We've mentioned the stint Jeannie Buss did on The Dog Whisperer- seriously- a couple times on the site, but have never actually posted the footage.  It's particularly entertaining to watch PJ, who I believe, zen as he may be, seems ready to call &(@^^%@$ on Cesar (said soother of canines), but like any good boyfriend, sucks it up and plays along.  UPDATE: A couple people mentioned they heard Petros and Money talking about this with Jeannie yesterday on their show, and I completely forgot to mention that yesterday (I heard it, too). Doubtful I'd have remembered without that reminder.  Funny show, by the way, for those of you who enjoy afternoon radio.

BK

Let's put things in perspective.  If we told you in October that before the beginning of April the Lakers would get their 50th win of the season, making them the third seed in the W.C., only a game out of the top spot, would you have complained that said 50th win didn't come in dominating fashion?  Doubt it.  So in that context, Sunday night's 126-120 overtime win at Staples over a hot Wizards team seems a lot better, right? Coming off two straight brutal losses on their home floor, the Lakers were dying for a victory, and behind a balanced effort including production up and down the lineup, that's what they got.  The box score shows a strange night all around.  Kobe was outshot by his teammates, and both teams were better from downtown than they were inside the arc, a big time statistical oddity.  And against a team with more established stars, the Lakers were burned by local lad Nick Young (27 points, a career high) and DeShawn Stevenson (eight threes).

In terms of triples, the first half belonged to the Lakers, and the second to Washington, especially the twisting, leaning Caron Butler hoist that helped push the game into overtime.  But just like the Wizards received a boost from more unlikely sources, the Lakers were goosed by 20 from Sasha Vujacic (a welcome bounce back), 19 from Luke Walton, 18 from Vlad Rad, and some nice contributions from DJ Mbenga (including the block at left) on a night where Phil Jackson said Kobe came out distributing after dominating the ball more against the Grizzlies on Friday.

It didn't come quick.  It didn't come easy.  And it didn't come without a boatload of three balls getting hoisted and drained by both sides (interesting nugget of trivia to come later). But when the dust finally settled on the five minutes of extra hoops required to create an outcome, the Lakers were sitting on top of a 126-120 win over the Wizards.  Seven Lakers notched double figure tallies (the five starters, plus Sasha Vujacic and Luke Walton off the bench) and the Lakers bested their opponents in the rebounding (44-43), diming (35-29) and blocking battles (9-5).  Kobe Bryant's team-leading 26 points came off a tough 7-24 shooting clip, but he kept a constant eye out for his teammates, helping set up 13 baskets while only turning the ball over once.

Finaly, the trivia.  As mentioned, both squads were scorching from downtown, the Lakers hitting 14-27 (52%) and the Wiz knocking down 17-30 (57%).  Overall, the home team was 50% from the field and the visitors 47%.  Thus, tonight marked the first time where two teams sported a better three-point percentage (with a minimum of 27 attempts per side) than straight up field goal percentage since the addition of the arc itself.  Should any member of the blogosphere end up on Jeopardy! and this answers the Daily Double, the K Brothers expect a cut of the winnings.

The Breakdown is below (courtesy of BK)

AK

For one night at least, one in a row sounds a lot better than three in a row.  Vlad Rad, LO (still sick, but still playing), Kobe, Fish, and Turiaf start for L.A. 

BK with the first. 

FIRST QUARTER:

First trip down, Lakers get the ball in deep, but Turiaf is blocked at the basket by Haywood.  Next trip, LO posts up, they work the ball around, and then the ball is kicked out to Fish on the perimeter for the three.  That's the sort of trey they should take.  Inside out.

Not that the Lakers ought to take any team lightly after the events of this week- do I really need to remind you what happened?- but there's no question if they look past and/or dismiss the Wizards, the purple and gold will lose their third straight home game.  Unfortunately, it's not simply a question of showing up to play.  Washington may only be a 38 win team, four games over .500, but they've won eight of ten and are playing very well, having leapfrogged Toronto for the fifth spot in the E.C. while simultaneously holding off a red-hot Philly squad (no, that last part isn't a typo) and nearly catching the Cavs.  Antawn Jamison  and Caron Butler have been particularly good over the last couple weeks.  This is no freebie.

Stuff to look for:

• The Wizards love to get the ball up and down the court, so the Lakers might want to dial things down a little from the franchise record 45 three point attempts they took on Friday.  Whether they go in or not, that sort of launch-happy style puts an incredible amount of pressure on their defense.
• With that in mind, the Lakers need to find a way to establish the inside early, whether the Wizards zone them up or not.  Early in the Charlotte game, Kobe spent a ton of time in the post taking advantage of the mismatches that generally come to him down there.  Whether it's that, getting LO (who is still feeling like crizzle) on the block or whatever, it needs to happen.  And against the zone, the Lakers need to be far more disciplined in finding the soft spots in the high post- moving themselves, and the ball, and forcing more action from the defense. 
• Keep an eye on DeShawn Stevenson's beard.  Lord knows what might pop out. 
• Check the audio for the entire conversation, but when I asked Phil if he's seeing from the players what he would want in terms of demeanor and attitude following the Charlotte and Memphis games, he said "Not all of them," though didn't elaborate as to who might be lacking when asked. 
• The process of scouting for the playoffs has started, as it's becoming at least slightly more clear which teams will match up against each other, or at least what the possibilities are.  Jackson said that as a team they've suffered through some restless nights due to recent results, but realize they still control their own fate over the last few weeks of the season.
• Gasol worked out today, and seems to have come through fine.  He won't play today, but is getting closer.  The/a problem right now is pushing off on that ankle.
• Jackson also mentioned he apologized to DJ Mbenga, who fouled out of Friday's game in a big hurry.  PJ said he missed one of Mbenga's fouls when talking to his coaches, and didn't realize Mbenga was on his fifth.  Had he, Jackson said he likely would have pulled him in order to preserve Mbenga, or at least his last personal, for later in the game.

