Lakers Blog

looks like everone is excited . Man what a shooting clinic the Lakers gave tonight. Considering that Jerry West earlier in the year said the Lakers were the most talented team in the league , what are they now?

Posted by: jon | February 01, 2008 at 06:15 PM

Dang, I love this addition by subtraction thing.

Lose Kwame, no Gasul yet, Lakers WIN!

Posted by: p ang | February 01, 2008 at 06:16 PM

we're giving Bargnani a lotta material to use for his new youtube clips.
Posted by: Xodus

Hahahaa!

Posted by: Tsiry | February 01, 2008 at 06:16 PM

pfunk,

Unfortunately Phil has nearly as unnatural a love for Luke as Mike T has with Kwame.

Posted by: Xodus | February 01, 2008 at 06:18 PM

Nice to see Kobe happy. You're the best buddy!

Posted by: Tsiry | February 01, 2008 at 06:18 PM

i think we had a league high in field goals made tonight for the season.

50!!!

Posted by: mike | February 01, 2008 at 06:19 PM

On AM 570... at end of interview...

Sasha "Love you guys."

CLASSIC.

Posted by: p0s1t1v3 | February 01, 2008 at 06:19 PM

or maybe pau is going

SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!! Gracias a Dios

Posted by: andand | February 01, 2008 at 06:22 PM

Ok, so let me get this straight.

Second night of a back to back. Check.

Having just lost a heartbreak to the top team in the East (ok, maybe second). Check.

Down to 8 guys who can play. Fine, 9. Check.

And they beat the team who just beat Boston, destroyed Milwaukee, and split with the Wiz. At their house. By twenty? Check.

Without Bynum? Check.

Without Ariza? Check.

Without Marc Gasol's brother? Go ahead, fill in the blank.

Be very afraid, Western Conference.

Be very afraid.

Lakers.

Btw, anyone else notice how well the ball moved tonight without Kwame?

I'm just saying.

Posted by: akr_68 | February 01, 2008 at 06:23 PM

Kobe congratulated the FO and admired their "commitment" to the fuiture of the team. The drama is officially over... and were moving towards another parade.

I want to give special props to two of our greatest "believers": Faith, concerning Sasha, who is now an integral part of a winning machine, and LakerTom who saw the value of Farmar before anyone else. Paradoxically, Farmar is still our PG off the bench, but what a bench that gives us (with Ronny, Trevor and Sasha). Next year it should switch to Farmar to start and Fish coming in to help.

Posted by: Tsphere | February 01, 2008 at 06:24 PM

Jon,

Let's take Ballhog away from Kobe, will u?

Posted by: trio | February 01, 2008 at 06:24 PM

Man today is one of the greatest days in a long time for me..

today we get to stop watching kwame fumbles
today we get to watch the Lakers own the Raptors (in which I had a monetary wager with my co-worker from Canada)
today we get news that we will have another all star on our team
today is my 1 year anniversary w/ my gf

except for the last part this is a great day.. just kidding.. but seriously im a happy man today..

I love you guys Laker Nation!!!!!!!

GO LAKERS!!!!

Posted by: David Whang | February 01, 2008 at 06:24 PM

jon,

championship bound.

Posted by: Faith | February 01, 2008 at 06:25 PM

Who wants Chris Webber now?

Posted by: rdlee | February 01, 2008 at 06:26 PM

very impressive win, Sasha is a keeper, I am surprised we didn't even have to give him up to get GASOL. If we don't win a title with this team we never will. The pressure is on to deliver.

Posted by: jon | February 01, 2008 at 06:27 PM

James Worthy said Kobe pushed the front office into this and that's hard to argue with. His method was wrong, period, but his challenge lit a fire under Andrew and pushed Mitch into doing SOMETHING.

Take that Kevin McHale.

Posted by: Vman | February 01, 2008 at 06:29 PM

Please can someone confirm this!!!

On my last count, Kobe dunked the ball 7 times tonight.

I like DJ he just does a job, block shots, catch the ball, get rebounds and get a few baskets.

Gunner"Sucker Fish", Pau says big 'FU', I am joining Kobe and not joining the Golden State, Suns,Miami,Dallas,Spurs etc!!!

Please can you comment on Kobe's performance tonight!!! LOL

Angry_Laker

Posted by: Angry_Laker | February 01, 2008 at 06:33 PM

Man, what a day.

First the spetacular trade.
Now a game to remember.

Lakers just got back-to-back shut up moves on Mike T and Gunner.

And tomorrow is carnival here in Brazil.

Wow. I cannot express how happy I am.

Posted by: | February 01, 2008 at 06:33 PM

Man, what a day.

First the spetacular trade.
Now a game to remember.

Lakers just got back-to-back shut up moves on Mike T and Gunner.

And tomorrow is carnival here in Brazil.

Wow. I cannot express how happy I am.

