Another game, another team looking for a record
Seems like everywhere the Lakers go these days, there up against some team looking to set a record. Tonight, it's the Jazz in Utah (7:30, TNT), who will take the floor looking for a franchise best 20th straight home win. Pair the streak with a 29-3 home record, and it's fair to say they've build up some confidence playing in their own building, one that perhaps gives them a psychological edge. It also means they're looking to do anything they can to preserve home court in the playoffs for as long as possible- making Thursday's game with a Lakers team 1.5 games above them on the W.C. playoff ladder that much more important. Gotta stay in the Beehive State.
Meanwhile, L.A. hopes to build on any momentum created by Tuesday's win in Dallas. To break even, without Pau Gasol, on a brutal four game road stretch against teams with no fewer (now) than 44 wins would be a huge boost. But everyone knows they're stepping into a rough environment to win. Just ask Derek Fisher, who was booed in his last visit to Salt Lake, something that comes with the jersey he now wears. How Jazz fans will react tonight is anyone's guess.
Lakers fans got a little good news, too, as Phil Jackson said it's possible Andrew Bynum could- could- return before the playoffs.
He'll still need to get into game shape, but obviously the earlier he can get back into uniform, the better. We suggest holding off any champagne pops until you see him practicing at full speed. It's just easier that way. As for Pau Gasol, he was on the floor shooting jumpers Wednesday, but doesn't seem likely to play until after the home and home against Golden State Sunday and Monday.
If any of you are still annoyed at the manner in which LA beat the Mavs Tuesday, perhaps knowing that it got Mark Cuban all pissy will make you feel better.
IMPORTANT GAMES LAST NIGHT IN THE W.C.:
-Phoenix won their sixth straight, defeating the Sonics in Seattle.
-Houston now has a losing streak, as New Orleans spanked them bad in the Big Easy.
-Golden State mauled the Clippers.
Tonight, the Mavs host the Celtics, while San Antonio plays in Chicago.
Bill Simmons has campaigned to be the Bucks GM for a while. Now there's a job opening.
Mike Dunleavy says choosing between an NBDL guard and Smush Parker was a no-brainer. Apparently, Pat Riley disagreed...
If you get a chance to look at the highlights of A.I.'s return to Philly, it's worth it. Very candid comments from a very candid player.
Let's go to Salt Lake City and ride these fools at their own barbecue!
I'm honestly happy for Smush and I hope that he finds a second home here in Los Angeles. Say what you want about his skill and attitude, but in my opinion he was a more valuable and cheaper asset than Brian Cook, Sasha, and those two other guards whose names I forgot.
Posted by: never | March 20, 2008 at 12:15 PM
lakersrydeordie,
Okay. I'll share. And this is a RUMOR, okay? Not a first hand story like the other cases. Word has it among people who work at the night clubs on Cleveland's West Sixth Street (the bar district for Cleveland) that LeBron has given roughly 20 women there herpes. That's what I was told.
Lakergurl,
It's not like I'm on a date with Hillary Clinton or any woman on this blog. In my personal life, am I respectful of women? Absolutely. In terms of dialogue on this blog, women deserve no special priviledges over men. You can't have it both ways, girl. Either your equal and you receive equal treatment (and challenges) or you accept chivalry and with it a subservient role. I think of you as an equal, so better be prepared to deal with the same language that would use on Gunner, BK, or any'one else I'd argue with.
Regarding Obama's speech and comparisons to Abraham Lincoln, those aren't my words. Those are Chris Matthews and Pat Buchanan's from MSNBC.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | March 20, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Lakergurl,
By the way, I don't hate Hillary Clinton because she's a woman. I hate her because, ummm... she's a desperate, power-hungry hag who seethes with the energies of Lucifer. Are we clear on that now?
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | March 20, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Jon K, that BronBron rumor is off da meat rack!! lol I won't mind sharing it in conversation either!! lol That reminds me of when BronBron was at the star studded event just b4 he was drafted. They stopped him 4 an interview along with Melo. Lets just say the whole time the camera focused on BronBron very much like they do when he feasts off his own fingernails, just going to town with what appeared to be the heebie jeebies with his Johnson! Sheesh. The whole thought has me on cringe mode. Guess that's just plain T.M.I. Sorry I went there, but thanks for sharing that RUMOR..I will remember it was just that, a rumor! Yeah right....lol
Anyway, back to Laker Basketball...
Posted by: lakersrydeordie | March 20, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Our Prayers are answered. Praise the L:ord
BYNUM IS COMING
BYNUM IS COMING
BYNUM IS COMING
Now we can beat the Celtics.
The Celtics respect us, they have to, considering our rich history.
We respect them them too. We root for you.
