8:51- The Lakers finally get an empty trip up the floor, and it actually results in LO's second foul. He'll have to sit down, and Ronny comes in for him.

Garcia hits a triple on the other end, and the Kings are back within one.  The Lakers look loose and very comfortable, but need to make sure they don't get too loose and too comfortable.  Honestly, though, I'd be shocked if they let this game get away from them.  They've come too far and worked to hard to give up control now. 

8:25- Beno Udrih draws the and-one on Fish, and will go to the line to cut the lead to 13-12, and does.  While the Lakers ought to take this one, and are meeting absolutely no resistance on the offensive end, Sacramento won't lay down for them.

5:56- Not a lot of whistles early.  Lakers up 20-16 as Gasol makes it 1 of 2 from the line.  LA has been able to do almost whatever they want offensively, shooting near 80% and generally getting fouled when they don't put the ball in the hole, but need to tighten up a little defensively.  Udrih has a lot of freedom right now, and is doing a little damage.  The Lakers have, though, forced some early turnovers, and are using them to their advantage.

Nice block from Ronny on Salmons.  THere has been pressure, but also breakdowns. 

4:43- Lakers up 22-18

3:41- Kobe picks up his second foul, sending Garcia to the line for a 1 plus 1.  After Garcia makes the first, Sasha comes to get Kobe.  Can't have him picking up three this fast.

3:23- A terrible, and I do mean terrible, bounce pass from Vlad to (I can only assume) Sasha goes straight to Sacto, who convert the TO into a Quincy Douby triple, cutting the Laker lead to 26-24.  I mean, wow.  Farmar and Walton in after the TO.

2:32- Walton makes two FTs, with Sacto in the penalty, and it's 30-24 LAL.  Play set up with a great entry pass over the top by Gasol.

:49.3- Tough possession on the offensive end, as JF ends up with the ball in the right corner off a broken play, with nine ticks on the shot clock.  He had some time to get the ball out, but instead set up an iso on Douby, and ended up losing the ball.  The Kings convert on the other end, forcing a turiaf foul for FTs.  As long as the Lakers take care of the ball, they should be okay.

END OF THE FIRST: Lakers up 34-27.  Not a bad quarter, especially considering the Lakers lost Kobe and LO to foul trouble.  They're able to operate freely on the offensive end (63%, went to the line 11 times), and held Sacramento to 39% shooting.  Five TOs kept the Kings in the game.  Still, up by seven after the first?  Not bad.

AK with the second.

10:56 - A lot of defensive effort (and a little bit of luck) conspire to converge in the form of a Sasha Vujacici triple.  First, DJ Mebnga tapping and volleyballing the heck out of Farmar's miss, eventually causing the ball to trickle to Walton for a second chance.  That opportunity ends up an errant 20-footer by Luke, but Farmar ends up swiping the ball from Sheldon Williams after the rebound.  From there, it's all Sasha.

10:20 - Good challenge by Mbenga to force a miss from Spencer Hawes six feet out.

9:24 - LO holds his ground in the paint and does enough to bother Garcia into a missed layup.  He's rewarded for the effort on the ensuing possession by being in the right place at the right time to put back Kobe's miss.

8:32 - Williams swings his elbows a little too much for referee bennie Adams' taste and gets tagged with the offensive.  Gotta be honest, bit of a weird call, even though I'm not complaining.  From there, Sacto asst coach Chuck Person is hit with a technical foul (had no idea Person was on their staff).  Kobe drains it, putting the Lakers up by 9. 

7:53 - One handed jam by Mbenga!!!  His best chance this season (and possibly ever) to get featured on SportsCenter.  C'mon, ESPN!  Do our man from the Congo right. 

6:45 - Hustle under the boards by Walton after Mbenga's miss allows him to not only beat Hawes to the loose ball, but draw the foul on the rook as he sinks the layup.  And one completed.

4:04 - Continual pressure applied by Kobe against Quincy "Skinny as all freakin' get out" Douby causes the King to lose traction, hit the floor and cough up the rock.  Kobe shuttles it to Pau for the emphatic reverse dunk.  Lakers up by 15. 

2:49 - Kobe's iso'd against Salmons at the top of the arc.  A couple dribbles and a drive, spin move, then the layup.  Dude really does make it look pretty easy at times.

22.9 - LO intercepts Salmons pass and sets up Kobe, who'd driven a few times with no basket or foul, to finally end up at the line for a pair.  One of two are good, setting up Kobe for 13th of the half.

The half ends with a Farmar buzzer beating trey ball, reviewed and approved.  The bucket puts L.A. up by 14.  Aside from their work defending the arc (Sacto's canned 5-7), the Lakers have done a nice job making the Kings work. They're clearly in control of this one and were it not for the Kobe and LO foul trouble, would probably be up by even more.  I expect this one to get awat from Sacto fairly soon into the third.  We'll see if they make me look smart.  BK with the third.