Audio: Phil Jackson- Download phil_jackson_3.30 preWAS.mp3

BK
BK  

A variety of inquiries rest uncomfortably on every Laker fan's mind as a showdown against the "solid in the east, not all that mind blowing by western standards" Washington Wizards approaches.  Can the Lakers break their recent two-game slump against teams most pundits would classify as "beneath them" and regain sole ownership of the Pacific?  Assuming the answer is "yes" (which would be great, because many a Laker Nation resident is noticing how much lower the sky looks these days), the mysteries then shift to personnel.  What up with the walking wounded?  Well, Andrew Bynum is considered close to a return and will board the plane with the team for next Sunday's upcoming two-game roadie (although not necessarily play in it).  Save an unexpected setback, Pau Gasol should certainly be back in the swing of things by then.  Tonight's status, however, remains up in the air, as he's still unable to get the lead out in pain-free fashion.  Oh, and for those wondering how often Kobe Bryant naps, the answer is "not particularly often and always with the help of his daughters."

Not that reliving Friday night's loss to the Grizzlies at Staples- even typing that seems unfortunate- is a lot of fun, but here's some audio from after the game.  PJ talking about what went wrong, and some good copy from Fish both on how the Lakers need to respond to these losses, and why the zone continues to give them so much trouble.  Lord knows they'll continue to see it.  Also some sound from Chris Mihm, who was understandably happy to be back on the floor, though he didn't think he'd actually see time Friday night. 

Phil Jackson: Download phil_jackson_3.28 postMEM.mp3
Derek Fisher 1: Download derek_fisher_3.28 postMEM 1.mp3
Derek Fisher 2: Download derek_fisher_3.28 postMEM 2.mp3
Chris Mihm: Download chris_mihm_3.28 postMEM.mp3

BK

And now even smaller. 

My girlfriend was perusing TMZ.com for celeb dish and stumbled upon this nugget about the namesake of my 2006 All-Laker fantasy squad.  It appears Isaiah was driving around L.A.'s skid row at 2:30 am on this particular Saturday in an automobile neither purchased by him nor willfully loaned to him.  The classic recipe for "nothing going wrong."  According to TMZ, it's the second arrest this month.  Yikes.  Considering he's currently on a probation and already has at least one felony to his name, this development could turn out rather poorly for the former slam dunk champ. 

It's astonishing how much talent this guy flushed down the porcelain.  Hopefully, he can get some help ASAP.

AK

For those unfamiliar with the reference, time to shore up your Bob Dylan collection.  And for those unfamiliar with the reference but nonetheless feel them same blues, then you must have watched last night's 114-111 to the Memphis Grizzlies.  It was one of those nights where, save Kobe Bryant's explosive showing to grace the box score with 53 points, not a ton went right.  A flu/bad ass cold-like bug had stricken Lamar Odom (who managed to rack the rare 11/11 assist/rebound double-double, but struggled to put the ball in the hoop).  Derek Fisher entered the fray just having discovered news of a partially torn tendon in his foot, an ailment that would normally take about 6-8 weeks to heal up, but Fish will be a gamer and play through it as much as possible.  The team struggled to hit often wide open shots.  There was also a matter of defensive lapses that allowed 60 Griz points in the paint and far, far, too many triples launched (45 in all, a franchise record).   Throw in the failure to get a play off with .9 seconds left for a game-tying, overtime inducing three-pointer, and it wouldn't be shocking if "The Artist formerly know as Robert Zimmerman" dropped by today's practice to gain a little insight for his next misery-centric ditty. 

With any luck, the Lakers will start playing some legitimate title-contending, cream of the crop, elite squads ASAP, because this two-game stretch against a pair of the NBA's worst is killing them. Wednesday's loss against the Charlotte Bobcats went coupled with tonight's 114-111 fall to the Grizzlies, a squad rarely associated with the word "powerhouse," especially on the road. So what accounted for Grizz's sixth victory outside of Memphis?  Well, outside of a honkin' 53 points from Kobe Bryant (19-37 from the field), there wasn't a ton of scoring support. The only other Lakers to reach double figures were Jordan Farmar (11) and Sasha Vujacic, who required 17 shots to rack 14 points.  The Machine's errant touch reflects one where the team shot a paltry 39% from the field.  And speaking of inefficient, the Lakers chucked a franchise-record 45 balls from downtown.  (Before you ask, not a typo.)

That's just crazy enough to not work. 

But despite the madness and mostly poor defense, the Lakers did manage to stage a rally and offer themselves a shot at a tie at the end of regulation.  But with .9 ticks remaining and (ironically enough) a trey needed to knot things up, Luke Walton attempted to force an inbound pass to Kobe rather than use a 20-second time out still in his pocket.  The ball gets batted away, along with any shot at a winning box score. 

AK (The breakdown is below, courtesy of BK)

This game is so big, fans who swore off the Lakers in February for good will make an exception and tune in.

AK (with the first)

First Quarter

11:00 - Ronny sets up Kobe for a 12-foot jumper in the lane.  Easy enough, but so was the ensuing 20-footer by Hakim Warrick.

A couple little notes before tip:

• LO indeed is sick, and in this reporter's opinion would fully qualify for "like a dog" status.  He's going to play, but how well he does is anyone's guess.  I reminded him that Jordan always had incredible games when he was fighting bugs, and certainly Kobe has had some success, too.  So by that standard, he ought to go off for 40/25/18. 
• Fish is indeed going to suit up and play. 
• Eric Pincus tells me Vic the Brick was upset about something having to do with bamboo.  Not sure exactly what or why, but it certainly makes sense.  VTB is indeed passionate about bamboo.

