Word is Kobe Bryant, steeped in flu-like symptoms (Is it flu? Flu adjacent? Scurvy? Pac-Man Fever?*) will be a game time decision. I bet he plays. Yes, flu can make a guy feel lousy, but it doesn't require being strapped to a gurney Hannibal Lecter style, generally what it takes to keep 24 off the floor.

FYI:  After the game, we're going to try something a little different than our normal road game routine:  Postgame chats, starting about 5-10 minutes after the game ends and running for about 15-20 minutes.  And it's a chat, not a continuation of the live blog.  Meaning more Q and A style. NOT every comment will go through. It's a postgame call in show, without the phones or radios.

Chat box below.

BK

*Lakers Blog. Where Buckner and Garcia happens.

UPDATE:  Wow. What a win. The Lakers take the penultimate step towards banner No. 15, stealing Game 4 in Orlando in a 99-91 overtime classic. Derek Fisher added to his big-shot resume with a game-tying three with 4.6 seconds left in regulation after the Lakers were down five in the final minute. Fish then added a triple in the bonus session to break the tie for good. Los Angeles plays for a title in Game 5 Thursday night. Start thinking parade routes.

Plenty more to come on tonight's win - stay tuned!

BT

Need we really explain why this game is important?

The jabber box is below.

AK

Editor's Note: While you're chatting with the Kam Brothers below, you can also check out Lisa Dillman tweets live from courtside, photos from the NBA Finals and our latest photo essay: The many faces of Kobe.

You have a) questions, b) concerns, and c) comments.  We have a) answers, b) soothing words, and c) a place to post them.

Chat box below.

BK

Join us for a Lakers vs. Rockets pre-Game 1 live chat.  3:30 pm PST.  Just come to the site, and the chat box will be there for you to access. 

See you there.

BK

Let's kick around matters of import for tonight's Game 2, or anything else on your mind.  Remember, not every post goes through, since we're trying to answer questions and make the thing readable when it's over.  A few things to chew on in the meantime:

• The Salt Lake Tribune's Ross Siler reports that Mehmet Okur is out for tonight's tilt.  No shock there.  Kyle Korver will again start.  
• Today's shootaround notes from Mike Bresnahan of the LAT: Phil Jackson expects a much better performance from Andrew Bynum.
• If you missed it AK's post, Kobe Bryant finished 7th, Trevor Ariza 16th in DPOY voting.

Chat box below.

BK

Have some burning questions regarding Josh Powell?  We'll be on at 2 p.m. PDT to answer them, and any others you might want to fire off as well.  No need to follow a link or anything.  Just come back to the blog and you'll see the window.  See you later this afternoon.

BK

Here we go.  Half an hour of Laker-centric yap with your host, AK.