The journey of a thousand miles...
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Remember, Purple Gold and Blue at 11 am! Listen right here on the blog page, or join the chat board (we take callers!) by clicking here.
If what they say about first impressions is true, then the Lakers are in very good shape. Tuesday night at Staples, the purple and gold kicked off the 2008-09 season with an impressive 96-76 win over Portland, and while the highly anticipated Andrew Bynum-Greg Oden matchup didn't really factor as the big Portland center left early with another injury, the Lakers, so sayeth the box score, displayed all the depth, increased athleticism and versatility folks were hoping to see as they try to undo the damage from Game 6 (if we have to tell you which Game 6, you haven't been paying attention). Looks like the LA-Portland Rivalry 2.0 isn't quite up to speed just yet.
But for all the nice passes and good shots - there were plenty of both - the biggest mark the Lakers left was on defense. They completely choked off the Portland attack, holding the Blazers to under 35% from the floor in each of the first three quarters, as the visitors entered the final frame with only 53 points on the board. It was the tight D that had everyone buzzing after the victory streamers came down from the rafters, a great start for a team with very high expectations and little room for error.
Of course, if you didn't see all the action, you can get the gist with our new video recaps (patent pending...) below.
Ah, technology.
In other news:
- Jackson laughed off Bynum's participation in a rainmaking 21st birthday escapade, captured on video, calling it part of the process of becoming a man from a teen.
- While the Blazers aren't yet up to snuff, these are two teams that could be seeing a lot of each other down the road.
- TJ Simers is already worried about Opening Night, 2009.
- For a look at the other side, check out the game recap at Blazers' Edge...
- ...and The Oregonian.
- George Karl says the Nuggets aren't likely to make a move on Coby Karl right now, but if he's still available down the road it could be an option.
- When it comes to the whole "no contract extension" thing, Andrew Bynum has much in common with the rest of his draft class.
- Mike D'Antoni and Eddy Curry apparently isn't a good combination. Couldn't see that coming.
- Adam Morrison got a haircut, so it's now safe to watch Bobcats highlights on TV again.
- This is a great piece, worth the long read, from our friend Eric Neel at ESPN.com on Carlos Boozer and his son's battle with sickle cell anemia.
Tonight's Game: The Lakers will help open the season for the Clippers. Surely the LAC appreciate the NBA's schedule maker sucking the air out of the one night they're supposed to have all the attention to themselves.
The Clips will have Baron Davis healthy and ready for his hometown debut, but don't look for Marcus Camby to take the floor.
I believe Sasha has happened upon a sound policy:
Reserve guard Sasha Vujacic revealed he would no longer wear the color green as a consequence of the Lakers' loss to the green-and-white clad Celtics. So, was he serious? No green even on St.Patrick's Day?
"I'm serious about it," Vujacic said. "No green."
Why isn't this law in civilized, meaning non-Boston, parts of the country?
Posted by: The D | October 29, 2008 at 11:00 AM
I'm not sure how beating the newest and youngest team in the NBA erases the humiliation wrought by losing the Finals to Boston.
laker fans are hungry for anything to feel good about, understandably so. But let's not get carried away here - the Blazers are a poor test.
I will be interested to see how the Clips do - if Baron and Camby play, the lakers will have to display some actual heart rather than flash.
And the SUNS? It's your chance to check them out tonite! We're hoping Goran Dragic brings the same kind of D he used against tony parker in europe. Word is Eva Longoria really like Goran.
Posted by: BUTLER | October 29, 2008 at 11:04 AM
WED. OCT. 29 LAKERS vs. CLIPPERS - WIN # 2 & COUNTING
The Force is in Balance & the rest of the NBA trembles in fear.
BE PROUD BUT DON’T BE COCKY !
*
Good Morning Charles
Good Morning JustAnotherMambaFan & Morning CRUE
Good Morning THE NEW SAM BOWIE – GREG ODEN
Welcome Aboard to : LOI REYES LANDICHO, MR. NANO, JAY_EL
Good Morning Laker Blog!, Laker Nation!
