lakers got L.O. to play #2 for Kobe, they were trying to force a square peg into a round hole.  Now they've found a more appropriately sized space, and the results are much better. 

He'll have to keep it going tonight against the red hot Clippers, who in beating Utah Friday night in Staples put together consecutive wins for the first time in over three months.

Brent Barry is expected to be a popular man once he clears waivers, and his suitors could include the Lakers.  Phoenix is interested as well, but for the time being, Barry's agent says all speculation is premature. 

Should J-Kidd have gone to Portland?

I'd love to report that practice featured the funny anecdotes, quirky asides and generally random nonsense BK and I eat up with a spoon while asking for fifths.  Unfortunately, that would be a lie.  Today was pretty "just the facts, ma'am" all around.  Then again, this Laker team is on a six-game winning streak and appears in little danger of slowing down, so if that's an occasional by-product, I guess it's a small price to pay for fewer happenings that tickle my odd sense of humor.  After all, few things tickle me as much as a Laker win.  Besides, as long as DJ Mbenga remains on the team and provides an excuse to link this clip whenever the hell I feel like it, I'm generally amused enough to get through the day while waiting for somebody to do something weird tomorrow.   

Anyhoo...

Phil Jackson was asked about Lamar Odom's outstanding productivity and play (six double-doubles in eight games) since the arrival of Pau Gasol.  After joking that he's simply been playing LO so many minutes that the stats were bound to pile up, The Zen Master acknowledged the way Lamar has stepped it up, particularly against Phoenix.  "He's doing a fine job.  That was a tough load for him with (Amare) Stoudemire."  Kobe also had kind words for #7.  "He's been playing extremely well. Obviously, I think the addition (of Pau) has helped him a lot, but he'd been playing well prior to that.  He's kind been picking it up as of late."  Phil was quick to note that it's not simply Gasol's presence, but defense stretchers Derek Fisher and Vlad Radmanovic opening up opportunities for Odom.  But that being said, he agreed that Gasol providing a decreased need for Lamar to shoot has ironically resulted in Lamar's offense turning more aggressive and comfortable. 

 

The Cap's new audio book "On the Shoulders of Giants: My Audio and Musical Journey Through the Harlem Renaissance" gets a featured spot on ESPN.com's E-Ticket.  There's an insightful clip of the book included.  Cool pics, good history lesson. 

BK

The Lakers, fresh off their hyperkinetic 130-124 win in Phoenix on Wednesday- serious must see TV that apparently everyone saw- had the day off Thursday.  Fair to say they earned the rest.  And for the first time in a while, the news is actually pretty thin, too.  The trade deadline has come and gone, and while LeBron got some help, Thursday brought no more earth shattering news to the W.C., just a smaller-but-potentially effective deal for the Hornets, who are still sifting through the market.  (The Lakers, of course, already did their good work.  A couple times, actually.)  Kobe's pinky is, for the time being at least, less of a question mark.  Andrew Bynum's rehab is progressing (he jogged in a pool on Thursday).  That leaves plenty of time for the Lakers, currently 37-17 and tied for the top spot in the Pacific, to think about hitting a statistical milestone that Phil Jackson finds important:  Winning 40 games before losing 20.  It's what elite teams do (elite in real life, not just Power Rankings).  With a slate of upcoming games against non-playoff teams, if they don't get there things will have seriously come off the rails. 

D-Fish used his off day to talk to Jim Rome about the Phoenix game and the team generally.  Here's the audio. Always worth listening to Fish speak. 

With the deadline here and gone, attention will likely swing back to the MVP race.  Kobe has at least one enthusiastic supporter for that award (unfortunately for him, the author has no vote...).

Brent Barry may not be gone from the Spurs for long.

BK and I have been looking to implement a new, semi-regular item where we salute and spotlight a particular comment or observation that we really dig.  It can be a mind blowing basketball observation or just something that makes us laugh.  And in the case of today's inaugural prize, it was both.  From the previous thread announcing the deadline's biggest deal, the following query was posed.

"Who trades for Von Wafer? How does that even come up in a conversation?"
                                                                                                            -AN I

Admittedly, were I (or BK, for that matter) a GM, I'd lock up the Lakersblog icon with a 12 yr/18-mil deal and revel in a dozen years' worth of unintentional hilarity, but I'd nonetheless be lying if I claimed similar thoughts didn't also pop into my head.

