A hard road
The Lakers kick off what is set up to be a brutal four game roadie that could help determine their playoff future tonight against the Hornets in New Orleans (5:00 pm, KCAL). The last time LA visited the Big Easy, the game was just that, as the Lakers walked away with a 29 point win. That team, though, had a healthy Andrew Bynum, a healthy Trevor Ariza, and no Pau Gasol, so it might be tough to make comparisons, and New Orleans is coming off a 25 point home win over the Spurs Wednesday night. Fair to say they're confident and looking for some revenge. They'll look to be more aggressive, and try to take the game to the Lakers. And like most teams the Lakers face, they'll likely look to exploit the Lakers with the pick and roll, something the Hornets do very well, led by Chris Paul (perhaps you remember him slicing and dicing his way to 21 assists when the teams met in L.A. earlier in the season, many coming off the P'n'R).
With all the MVP talk around Kobe and chatter regarding Gasol, it's easy to overlook the contributions Derek Fisher has made to the team this year. Don't, writes Jack McCallum. He's part of what has become a big ol' happy family.
In Houston, Shane Battier isn't crowing over the Rockets and their 20 game win streak, which they'll look to push to 21 tonight against the Bobcats. I'm sure the ABC folk hope it happens (by the way, Sunday's game is now a 12:30 start PST, if you didn't already hear the news). And with all the Kobe/LeBron MVP talk, someone has to make a case for T-Mac, right?
Rick Fox chats up his new film.
John Hollinger looks at who will own the records when the current crop of superstars finally retires (crystal ball time, people!)
Can't help but be hyped for today's game. Nothing like cheerleaders and the sound of a marching band to get you into game day....Music is screaming across the food court below. USC, UCLA & Stanford are holding a pep-rally just under my office building. I miss those school daze. (did I say cheerleaders?)
Oh, yea, the Lakers will come out tonight and smash the Hornets to be ready for Houston on Sunday.
Posted by: LakerFaze | March 14, 2008 at 01:31 PM
Mamba24
one clap for U
i feel honored to be the first time on a bandwagon.
enjoy plasma
Posted by: ZIn Master | March 14, 2008 at 01:33 PM
fight on USC, hope ucla gets crushed. LAKERS FTW
Posted by: Ambessa | March 14, 2008 at 01:34 PM
HoustonLaker - they say everything's bigger in Texas. If that's true, then watch your back man! The trolls must be huge!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: justanothermambafan | March 14, 2008 at 01:35 PM
Again, let it be known, I'm willing to take Troll's -68 bet, and he's refusing.
Can I entice you if I up the amount to $20k? You seemed to imply that 10 wasn't worth your time... how about 30k? Anything more than that, and I dont' think I can get it into escrow before tip-off...
Time is ticking Troll... put your money where your mouth is!
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | March 14, 2008 at 01:37 PM
Fire32 and Blingbling,
What are the recent feelings from Fans from the other blogs and your opinion about Shaq joining your team?
Posted by: Charles | March 14, 2008 at 01:37 PM
The next four games will define our teams mentality. Are we battle ready, against top tier teams?
Can we handle 4 tough and hostel environments?
Will we rise to the challenge?
stay tuned Laker fans, this is the turning point. The team has a chance to send a huge message or give other teams hope. I gotta go w/ the 4-0, no other way to do it.
GO LAKERS
Posted by: LakerFaze | March 14, 2008 at 01:41 PM
Happy Game Day! Props to Mamba24, Charles, Jon K., Faith, and the rest of the Lakeshow family. Damn, I love the anticipation... I don't get any work done, but that's alright. These are the Los Angeles Lakers we're talking about!
New Orleans will be a good litmus test for the boys tonight. I expect Kobe & Co. to come out aggressive right from the tip. Lamar: 18 boards. Fish: 22 points. Ronny will give that spark off the bench. Maybe even a Coby Karl sighting...? Make Paul a primary scorer, play lock-down D, and dunk on Chandler at every opportunity.
Lakers by 7.
Go Lakeshow!
Posted by: The Outlaw | March 14, 2008 at 01:49 PM
I'm going to continue to take it one game at a time, but I'm looking for wins.
Like the Machine says, we're looking to win everygame.
Posted by: Faith | March 14, 2008 at 01:50 PM
Benjamin
I saw no mention of Smush Parker in that article.
Posted by: The D | March 14, 2008 at 01:50 PM
Is it just me or is anyone else buying into the Houston hype? 20 is great, but I'm not convinced at all.
Easy schedule and playing teams who weren't taking them seriously. Every game against the Lakers is a HUGE game for any team... wait til teams start taking Houston seriously... they'll lose like 6 in a row.
Houston's the most beatable, then Hornets.