*
Please No criticism of The Beast, give the lad a chance to get in shape.
No need for rah rah speeches, so lets get right to Roll Call & Posting.
*
ROLL CALL!!!:
FAITH, Bob, KEIFO, VMan. Jay Jay, CHARLES, Edwin Gueco, Tsiry, FATTY, AngryLaker,
ThaShow, Tim-4Show, The-LakeShow, GenericOne, Pig Miller, Taliq, Jamie_SWEET, TP.
DICE8UP, Zakee, Cleon, SBPimp, The_D, Bozz, #4, ELLE, HMRHed, Laker_MR., TOAD
OUTSIDERGURA, JOHNNY_P. DAVID_WHANG, BENJAMIN, LAKER_HOLIC, MR NANO
ComptonsFinest, LakerLEGACY, EXHELODRVR, LAKERTOM, RICK FRIEDMAN, JON K.
GRAIL, BigDAWG, NAJA aka BONUS, KOBEBLITZ, NEVER, OUTLAW, LAKER_BANDIT
RDLEE, TWOODY, HUGO_BOSS, CORNER J, BAYWOOD, HUGOSPAIN, Laker_TRUTH
Tsphere, WeaveMan, SIX_ONE_Zero, FEARLESS, CBUCK, KIWI, LAKER_STH, JANAYA
utzworld THE BANNER HOLDER, HTP, EAST_COAST_JESSIE, SAMLL, P_ANG, FLOYD
ADRIAN_PALOMAR, CALIPHILOSOPHER, JESTER_GURU, 1978, LAKER_N`orth, JMAN
LAKERPhil, LEBANESE_Mike, DK, WESJOENIXON, WOLF, JUSTIN_N., ERIC_M, BZAR
BLACK_MAMBA24, BROWN_MAMBA24, WHITE_MAMBA24, MAMBA24_FAN_4LIFE,
FAN_Of_MAMBA, JustAnotherMAMBAFAN, JustALakerFan, MR_BARNEY_DANGLES,
BYNUM_BELIEVER, LEONARD_BAST, KENE_SLOW, FRANCESCO, VI_Laker_FAN
LAKER_Bake, LAKER_Larry, LAKERS_4_REALZ, DAVE_M, MARTY, LAKERMAN_420
CHI_LAKER_FAN, NEMIA FALETOGO, GREEK_Dude, MIKE_T., HTP, EHOMP, BOBIE
HELLRAISER(certified Mamba Fan) L MAGIC_MAN, HOBBITMAGE, CAMERON, BMAC
EVIL_CARTMAN, DARLEEN MCCUTCHEON, TINIDORS, LAKER_FAN_FROM_NY,
DAVE ROSENZWEIG, CALI_KING, PS_LAKER_FAN, LAKER_KEV, LAKER_IN_BC
DAN_the_MAN, HUBBIT, SEAN714, AJAX, PAUL_LEE, TEEJ, PUDDLE, JAY_EL, EJK
LOI_REYES_LANDICHO, LAKERS_WORLD, MARKY_THE_ARKY, TROY, ISANG
STAY_THIRSTY_MY_FRIENDS, COMPLEX_BROTHA, CHUCK23, LAKER_FAZE,
PURPLE&GOLD_FOREVER, GD_CHILD, CDUB0512, STAPLES24 , CHRIS H, OSEJ
LAKERGurl, SFLAKERGirl, PSYCHEDLAKERrGirl, SIMILAKERGirl, BOCALAKERGIRL
LAKERGIRL_1980, HOUSTONlakerGIRL, LakersRydeOrDie, LAKER_Lass, She_KOBE
DrewPauKobe, KobesBad, NIK KANNAN, SLO_GAL, DAVID_IN_SPAIN, BennyBlanca
SmoothD, ISSANG,THIRTY2, BLAZE1BX, MAGIA32, EAST_NYBOER,ChiTownLAKER
MASTUDA, Mayor_of_Kobe_Town, NEIL, SEAD94, ROOKIE, ATL_LAKER_FAN
Machiavelly, DOC4daLakeShow, Korey, KARYNANAR, BRAD, BLKTHGHT06, 130
EPICMESS, StrangerInTheNight, BYNUMITE, USC_LAKER, SWETTUAL, AA_LOOS
T_SENSEI, BerkleyLaker, CHICK_4EVER, LONG_LIVE_CHICK, ALEXHIN017, HTJ
HEAD-MBENGA, LAL_FAN, LOOK_LONELY, LOTECH8, VIOLATER, MITCHELL