AUDIO:

• Phil Jackson: Download phil_jackson_3.28 preMEM.mp3
• Derek Fisher: Download derek_fisher_3.28 on injury.mp3

BK

But I think you'll be more interested in this: As if the Lakers needed any more bad news out of Wednesday's loss to Charlotte, it seems Derek Fisher sustained a partial tear of a tendon in his right foot during the first quarter.  Normally, it would take six to eight weeks of rest to clear up the problem.  Obviously, the Lakers don't have that, so Fish will try to play through the pain, starting tonight.  It's also worth noting that LO was sent home from shootaround today because of an upper respiratory problem.

More on all of this to come, for sure.

Regarding the game?  Some thoughts:  The Grizzlies have won five road games all season, have Mike Miller, Rudy Gay, and not a whole lot else, and while the Grizzlies are the type of crappy-but-bouncy-and-athletic team that can give the Lakers trouble, it's precisely because they just lost to another one of those on Wednesday that I don't see it happening tonight. 

These guys at 3 Shades of Blue, a Grizzlies Blog, have a preview of the game.  I'm not sure I agree with everything in there, but hey, nobody's perfect.

BK

Lots of exercising, weights, anti-gravity running, and such.  It's also good to know that even in his limited state, Andrew Bynum can keep members of the Lakers training staff off the low block.

(Thanks to Botsoy for the link.)

BK

Upon further review, Stu Jackson believes the refs missed the call at the end of Monday's win in Golden State. From the Contra Costa Times (via TrueHoop):

With four seconds left in overtime, Delaney called an offensive foul on the Warriors' Monta Ellis, who collided with the Lakers' Derek Fisher and fell to the floor before the ball was in-bounded. Kobe Bryant, who was intentionally fouled on the ensuing Lakers possession, then knocked down two free throws in a 123-119 Los Angeles victory.

Many, especially Warriors fans, thought if there was a foul at all, it was committed by Fisher. Stu Jackson, the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations, agreed.

"We did review," Jackson said. "The call was incorrect. After looking at the play, the foul was on Fisher and not Ellis. It appeared that Fisher pulled Ellis down."

Jackson said the league informed the Warriors of its analysis. Delaney also was informed, though Jackson kept the discussions with the respected referee confidential.

Here's the highlight, for those of you interested in reliving history.  Personally, I'd have swallowed my whistle (how do you call anything in that dog pile at that point in the game?).  But the complaint heard , well, everywhere in the Golden State camp that Fish yanked Ellis down has been vindicated, though the victory is completely hollow at this point.  In the end, every team has moments like this throughout a season, where they benefit/lose out on a call.  In the end, though, it likely all evens out.

BK

Kobe Bryant left the Lakers' training facility in El Segundo on Thursday before speaking with reporters about his ejection from Wednesday night's game (or anything else, for that matter).  But that doesn't mean it's not on everyone's mind.  24 is one stink-eyed whistle away from his 16th T of the season, which would cost him a game per league rules.  And while PJ said he didn't think there was any malice behind the little soccer kick that got Kobe tossed against the Bobcats, he acknowledged that another infraction "isn't the furthest thing from your imagination."  Maybe the Lakers should just petition the league to let him sit one game now, so he can pick up another T later?  Tonight's game against the Grizzlies (7:30 pm, FSN) is one in which the team ought to be able to get by without him, especially with Wednesday's loss fresh in everyone's mind.  After all, Memphis is 5-30 on the road, and pretty crappy at home, too. 

It was, though, supposed to be a big game for Pau Gasol, facing his old team and all.  Unfortunately, his ankle will prevent him from playing Friday night.  But the good news is that with a solid workout at practice on Thursday, Gasol believes there's a chance he could play Sunday.  Maybe, maybe not, but assuming he responds well today to yesterday's work, it'll be reasonable to say he's coming around.  Chris Mihm also practiced on Thursday, and could be very close to a return.

Another game against a good team, another loss for Big D.  Tonight, the Mavs were in Denver, got off to a solid start... then were run off the court by the Nuggets in the second half, getting outscored 58-35 en route to a 118-105 loss.  I didn't see the whole game (too much March Madness to watch), but I saw enough.  Without Dirk, Dallas has trouble generating good shots and a diverse attack, and on the other end, while Denver can score on anyone, nothing Dallas has done against playoff caliber teams indicates they can get stops consistently.

With Golden State about to wrap up a win over Portland, the loss leaves Dallas hanging on to the seven spot on the W.C. playoff ladder with a cracked little fingernail.  A game up on Denver, half a game on the Warriors (assuming I got the math right).  It doesn't get easier, either.  Among their ten remaining games, the Mavs have two games left against Golden State, play in LA, Phoenix and Portland (24-10 at home), and host Utah and New Orleans.  The only chippies are two games against the Sonics, and a visit to Staples... to play the Clippers. 

My guess?  They miss the playoffs, and probably by a couple games.  And if that happens, I'd be shocked if Mark Cuban didn't fire Avery Johnson.  Could be an interesting offseason in Dallas.

BK

Hopefully those of you who watched last night's debacle against the Bobcats no longer feel soiled by the experience.  Or maybe you do (it was, in this context, a dirtying event).  Either way, this is a fun little distraction, worth a read- a breakdown of all the credits and debts owed and received by each team in the next two drafts, and beyond.  For example, the Lakers will get Charlotte's second rounder in '09 from the Kareem Rush deal.  But really, the fun comes not so much in the information, helpful as it is, but the random names that pop up.  Who among us doesn't remember where he was when the Jazz and Sixers swapped the rights to Kyrylo Fesenko and Herbert Hill, netting the Jazz a second rounder this year?

