I'm full of cream, butter, and fried goodness
Greetings from New Orleans, where I'm about seven steps closer to a heart attack than I was Thursday morning when I left for LAX. Those of you who read the blog regularly know food is a big, big deal for me (which is why taco night in the Staples media room is somewhat holy), making this town something of a Shangri-La. Last night? Oyster po' boy, then some beignets stuffed with this shrimp/crawfish/crab mixture in a cream sauce. Today, BBQ shrimp in a sauce of at least 38 sticks of butter, rosemary, Worcestershire sauce, creole seasoning, bay leaf, garlic, and more. Still short some gumbo (etouffee or jambalaya would also suffice), but there's always after the game. The point of all this? 1) To taunt AK, who will have to find something good to eat in Salt Lake City next week, 2) to explain why the live blog could end because I was sent to the hospital for a bypass, and 3) to reiterate the deliciousness, metaphorically speaking, the last visit the Lakers had to New Orleans. A 29 point win, with domination from start to finish.
Phil Jackson said before the game that it was as good a win as the Lakers have had this year, and nobody who watched will argue. Tonight, though, Jackson is expecting a better effort from the Hornets and a more competitive game. Nobody who watched New Orleans dismantle San Antonio on Wednesday would argue that, either.
Notes:
- Architecturally speaking, this is an interesting place. Not all that bad, except it seems to be modeled to mesh nicely with the Superdome (to which it is connected by a pedestrian bridge), a building that looks more like a nuclear reactor (or a giant gray version the St. Louis Planetarium, for those with knowledge of the Lou) than a stadium. Not an attractive building. Inside, it seems pretty cavernous, which is saying something because I always think buildings look small since I spend so much time at Staples.
- Funny story from last night: I'm sitting at the bar of a restaurant in the French Quarter, reading my menu. When I look up, the two girls next to me are chatting, and I hear one say "This old guy just asked me for directions back to Canal Street." The other one laughs, and says, "Do you know who that was?" The girl shakes her head, no. "Phil Jackson, the coach of the Lakers."
"Oh. I was wondering why he had a cane with a basketball on it." I missed the entire thing with my head in the menu.
- The visiting locker room is totally skinned out in Harrah's ads. Along the wall. Along the baseboards. There are Harrah's stickers on the little lockers the players use to store their valuables. Clearly, the folks over at the casino would like to remind the moneyed members of the professional athlete class that there is gambling to be had. It's the first locker room with ads I've ever seen.
- PJ talked, as you might suspect, about bettering the pick and roll D, something they'll see a lot over the course of the trip. Interestingly, the four games they're playing constitute the toughest trip by win percentage (NO, Houston, Dallas and Utah have a combined .667 winning percentage) the Lakers have seen since '73. Fun fact!
- Speaking of things you'll see over the next few games, look for the Lakers to use Pau Gasol's face up game to draw shot blockers away from the basket, something we referenced earlier in the game preview. We're geniuses!
AUDIO:
- Phil Jackson: Download phil_jackson_preno.mp3
BK
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The Lakers have to stop CARLTON (Chris Paul) tonight!
Posted by: ajax | March 14, 2008 at 04:54 PM
""Oh. I was wondering why he had a cane with a basketball on it.""
haha, Big Pimpin' Jackson!
Posted by: ajax | March 14, 2008 at 04:56 PM
It would be great to see Pau return to the high post game that was working so well for him and the Lakers when he first joined the team.
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | March 14, 2008 at 04:57 PM
Oh, please. Like it's that hard to find quality po' boys in Utah.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | March 14, 2008 at 05:04 PM
When I started reading about the young woman who said, "This old guy just asked me...", I was sure it was going to be... Jerry Buss. But I guess Dr Buss probably knows the way to Canal Street.
Posted by: Tsphere | March 14, 2008 at 05:09 PM
this is the first weekday game ive seen live in a loooong time. i forgot how exciting it feels to wait for a game to start. Recording the games doesn't give the same excitment
Go Lakers
Posted by: TrueLakerFan | March 14, 2008 at 05:13 PM
Great little story about Phil.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | March 14, 2008 at 05:13 PM
Let's go Lakers!
Posted by: Bzar | March 14, 2008 at 05:14 PM
Joey Crawford? Ah crap.
Posted by: mel | March 14, 2008 at 05:15 PM
BK is being pretty cruel to a hungry man. but it's scottish heritage night, and I'm going to be deep frying some milky way bars later, so I suppose I'll survive. except, of course, in the sense that i won't, due to a massive coronary. but whatever.
Posted by: phred | March 14, 2008 at 05:15 PM
CRAP! NOT AGAIN!!!
Posted by: Bzar | March 14, 2008 at 05:17 PM
Oh no...gasol down =(
Posted by: Justin N | March 14, 2008 at 05:17 PM
GASOL, NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Posted by: Tsiry | March 14, 2008 at 05:17 PM
OMG. Pau's hurt.
Posted by: mel | March 14, 2008 at 05:17 PM
oh no gasol hurt.... there goes the season...