SALTLAKER, FKILLAH, HARIYAHU, JCOOL, LAKER_DAWG, EAGLE_BOY, TRIO
MICHIGANLAKER, YOU_EVER_NOTICE, JANDRO, XTRO, PK-IN-the-MESSA
WondahBap,Cyrus(Ventrilquist), , JOREMA, VALLEY_LAKER, LAKER_HOPEFUL
CriticalBeatDown, RealityBites, RESPECT_My_AUTHORITH, LINDA_PINEDA
AMAZING HAPPENS, TELLitLIKEitIS , Lakers4Lyfe, Nestros_Bistro, Canibus_hog
McGARNAGLE, AFRO_Joe, DASCILLA JONIN_in_JAPAN(InCanada), HEN1040
FRANK FRIZZO, Stockton_SHOWTIME, LADIES_MAN, KIKOS_DAD, BRETT
GiantSquid, RICO_TICO, LAKALOVER, He_Who_HOOPS, B4_HOOPS
MobWagoneer, LAKAFoo, JHLANNERY, LAKAFOO, LAKER_FAN_CANADA
Reality_Check, BronxLakerFan HoustonLaker, TexasLaker, BrazillianLaker,
*
ALL TOGETHER NOW
*
WE ARE THE FREAKIN LA LAKERS THE WINNERS OF 14 NBA TITLES.
THE TEAM WITH THE BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE IN NBA HISTORY.
THE ONLY TEAM WITH 2 HOF COACHES. THE TEAM WITH THE MOST
PLAYERS ON THE 50 GREATEST PLAYERS OF ALL TIME LIST(6). THE
HOME OF THE REIGNING AND FUTURE MVP – KOBE BRYANT. THE
HOME OF WILT, KAREEM, GEORGE MIKAN, SHAQ, MAGIC, ELGIN BAYLOR,
THE LOGO(JERRY WEST), PAT RILEY, JAMES WORTHY, BOB MCADOO,
"BIG SHOT ROB HORRY" GAIL GOODRICH THE LEGENDARY SPORTSCASTER
CHICK HEARN COACHED BY 9 TIME TITLE WINNER PHIL (9RINGS) JACKSON
& OWNED BY THE BEST D@MN OWNER IN SPORTS DR. JERRY BUSS
AND THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN EVER DEFEAT OR DIVIDE US IS US
LAKERS TODAY LAKERS TOMORROW LAKERS FOREVER
Posted by: mamba24 | October 29, 2008 at 11:06 AM
Hey D...I'm with Sasha on that one. I hate green because of the Celtics and I live here in Boston. Not even on St. Patricks day in Boston. No green whatsoever. I wouldn't even allow my husband to watch the ring ceremony last night. Told him he'd have to visit the nearest sports bar if he wanted to watch.
Posted by: EastCoastJessie | October 29, 2008 at 11:16 AM
Yessss...roll call baby! It's on now. 2-0 tonight baby!
Let's see who gets the most cheers tonight on the Clippers "home" court. L.A. belongs to the Lakers.
Posted by: EastCoastJessie | October 29, 2008 at 11:20 AM
"I'm serious about it," Vujacic said. "No green." Why isn't this law in civilized,
meaning non-Boston, parts of the country?Posted by: The D |
October 29, 2008 at 11:00 AM
STOP IT D! STOP IT NOW! LMAOF!
Posted by: MAMBA24 | October 29, 2008 at 11:20 AM
"I'm serious about it," Vujacic said. "No green."