BK

Perhaps Friday's game against Memphis will prove the cupcake widely predicted after a treacherous four game roadie and back-to-backs vs. Golden State.  But last night's contest against the Bobcats was considered by most to be a breather opportunity (complete with home court "advantage") and the result was a 108-95 loss.  The Lakers kicked off the affair in a rather flat fashion (particularly on the defensive end), a mindset that continued for roughly 96.3% of the duration.  Similar to the split against the Warriors, the Lakers spent the first half launching a fair amount of questionable shots and not concentrating nearly enough on stoppage, with the three point line left especially vulnerable.  The arc was also the site of the night's more eventful and controversial proceedings.  Not even two minutes removed from a technical pocketed, Kobe was whistled for a foul on Matt Carroll's converted three ball.

None too pleased with the call, Kobe returned the ball in "Pele style" and was immediately run. 

Don't ask either Bryant or Phil Jackson for their take on the situation, as both bolted before offering much, if any, explanation.   For the time being, it will remain a mystery, kinda like the ETA for Pau Gasol's return to action.   Next Wednesday is the hopeful date for now, but the ankle remains troublesome.  The wait has left the Spaniard disappointed, but given last night's box score, that's just the mood en vogue for all things and people "Laker." 

But tonight didn't feature one of those methods.

Any team can go out and do the expected.  It takes a special one to consistently shock the world.  The Lakers have done just that, almost exclusively for the good, for most of the '07-'08 season. Running their way to the top of the Western Conference.  Swinging a trade for Pau Gasol.  Losing on their home court by 13 to the 25 win Charlotte Bobcats.  What, you thought all the shocks had to be positive?  Nope, Wednesday night in their 108-95 loss to the Bobcats at Staples, the L.A. pulled a fast one on everyone who assumed this would be an easy win (presumably, that includes the Lakers themselves, judging by their faire play), and not only gave away the game, but all important position in the ludicrously crowded Western Conference.  AK has the breakdown below, which given that they just lost by 13 to one of the worst teams in the league (I mentioned that, right?) is light on "Good," heavy on everything else.

BK

Maybe it's just me, but I considered Charlotte's jettisoning of Walter Hermann a clear cut sign that they were in rebuilding mode.

AK (with the first half)

FIRST QUARTER

10:04 - The first four Laker points belong to Ronny Turiaf, the second coming off a mi-range.  Good way to start out, Ronny.  Now let's be on the look out to avoid the unnecessary extra pass.    

9:15 - Just as BK and I are commenting that Gerald Wallace went from being a guy who could do everything but shoot to a guy who's turned into a fairly good shooter, he buries a three. 

Side note: Whenever I see Wallace play, I always end up thinking of a SPL league game I went to about 7 years ago where Wallace and LO were matched up on each other.  I was like, "That could be a fun match up for a long time."

Pau Gasol was in the locker room before the game, and the situation is basically as follows: Trying to increase his activity on the ankle, he experienced a recurrence of the swelling.  So no more activity.  And keep in mind, "activity" doesn't mean full court scrimmages, mountain climbing, or touch football in the park.  It's anything that would be considered a step past total lack of motion.  So Friday is out, as is Sunday, and he's aiming now for Wednesday against Portland. 

Says Pau:

"I don't enjoy sitting, and it's frustrating.  I like to be out there, and think we're in a great spot and a great situation.  That's what it's all about.  I'm thinking two more games and then we have the two days right after the Sunday game. Monday and Tuesday we don't play, so it looks like Wednesday could be a reasonable date.  I guess that's what I have in mind right now."

As mentioned during Friday's pregame report, Ira Newble talked a bit about his efforts to raise awareness about the atrocities in Darfur.  He's been working with an organization called Aid Still Required (their website currently features a PSA from Kobe Bryant on its homepage), a group looking to spearhead projects that will help the region for the present and the future.  I exchanged emails from Hunter Payne at ASR and found out that PSA's with Trevor Ariza, Andrew Bynum, Derek Fisher and Luke Walton have already been filmed.  A few other Lakers have also expressed interest in getting the word out.We'll eventually link those when they're available.   

Newble was among the first NBA athletes to take on this cause and began actively soliciting participation from others in the game.  Among other subjects, Newble talked about what it means for an athlete of Kobe's profile to get involved and offered an interesting take on why some of the younger players may be reluctant to attach their name to the cause (it's not simply because they're young).  Click on the audio link to hear what he had to say.

AK

Download newble_darfur.mp3

Having let the subscription to my Toby Keith Fanzine lapse, I have no idea how this song goes, but Jesterguru deserves props for putting it together.  If someone can record the audio and send it to us, we'll post it!

BK

(Sung to the tune of Toby Keith's "I Love This Bar":)

PROGRAMMING NOTE:  Join us for Purple, Gold, and Blue at 11 am, at www.nowlive.com or by clicking the show widget on the side of the page.  We're wide open for callers today, so find a quiet place at work and get on the horn!   

UPDATE: No show today. Scheduling kerfuffle with HQ.  But we'll be back next week!  Sorry for the mix up.  BK

No real surprise to learn that Pau Gasol won't suit up for tonight's game at Staples against the Bobcats (7:30 pm, FSN), and is doubtful for Friday's game against the Grizzlies.  That left ankle of his still isn't ready to go.  In his absence, though, the Lakers have been getting big performances from Lamar Odom, who has gone for (rounding the numbers, here) 19/17/4 over the last five games.  Surely it must be satisfying for a guy who has been accused in the past of not meeting big moments with big games.  Odom, along with Kobe and Fish, had time to consider such issues, as they were held out of practice on Tuesday to heal.  24 mocked the writers present for not noticing that he had a bum wheel (a tweaked ankle, to be exact) during Sunday's loss against the Warriors, though it should be noted that folks on this site caught on to some limpiness during Monday's rematch. 

The blog sees all.

Apparently, the vet's about to end his comeback bid with the Warriors and call it a career.  And a pretty good one at that.   

For those fans clamoring for Mitch to bring 1/5 of the Fab Five into the fold (say that five times fast), be sure to send him a thank you note for dodging that anti-climactic bullet.