Just an FYI.  This WILL NOT be a daily item.  We won't have time for it every day, nor do we want it to get stale.  So if you happen to leave an insightful or hysterical comment that doesn't get singled out, don't take it personally.  Your day will likely come soon enough.  And if you happen to see a comment that you think merits consideration, feel free to alert us.

AK

Sure, it may have involved 11 players, but none of those scrubs threaten to rock the NBA landscape like Lakersblog icon Von Wafer, packing his bags and booking a flight to Portland as we speak.  I think it goes without saying that if you can't get Greg Oden on the court for a playoff push, Wafer and his 7% clip from behind the arc would be most logical Plan B.   

As BK put it, "He's now tilting northwest."

As you were.

AK

UPDATE:  The W.C. (or at least the good part of it) is indeed quiet, but the East finally is making some noise.  ESPN.com is reporting that Ben Wallace has been sent from Chicago to Cleveland as part of a three way deal that includes the Sonics.  Cleveland also gets Wally Szczerbiak, Joe Smith, and Delonte West, while Drew Gooden, Larry Hughes, Shannon Brown, and Cedric Simmons go to Chicago.  Seattle mostly gets salary relief, which is fine with them. 

Given the flurry of massive deals that have gone down over the last week or two, I'm not going to say the trade deadline has come and gone quietly... but at least today, the trade deadline has come and gone quietly.  Last night's Kurt Thomas-to-San Antonio swap was supplemented with a Bonzi Wells/Mike James for Bobby Jackson trade.  I love the Thomas deal for SA, and think Wells can help in Nawlins, as the Hornets needed a little more depth and offensive versatility.  But overall, any remaining big names- Mike Miller, Ron Artest, Ben Wallace, Zach Randolph, for example- stayed put.  The NBA couldn't produce one more afternoon of earth shifting news.  Oh well. 

There's still time for more to happen, and if anything pops up, we'll pass it along.  But as of 12:35, it's pretty quiet. 

BK

It doesn't happen often, since in today's 24 hour media world, it's almost impossible for a high profile game to outdo the circus that inevitably surrounds it.  But Wednesday night in Phoenix, basketball fans were treated to a sweet tasty enough to have been born at the Wonka factory, one that managed to overcome the glare and play out as advertised. Seriously, if all NBA games were this much fun, we'd all have League Pass and nobody would ever leave the house.  The results, though, were particularly sugary for Lakers fans, as L.A. moved into a tie for the Pacific Division lead (and now own the tiebreaker, having won the season series) with a 130-124 win over the Suns.  The (or at least a great deal of) focus may have been on Shaq's debut on Planet Orange, but the Lakers were aggressive and determined from the start.  Pau Gasol, who displayed  fresh "ink" when it was over, was hot early (Our new guy can beat up your new guy!) and Kobe late, as the two produced 70 points on a night where the box shows big nights from stars on both teams.

L.A. spent most of the night ahead, and pushed back when the Suns tried to snag the lead in the fourth.  It's pretty clear both of these teams are very good. That explains why everyone left the game with a sense of optimism, including Phoenix.    It's just that the Lakers should have more.  Shaq may have added something to the Suns (maybe it was a mixed bag), but the Lakers still have important pieces to add into the mix before it's over that will only make them better.  Plus, they have the best player in basketball, according to O'Neal.

However you look at it, there were a lot of lessons Wednesday night, one of which is that the W.C. playoffs are going to be seriously epic.

If you're curious about what Steve Nash thought about the game while driving home, click here.  Click below if you're interested in the rumors flying around ahead of today's trade deadline.

Peel away the Shaq-related intrigue, and Wednesday's scrap in Phoenix was still a monster game for the Lakers and Suns alike.  The big prize for L.A. was a clinching of the season series, which they were able to pocket with a 130-124 win.  A ludicrously entertaining 130-124 win, I might add.  The Lakers weren't razor sharp on the defensive end and the Suns hurt them in stretches on the offensive glass, but it's worth remembering that the Suns aren't exactly the Grizzlies.  This is a good team, even while they're integrating O'Neal into the lineup.  Huge games for the Lakers "Big Three," as they were frequently called on the telly.  41/5/3 for Kobe, 29 points for Pau Gasol, and 22/11 for L.O.  But they weren't the only productive players in purple and gold.  Sasha Vujacic played some clutch minutes, knocking down jumpers and some big FTs down the stretch.  D-Fish hit a couple big shots. 