It's because Sasha would cry yet again if he's forced to remember having his ankles broken by Ray Allen in the Finals. That is Sasha's career-defining moment so far.
Maybe he ought to work on improving his D rather than relying on a wardrobe change to raise his game.
Posted by: BUTLER | October 29, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Mamba24 aka Lar-dizzle!
Posted by: Charles | October 29, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Butler
Have to agree with you on the first part of your post, Portland was not that good a test, as they're still very young, but we did play great defense reguardless.
On watching your SUNS play tonight... PLEASE!!!
Posted by: keifo | October 29, 2008 at 11:27 AM
Yea boiiieee! Lakers feed on the 2nd fiddle Clips tonight and win big. Prediction: Lakers 116 Clippers 95.
Boom!
-bozz-
Posted by: bozz | October 29, 2008 at 11:32 AM
Let's see who gets the most cheers tonight on the Clippers "home" court. L.A. belongs to the Lakers. Posted by: EastCoastJessie | October 29, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Say it again East Coast!
Posted by: Mamba24 | October 29, 2008 at 11:32 AM
Let's see...all those who'll be watching the Suns tonight, vote now!
Sorry Butler, 1 vote received...you and only you baby.
Posted by: EastCoastJessie | October 29, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Woo! Great game last nite! Kobe for MVP 2009!
Mamba24 I was on the roll call last time but not this time! What gives! Haha just kidding probably just forgot to put me in the big bunch :)
Posted by: Justin N. | October 29, 2008 at 11:35 AM
EastCoastJessie
Suns? Is that a Volleyball team?
Posted by: Charles | October 29, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Hey Butler,
Thought I'd share one of my fondest memories of your beloved Suns.
http://tinyurl.com/5q67xh
Posted by: EastCoastJessie | October 29, 2008 at 11:43 AM
"I'm not sure how beating the newest and youngest team in the NBA erases the humiliation wrought by losing the Finals to Boston."
This from the guy who all off-season was tellin anyone who'd listen that Portland was gonna be a big challenge for the Lakers this season...
Here's to lookin forward to the beatdown the spurs are gonna put on the wnba phoenix franchise tonight.
Posted by: Badfinger | October 29, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Hey wait... Lakers have won 7 in a row?
Keep it up boys!!!
GO LAKE SHOW!!
LIGHTS OUT!!!
Posted by: keifo | October 29, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Charles,
I think it's water polo, actually.
Posted by: EastCoastJessie | October 29, 2008 at 11:48 AM
I love the team with LO coming off teh bench.
No Smush, No Luke, and LO coming off teh bench spells championship!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Zakee | October 29, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Two things scare me about tonight's game.
1. Baron Davis. Baron has always played extremely well against the Lakers, especially at Staples. He is obviously from LA and likes showing off to his home crowd (this will probably change now since he plays in LA all the time). But I know he gets extra pumped for these games, especially his debut as a Clip. I would not be surprised to see Baron go bananas and score 30+ points tonight, even with his little injury.
2. The Lakers may be tired. Last night everyone was really high and excited and it may be hard to duplicate that energy in the first back to back of the season, especially when they're playing the Clippers. It usually takes a few back to backs to not be affected (even though teams are always some what affected by back to backs).
All in all though, we are playing the Clippers and I don't think that we will have a problem. I will mainly be focusing on how Bynum rebounds from his "sub-par" performance last night.
Jon K- You're lucky, you have a win-win situation tonight.
Lamar = 6th man of the year
GO LAKERS
Posted by: mrbarneydangles | October 29, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Mamba24 I was on the roll call last time but not this time! What gives!
Haha just kidding probably just forgot to put me in the big bunch :)
Posted by: Justin N. | October 29, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Justin I swear, I don't know what happened I think my PC is a lil
unstable but I'm putting you back in right now. Sorry my brother.
Posted by: Mamba24 | October 29, 2008 at 11:50 AM
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING LAKER NATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOOO HOOO!!!!! Lookin good last night!!! whats with Bynum? he looked like a high school player last night. I coulda blocked that first shot! AFTER SMOKING A BOWL!!! I pack the virtual bowl for Bynum because he needs to chillax...