We are real fans. We appreciate you and gosh darn it we like you
SO STRONG
THANKS FOR FEEDING ME
I WILL BE ALL POWERFUL AFTER THE LAKERS GET HUMILIATED TONIGHT.
start getting those excuses ready
WAIT, I'll list some of them for you
01. Kobe didn't stay in the offense
02. Kobe had an off shooting night
03. Fish needs to stop jacking up shots
04. Farmar/Sasha/ Vlade couldn't hit their 3's
05. Lamar disappeared
06. PJ didn't substitute right
07. No Defense
08. It's OK Bynum's coming back.
09. It's OK Bynum's coming back.
10. See 8 & 9
GET IN MY BELLY
BROILED HAM ANYONE?
Posted by: Troll Man | March 20, 2008 at 12:54 PM
TROLL MAN, HA HA HA. ENTERTAIN US WITH YOUR SILLY BANTER!
WE, THE LORDS OF THE TROLLS, THE LAKERSBLOG LAUGH HEARTILY AT YOUR "LISTING" BEHAVIOR.
HA HA HA
HA HA HA
HA HA HA
YOU WILL POST AGAIN, AND YOU WILL ENTERTAIN US WITH THOUGHTS ON THE LAKERS. DO MY BIDDING.
"EAT" AGAIN. KEEP FEEDING THE GLUTTON FOR HUMILIATION.
YOU EAT TO ENTERTAIN US. FEED THE JESTER FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT! SEE WHAT LIST HE REGURGITATES TO MAKE US LAUGH.
Posted by: | March 20, 2008 at 01:20 PM
Big game tonight, Laker lovers, we're looking at stomping on WC Playoff Opponent and sending some serious league wide vibes. If the news regarding Gasol and Bynum's return can light a fire under the teams collective tuckus, than I think we can come out of this roadie with a .500 mark. If we sleep walk through ANY of those 48 minutes and have the same porous defence that we've seen for the most of the last 8 games...we're looking at some serious droppage in the standings. Our teams margin for error is slimmer than Sasha Vujacic's head band. I know that the coaching staff is preaching defence, the fans are begging for defence, ownership pays millions of dollars for these guys to play defence, let's see that 1st half Dallas Defence until we're holding up the Championship Trophy. Take a page from Lamar's recent playbook on the defensive end and you'll see a lot of great effort that doesn't necessarily translate into filling up a stat sheet but shows up in our enormous lead. Footwork, heads up and communicate like it's a marriage counselling session team, and you'll fly home happy and atop the WC. Sahsa also has been playing harrassing D, lately. It's nice to see a young guy whose shot hasn't been falling keep his head in the game enough to make a difference on the other end of the floor.
Side note: I loved the bit from A.I. about his leaving Philly. I hope that Kobe reads that and realizes what a gift that the Lakers organization has given him: They rescued him the (then) Charlotte Hornets, helped him win 3 rings, made him a multi-millionaire, stood by him during his Colorado experience, traded a chubby Shaq for the beginning ingredients of the delicious Laker Chowder that we will watch take the floor agianst the Jazz. What more could a guy want? Oh yeah, same thing we all want...another banner on that Staples Center Wall that says, "NBA Champions 2007-08" and then another...and then-we'll y'all know what we want.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jamie Sweet | March 20, 2008 at 01:22 PM
I LIKE THIS ANONYMOUS POKING OF OUR ENTERTAINMENT, THE TROLL MAN. GUESS WHO I AM!!
MAKE US LAUGH WITH YOUR "ANALYSIS", CLOWN!
FEED HIM, GREAT LAKERSBLOG, SO HE COULD ENTERTAIN US.
HUNGRY FOR SOME MORE TROLL MAN?
EAT, YOU PIG, EAT!! HA HA HA!
Posted by: | March 20, 2008 at 01:24 PM
:
I, The Troll Man will have a feast after tonights game.
Blogger (:) laughs at the list. We will see who laughs loudest when the excuses start pouring in. Laker fans are so predictable.
FEED THE TROLLS
Yes, a nice Kiante would be fine with your liver and Fava beans
GET IN MY BELLY
Posted by: Troll Man | March 20, 2008 at 01:36 PM
I could care less who you are
You all look alike to me.
Keep Feeding Mr Anonymous
LOL
Posted by: Troll Man | March 20, 2008 at 01:45 PM
Hey Laker Fans, How devoted are you to your team? Get a Laker domain name and support your team on namemyteam.com.
Posted by: Kane Smith | March 20, 2008 at 01:49 PM
LIST LIST LIST, LIST LIST LIST - YES, THATS IT, WRITE YOUR LISTS!! OH MY HOW WONDERFULLY QUAINT!!
