The first came as a 21 year-old on March 12, 2000 in LA against the Sacramento Kings, the 100th nearly 10 years later, Tuesday night in the Lakers' 106-93 win over the Pistons at Staples. In between were 98 more games in which Kobe Bryant scored 40 points or more (click here for the full list). It was the second time he lit up the Pistons, but every team in the league has been a victim: The Kings (four times), Spurs (3), Warriors (7), Raptors (4*), Rockets (8), Cavs (1), Charlotte/New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets (3), Charlotte Bobcats (1), Grizzlies (6), Celtics (4), Sixers (2), Sonics (7), Suns (6), Jazz (5), Knicks (5), Nuggets (6), Hawks (1), Bulls (1), Mavericks (5), Pacers (1), Clippers (5), Heat (1), Bucks (1), Wolves (2), Nets (1), Magic (2), Blazers (4), and Wizards (3). 

"It's a tremendous honor. It's just a lot of work," Kobe said Tuesday night. "A lot of work that went into it, and it's amazing to kind of look back on that and have 100 of those games." 

You saw Kobe's laugh when asked if he had 100 more in him. That's probably too much to ask, even of him. But anyone who can do this certainly has plenty in the tank.

BK

*Question: Should 81 technically make it five?

After consecutive losses, the Lakers needed a strong response Tuesday night at Staples against the Detroit Pistons, a middling group playing without injured stars Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince. They got it, for three quarters at least, in a 106-93 win. Kobe Bryant led the way with 40 points, the 100th time he's blown up for 40 or more (that's 100 more than me and AK... combined!) over the course of his career. Bryant missed his first four shots, but then went nuts, shaking off the effects of a strained right groin to finish 17-29 from the floor. He capped his night with a three pointer, but generally speaking continued to do his damage in the post, taking advantage of an undersized Ben Gordon in particular.

LA used a Kobe fueled Q2 (13 points for Bryant) to blow the game open, and eventually built the lead to 28. Yes, they (meaning the reserves) lost their discipline and structure in the fourth and let the Pistons back in- shouldn't happen- but overall it was a positive return to form for the purple and gold. 

Add in news that Pau Gasol is on track for a return, perhaps as soon as Thursday night against the Bulls, and the process of turning those frowns of Friday and Sunday upside-down was basically complete. Not that the healing kept Phil Jackson from skewering Gasol and his guest spot on CSI: Miami.

MORE LAKERS AND NBA NOTES...

There's almost always an upside to extended conversations with Derek Fisher, and it's typically two-fold. First, he's a given for introspective, thoughtful copy. Second, the discussion will often take unexpected turns that spotlight additionally interesting topics. Eight or so minutes with Fish after Monday's practice proved no exception.

This particular chunk of conversation began with a discussion about the recently stagnant, struggling Lakers offense, then ended up delving into the essence of what makes Phil Jackson unique and- in the eyes of many- extremely effective as a coach. Here's what Fisher had to say:

Over the last couple of games, you guys have faced a lot more double teams in the post.  Is the best way to counter those defenses just hitting outside shots?

    Some of it is shooting the ball better, but some of it is also having better spacing, so that the person that receives the pass out, if his shot isn't there for him, there's space on the floor to swing it, then swing it, (then swing it) back inside.  Those are the problems we're running into.  We're not really that concerned about guys making shots, ultimately.  We're concerned about the lack of execution that comes from if the pass is kicked out of a double team, or just offensively coming down and not ever really seeming like we've gotten into an offensive set or flow of any kind.  Those are the things that are bothering us the most, the coaches and obviously, as players.  We're confident we'll make shots if we get good open shots. 

This morning, I tossed out a poll about the possibility of bringing Allen Iverson to LA. With a substantial number of votes already tallied this morning- keep 'em coming- those willing to take the plunge (assuming he promises- for real this time- that he'll agree to come off the bench) is hovering around 50%. Honestly, this seems high to me, but I'm just one man, with one vote... firmly in the "No" camp.

Ironically, ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan put out a list this morning of the best unemployed free agents available (Insider required). At the top is former Sixers/Pistons/Wizards/Mavericks guard/forward Jerry Stackhouse, who seems damn near giddy at the prospect of donning the purple and gold:

"I would LOVE to be out there," Stackhouse said... Judging from the tone of his voice, if we were to pick a favorite to land Stackhouse's services, it'd be the Lakers -- in no small part due to his long history with Kobe Bryant. "We've always competed, and we go way back. When he was a rookie, before he even started his rookie season, John Lucas had he and I out on the track running. He knows how I compete and work, so we've always had that mutual respect. Kobe's got a gamesmanship about him, he knows how guys look at him in awe. I've seen several times when he came over to the bench where I was and would not say anything to anybody on the whole bench, but then he'd look at me and say, 'What up Stack?' So there's a respect there both ways, I believe."