On tonights game....HAHAHAHAH! Opening night for the clippers!! NOT!!! They won't even go to a clippers game for free out here. TRUST ME I WAS THERE. The shootout against Toronto was a double header with the clipper playing FC Barcelona first. I thought I would get there early a pick on some clipper fans...but there wasn't any there. There must have been about 200 people in Staples Center, and most of them had on Lakers Jerseys!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! This is opening night part 2 for the Lakers baby ya!!!!
IT'S TIME TO WATCH THE LAKERS AND DRINK SOME BEER,
TOKE A BOWL AND SCREAM AND CHEER!!!!!!!! LAKERS 4 LIFE BABY!!!!!!
CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP
IT'S TIME TO WATCH THE LAKERS AND DRINK SOME BEER,
TOKE A BOWL AND SCREAM AND CHEER!!!!!!!! LAKERS 4 LIFE BABY!!!!!!
CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP...
LakerMan 420
Posted by: LakerMan 420 | October 29, 2008 at 11:55 AM
hey, check that out. i'm in the roll call! the roll call friggen' rules!!!!!!! <3
last night was an awesome game. total domination from start to finish. although tonight i have a concert to go to, and hope i don't miss much of the game!
lol @ volleyball team comment by charles! no, i think the Suns play badminton. Shaq has one hell of a serve!
Posted by: leonardbast | October 29, 2008 at 11:57 AM
yeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: VIOLATOR | October 29, 2008 at 11:59 AM
SNIFF SNIFF COUGH COUGH
IT'S TIME TO WATCH THE LAKERS AND DRINK SOME BEER,
TOKE A BOWL AND SCREAM AND CHEER!!!!!!!! LAKERS 4 LIFE BABY!!!!!!
CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP
IT'S TIME TO WATCH THE LAKERS AND DRINK SOME BEER,T
OKE A BOWL AND SCREAM AND CHEER!!!!!!!! LAKERS 4 LIFE BABY!!!!!!
CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP...
LAKERMAN_420 IS IN THE HOUSE LADIES AND GENTLEMAN
Posted by: Mamba24 | October 29, 2008 at 12:04 PM
KEIFO! Whats the score going to be
Posted by: Mamba24 | October 29, 2008 at 12:06 PM
BK,
Maker's Mark!
Posted by: Charles | October 29, 2008 at 12:08 PM
leonardbast and Zakee
Talk about blast from the past...
Posted by: Charles | October 29, 2008 at 12:14 PM
EastcoastJessie,
That was the Canadian Crotch grab defense!
Posted by: Charles | October 29, 2008 at 12:16 PM
vIOLATER STOP THAT! STOP THAT NOW! LOL!
Posted by: MAMBA | October 29, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Let me just say that the beat down of the Trailblazers was SO AWESOME!
The D, the energy, the intensity.... I kept hearing how home court advantage is the most important thing. Yeah, baby!!!!! Pau looked great, and a couple of those moves Kobe made - oh my. OH MY.
I LOVE LA!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: longtimelakerlover | October 29, 2008 at 12:26 PM
Charles,
Or the "have these two Philly meatballs for lunch" defense.
Posted by: EastCoastJessie | October 29, 2008 at 12:30 PM
What a great defensive minded game!!
I can't wait for more!!
Damn the TROLL is back??
Gore-AKK?? Are you kidding???
No-pez??? whahahahahahaha!!!!!
The SHACK BAR????? Maybe when he was with the Lakers! He is a has been.
I can't wait until our PHONY FUNS LOSE AND THE ENTIRE SEASON GOES TO WASTE!!
I see that SHACK is already saying that the OFFENSE NEEDS TO GO THROUGH HIM.......LOL....I see the honeymoon is over for SHACK and soon he will verbally assaut the whole team and will demand a trade.
Good Luck BUTT-LER.