WE, THE LORDS OF THE TROLLS, THE LAKERSBLOG WILL LAUGH REGARDLESS OF THE CONTENTS OF YOUR POST.
EAT, YOU PIG, EAT FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT! STUFF YOUR FACE!!
WE LORDS THROW "SWINE" AT YOU, YOU EAT IT, AND MAKE SOMETHING US. YES, FEAST, OUR PET, DRINK IT UP, AND REGURGITATE AGAIN!
YES, LIVER, HA HA, THAT IT! NOM NOM NOM NOM "FEAST" FOR US!!
WE WILL BE HERE, PREDICTABLY, WIN OR LOSE, REGARDLESS, JUST TO LAUGH AT YOU!! WIN OR LOSE, IT MATTERS NOT!!
YES, EAT!
Posted by: | March 20, 2008 at 01:57 PM
Turiaf vs. Boozer. Muscle vs. muscle.
LO vs. AK47. Both very versatile.
Rad vs. Okur. Both like to float on the perimeter Euro style.
Fish, Farmar and Sasha vs. D.Williams. Attack him by committee.
Kobe wins his matchup.
The Utah player that makes me the most nervous is Paul
Millsap. He never stops attacking the boards. I really like
his game.
Ronny T. is key. He's got to stay out of foul trouble and give Boozer a hard time. That's a tall order.
I think the Lakers can win this game. Utah can't win every game at home. Lake Show will give them something to talk about tonight in SLC!!
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | March 20, 2008 at 02:19 PM
"Kiante"
Intelligence level revealed.
Oink Oink
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | March 20, 2008 at 02:20 PM
Go Lakers!!!!! Any news about Ariza?
Posted by: xtro | March 20, 2008 at 02:33 PM
Keep bringing your dribble
You guys are sounding like more like Trolls than me
HA HA HA
got anything of substance to bring to the table?
or will it be more HA HA HA blah blah blah
SEEMS YOUR RESPONDING TO ME
WHO OBEYS WHOM?
you feed me well
KEEP FEEDING THE TROLLS
Posted by: Troll Man | March 20, 2008 at 03:10 PM
Pig - I'm hungry - can you share the troll meat you broiled? Maybe a little "kiante" with that? Great post - LOL!
Posted by: justanothermambafan | March 20, 2008 at 03:16 PM
LOOK WHO IS COMING OUT OF THEIR TROLL SHELL!!
RESPOND TO US AND DO OUR BIDDING.
WE FEED YOU SWINE, YOU EAT SWINE, WE LAUGH AT YOUR ALL POWERFUL EATING.
EAT! YES, YOU ARE EATING ALL POWERFULLY!!
WE ARE FEEDING YOU SWINE AGAIN! WIN OR LOSE, YOU WILL EAT WHAT WE FEED YOU AND WE WILL LAUGH!
WE WILL RESPOND AGAIN, NOW EAT, CLOWN!
Posted by: | March 20, 2008 at 03:22 PM
"there"? are you freakin kidding me? and you have a job writing? amazing! learn to use your spell check buddy.
Posted by: | March 20, 2008 at 03:26 PM
F the Celtics!
As you were.
--FearlessWhackJob
Posted by: FearlessWhackJob | March 20, 2008 at 03:38 PM
It's game day! I predict the Lakers will stomp on Utah. The confidence our boys have after beating Dallas, without Pau, Andrew, Trevor, and Mihm, will be seen tonight. I have in my boys! Luke Walton actually played better against Dallas than I have seen him play in a long time. I hope he can do the same tonight. Also......Does anyone agree that PJ should put Coby Karl in? I think that boy has great potential and he needs more minutes to prove it.
Anyway see you all for the game tonight
GO LAKERS!!!!!!!
Posted by: Simi Laker Girl | March 20, 2008 at 06:00 PM
Here is what I don't get. It's clear that all the Laker fans want to know how Bynum and Gasol are progressing. And yet neither seems to get interviewed about their status. Would it be so hard for one of the reorters who follows the Lakers walk up to Andrew and ask him how his leg is feeling. It' been 2 and a half month's since he was injured and the only interview I've seen was during the half time of a Nationally televised game.
Posted by: Chris of the Hill People | March 20, 2008 at 07:31 PM
any notion that MIhm can contribute anything this year seems crazy. He has been out two years with only a few games played, and has looked bad and out of synch. He will need a least a full summer to be the player he was, and I wouldn't hold my breathe that it will ever happen. It would be nice and you have to root for the guy, but lets face facts, just being able to walk isnt going to make him ready for the playoffs. I doubt Phil even puts him on the floor.
Posted by: jeffgrotke | March 21, 2008 at 09:36 AM