Posted by: Allan | February 01, 2008 at 06:33 PM

"pfunk,

Unfortunately Phil has nearly as unnatural a love for Luke as Mike T has with Kwame.

Posted by: Xodus | February 01, 2008 at 06:18 PM"

Only one solution ...

Must trade Luke now.

Although what would the Staples crowd shout?

And I like Luke.

Btw, if Lamar brings the ball up and Radmanovic plays the 3, Kobe would be the shortest guy on the floor.

The opposition should NEVER get another offensive rebound.

At least not against the starters.

Lakers

Posted by: akr_68 | February 01, 2008 at 06:34 PM

Kobe actually gave credit to Kupchak and Buss for making the move in an interview prior to the game and spoke highly of Gasol's talent. Even though people got all over Kobe for his summer rant, this is all Kobe wanted and asked for was some help to win. How is that being selfish when all he wanted is for the Laker organization to make moves that will make the Lakers contenders again? The logic is simple, when you put together a solid team it benefits the organization and the fans who support it, plain and simple. Now the onus is on Kobe and the rest of the Lakers to take advantage of the moves and this opportunity to perhaps win a couple of titles. Other than Gasol getting acclimated to the system and his new mates acclimated to him, we have no excuses if we fail down the stretch and the postseason. Go Lakers!!!

Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | February 01, 2008 at 06:35 PM

Gunner just called in to say that he couldn't be here today because Kobe betrayed him by playing 44 minutes with 1 turnover. He did say, however, that the Lakers might have won the game if Kobe hadn't selfishly shot the ball 28 times.

Oh, wait a minute. They actually did win, in spite of his selfishness. Something must have gone wrong!

Posted by: Tsphere | February 01, 2008 at 06:36 PM

it's just crazy how much better the team is without Kwame, I mean i would be happy if the Lakers just cut him but to get Paul Gasol? somebody slap me so that i know i am not sleeping even though it is 5 in the moring here is Moscow

Posted by: shneurson | February 01, 2008 at 06:36 PM

KOBE shot 28 times what a BALL HOG
he only got 5 assists , PSHH WEAK
shot 50% from 3 and only made 4 free throws AHHHHAHAHAHA im tellin you guys your boy is slippin, oh and to top it all off he turns it over ONE TIME

now that we have Gasol, the only piece we need now KING JAMES, cmon phil make it happen, and drop KOBIATCH

Posted by: GOOBER | February 01, 2008 at 06:37 PM

trio , kobe has played great like i wrote yesterday after the loss. Very efficient and team oriented though he scored alot of pts. For the time being I won't use that word. Hopefully I won't use it again this year. Because he has no reason to hog the ball anymore. We are the most talented team the league has seen in a long time, and I mean a long time.

Posted by: jon | February 01, 2008 at 06:37 PM

KOBE TO KG, C-WEBB, R-ALLEN...F-----U.......

WELCOME TO THE NEW LAKERS.........

Posted by: | February 01, 2008 at 06:40 PM

GOOBER,,,I_DIOT

Posted by: | February 01, 2008 at 06:42 PM

David Whang,

I love you too man. You almost made me cry. I love my laker nation. I love the lakers. I love AK and BK. I love Faith especially. I love the lakers organization. I love the new crew lakers. I love my life. I love my girlfriend (Faith don't tell her anything). In all I just love the world and the inhabitants.

And today I got me a new car too. What a day!!!! I was having a bad day at work, I got home and the first news I got was the Gasol to laker news. I jumped and I screamed. I've said Pau was the guy I always wanted, and we got Pau. That news changed my entire day. And then the Lakes just beat down the raptors, and Kobe played to beautifully. This is one of the best half a day in my life. I can't remember having a day like this in a long time.

I LOVE LIFE!!!! I LOVE THE STRUGGLE BECAUSE WHEN THE CLOUDS CLEAR THE REWARD IS SO REWARDING

LA LAKER FOR LIFE.

Posted by: wow | February 01, 2008 at 06:42 PM

GOOBER, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO PLAY THE GAME.. I BELIEVE...

Posted by: | February 01, 2008 at 06:44 PM

We now know for sure Kwame will not be missed.That was Kobe's best game this year.No player is better to watch than Kobe when he's at his best.Sasha continues look like maybe the best shooter on any teams bench.I love watching that guy shoot.I can not wait to see what this team can do at full strength.

Posted by: jf | February 01, 2008 at 06:44 PM

Yea Faith,
I'm fair about my Lakers.

I only respect the true ballers!

Sasha has proven he can play in the league to me this year. He absolutely succcked previously but now I feel like he has calmed down and shown that he has a niche for himself here...

Good ish Sasha...

Posted by: Korey | February 01, 2008 at 06:45 PM

Ole! Ole! Ole! Ole!

Ole!

Posted by: Faith | February 01, 2008 at 06:45 PM

Vman,
How can you say Kobe's method was wrong? It wasn't nice, and it made the fans suffer for a while, but it got the job done and just about everybody agreed the FO was stuck in its routine.