Don't go away though.....every KINGS COURT NEEDS A JESTER!
janaya
Posted by: janaya | October 29, 2008 at 12:55 PM
Ready for game 2! Afternoon Mamba and Laker nation. Had a blast last night watching the game. Dejavu all over again tonight against lil brother clips. Will be sporting my purple and gold here in the SGV! Go Lakers!
Posted by: LakerBandit | October 29, 2008 at 01:00 PM
Badfinger-
"Here's to lookin forward to the beatdown the spurs are gonna put on the wnba phoenix franchise tonight."
Here,here (glass raised toasting that statement)
And may I toast the troll for the entertainment.......
janaya
Posted by: janaya | October 29, 2008 at 01:00 PM
No way, I will always wear green and white, those are my school colors. Purple and Gold refers to fall while Green and White refers to Spring not necessarily Celtics. Those who hate green just because they are Celtic colors have the mentality of leprechauns (small brain). haha!
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | October 29, 2008 at 01:05 PM
Yo Blog.
I got tix to tonights game and it will be awesome.
AMAZING game last night, nothing like starting off on the right foot with a big win over a young team that, for all the hype, is starting it's first journey together as whole...until after half-time.
Vlad looks interested, Lamar is such a distributor he's getting dimes from guys on THE BENCH!
Did anyone else see 3rd quarter Kobe turn on the JETS to blow by his defender for an easy dunk? He switches gears better than ANYBODY!
Sorry for the CAPS typing, but I was pretty stoked after last nights win. It was so very refreshing. Not too many bad points, it's nice to see that even when were not firing on all cylinders we can play solid D. D is the key.
Look for a bearded hippy type at the game tonight, I'm wearing red pants, maybe with my shades on inside 'cause our future is so bright.
If Mike Taylor goes to the hole, I want Bynum to deliver a game changing foul like he did to Greg "Welcome to tghe NBA bitch" Oden. That's what we were missing agianst Boston last year, hard fouls on impunitive little guys taking it to the rack.
GO LAKERS!!!!!
Posted by: Jamie Sweet | October 29, 2008 at 01:10 PM
No, Mamba24 is right, we shouldn't be cocky. A long hard season is ahead of us. But we shouldn't be blase either.
We have been waiting long months for this and now LAKERS ACTION is BACK!!! And so far we are UNDEFEATED!!! We delivered a TOTAL SMOKING to them. And, I'm feeling like a LAKERSMAN_420 POST over it. YES WE CAN - ENJOY!!!
GOOOoooOOOO LAKERS!!! GOOOO LAKERS!!! GOOOOooOOOOOOOooooOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: JohnnyP | October 29, 2008 at 01:16 PM
Zakee sucks. (heard that from Smush who is now jobless b/c of Zakee.) LOL!
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | October 29, 2008 at 01:17 PM
Okay Mamba... here it is...
Lakers win by 12... that's all I can say!!
GO LAKESHOW!!
LIGHTS OUT!!!
Posted by: keifo | October 29, 2008 at 01:40 PM
Early Observations -
The Kobe fella is gonna be just fine. Probably MVP fine.
Pau will be an All-Star for the west this year.
Andrew won't get a max money deal come Friday and would be dumb to turn down 10 mil + big incentives based upon the facts as they stand today.
Phil will again fall short in Coach of the Year voting even though we all know he's been most deserving more often than not throughout his illustrious career.
Kupchak won't win EOY even though the moves he's made have put is in this position. Deserved it last year but the east-coast bias decided to give it to the Green Conspiracy of Ainge/McHale.
The Lakers will have a solid 6th man of the year candidate in either Ariza or Farmar. Lamar, as he is apt to do will fall well short of expectations and finish 5th or lower in 6th MOY voting. That stupid, s-eating grin after throwing a perfect pass to Sasha on the bench basically said,"I'm going to enjoy my last year on the best franchise in professional sports."
Sun Yue, I don't have a lot of hope for. Calling him the Chinese Magic is absolute Heresy. More like the Chinese Yaroslav Korolev.