AK

For the second time in two days, the Los Angeles Lakers play the Golden State Warriors and the results of this 123-119 victory sharing many a similarity with the previous day's loss at Staples.  For starters, the first half featured the Lakers having apparently learned no lessons from Sunday, since the opening 24 minutes of both contests featured the Lakers seduced by the Warriors' break neck style and jacking up long ball after long ball.   Like Sunday, wiser heads prevailed after halftime and the ball began moving around and inside again.  Like Sunday, Lamar Odom was Godzilla on the boards, becoming the first Laker in 13 years to snag 20+ in consecutive games.   Like Sunday, a few folks played through some pain (most notably Kobe Bryant, who left the Bay Area with gash below the the eye that most boxers would find nasty).  But there were a couple unique wrinkles to the follow up go around against these Warriors.  For starters, the OT period, one where the Lakers ground their way to the top (and admittedly benefited from a controversial call against Monta Ellis down the stretch).  The other notable difference?  A winning box score. That's probably worth noting, dontcha think?

First things first: If the Lakers and Warriors meet in a seven game series this postseason, I'm asking for a raise.  I think I developed carpel tunnel just trying to keep up with this game, which moved so fast that for the play-by-play the PR folk hand out after each quarter, they had to use, like, three point font just to get it on a standard sheet of paper.  Just putting that out there.  This is the blogging equivalent of hazard pay.  But enough about me, how about them Lakers?  It wasn't always easy, and it definitely wasn't always pretty, but in the end the Lakers took the away portion of the home and home with Golden State, 123-119 in OT.  It's already past 11 and my flight's at 6:30 tomorrow morning, so you'll forgive me if there's not much preamble to tonight's breakdown, which can be found below.

(In the meantime, there will be much debate about the wisdom of the crucial whistle in the OT, where Monta Ellis was called for a charge moving through Derek Fisher as the Warriors tried to set up their final shot.  Needless to say, it was controversial.  Even Fish said he didn't expect a call there...)

It's throwback night at the arena, so the Lakers are wearing the old school mid/late eighties home jerseys, while the Warriors are in their blue/gold numbers from back in the day.  I'm not sure there's a team that's reworked their look to the degree that GSW has over the years. 

Pretty mellow pregame intros at Oracle, at least in terms of pyrotechnics.  Just a lot of cheering, flashing lights, and flag waiving.  And the "Beat LA!" chants have already started.  And I'm pretty sure the Warriors have already taken six threes. 

FIRST QUARTER:

Vlad Rad, LO, Ronny, Kobe, and Fish start for LA, Jackson, Harrington, Biedrins, Davis, and Ellis for the Warriors. 

11:00- First points of the game go to the Warriors, as Harrington gets inside for a put back of his own miss.  No shock to see that the points came off transition, either.

10:25- Kobe has started this game taking Davis down into the post.  He gets the feed, backs him down, and scores. Next trip down, he does the same thing, but the Lakers turn the ball over trying to get him the ball.  But it's clear how the Lakers are going to attack, at least early. 

Strangest thing just happened: I'm sitting in my little cubicle in the media room at Oracle Arena, and the phone rings.  I can't imagine anyone would be calling me, but I don't want to let it go because the ring is loud and irritating.  So I answer, and lo and behold, it's a telemarketer, offering to refinance my home loan (for a home I don't own, by the way).  Clearly, there's nowhere a person can go these days to be safe from these people.  Anyway, real quick pregame tonight, though really, there's not all that much to review.  It's worth listening to PJ's audio below, as he talks about tonight's game, the on-court tiff between Farmar and Ronny (which, full disclosure, I didn't see), Luke Walton's performance of late (not that great), and the state of the Western Conference (competitive). 

Other notes:

• I can see why this place has such a great rep for getting loud.  The setup is highly conducive to basketball, with a tight lower bowl and only a small upper deck that is fairly vertical.  Plus, the ceiling is low as well, unlike the more cavernous Staples Center. 
• The outside is an odd, all glass perfect circle, though everything inside is set up to accommodate a square court. It's not an ugly building, but it makes for some wasted space, I'm sure.  McAfee Coliseum, though, where the Raiders and A's play, looks like a crypt, it's so depressing.
• Asked before the game if the Lakers have to change how they defend, to keep GSW from taking those 26 footers they seem to love so much, PJ said no, not necessarily.  They'll try to close quicker on some guys (the whiteboard inside the locker room said "No step up threes for Davis and Jackson") but can't forget the paint.  Golden State piles up points there, and it's penetration the Lakers have to try and prevent.  If they get too focused on the triple and create lanes to the basket, that plays into Golden State's hands as well. 

AUDIO:

• Download phil_jackson_3.24 preGSW.mp3

BK

Having watched two halves during Sunday's game that basically illustrated how both to beat and lose to the Warriors, there's not a whole lot more to talk about heading into tonight's rematch.  But that doesn't mean I can't scour yesterday's Golden State game notes for interesting nuggets about the team.  (Really, not that much changes one game to the next, right? It's this sort of attention to detail that makes a guy a "Lakers Beat Reporter," if only for a day.)  So without further ado, I present some statistical nuggets, all accurate as of 5:59 p.m. last night or through today if the math was really, really easy:

• Golden State is 9-2 in games decided by three points or less.
• Since starting the season 0-6, the Warriors have lost consecutive games only once, and have won 42 of 69 (.689), though I guess now it's 43 of 70.  One team with more wins over that stretch?  Your L.A. Lakers (woo!).
• The Warriors are 10-7 in the back end of back to backs.  The Lakers?  10-5 (woo!).
• Including Sunday's win, the Warriors have scored over 100 points in 33 straight games.  That's a lot of scoring.  But if, by chance, the Lakers can crank up the D, Golden State has lost seven of eight when they're held under 100.  Conversely- and this makes some sense given the stats I just mentioned- the Warriors are 18-0 when opponents are held under the century mark. 
• The Warriors have been relatively untouched by injury, at least among their main players.  Matt Barnes has missed five games, Monta Ellis and Al Harrington one each, and Stephen Jackson two (though he missed seven more because of suspension).  Honestly, I didn't realize their medical bills had been so low this season. 
• It might be good for the Lakers to get ahead in this one:  Golden State is 28-13 when leading after the first quarter, 15-13 when trailing.  Push it to the third, and the Warriors are 29-3 when leading, 14-23 when trailing. 
• One potential key to beating Golden State?  The glass.  They're a .500 team when outboarded, 18-3 when they win the rebound battle.