4-0 or bust.
Okay... I'll take 3-1.
Posted by: JohnnyB | March 14, 2008 at 01:54 PM
Zin Master,
good to hear about Bowen's suspension, way overdue.
and I thought this was pretty funny...
Suns Run The Triangle Offense?
March 14, 2008 - 12:20 pm
Arizona Republic -
Don Nelson claims the Suns run a version of the triangle offense.
"They run the triangle offense now a little bit," said Nelson. "They get into it a little bit different than the Lakers do. They get in through the flex cuts but it's still the triangle. They're going to O'Neal as a passer. It looked good the last game. I'm sure they'll do more of it."
Posted by: Lakers Legacy | March 14, 2008 at 02:01 PM
Laker Lover,
"What I find funny is what other superstar player do you wonder what type of "game" he will play? Will he pass the ball and try to get his teammates involved or be aggressive scoring. Every other superstar I can think of just plays their game."
I don't know who you've been watching the past 12 years but everyone else knows what Kobe's going to bring on a night to night basis. What was Kobe doing from 1999-2004? What was he doing the first half of last season before we were devastated by injuries? What's he been doing this season? Playing great all-around basketball.
Posted by: Xodus | March 14, 2008 at 11:42 AM
--------------------------
I can easily turn around Laker Lover's statement by saying what other superstar can mold his game so well according to the team's needs? What other player can turn on his scoring input if that's what the team needs because rest are struggling with their shot? What other player can be the facilitator and guide his team so well if the rest are on their games and Kobe just fits in? What other player can be the defender and taken on the best player on the opponent team like he did in the Olympics and not focus on offense since that wasn't needed?
What other player has this COMPLETE package?
Posted by: Lakerfan | March 14, 2008 at 02:04 PM
VERY TIGHT XODUS GOOD POST. I NEEDED ME SOME ANDREW TODAY. GO LAKERS
Posted by: ANTHONY JOHNSON | March 14, 2008 at 02:07 PM
Tim-4-Show
How ignorant, with every post you keep proving my point
GET IN MY BELLY
STRONGER AND STRONGER
KEEP FEEDING THE TROLLS
Posted by: Troll Man | March 14, 2008 at 02:11 PM
Laker Lover,
The fact that Kobe's game is unpredictable isn't a bad thing, it's a very positive thing. Being predictable makes him easy to play. And the fact that he can play the game as either or a scorer or as a distributor is a strength that demonstrates his flexibility.
It's just like in poker. When you can make proper adjustments to your opponents instead of playing one way and trying to force them to adjust to you, you become a better, more successful player
Kobe is this player. It's what makes him (and a guy like Lebron James or Tracy McGrady) so incredibly dangerous on the basketball court.
Posted by: Benjamin | March 14, 2008 at 02:12 PM
Oh-oh, there is a duel here bet/ troll man and Tim-4-show. Print the $ 10,000 on the monitor Troll Man and the high noon will start on the Lakers Blog. If you are a real fighting cock, don't chicken out on this challenge. If you don't take it next time u post please be considerate and respectful to laker fans or else u lose your credibility.
Go Lakers FIGHT.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | March 14, 2008 at 02:14 PM
I have nightmares about Chris Paul.
Posted by: LAKER TRUTH | March 14, 2008 at 02:19 PM
The small version of my earlier link:
http://tinyurl.com/28pfbz
Posted by: Benjamin | March 14, 2008 at 02:20 PM
For Smush to be the most infamous NBA player, he still needs to leave like 3-4 more teams on bad terms.
He probably needs a substance abuse problem.
He probably needs to physically attack a coach or fellow player.
He probably needs a more serious crime than attacking a valet (though I do find that one pretty terrible).
And then he needs at least one other new thing just to spice things up.
He's got Isiah Riders, Chris Andersens, Dennis Rodman, Latrell Spreewells, Steve Francises, Tim Thomases, and others against whom he must compete.
Otherwise, he's not getting any records.
Maybe he's got the worst starting point guard for the Lakers and worst starting point guard in the NBA with the best Sportscenter highlights and most athleticism?
Posted by: Benjamin | March 14, 2008 at 02:25 PM
The Game! (as it appears in a movie):
GOZER
SUBCREATURES! GOZER THE GOZERIAN, GOZER
THE DESTRUCTOR, VOLGUUS ZILDROHAR, THE
TRAVELLER HAS COME. CHOOSE AND PERISH.
VENKMAN
(shouting to be heard)
Is he talking to us?
WINSTON
What's he talking about? Choose what?
STANTZ
(to the heavens)
What do you mean "choose?" We don't
understand.
GOZER
CHOOSE!!
SPENGLER
I think he's saying that since we're about
to be sacrificed anyway, we get to choose
the form we want him to take.
