Honest Vladimir
Thanks for doing the right thing, Vladimir Radmanovic, and confessing that you separated your shoulder while snowboarding in Park City, Utah last week, and not, as you had previously said, while slipping on a patch of ice outside a Starbucks.
Nobody really believed you anyways. And as Phil Jackson had said, things were a bit uncomfortable around the locker room.
Your honesty also helped to challenge the European/South American athlete stereotype. Vlade Divac, Manu Ginobli, and every soccer player ever has worked tirelessly to perpetuate themselves as flailing, cowardly, gutless phonies. Chalk one up on the “Are Not” side.
Confessing makes little economical sense. He could loose a bunch of money by violating his contract and participating in high risk activities that are strictly outlawed. Coming clean and telling the truth seems to be a decision Radamnovic made due mostly to his morals, something we don’t see very often these days. Typically if one thinks they can get away with something, they don’t confess. Right, Kobe?
We could all take a lesson from Vladimir. Be honest. So honestly, I’m telling you that getting your Lakers tickets at StubHub.com is going to make you taller, wealthier, and, most of all, more truthful with your coworkers.
Bryant, Refs Score 21 in Lakers Win
The Los Angeles Lakers took advantage of an ailing Utah Jazz team to make for their third win in a row last night. Mehmet Okur and Andrei Kirilenko weren’t their typical selves in Utah’s home loss, both playing after brief injury departures. But then again, neither was Kobe Bryant, who reportedly was battling with strep throat during the game.
No matter. Bryant quietly scored 21 of his 35 points while standing at the free throw line. His 24 attempts at the stripe matched a single game record for opponents of the Utah Jazz.
Phil Jackson could be seen working the refs early and often. He’s been known to comment negatively about the officiating in Utah. This time, however, there was little to complain about, as Kirilenko and Utah guard Gordon Giricek got called for anything and everything they did to try to stop Bryant.
Last night’s game was a relief for Lakers fans, who might end up buying Lakers tickets to a playoff series versus the Utah Jazz in the postseason. If that happens, now the Lakers have the confidence that they can win on the road in Utah. Fans can also be confident that StubHub.com will be able to put them in some great seats when the Lakers play at EnergySolutions Arena for that potential series.
As the Pendulum Swings
The Lakers coasted to another victory yesterday against the Golden State Warriors, convincingly dispatching with their division rival 102-85. The victory came on the heels of an old-fashioned flogging of the Boston Celtics on Friday.
Before the weekend the Lakers were at the bottom of their biggest slump of the season, but the tide appears to be turning.
The Lakers will get a chance to seriously test if they are on the right track against the Utah Jazz tonight at Energy Solutions Arena. The Jazz lead the Northwest Division by 11 games.
Of course, now is the time to take a shot at Salt Lake. Carlos Boozer isn’t at full strength, and Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur are probable.
After tonight’s game, the Lakers will have a three day break before Lakers tickets will get you into the Staples Center for their game against the Kings. Check out StubHub.com for seats to what might be a home game in the midst of a Lakers winning streak.
The Perfect Whomp
If you’re like me, you saw the Lakers’ win over the Celtics coming a mile away. The Celtics are attempting to shoot the moon to get Oden in the draft, so betting against them- in any game- is a sure-fire way to financial independence.
Add into the equation that the Lakers are trying desperately to get back on track after a six-game losing streak, after losing at home to the Trail Blazers, and there you have it: the perfect blowout storm.
Hopefully you were able to reap some economical benefit from an all-in, straight-up wager, not bothering with points. Once Phil Jackson made sure the Lakers could put the game away and secure any doubts about taking the team to a seven-game losing streak, Kobe Bryant was honorably discharged with 38 points.
If you wagered bets on Kobe’s scoring total for the night, you might have been a bit irked that Bryant didn’t play at all in the fourth quarter. He was well on his way to a fourth straight 40-point game against the Celtics.
Well, if you made some cash on the game get Lakers tickets to a luxury box for their next outing at the Staples Center. If you lost money on Bryant, however, check out StubHub.com for something a bit more thrifty.
No Bye Bye Bynum By Deadline
After no action either on the court or on the phones yesterday, the Lakers have to refocus on getting the job done tonight at the STAPLES Center versus the pathetic Boston Celtics.
The Lakers couldn’t have picked a better situation to end a losing streak. They play a team with the NBA’s worst record at 13-40, they’re at home, and now nobody on the roster has to worry about where they will be living on Monday.
Except for Radmanovic. On Wednesday afternoon Phil Jackson set up a plastic igloo in his backyard for Vladamir to sleep in for the remainder of the regular season.
Although Andrew Bynum is a New Jersey native, and might not have minded a trade, the Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak admitted that they “weren’t very close” to making any deals. Instead of considering Bynum, most of the options involved Kwame Brown, among others. The 19 year old center has shown a lot of potential, and the upside to keeping a young talented big man like Bynum in L.A., at least for now, was too great compared to the opportunity to improve the Lakers’ backcourt.