One great stat to hold on to?  Despite a very quick pace to the game, the Lakers took excellent care of the ball. Only nine TOs.  Rock solid in that department. 

More to come tomorrow.

BK

There's something strikingly different about Phoenix right now, but I can't quite put my finger on i... wait a second...

Marcus Banks is no longer with the Suns????!!!!! 

Wow, when did that happen?  I'm gonna have to rethink my keys to the game.  In the mean time, is it just me, or has Amare Stoudemire gained weight?

AK

Which works out well, since he just got dealt to the Spurs for Brent Barry and Francisco "Weirdo" Elson.  Thus, all of Bill Simmons' proposed "11th Hour" NBA deals could still come to fruition.  The Sports Guy doesn't throw out any swaps involving your Los Angeles Lakers (which should end up mirroring reality, since I'm pretty convinced they'll stand pat post-Pau), but his trades would shape many of the teams the Purple and Gold will face come playoff time.  At any rate, Simmons is always entertaining and this can help you kill the next 40 or so minutes before the big showdown.

Enjoy.

AK

Thankfully, ESPN stepped up to the... wait for it... roundtable.  Take a look at what an assortment of Four Letter Network affiliated writers (that aren't me or BK) have to say about the impending brouhaha.

AK

Programming Note: Join the fun with Purple, Gold, and Blue at 11 am.  Click the show widget on the side of the page, or go to www.nowlive.com!)

It's official: The Lakers got back at Atlanta for the game L.A. gave away on the road trip... and then some.  The Lakers built up a lead as large as 41 points en route to a 122-93 win Tuesday night that, and this is going to sound kinda strange, given the final score, may not have been that close.  The evening was a success on a lot of levels.  The home crowd, itching for something to root for (and we mean that literally, after a nine game roadie and the All Star break) welcomed a GPS needing Pau Gasol with a standing O.  Gasol welcomed them with 23 points, six boards, two dimes, a block and a steal.  Already out of the game in the fourth because of the lopsided score, Gasol was granted an early exit to try and combat an upper respiratory problem, a stellar debut already in the bag.  No worries, though.  He's still expected to play tonight in Phoenix (6:00 pm, ESPN).  Given the thorough beat down the Lakers produced Tuesday, there was plenty of time to think about the Suns.  Forget Shaq vs. Kobe, it's a game the Lakers would like to have for more important reasons.  Start with a crack at the Pacific Division lead, then add a clinching of the season series between the two teams- a potentially important tiebreaker down the road.  Then there's the ability to take a game away from a competitor in the tightly contested Western Conference.  Beat them, that's a game they can't win.  Then you can get to all the player vs. player, player vs. coach intrigue. 

If they get a box score like they had on Tuesday, Kobe with (a pinkie incident free) 23, L.O. with 17/15, statistical domination in almost every area, and so on, the Lakers will likely love the result.  Whether they can depends some on how well Shaq bolsters the Phoenix interior, the purpose of the big trade. 

It's rare in the NBA to witness a true, wire-to-wire blowout.  The sort of thing where, like in a baseball game that sees one team score 16 runs in the third, you know the thing is over before the halfway mark. Well, that's what the Lakers had tonight, in their 122-93 win over the Hawks at Staples.  The game was almost disturbing in its one sidedness.  LA finished the first half up 73-37, and it would have been more had Josh Childress hit a miracle three to close the half for Atlanta. The Lakers had nine steals, and forced the Hawks into 19 times in the first 24 minutes.  Game, set, match.   

Never has a game gone into "Taco Watch" so early.  Had they sent out the phalanx of LA Times writers in the house- that's me, AK, Mike Bresnahan and Helene Elliott- to play the second half, I still think the home team would have won. 

In a game like this, there isn't much to break down (it was, as the kids like to say, all good), but we'll do it anyway.  Click below for more.

BK

Didn't take that Pau Gasol fella long to become popular.  Dude ain't even played one game in this building and he's already getting a Kobe-esque response from the fans.

AK (with the first quarter)

FIRST QUARTER

As the players mill about on the court for the first time in eons, LL Cool J's "Goin' Back to Cali" blasts over the P.A.  Nice touch.

11:45 - Gasol's first pass as a Laker... TURNOVER!  That's it! Cut his ass!  The ball ends up in Bibby's hands.  Been a long time since those Kings-Lakers days of old, but we're apparently still in the "Mike Bibby Hating Business."  Dude's getting booed every time he touches the ball.  You'd think he was Kwame Brown.