THIRD QUARTER:

10:25- Kobe drills a three to give the Lakers a 67-53 lead, then picks up his third foul on the other end.  No wories, though, assuming he doesn't come right back to pick up his fourth.  Important minutes for the Lakers, who just need to maintain their hold on the game and not let the Kings shoot their way back in.  They don't have to run the Kings out of the gym, though that would be nice.  As long as the Lakers finish the quarter up about the same numbers as they entered it, no worries.

9:15- Vlad dribbles off the left wing, then hits Gasol, who had moved into the lane where he hits the easy Jumper.  Nice ball movement and recognition from Rad, who made some weak passes earlier in the game.

8:46- 72-57 LAL.

7:08- LO goes to the line, makes a pair of FTs, and the Lakers are now up by 19.  76=57.

They've stepped up the pressure,  have started the quarter 4-7, and held Sacto to 4-11.  Meanwhile, they continue to get to the line. 

5:59- Lakers up 76-61.  Timeout on the floor.  The Lakers, as they have been for most of the game, are basically in cruise control.   They're obviously and demonstratively better than the team Sacramento can field tonight, and they know it. 

It's encouraging to see them stay so aggressive, though, and continue to attack the hoop.  Lots of FTs tonight for LAL.

3:47- Lakers up 83-65 after a couple Kobe FTs.  Aside from a couple fairly zealous fans, the crowd has basically checked out of this one.  This building has a tendency to get quiet- it's just so freakin' big- and when things aren't intense you can carry on a conversation with just about anyone you want.

3:20- 84-65 LAL, and the Kings are already in the penalty.  Have been, actually.  Just by firtue of that alone, the Lakers ought to be able to push the lead.  Garcia just picked up his fifth personal trying to keep LO off the offensive glass- Kobe missed from downtown- and now the Lakers can get points.  Getting to the line is a huge thing.

Seconds in, or at least a few.  Turiaf, JF join Kobe, LO, and Vlad Rad.

1:05- Ronny sticks another midrange J, a shot that he's hitting with a lot of regularity these days.  He started the year sticking that one, then it got away from him a little.  Good to see him getting the touch back.

:50- Kobe is taken out, to a standing ovation.  Hopefully, he doesn't have to come back in.  Lakers up 93-70.  96 now, after a Vlad Rad three from the right corner.

END OF THE THIRD: If there was any question as to who was going to win this game, the Lakers put it to bed.  I think they scored about six billion points in the last three minutes, and pushed the lead out to 101-72.  Sasha hits a three with 2.7 left, then Vlad picks up a steal (the inbound to nobody in particular) and cruises in for the dunk.  That'll do it.

FOURTH QUARTER

11:02 - Lot o' ball movement involving all five Lakers on the floor (Farmar, Mihm, Turiaf, Vujacic Walton) creates a wide open three for Farmar in the Sacto bench side corner.  Shot's drained.  laker lead gets more swole up.

9:16 - This time, the fivesome combine for great work on the other side of the ball, denying a scrambling Kings unit a clean look at the bucket.  Udrih's shot leaves his hands after the 24 seconds allotted are used up.  Another great possession for the second unit. 

9:00 - Ronny puts down a twisting alley oop dunk off a Farmar feed.  The Lakers are now up by 29, with their most formidable opponent being sheer and utter boredom.  I know I'm fighting a losing battle against it.

7:39 - I hear a courtside fan heckling Mikki Moore.  "Summertime, Mikki!  Summertime."   The man Mom once described as looking like "half a spider" (gangly long arms, head of braids kinda resembling feelers) is indeed getting the business.

5:12 - Ronny gets fed on a behind the back under the bucket by Sasha, but opts instead to pay things forward to Mihm and set his buddy up for an easy dunk.  That's actually a basket Mihm, who's still getting back into game form and looks more than a little rusty, could use to hopefully find a flow.

4:13 - Mbenga's checked back in, along with Ira Newble.  I believe Phil's officially declaring this one "in the can." 

2:44 - I couldn't tell from the other side of the court if Mihm or Mbenga officially blocked Salmons' layup attempt.  Half a gold star for each and we'll just call it even. 

1:29 - That time, the block was definitely Mihm's.  Victim: Douby. 

44.3 - Another one handed throw down for Mbenga, this time off a running start.  I said it before and I'll say it again!  Put the man on SportsCenter, Four Letter Network brain trusts!!! 

There you have it, kids!  Your Western Conference Champion Lakers!!! It's official now, courtesy of a 124-101 win over the Kings.  No Artest, Martin or Miller created the formula for a purple and gold beatdown, which was exactly what got delivered.  Six Lakers hit double figures, highlighted by the trio of Lamar Odom, Paul Gasol and Vlad Radmanovic's combined 20-23 shooting for a grand total of 41 points.  Congrats to the Lakers and the fans who've stuck by their squad.  Fun night for all.  More to come later.  Thanks for dropping by.