Lakers Tryin to avoid first 0-3 start since 1978......

Things can't get any worse right? Well that's what I thought when the Lakers came out flat again. They were trailing thought the 1st, but made a 12-6 run and closed the first quarter out leading by 1. The offense was still ugly with both teams shooting under 40%. The Lakers were also giving up too many offensive boards. Things started to live up in the 2nd. Troy Mirphy and my boy McBob both had 9 rebounds half way thru the 2nd. Steve Blake also came alive. He is looking more confident every game. He through a lob to McBob ( hey that rhymed) to lead the Lakers on a 7-0 run. The next play down McBob passes is to Ron at the 3, he then hesitates ( which usually results in a miss)then drives to the basket for a dunk as Kevin Harlin exclaims like only he can METTA WORLD PEEEACE!!!

Utah is such a young team compared to the Lakers I'm not sure why they didn't get out and run more. They are a different team without Jerry Sloan, but it seems they have more of an advantage when their in the open court. Oh well not my problem.
 The Lakers start the 3rd with a 10 point lead and they just built on it from there. Kobe was using Raja Bell like he owed him money. At one point he crossed him over like he was glued to the floor and then ended with a two handed jam. 


 It became embarrassing. But, Raja should be used to it. When asked by Cheryl Miller before the game if Kobe has lost his step, he said " No, he looks good on TV and even better in person. He definitely has not lost his step. Of course the TNT cast ( namely Charles Barkley who is one of the biggest Laker haters) seems to think Kobe is an old man and his legs don't have much jump left. It took Reggie Miller to counter that statement and say " No way. Kobe has posts of jump left in those knees." I never thought Reggie Miller would be the one to come to Kobe's defense, but hey the truth is the truth.
So the Lakers start the 4th 71-46. Ron continues his good play with ten off the bench in counting. As he is at the free thro line the Staples Center chants " World Peace! World Peace" Kobe jokes with Luke and Barnes on the bench and says he should put his two fingers in the air Lol. This is the 2nd straight game Ron has looked incredibly comfortable in the post. But, the young Jazz never stop never stop playing hard. They went on a 9-0 run. Mike Brown then put Kobe and Fish back in. Reports from Staples say it was just for practice. He wants them to get used to the new schemes.

With the crowd chanting " We want Barnes!" ( who sat with a bruised knee) the Lakers get their first win of the 2011 season. Kobe ended with 26 points and Pau not too far behind. When Bynum gets back,and these new guys get their feel of the team I think they will be good to go. Kobe actually had a smile for the first time since last season...hopefully we can keep it there.



Next game Thursday with the New York Knicks

Merry Christmas its NBA time!!!!

Well here we are after 143 days of the lockout a shortened 66 game season has begun! Our Lakers sure have changed over the summer. We have a new coach, Vanessa Bryant and Lamar Kardashian have both divorced the Lakers and some think the Lakers are no longer the best team in their own building! The Lakers are always up against adversity so we are used to the scrutiny. With Bynum suffering a 4 game suspension ( he won't play until Jan 31, the Lakers have some pretty new faces in the starting lineup.

Well as the game gets underway both teams seem rusty but exited. This is to be expected after a long break. We will see many teams making lots of turnovers and rushing shots trying to get in the swing of things. One of the newest additions to the Bulls Rip Hamilton picked up 2 quick fouls with 9:08 to go in the first. Pau came out on fire. He missed a few threes, but he was very active on defense and on the large. The Lakers looked very well on defense and they rotated well which is the main thing Mike Brown stresses in is practices. Joachim Noah also picked up his 2nd foul in the 1st quarter. He was more aggressive than usual. By the end of the 1st quarter we were down by 3. Pau lead the Lakers with 8, Kobe had 6, and D Rose had 0. Turnovers hurt the Lakers though, they had 6 to start the 2nd.
The 2nd quarter started pretty much the same with DRose finding his first points with 6:56 to goin the 2nd. He went on from there to go 4-4 with 10points. The Lakers had the lead for most of the quarter, but the Bulls score 9 out of their last 11 to close the half. We went to the locker room down by 6 shooting 53%. The Bulls shot 59% and we 5-8 from beyond the arc.
The Lakers came out with lots of energy to start the 3rd. The "white boy connection"was in full effect with the newly acquired McRoberts ( affectionately known as McBob)and Steve Blake connecting for a monster dunk that got the crowd going! Then with a dime from Kobe to Ebanks the Lakers took the lead for the first time since the 1st quarter taking the score to 65-63.
Let's fast forward to the fourth. The snazzy new point guard Goudlock comes out the huddle with a nice 3 off the dribble. Then next play Steve Blake hit 2 three pointers at the buzzer making us remember why we brought him here in the first place. Troy Murphy was a great contributer with lots of offensive boards and put backs. The Lakers had the largest lead of the game 10 points with 4:50 to go in the fourth. Then Blake hit another 3 to push the lead to 85-77. Of course true to form the Bulls went on a run. Then also true to form Pau missed 2free throws and so did McBob. We would've sealed the game with those. Then the unthinkable happened. Deng dribbled the ball at the top of the key and Blatantly Traveled. But, Bernie Adams did one of his famous no calls and Deng passed it to the MVP who sent a floater thru the lane to give the Bulls a 1 point lead with 20.4 secs to go.


 The last play was of course designed for the best man in the floor. The ball was inbounded to Kobe, he takes a few dribbles to the elbow, pulls up for the jumper and was triple teamed and blocked. We loose by one. Kobe didn't blame anyone or anything. With no argument he just headed to the lockeroom while the Bulls celebrated on the Staples Center floor like they had won a playoff game.

D Rose ended with 22 and Kobe ended with 28
After the game Mike Brown said its just one game. He said they made a few mistakes that can be corrected. They will watch the tape and come back out ready to play. All in all I like what I saw from the Lakers. I can see the evidence of Mike Browns defensive practices. Their rotations were very good and they had many of stops. I think when we get a nice gel going and get used to playing with each other they will be just fine. Of course I would like a trade like everyone else in Lakertown, but I think if Bynum and his glass knees can hold up, Pau can have a breakout year, and Kobe continues to be Kobe, we have a great future! Click the link below to see full highlights!
http://sports.yahoo.com/video/player/nba/Daily_Highlights/27708392