Most of the available Lakers news was noted Monday night on the blog. Start with Kobe Bryant's balky groin, aggravated in Sunday's loss to the Rockets. He practiced Monday in El Segundo, and will suit up  tonight at home against Detroit. The bum hamstring that has sidelined Pau Gasol since early in the preseason is improving. He got some work in yesterday and is confident his recovery is finally on track. Gasol will be in street clothes tonight, but Thursday's tussle with the Bulls is still on the table. Then, of course, there's his acting career (Early reviews: "Damn near Newman-esque relative to this... Variety"). For Luke Walton, the news isn't good. He'll miss six weeks, minimum with a pinched nerve in his back.

Across the (NBA) universe, though, people are a'twitter (and a Twitter) regarding the future landing spot of former Grizzly (he wore the uni, even if briefly) Allen Iverson. Leon Rose, AI's agent, says his guy is just looking for the right fit, and will come off the bench under the right circumstances. Ken Berger of CBS Sports noted one scenario floated to him: AI to LA. Which leads to today's poll question:

I voted "No." If "Oh, hell no!" was a choice, I'd have voted for that. But maybe you feel differently? More news and notes below...

For your Emmy consideration...

Do you think Pau has headshots? From here, is it simply a matter of not being typecast as a seven footer who can finish around the rim with both hands?

BK

Okay, maybe that's an exaggeration (the Lakers are, after all, 7-3 and the calendar reads Nov. 16), but the morning after LA's 101-91 loss to the Rockets Sunday night at Staples, Lakersville is an unhappy and angst-riddled place, filled with Morrissey albums, tax audits, and clips of the more crushing moments from Old Yeller.

As we noted last night, their shortcomings as a team were plentiful. The Lakers shot only 38% as a team, dragged down by a 5-20 night from Kobe Bryant, 3-13 from Derek Fisher, and another Large Pile O'misfires (also the name of AK's band in high school) from bench players not named Shannon Brown. Then there was the 60-38 rebounding advantage for the Rockets (and before you say, "It's because the Lakers missed so many shots!" note that Houston actually had more misses from the floor than did LA). Or the fact Houston rebounded from an early 16-2 deficit thanks to their customary tenacity and poise. There's more bad news in the box score, for those in the mood for something sad but lacking easy access to a copy of The Ice Storm. 

Arguably more upsetting than the final score or 24's shooting line was word that in the first quarter, Kobe re-aggravated a right groin injury originally suffered last weekend against the Hornets. While he says he won't miss time, Kobe acknowledged it was bothering him. "I've felt better," he said. It's certainly reasonable to believe the discomfort played a role in his poor shooting night, because Shane Battier didn't have much to do with it. 

In other injury news, Luke Walton missed Sunday night's game with a sore back. Pau Gasol, though, might just be on the road to recovery. Phil Jackson is "hopeful" Gasol will practice this week. We will now pause this regularly scheduled move to "Other Lakers News and NBA Notes" so you may knock on wood...

Well, that sucked.

Breakdown below...

A few reminders: First, hang out after the game for the postgame chat. It'll start about 10 minutes after the final buzzer, and is more Q and A than typical in-game free for all. Not every comment will go through. The goal is for it to actually be readable for those who aren't able to participate. Second, if you haven't already (and are so inclined), remember to start following us now at latimesKbros on the Twitter.

Obviously tonight's tussle is as about as anticipated a game as can be had so early in the season. The Nuggets are fired up, to say the least. For a little more pregame reading, check out game previews at Forum Blue and Gold and Pickaxe and Roll. Should be a great game. Kobe has been, well, Kobe, and on the odd chance you've totally stopped paying attention to the NBA this year and happened to miss it, Carmelo Anthony has been a very bad man.

Chat box below.

BK

As ESPN analyst Mark Jackson just noted during the Suns-Hornets game broadcast. He spoke with Lakers Media Relations Director John Black, who clarified (as BK suspected- click there to read/see everything Pau said to the media Wednesday) that Phil Jackson was screwing with folks. Making a funny. Driving home in a humorous way what BK and I have both said on a zillion separate occasions:  Nobody knows for sure when Pau Gasol's coming back, because hamstring injuries are extremely difficult to heal, rehab and predict.  Could be a while. Could be next week. It's really that simple, whether folks will accept that unfortunate truth or not.

And driving home in a humorous way that the media will often repeat wholesale anything he says.

PJ wasn't joking when he said Gasol won't be playing tomorrow. But for those on the ledge over the X-Mas diagnosis, a) back away and b) you actually brought a laptop out on the ledge?  That's dedication.

AK