So there you have it.  Everyone loves little facts!

BK

Golden State oddball roundball, what with its fast pace and shoot until you drop mentality, can often seduce an opponent to imitate.  And in the case of last night's 115-111 loss to the Warriors, imitation may have been a sincere form of flattery, but it wasn't a particularly effective one.  The first half of his contest saw the Lakers taking the always tempting bait and the results were rarely pretty.  14 turnovers leading to 25 Warrior points.  Fast, loose and typically ill-advised long jumpers.  A Laker D constantly positioned on its heels while trying ineffectively to cover in transition.  The boo birds let their Purple and Gold hear as they headed into the locker room.  Upon commencing the third quarter, however, the Lakers played like... well, the Lakers.  Moving the ball inside, outside, and all around before putting it up.  Taking advantages of mismatches.  Playing something along the lines of defense. 

And before you knew it, they were right back in the mix going nose to nose with their opponent.  Unfortunately, that poor first half prevented them from ever pulling way ahead, which created a situation where Stephen Jackson's back-to-back three balls in the last minute would keep his boys on top.  Another cap in the feather for Jax, who's been a model of stability (believe it or not) this season.   As for the Lakers, they'll have an immediate chance to create a more pleasing box score against these same Warriors this evening at 7:30 pm PST. 

Why?  Because this 115-111 fall to the Warriors closely resembled the plot line of "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," one of his classic and timeless works.  Split personalities to the strongest of degrees.  The first half was the Mr. Hyde" persona, the one completely out of control and often beyond hideous to look at.  Scary as all get out, too.  The second half, however, was all about the more refined Dr. Jekyll.  And like that quack when he wasn't drinking his bad seed elixir, the Lakers were sophisticated, refined, efficient, crowd pleasing and earning the town's respect during that time period.  Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom were the biggest purple and gold Jekyll's down the stretch, making some huge plays to transform what appeared to be a blow out into a seriously contested showdown.  And for a while, a happy ending appeared in the works, despite all odds.  But in the end, this game and the novella shared one distinct element in common. 

Things don't end well for Jekyll, Hyde or the Laker box score. 

The breakdown is below.

One thing about playing the Warriors, it's never boring.  There could be enough excitement in this one to help the body digest all that ham*. 

BK

*Ham, in this case, is used as a catch all for anything anyone happened to eat today.  I do believe, though, it's a red letter day in the ham industry.

FIRST QUARTER: 

Lakers win the tip.  I assume that means they win the game.  Maybe, maybe not, but if they get inside as they did with Turiaf on Biedrins on their first possession of the game, they've got a good chance.  Good way to start.

10:00- LO drives the left baseline, and feeds Ronny with a very, very nifty behind the back pass through very tight quarters.  Turiaf made the layup, but nearly blew it, in part because I don't think he realized the ball could get to him.

9:16- Kobe draws a foul on Davis, getting into the post, then kissing a turnaround off the glass.  That's two for Baron, who then draws a T from the officials.  I'm assuming he said something more than "How was your Easter?"  Don Nelson leaves him in, though.  Pretty big gamble. 

8:25- 13-11 LAL. 

No doubt the schedule for the Lakers opens up over the next week or so... but not until they wrap up a home and home against the Warriors, starting tonight. GSW may be an eight seed in the W.C., but they could very well win 50 and clearly don't suck.  There aren't a lot of teams more fun to watch, either.  Down a couple centers, the Lakers won't have the heft advantage they normally wield over the Warriors tonight.  While you never want to get into a track meet with Golden State, it wouldn't surprise me to see a very healthy pace to this one.  Hopefully, though, LA can do what they always do when they're successful- get the ball down low, and work from the inside out.  One of the best weapons a team can use against Golden State is a selective offense.  Take good shots, in rhythm, and limit easy run outs. 

The back-to-back thing has been kind to LA this year, a major reason they currently sit atop the W.C.  12-3 on the front end, 10-5 on the back.  That includes seven sweeps.  Contrast it to last season, when they were 7-10 in the first game, 8-9 in the second, toss in improvements in other areas, and it's another indication of the team's growth. 

Other interesting stats:  The Lakers are 38-7 when they out dime the opposition, and 33-6 when five or more players reach double figures.  All are compelling arguments to keep the ball moving and everyone involved. 

NOTES:

• Pau Gasol won't make the trip to Oakland tomorrow, likely won't be ready for Charlotte on Wednesday, and may not be ready for Friday's game against Memphis, either.  PJ didn't rule the latter game out, but if there's even the slightest question, he'll sit.  I, and he, would like to think the Lakers could take Memphis without him.  But overall, the Lakers seem very pleased with his recovery process.  They hope he'll be out on the floor more this week.
• Chris Mihm hopes to rejoin practice later in the week, though he'll be cautious about overloading his foot before he sees how it responds.  At this point, Mihm is understandably gun shy about timetables, but hopes he finally has turned the corner.  Copy from him is below.
• PJ talked about integrating Gasol and Bynum back on the floor when they're ready to go, and not surprisingly, he had no worries about putting Pau out there.  No re-integration time required.  It's the combination of them together that will take a little getting used to.  Where guys rotate on defense, who has what role in transition, etc.  The little stuff that matters big time. 