Posted by: htj | October 29, 2008 at 01:43 PM
Kobe's post game i think is highly underrated. On the one post move he had last night, he easily backed his defender down before showing some amazing footwork for his up and under layup. We should run more plays for him at the post, especially when he is being guarded by the opposing teams SG not SF, as he will score on them at will. (Like he doesnt do that already)
Posted by: kene_slow | October 29, 2008 at 01:58 PM
Zakee sucks. (heard that from Smush who is now jobless b/c of Zakee.) LOL! Haha haha
Posted by: lakersdude | October 29, 2008 at 02:00 PM
Go Lakers! Good win. Haters like Bill Simmons who think Kobe's done should take note. Much better defense (although in all honesty, we'd have gotten ripped apart by elite teams with good outside shooting). The effort and intensity was definitely there, as well as the clear foundation of good rotations. we just need more discipline and practice.
Disappointed to watch Drew struggle without his hops. I hope he can find a way to get his legs back under him and start playing above the rim again. He's young and shouldn't have to play too many minutes...anyway, we'll see.
Hopefully we won't have a let down game against a Clippers team which should be very easy to get motivated...
GO LAKERS!
P.S. Who the heck names a professional sports team the Clippers?? Yikes.
Posted by: Cameron | October 29, 2008 at 02:03 PM
ak & bk, do you know if kareem is still coaching bynum on the side?
Posted by: grayvilla | October 29, 2008 at 02:13 PM
mrbarneydangles,
Let me be clear: The Lakers always come first with me.
However, when the Lakers play the Clippers, IF (and I emphasize "IF") the Clippers win, it is the only loss by the Lakers that does not totally ruin my evening and cause me to wake up in a bad mood the next morning. Is it disappointing when the Lakers lose to the Clippers? Yes, but not devastatingly so.
If it was up to me, the Lakers would win the NBA Finals each and every year from now until the Apocalypse.
However, I also have a deep desire for the Clippers to also be successful. I'd love for them to be in the playoffs every year and IF the Lakers were eliminated in the playoffs by another team, I'd like the Clippers to be able to win the Finals.
The Clippers and Lakers aren't rivals in the classical sense of the term because, quite frankly, the Clippers haven't accomplished anything of significance in their entire history outside a handful of successful seasons in decades of existence, while the Lakers, in contrast, are the Greatest franchise in the history of the NBA, if not American sports in general.
My hope is that the Clippers will develop a consistent pattern of success and from that consistency will develop a strong, FRIENDLY, rivalry with the Lakers based upon mutual respect and a shared love for the honor of representing Los Angeles.
I'm hoping it can happen. Baron Davis is great player. Chris Kaman lacks consistency, but has tremendous potential. Marcus Camby was a great pickup. And the Clippers have three players to build around (Thronton, Jordan, and Gordon) and once they unload Tim Thomas's (aka "The Only Current Cancer at Staples Center") contract, in 2010 they'll have $20 million to invite significant talent to Los Angeles to wear a Clippers uniform.
If well coached and Donald Sterling doesn't screw things up, the Clippers have a bright future upon which a judiciously built pattern of success can develop.
A successful Clippers team is good for Los Angeles, good for the Lakers, and good for basketball.
Still, the Lakers are going to win the next five O'Brien Trophies. So, that much said, I think it would be fun to also have the Clippers be successful, just not as successful as the Lakers.
Go Clippers!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | October 29, 2008 at 02:16 PM
janaya,
I think we have 2 jesters (or you can call them clowns) Another one mike t, he is here only part time. We all know by now his little gig - KWAME IS A GREATEST CENTER OF ALL.
Posted by: LAL_Fan | October 29, 2008 at 02:18 PM
UNDEFEATED...
I like the ring into that...
Mamba24 thanks for the roll call...
Now let's claim back what is ours
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: KiKosDad | October 29, 2008 at 02:19 PM
grayvilla-
Far as I know, yes.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | October 29, 2008 at 02:20 PM
Phil coaching for the 2009 Western Conference team at the new Dallas Stadium.
...with 4 all-stars from our Lakers.
...I like that.
Posted by: KiKosDad | October 29, 2008 at 02:22 PM