Kobe alone had the power to do it. I think he ought to get the MVP for three reasons:

1 Every serious commentator says he's the best player in the league.
2. The Lakers have suddenly become an elite team and maybe soon a super-elite team.
3. Kobe isn't just a force on the court; he has the power to force the FO to make daring trades.
4. In spite of the dead weight Kwame represented and the permanent handicap that provoked a number of losses, Kobe defended the dude and loved the dude.
5. Kobe magnanimously expresses his public admiration for the FO that was formerly his enemy. Jordan never did that with the Chicago Jerrys.

Posted by: Tsphere | February 01, 2008 at 06:46 PM

Kobe post game: "I think it's a great trade. (It) says a lot about the (Laker's) organization and the direction they want to go in and their commitment to winning." Exactly what he was asking for during the summer. Of course, he can opt out and, knowing Kobe, will do so if he feels like it. But, as far as all this stuff lingering from the summer, I think that is the end of that...(for now)...

As relates to some of the objections to this trade:

"Thin at the point" - this is the Triangle with Phil Jackson. Converted two's or even three's near the end of their carriers at the point in the triangle. And, as you may have notices, there's never a lack of them trying to bandwagon jump to stacked line-ups (and cheap too) in the NBA. With Farmar solid, there is no problem at all there.

And Pau detracting from Bynum's development is not really valid either. Pau has a totally different game. In practice, they can only push each other to be better, and in game - can you immagine? Pau in the high post. Can shoot the mid range, if they crowd, he puts it on the floor and drives to the basket, help defense? He drops it off to Bynum for the dunk. Bynum will only get easier looks.

Will the offense be run less through Bynum? Perhaps as he comes back from injury, but he was only averaging around 28 min. before he got hurt, so theres plenty of touches to go around (the versatility of this line-up is off the hook). Bynum can be just as explosive with much less drop off offensively for the team if he gets tired. Plus, if Bynum continues to improve the way we know he can (and I suspect he will) he'll earn his touches just fine. No one's going to be dumb enough not to throw him the ball when he deserves it.

Pau's got the range to easily play the 4 in the triangle. He's very good in team oriented play (as with the Spanish national team). You can knock his defensive physicality, you can say he gets pushed around by bigger guys. You can say he's not a franchise guy who can't take over a game in the fourth quarter. But the only thing he's going to hurt about Bynum are his rebounding stats. Plus, if they crowd the paint in the scenario above, you just toss it out to a spot up shooter, like, say, KOBE BRYANT. Insane.

I did find a personal down side to this: I tried to imagine what Mitch Kupchak would look like walking around all day with a huge, s___ eating grin on his face. Now I'm not sure I'll sleep at all tonight.

Go Lakers!

Posted by: Cameron | February 01, 2008 at 06:46 PM

STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT.....

Posted by: | February 01, 2008 at 06:47 PM

A good win. A good day.

GO LAKERS!

Posted by: Jon K. | February 01, 2008 at 07:07 PM

Wow there were times last season when our line up was:
Brown
Cook
Odom
Bryant
Parker

Now (when healthy) we can have:
Bynum
Gasol
Odom or Ariza
Bryant
Fisher or Farmar

That is a major upgrade. If this doesn't please Kobe. Nothing will. The second half of the season gonna be real exciting

Posted by: EKO | February 01, 2008 at 07:19 PM

Here's Stephen A's take on the Gasol trade. It's hilarious LOL

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3226357&categoryId=2459788

Posted by: Xodus | February 01, 2008 at 07:31 PM

Great game... great win tonight!

Kobe was definitely re-energized by the trade news & it looks like all of his teammates were feeding off of that energy.

I have no problems with Kobe shooting a lot as long as he's efficient and tries to get his mates involved. Tonight, he was very efficient & still team-oriented. Besides, Toronto had no D, so it was even easier for him to score tonight. He IS the best player in the NBA, so it's a beautiful thing to see him in action. Just sit back & enjoy the showcase.

I've always liked Sasha & thought he was a good player. I heard that he scored like 60 points in a game while playing with the Slovenian National team (can someone confirm that for me?), so he's got game. He just needed to get his confidence that he can play in the NBA. He was playing really well before he got hurt, so it's good to see him getting his stroke back.

The only negative that I saw in this game was the Lakers' defense let Toronto score 101 points. A championship team is able to clamp down & put a stranglehold on the opposition. That's why the Suns will never win the championship! LOL! That's what the Lakers need to improve on.

I can't wait to see Pau Gasol in Purple & Gold.

GO LAKERS!!!

Posted by: Stephen Ward | February 01, 2008 at 07:32 PM

I'm reminded of Ice Cube and Jeff van Gundy when I say,

"Damn, today was a good day"

Posted by: The D | February 01, 2008 at 07:42 PM

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