Click below for the Mihm copy, via AK.

BK

Hey.  No post this morning, as we're out looking for eggs.  Sure hope nothing important happened overnight. 

In the meantime, be happy for a rejuvenated Vlad Radmanovic, get ready for Sunday night's game against the Warriors, and have a great day with your Peeps. 

BK

There's no such thing as a pure gimmie in the NBA, but there are games that come close.  One example would be a home game against a shorthanded team that's won 16 games all year, only six on the road, and had lost nine straight.  That's what the Lakers had Friday night at Staples when they welcomed the Sonics, and the result was as expected.  130-105 LAL, in a game the Lakers never trailed.  The Lakers couldn't have drawn it up much better.  Five starters in double figures, eight players overall, meant the Lakers got contributions up and down the lineup.  The bench was particularly effective, contributing early and then later as well, allowing the Lakers to sit Kobe and LO in the fourth.  The box score shows 36 assists on 51 FGs, shot over 60% from the floor, and generally torched whatever defense the Sonics threw at them, whether man or zone.

The show on the court did nothing to detract from Phil Jackson's pregame declaration that, given their schedule and quality of play, the Lakers have every reason to be considered frontrunners to finish atop the W.C.  A few more healthy bodies would help, and along those lines Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol continue to work themselves back into shape.  Trevor Ariza is still a ways away from returning, which in part explains the signing of veteran small forward Ira Newble.

With the Lakers hosting the 16 win, down and out Seattle Supersonics- and not even a full strength version, given the absence of Chris Wilcox and Mickael Gelebale- the conventional wisdom was that LA would coast to an easy win Friday night at Staples.  Well, score one for the CW, since that's exactly what happened in L.A's 130-105 blowout win.  The Lakers jumped out to a 17-5 lead 5:07 in, and controlled throughout.  Seattle managed to get within six early in the third... but a couple minutes later the Laker lead was back into that comfortable 10-12 point range. 

In the end the Lakers got just about everything they could want out of this one.  A victory, good production up and down the roster, and a chance to sit Kobe and LO in the fourth. Everybody's a winner.

Click below for the breakdown, complete with soundtrack:

Sonics are shorthanded, and not very good at full strength, but are young and hungry.  Lakers are on a back to back, and didn't get in until very late last night... Okay, the Lakers should still kill them, but I'm trying to establish a sense of drama.  The Lakers hope there won't be any. 

Starting for LAL: Kobe, Odom, Ronny, Vlad, Fish.  BK driving in the first quarter. 

FIRST QUARTER: 

10:45- Lakers are off to a good start.  First possession, Ronny hits Vlad Rad flashing to the post, next trip down Kobe gets fouled and makes a pair, then Vlad again slices through the lane, gets a pass from LO and scores an easy layup.  Fish finds a red carpet to the hole past Earl Watson with no help in the paint, and suddenly the Lakers have an 8-0 lead. 

Timeout Sonics.  Can't say I blame them. 

Got a chance to talk a bit with one Ira Newble, he of the 10-day contract that he's expecting to become a "rest of the season" thing.  Upon being released from Seattle, the small forward debated mostly between the Lakers and the Cleveland squad that traded him to the Northwest's worst, but thought he'd have a better shot at more PT here in L.A.  Newble sees his role very similarly to the way the blogosphere has hoped.  Bring some defense and toughness to this Laker squad.  As the guy who typically gets assigned an opponent's toughest scorer, he knows a thing or two about that gig.  In particular he's guarded Kobe quite a bit in the past.  I asked if he pictured playing with Kobe more fun than trying to lock him down, he laughed and confirmed that suspicion.  Having spent a couple years as LeBron James' teammate, he was hit with the inevitable, "KB24 or LBJ: Who's better?" question.  Newble praised the hell out of King James, but cast his vote with Kobe, noting that LeBron would mark his ballot the same way.  He also talked a bit about his efforts to raise awareness in Darfur (which attracted the involvement of Kobe).  We'll link that audio into a separate post over the weekend.    

Ironic note?  He doesn't particularly care much for the west coast, generally speaking.  But like he pointed out with a chuckle, here he is. 

The figure at left is a) a former session guitarist for the Doobie Brothers, b) the guy who runs the meth lab at the end of your block, c) the #3 pick in the 2006 NBA Draft.

Just thought I'd ask.

BK

It's official.  The deal is of the 10-day variety, but I wouldn't worry about that.  More a formality that gives them flexibility. I'd be surprised if he didn't finish the season in purple and gold.  From Lakers PR:

LAKERS SIGN IRA NEWBLE

EL SEGUNDO  -  The Los Angeles Lakers have signed free agent forward Ira Newble to a 10-day contract, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak. 

Newble, currently in his eighth NBA season, most recently played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Seattle Supersonics, averaging 4.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 15.5 minutes in 43 combined games this season, including 13 starts. 

Prior to playing in the NBA, Newble played in the International Basketball Association for the Wisconsin Blast (1997-98) and played in the CBA with the Idaho Stampede from the 1997-98 season through the 1999-2000 season. 

Undrafted by an NBA team, Newble played two seasons with Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College before attending Miami (OH) University, where he averaged 8.9 points and 6.4 rebounds in 58 games over two seasons, while being named Honorable Mention All-Mid American Conference his senior year.

In 374 career games including 197 starts, Newble is averaging 5.1 points and 2.9 rebounds in 20.4 minutes.

The Lakers roster now stands at 15.

BK

From the Akron Beacon Journal:

"Swingman Ira Newble has decided to sign a contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, choosing them over the Cavs.

A source said the Cavs offered Newble a spot on the team Wednesday, but the two sides could not agree on certain terms of his return."

No confirmation yet from either the team or any of the local rags, but as soon as we learn something more definitive, we'll pass it along.  Newble is a solid defender who would add some depth to the Laker rotation and give them another option with Trevor Ariza on the shelf.  How much he'll help remains to be seen, but given the negligible cost in bringing him in, there's really no downside. 