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

Sure, there were games here and there the Lakers would like to have back, but overall they won't do a lot of complaining about their first half performance or where they sit in the Western Conference coming out of the All Star break.  35-17, 1.5 games back of Phoenix in the Pacific, and an equal distance away from the top of the W.C.  A brief downturn after the injury to Andrew Bynum has given way to the intense optimism of the recent 7-2 roadie and the Pau Gasol deal. 

In short, the Lakers are unquestionably big time players in the developing postseason story.  That doesn't mean there aren't some outstanding questions to examine over the final 30 games of the regular season, the answers to which will go a long way towards determining exactly how big of players they'll be.  So without further ado, the issues, big and small, Laker-related and across the W.C.:

No big surprise, but the Jason Kidd-to-Dallas deal is officially official.  Like the Shaq trade, there are definitely some questions as to how this will play out, but the Mavs have without question added some toughness and attitude to their squad for the stretch run and the postseason.  "Testicular fortitude," as I saw it written in one spot.  They'll lose perimeter shooting and quickness defensively with the departure of Devin Harris, and given how big the W.C. has become, the depth on the block provided by DeSagana Diop will be missed.  But I have a feeling that Kidd's game will pick up now that he's escaped Jersey, and that Dallas will get a boost from his presence.  He's better suited to be el jefe than Dirk, that's for sure.

BK

Break time's over. 

The Lakers will kick off the post-All Star portion of their schedule tonight at home (seriously!) against Atlanta, in Mike Bibby's first game as a Hawk.  But while the former King's presence will add some intrigue to the matchup, the Lakers are juggling their own concerns.  First and foremost, a 35-17 record and the injection of Pau Gasol into the lineup has turned what was a frightening summer into a potentially promising spring.  After all, as successful as the team has been, you can argue that the Lakers are still improving and have room to grow.  A home heavy schedule (17 home, 13 road, including two against the Clippers) is an advantage for L.A..  Call it a reward for capping off a nine game road odyssey with a 7-2 mark.  The big question for the Lakers revolves around the littlest finger on Kobe's right hand.  How healthy will that pinkie be for Bryant, who has decided against surgery to repair torn ligaments in the digit?  If it's any comfort, Kobe isn't particularly worried.  That could help the Lakers repeat lofty first half grades and high rent locations in various power rankings, for sure. 

PJ said Monday he thinks it'll take 20-25 wins to finish atop the crowded Western Conference.  Given how every team seems obsessed with self-improvement, who knows, 25 might not be enough.  It looks like the Jason Kidd-to-Dallas deal is finally a go (congrats to Keith Van Horn for out McKie-ing Aaron McKie!).  Meanwhile, in Denver the Ron Artest rumors are in full swing, apparently hinging on whether Denver is willing to give up Linus Kleiza.  Another option for the Nuggets could be Delonte West.

AK and I are spending the holiday debating the merits of every president.  He's a Polk devotee.  In the meantime, here's an interesting subject to talk about, courtesy of our friend Kurt over at Forum Blue and Gold.

BK

Talk amongst yourselves.  We're still on break (and hope the news cycle lets us stay that way...).

BK

Mark Heisler of the Times is reporting that Kobe will play in Sunday's All Star Game, despite some pretty solid medical evidence that says he should be allowed to skip it: 

"Denying a Lakers request, NBA officials insisted Friday that Kobe Bryant remain in the starting lineup for Sunday's All-Star game, which Bryant said he would do." 

He likely won't stay there long, though, as Hornets/W.C. coach Byron Scott said he wouldn't risk injury to Bryant by playing him very much.  Could be the league is worried about "Pro Bowl Fever."  Once this weekend's festivities are over, he still plans on trying to play through his pinky problem, believing the W.C. is too competitive for him to sit for six weeks.  The Lakers are holding their breath that 24 will be okay... and so is USA Basketball, who want a healthy Bryant for this summer's Olympic tourney.  So we're all left to debate the surgery/no surgery option, as AK did yesterday.

As every Laker fan that hasn't been living under a rock is fully aware (and for the benefit of those stone dwellers, Chucky Atkins no longer starts at the point), Kobe Bryant is dealing with a torn ligament along his right pinkie.  The doctor involved recommended surgery, which would shelve Kobe around six weeks (about March 30th to the calender enthusiast crowd).  For now, Kobe has opted to hold off on any knives and play through the pain.  The front office, while supporting its star,