STANTZ
You mean if I stand here and concentrate on
the image of Roberto Clemente, Gozer will
appear as Roberto Clemente and wipe us out?
SPENGLER
That appears to be the case.
VENKMAN
(quickly)
Don't think of anything yet. Clear your
minds. We only get one crack at this.
GOZER
The choice is made. The Traveller has come.
VENKMAN
(in a panic)
We didn't choose anything!
(to the others)
I didn't think of an image, did you?
SPENGLER
No.
They look at Winston.
WINSTON
My mind's a total void!
They all look at Stantz.
STANTZ
(guilty)
I couldn't help it! It just popped in
there!
VENKMAN
(desperately)
What? What popped in there?
STANTZ
(pointing)
Look!
They all turn and look to the south.
GHOSTBUSTERS POV
Looking south past Columbus Circle, they see part of something big and
white moving between the buildings accompanied by thunderous footsteps of
almost seismic proportions.
VENKMAN
He doesn't know what it is yet, but he knows it's coming.
VENKMAN
(desperately)
What is it? Ray, what did you think of?
BROADWAY AND 55TH
The massive white shape passes behind some buildings, offering a glimpse
of what appears to be a fat, white arm.
STANTZ
He's about to go into shock.
STANTZ
(babbling)
It can't be! It can't be!
COLUMBUS CIRCLE
The thundering footsteps continue to plod as the thing starts to emerge
from behind the buildings. Now we can see part of a blue garment covering
its enormous chest.
STANTZ
He recognizes the monster.
STANTZ
It's ... It's ... It's the STAY-PUFT
MARSHMALLOW MAN.
STANTZ (V.O.)
(desperately apologizing)
I tried to think of the most harmless thing
... something that could never destroy us
... something I loved from my childhood.
They watch the Marshmallow Man plodding toward them.
VENKMAN
AND YOU CAME UP WITH THAT?
STANTZ
The Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man! He was on
all the packages we used to buy when I was
a kid. We used to roast Stay-Puft
marshmallows at Camp Waconda!
VENKMAN
Great! The marshmallows are about to get
their revenge.
Posted by: Benjamin | March 14, 2008 at 02:38 PM
I wouldn't mind if you guys changed the name of the Lakers Blog to Real Time Lakers.
I enjoy reading the Real Time Lakers reports.
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | March 14, 2008 at 02:38 PM
Jon's Simple Direct Thoughts of the Day:
1. I deeply appreciate the well-wishes from the blog. Mamba24's bandwagon was literally the brightest spot on an otherwise historically crappy birthday.
2. Delilah's doing better, but she's all hopped up on morphine and seeing her stumble around in pain is really stressing me out.
3. I have a first hand highly salacious story regarding LeBron James. More on that later.
4. If Kobe loses the MVP to LeBron "I Care More About The Bling Than Genocide In Darfur" then I will PERSONALLY march on Cleveland and burn that city to the ground.
5. The above is not a threat, it's a promise.
6. Though it may be silly or childishly sentimental, I do feel a real sense of emotional connection with this cyber-community of dysfunctionally fanatical Lakers fans. I don't know you guys, but sometimes it feels like I do.
7. If anyone says Lakers fans suck, they should simply come to this blog and be proven wrong.
8. I think it should be made official. There's the L.A. Times Lakers blog, and then there are pretenders to the throne. This is Laker Nation.
9. I'm more concerned about this game than any other game in the trip. The Hornets are insidious.
10. I may be going to the Dominican Republic for business. It will be good to get out of Cleveland, but it would be better to be returning home to the City of Angels.
11. I worry that Bynum isn't looking into alternative therapies like Dit Da Jow and accupuncture because he's basically a kid from New Jersey. I mean, how worldly can his perspective be?
12. Trevor Ariza should know better. He's an ex-Bruin and UCLA is the most diverse campus in the world. SOMEHOW he must have become aware of alternative complimentary therapies.
13. GO BRUINS!
14. I sure hope the Lakers win tonight.
15. I've been thinking about Kung-Pau's Bio-Chrono reading a lot today. I don't know why I've been procrastinating on his official write-up.
16. Don't get me wrong. It's a good reading. So is Trevor Ariza's.
17. Collectively speaking, the Bio-Chrono reading of the present make-up of the Lakers has a lot of spiritual and creative energy in it, which is good for creating a "team" mentality.
18. Kwame Brown did not make good use of his Bio-Chrono reading. He was hampered by the fact that he is not an instinctually competitive person.
19. Why is Smush Parker a Clipper? Have the Clippers management been binging on crazy juice recently?
20. Hillary Clinton reminds me of Reese Witherspoon's character in "Election"... if Reese Witherspoon's character was old, haggard, and possessed by an elder demon.