Posted by: hen1040 | March 14, 2008 at 05:18 PM
Pau is down! NOOOOOO
Posted by: ajax | March 14, 2008 at 05:18 PM
Aw Crap.
Posted by: markythearky | March 14, 2008 at 05:18 PM
oh no, injury bug rears its ugly head....aghhhhhhhhhh
please say it ain't so...
Posted by: thedropper | March 14, 2008 at 05:18 PM
Yikes, looks like Pau just got a nasty sprain!
Posted by: Laker Kev | March 14, 2008 at 05:18 PM
Here is where Kobe wins the MVP. Pau is out due to injury so Kobe has to show his leadership skills and lead the team, I hope lamar is ready to play....
Posted by: 70slakerfan | March 14, 2008 at 05:19 PM
oh no. Ronny's in now. Let's send some big mojo to N.O. for our big Spaniard.
Posted by: AimlessDriver | March 14, 2008 at 05:20 PM
Kobe doesn't look bothered.
Posted by: markythearky | March 14, 2008 at 05:20 PM
GASOL IS IN MY BELLY
FEED THE TROLLS
I am most powerful
Posted by: Troll Man | March 14, 2008 at 05:21 PM
LET'S GO LAKERS!
LET'S GO!
LET'S GO LAKERS!
LET'S GO!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | March 14, 2008 at 05:22 PM
Don't let Peja heat up!
Posted by: Bzar | March 14, 2008 at 05:22 PM
replace fisher
Posted by: Botsoy | March 14, 2008 at 05:24 PM
stop shooting derek
Posted by: Justin N | March 14, 2008 at 05:26 PM
fisher i am VERY mad at you right now.
Posted by: tp | March 14, 2008 at 05:26 PM
where did pau get hurt? Ankle sprain? Does it seem serious?
Posted by: laker hopeful | March 14, 2008 at 05:26 PM
Ok, Fish... we love you, but stop shooting.
Posted by: Bzar | March 14, 2008 at 05:26 PM
1-6 fisher
Posted by: Botsoy | March 14, 2008 at 05:26 PM
every time an opposing guard makes a nice shot or a layup, fish jacks up a shot...
and thats not even including the THREE fast breaks he's screwed up.
Posted by: tp | March 14, 2008 at 05:27 PM
What is up with Fisher? Please get Farmar in.
Posted by: Laker Kev | March 14, 2008 at 05:27 PM
Pau sprained left ankle. X-rays pending. will not return to game...
Posted by: ajax | March 14, 2008 at 05:27 PM
Okay. Game thread's up. the interweb is once again cooperating.
BK
Posted by: | March 14, 2008 at 05:27 PM
FISHER IS IN MY BELLY
KEEP SHOOTING BALLHOG
My power keeps growing
FEED THE TROLLS
Posted by: Troll Man | March 14, 2008 at 05:27 PM
NBA Game Cast says nothing about Pau! Any news?
Posted by: Baywood | March 14, 2008 at 05:28 PM
Laker Hopeful,
Yes, report is that Pau sprained his ankle and won't return tonight.
Others have got to step up.... right now it looks like it'll be Lamar.
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Bzar | March 14, 2008 at 05:28 PM
dang, ankle sprain, will not return, xrays pending.
hope it's not serious..
Posted by: RZX | March 14, 2008 at 05:29 PM
i think pau got kind of tripped up by Vlad. They both dove into the paint at the same time in the same lane and thats when pau came otu limping.
Posted by: TrueLakerFan | March 14, 2008 at 05:29 PM
we playin pretty good defense on them and Lamar's just shadowin West
Posted by: playa | March 14, 2008 at 05:29 PM
Let's win this...no excuses, we can win without Pau if we play with heart and passion from kobe bryant to coby karl.
Go Lakers!
Posted by: thedropper | March 14, 2008 at 05:29 PM
Pau's down. But the Lakers are not out. They're a deep team. Let's Go Lakers.
Posted by: T-Melt | March 14, 2008 at 05:29 PM
I bet with the way that Pau could not put any pressure on that ankle that it will keep him out for the whole road trip.
Posted by: markythearky | March 14, 2008 at 05:30 PM
PJ is blind..replace fisher
Posted by: Botsoy | March 14, 2008 at 05:30 PM
word on pau is ankle sprain, not back tonight. well duh
on the bright side, lamar is definitely en-gaged.
Posted by: phred | March 14, 2008 at 05:30 PM
Pau's injury is a very bad news for the Lakers, expecially at the very beginning of such an important road trip.
We should be up by at least 10 already, Fish is 1-6. Phil, please get him out of the game now!
Posted by: Francesco | March 14, 2008 at 05:30 PM
Wow. We really could use Bynum and Mihm now.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | March 14, 2008 at 05:32 PM
We got off to a great start in that quarter, shows how fast things can go south. I'll be very pleasantly surprised if we win this game.
Posted by: Laker Kev | March 14, 2008 at 05:36 PM
LUKE FOR A BLOWOUT
0-4
0-4
0-4
I AM HAVING MY CAKE AND EATING IT TOO
FEED THE TROLLS
Posted by: Troll Man | March 14, 2008 at 05:37 PM