BK

When the Lakers left last week for their roadie, looking forward to games in New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, and Utah, most observers felt a split would be a mighty fine result.  When Pau Gasol went down against the Hornets, and the Lakers lost there and to the Rockets, said split seemed like a pipe dream.  Lo and behold, after Thursday night's 106-95 win over the Jazz in Salt Lake City, that's exactly what the Lakers earned.  L.A. came out of the gate red hot, building up a 24 point lead, but unlike the Dallas game on Tuesday, never actually gave it back.  The Lakers were led by Kobe Bryant's 27 points, nine of which came in a dominating final quarter, as LA did something few, if any, had done at EnergySolutions Arena over the course of Utah's 19 game home win streak- dictate play on both ends of the floor.

Kobe had plenty of help, though. Lamar Odom had 21/12/6, Vlad Radmanovic 13 on 5-6 from the floor, and Ronny Turiaf 9/6/6 as part of a balanced attack that shot over 52% from the floor.  The box score also shows solid contributions from Sasha Vujacic and Jordan Farmar, as well as a good shooting night for Fish, around whom the Lakers rallied, given his treatment the last time the team hit town. (Though this time around, it might have been better than the rest of his mates.)

When the Lakers kicked off this four-game roadie against a quartet of Western Conference playoff contenders, I said a 2-2 split would have been all good with me.  A 106-95 win over the jazz created said split, so as one would suspect, I am indeed happy.  More specifically, I was happy with how the events of this particular win played out.  The Lakers jumped all over Utah early on, going up by 20 to conclude the first and taking a 15-point lead into the locker room at the half.  But as good teams often do, the Jazz found a way to get it rolling (a method that often involved putting the Lakers in the penalty), actually outscoring the Lakers 50-46 for the second half.  They also whittled the lead down to eight in the fourth with just under four minutes to play.  Plenty of time to make things uncomfortably interesting. But instead of getting themselves neck deep in trouble and squeaking out a win (like Tuesday in Dallas), the Lakers bent a little, but never came close to breaking.  Every punch was met with a counter punch, and often one bigger than the hit they took.  Happy box score prevails.  The Lakers hold their own during their last truly tough stretch of games (road or otherwise).  Good vibes prevail heading back to L.A. 

Would have been the perfect night if USC also did their jobs against K-State, but I guess fairy tales endings only happen in movies starring green ogres, Andre the Giant or hookers with a heart of gold.

The breakdown is below.   

Sorry, took me a second to find my seat.  I went in one tunnel, was told to go about three sections over, then got eventually steered right back to the original tunnel I began at.  My seats were right behind me.  Weird. 

Anyhoo.

FIRST QUARTER

10:35 - LO takes the roick inside a few steps, then passes out to Kobe flashing towards the rock.  Bryant bobbles the ball for a quick second, then recovers and reverses the layup in. 

10:10 - Some solid Laker D forces a 24 second violation.  Nice way to take the crowd out of this.  And believe me, you want to do that.  Everything you've heard about this place being loud as hell.  Like, eardrum blood inducing loud?  If anything, it doesn't do the volume here justice. 

For the first time in my career as a writer, I actually had a spot reserved for me in the media room.  I walked in and immediately began scanning the wall for a free area to plug in.  All of a sudden, I see the wall placard: "LATIMES.COM."  BK and I don't even have a reserved spot at Staples or Dodger Stadium.  But here I am in Utah, being treated like a big shot.  Everything is definitely coming up AK in the SLC! 

And here I thought the only royal treatment I'd receive would be admittance into the Jazz locker room.

Meanwhile, back on the ranch (referred to henceforth as "the visiting locker room"), all eyes were on the corner TV set as Duke was trying to avoid a first round upset by Belmont.  At one point, Phil Jackson, Derek Fisher, Coby Karl, DJ Mbenga, Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol were all checking out Coach K and crew's eventual survival, which was particularly well received by Gasol.  Was the Spaniard a Blue Devil guy while growing up overseas?  Not really.  "I'm a bracket guy," laughed Pau.  Once the game was finally in hand for the Dukies, PJ was made available to the media.

There's just not a lot of free time on the first day of the tournament, so here are some quick thoughts on tonight's game:

• The Jazz can light up the scoreboard, coming in as the fifth highest scoring team in the NBA at 106.3 ppg (right behind the Lakers at 107.9).  That means the same sort of effort the Lakers put forth against Dallas in the first half on Tuesday will be required here to keep them in it.  The Lakers were quick to close, decisive on switches, and rotated well early against Dallas, before things went downhill over the final 18 minutes or so.  Not to be a Negative Nelly, but Utah, with their endless back screens and pick and rolls, plus a solid transition game, are equipped to exploit just about everything the Lakers don't do well. 
• Those 106.3 ppg for the Jazz don't come from the three point shot.  Despite the addition of Kyle Korver, who has been very effective for them, Utah only attempts 12.5 treys a night.  With their excellent ball and player movement, plus burly play from Carlos Boozer inside, they generate a lot of looks close to the hoop.  That helps explain their 49.7 FG%, a scant .1 behind the Suns for the league lead.
• With a win, the Lakers take the season series 3-1, something that could come in handy down the line. 
• Ronnie Brewer on defending Kobe (via the Jazz Blog at the Salt Lake Tribune): "You've got to get to him early, make him take tough shots," Brewer said. "I was watching when they played the Rockets [on Sunday], when [Shane] Battier was being real physical with him -- getting a hand in his face on every shot. That's what you try to do."
  
  Brewer also wants to "try and deny him the ball -- make other guys beat you because he is such an outstanding player."

Yikes!  Second half is about to begin... I need the Trojans to make a run.  Can't lose a Sweet 16 team on day one.

BK