21. NO MVP? NO PEACE!!!
22. I think it's cool that Kareem endorsed Obama. Kareem is a bit of a Rennaissance man. I like that.
23. The Lakers should sign Sun Yue just to get access to some quality Dit Da Jow.
24. Chris Paul is scary. I hope Farmar can keep up with him.
25. I'm looking forward to more minutes for Coby Karl. Seriously, with time he has had, he's consistently played well.
26. As always, until Mihm, Ariza, and Bynum get back, the key to Lakers dominance is Rad Vlad and Luke Walton. Not because they're dominanting players, but because they're our weak points when they play like crap.
27. I've found a Bio-Chrono reason for why Pau Gasol should learn the sky hook: He physically plays better when he's learning new things/having new experiences.
28. I miss surfing.
29. People actually try to surf Lake Eire. More power to them, but... you know....
30. You guys are going to love the LeBron story. I hope the K Brothers let me post it. I'll try to watch my language. Hopefully the K Brother will be able to handle the truth.
31. If I was Rick Fox, I would not have divorced Vanessa Williams. That is one beautiful woman with talent.
32. I'd rather watch Kareem act than Rick Fox. Totally.
33. Kareem should have won an Oscar for his role in "Airplane." Or at least a Golden Globe.
34. Magic Johnson was depicted in a recent South Park episode. Why? Because South Park is rad.
35. By my estimates, this present Lakers team is the sixth best incarnation of the Lakers (going back to the Minnesota era). However, with a little time, and a little Bynum... we might be looking at the second best incarnation. I sure hope so.
36. Hasn't T.J. Simers been torn apart by a pack of rabid baboons yet? I'm waiting!
37. Jerry Buss is the coolest owner in basketball.
38. Mark Cuban is The Anti-Buss. I'd like to personally challenge that tool to a match in the octogon. MMA rules.
39. I'm looking forward to ending the Rockets historic win streak, and I firmly confident that we shall.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | March 14, 2008 at 02:55 PM
Benjamin,
Regarding Smush, there's always time,
By the way, we haven't heard the full story regarding Smush's "altercation" with the parking attendant.
I strongly doubt that the Heat would have reacted as they did if Smush was right and had only yelled at the attendant.
I suspect that the story is a lot more repulsive.
I'd sure like to find out what actually happened.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | March 14, 2008 at 02:58 PM
so its Geeko to the rescue,
Your prose has been reduced name calling? How pathetic and unworthy of a blogger who goes out of his way to write such beautiful vignettes. Must be writer's block huh?
FEED THE TROLLS
SO STRONG NOW
after tonights game I shall be all-powerful
Posted by: Troll Man | March 14, 2008 at 03:12 PM
Good Afternoon everyone!
Hi to: Charles, Jon K, Mamba24, and the rest of the family!
Tonight's the night where we need to come out strong - each game becomes harder than the next, and everyone knows it. I'm ok with CP3 going off for 35 if he only has around 3 or 4 assists. Remember Luke - stay in Peja's pocket (a la Rick Fox Style - we all know which person throws up air-balls when someone's in his grill).
Jon K. - I really do hope your dog gets better!
Mamba24 - I am humbled that I you have put me on another bandwagon. Thank you so much!
Time to get back to some more readings on Modality. If any of you are curious to what I'm doing out here in texas, here's a link and a brief intro:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0631224262/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link
I'm looking forward to a hard fought victory tonight! Let's go Lake Show!
Posted by: Caliphilosopher | March 14, 2008 at 03:17 PM
Fire 32.....sorry trolls in general
Posted by: Thirty2 | March 14, 2008 at 03:55 PM
Lakerfan - What other player has this COMPLETE package?
Tim Duncan- at his position. Obviously Duncan cant cover the small guys and Kobe the big guys but otherwise its a fair comparison I would think.
Posted by: Laker Lover | March 14, 2008 at 04:17 PM
man, there are some strange dynamics on this here blog thingy.
Posted by: phred | March 14, 2008 at 04:38 PM
Jon K
Good to hear from you. Stay positive.
Faith
I'm going to continue to take it one game at a time, but I'm looking for wins.
Like the Machine says, we're looking to win everygame.
Posted by: Faith | March 14, 2008 at 01:50 PM
Way to keep perpective, 4 wins at 1 game at a time.
Tim-4-Show
Love your tenacity in calling out Troll.
Xodus
You said thanks for posting Bynum youtube clip!
I say way thanks again I was missing my Bynum fix.
JLF
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | March 14, 2008 at 05:11 PM
OOPs
Mamba24
Forgot Thanks for roll call
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | March 14, 2008 at 05:21 PM