Lakers tickets to tonight’s game will probably give fans a glimpse of what Kobe Bryant called “a team that can make some serious noise in the playoffs with the roster that we have.” If this is true, I’d tell by bookie to put down some green on L.A. and check out StubHub.com for some lower level seats. This one should be in the bag.
Bor-ing!
Nothing came to fruition. The Lakers will have to rely on their current roster to carry them through the rest of the season. No Jason Kidd, no Scottie Pippen, no Andre Miller, no Mike Bibby, nothing.
All the trade talk and speculation and rumors of rumors of trades have officially become forgettable as the deadline for NBA player trades expired at 3 PM EST.
Now the Nets will be without $41 million and the Lakers will be without a decent point guard. Great. Now everybody’s happy.
With the exception of the Trail Blazers and Raptors no large deals were sealed. With numerous implications and plenty of gossip floating about, the lack of hard action is leaving many fans around the league feeling like they did on senior prom night.
To see the Lakers as they are, as they will be, get Lakers tickets at StubHub.com, your source for staying put.
Strait Six Shooter
Phil Jackson broke a personal record yesterday. As far as losing streaks go, Jackson’s new best is six straight, but it could be broken again tomorrow against the Boston Celtics.
Had the Celtics not won against Milwaukee last Wednesday, two unbelievable streaks might be on a collision course. Hypothetically, Boston would be on a 21-game losing streak going up against the streaking Lakers. It’s unfortunate things didn’t work out that way for news reporters, and all we have now are two teams who need to find some answers, quick.
If the Lakers can’t break a losing streak against the pathetic Celtics, then things will have taken a drastic turn for the worse. It’s already clear that the All-Star break didn’t do anything to improve the Lakers focus or poise, as a close game versus the Portland Trailblazers quickly got out of hand the second Kobe Bryant came out of the game.
Lakers tickets to Wednesday’s meeting with the Celtics will hopefully provide an opportunity for the Lakers to remember what it is like to win. Check out StubHub.com for a chance to see this game live.
Pippen and Kidd, no Kidding
Rumors continue to circulate the NBA about a possible deal between the LA Lakers and New Jersey Nets that could send Jason Kid to L.A. and Chris Mihm, Kwame Brown and Jordan Farmar to New Jersey.
Phil Jackson reiterated, given the current situation with injured amateur snowboarder Vladimir Radmanovics, the team is in need of a change.
Said Jackson, “I haven’t discussed with any length with (General Manager) Mitch (Kupchak) yet on the direction we want to go, but if Radamanovic is indeed going fill out the term of his sentence, that’s the end of the season, basically, and to get through and get into the playoffs, we may need some help.”
Whether that “help” means Jason Kidd, or the recently anxious 41-year-old Scottie Pippen, we will soon find out. Even given that Luke Walton looks almost ready to go, if the Lakers feel like making another deep drive in the playoffs, they’re going to need to get a boost from somewhere. But time is running out.
Weather you’d prefer Pippen or Kidd, or both, Lakers tickets at StubHub.com are probably going to include a first-hand look at a new starting five before too long.
Breaking Apart
The Lakers couldn’t help but incur more injuries this All-Star break, as forward Vladimir Radmanovic found it necessary to separate his shoulder in Park City Utah yesterday.
The already gaping hole down low left by injured Luke Walton and Kwame Brown has been made even wider by Radmonovic. The good news? Luke might be coming back within a week or two, but that won’t help the Lakers defend Phil Jackson from losing six straight games Wednesday night against big man Zach Randolph the Portland Trailblazers.
After that, comes another three day break. They play Boston on the Friday and Golden State on Sunday.
Right now, they just have to keep their minds on protecting Phil’s image and persona. A streak like this, at this point in his career could ruin him. Say goodbye to the Hall of Fame. I think Burger King is accepting applications. The fry cook just got called up to the Celtics.
Check out StubHub.com for Lakers tickets, and a chance to see some slick suits bought at Big and Tall.
Weekend Update
Kobe Bryant was all over the place in Vegas this weekend, getting second in the Skills Competition, judging next to Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins in the Dunk Competition, and winning the MVP in the All-Star Game.
My own personal MVP of the weekend was Charles Barkley, who beat 67-year-old Dick Bavetta in a contest where both men appeared to be laboring, there were actual stakes in the contest, and both sides ended up sprawled out on the hardwood. Plus everything was for a good cause- hilarity and charity.
In other Lakers All-Star news, Andrew Bynum and Jordan Farmar were in the Rookie-Sophomore game. Neither of them were very impressive in a game that was maybe the most unimpressive exhibition in a weekend of unimpressive All-Star unimpressivness.
If anybody didn’t get enough of Kobe on TV in LA, check out Lakers tickets at StubHub.com, and get some more show-stealing in real life.