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Lakers continue winning ways

Kobe Bryant didn’t play but it didn’t matter on Friday night as the Atlanta Hawks were the opposition. The result was a 106-95 win. The Lakers are now 13-6 heading into Sunday’s showdown with San Antonio at the Staples Center.

Bryant sat out with a sprained ankle, resting for the game with the Spurs. But lo and behold, Luke Walton stepped up with a career-high 25 points against Atlanta. Maurice Evans started in place of Bryant and scored 22, including a spectacular reverse layup while being fouled in the fourth quarter that made the highlight reels.

And Bryant’s absence didn’t keep away the celebrities. Lindsay Lohan brought the party to the Staples Center, perhaps thinking there was an AA meeting there.

Bryant hurt the ankle in Monday’s win over the Pacers but played in Wednesday’s loss to the Hornets. The woeful Hawks provided an opportunity to steal a night off for Kobe.

Sunday’s game sets up as a key test for Los Angeles. The Lakers have been feasting on home cooking of late. The Spurs game ends a stretch of 13 out of 14 games at the Staples Center (one was “at” the Clippers). Seven of the games were against Eastern Conference teams.

Now, the Lakers will follow up the game with San Antonio with a quick, two-game, back-to-back trip to Houston and Dallas. Several people have questioned just how good Los Angeles is and whether the Lakers are truly contenders. These next three games should give a hint.

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Mamba goes off, Lakers hammer Jazz

The Lakers dropped a tough game in Utah last week. On Thursday, Kobe Bryant wasn’t going to let the Jazz get a repeat.

Bryant went off for a season-high 52 points to lead the Lakers to a 132-102 win over Utah at the Staples Center. Bryant scored 30 points in the third quarter alone. The performance was so impressive that Lakers coach Phil Jackson actually came off the bench and hugged Kobe when Bryant left the game in the fourth quarter.

The game seemed to announce that Bryant is fully healed following off-season knee surgery. It also seemed to be a statement to the Jazz, who came into the game with the league’s best record at 13-3. The Lakers, now 10-5 and in first place in the Pacific Division, expect to contend for the NBA championship again.

Bryant made 11 shots in a row from the floor, a stretch that bridged the second and third quarters and was 19 of 26 on the night (two of three from 3-point range). He also made 12 of his 15 free throws - Utah tried a version of hack-a-Shaq to try to slow him down.

Next up for the Lakers is a Saturday game against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Lakers have now won six of nine games in a stretch of 14 games where they leave the Staples Center just once (the game at Utah).

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Lakers coach Jackson fined for comments

Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson was fined $25,000 on Wednesday for his comments following the Lakers 114-108 loss at Utah on Nov. 24. Jackson is legendary for how he works the officials but his post-game comments were fairly mild. He was attempting to protect his 19-year old center, Andrew Bynum.

He probably earned the fine for saying, “The league throws out some referee corps that you’re dubious about to start with.”

Jackson was fined $50,000 in March of 2004 when he said that referee Bob Delaney was prejudiced against then-Laker center Shaquille O’Neal. The Lakers organization was also fined $50,000 for those comments.

Jackson’s fines for comments go back to his days as coach of the Chicago Bulls. During the 1998 Eastern Conference finals, Jackson was docked $10,000 for ripping the officials.

So what does the Lakers most famous blogger have to say about this? Oddly, Flea hasn’t updated his blog since last year’s playoffs.

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Lakers rebound from loss to beat Nets

The Los Angeles Lakers returned home on Sunday night and defeated the New Jersey Nets, 99-93. The win was a nice turnaround after the Lakers traveled to Utah and fell to the Jazz on Friday, 114-108. That loss broke a four-game winning streak for Los Angeles.

The win over New Jersey was a team effort. Lamar Odom scored 21 points and Kobe Bryant added 19 but the two stars combined to shoot just 35 percent of their shots (14 of 40). The rest of the Lakers made 23 of their 42 shots for a phenomenal 55 percent.

It was especially sweet for Los Angeles to win in spite of Bryant being smothered by the Nets’ Jason Kidd and Vince Carter. Bryant made just eight of his 24 shots from the field.

The Lakers have so far taken full advantage of a stretch of 12 out of 14 games at home. And one of the road games is “at” the Clippers - also in the Staples Center. The Lakers have won the first five of that stretch at the Staples Center with Milwaukee up next on Tuesday. Then, Los Angeles hosts Utah in a rematch of last week’s game.

Andrew Bynum continued his solid play. The second-year player had six rebounds, three blocks and two assists although he scored just three points in his 19 minutes. He’s averaging 8.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game - numbers the Lakers need with the loss of Chris Mihm to ankle surgery.

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Lakers win cross-town rivalry, build lead

The Los Angeles Lakers continued their hot start on Tuesday, beating the Los Angeles Clippers 105-101 to open up a game and a half lead on their cross-town rivals in the NBA’s Pacific Division.

It was a familiar figure who led the Lakers to the win - Kobe Bryant scored 40 points, including 10 in the final five minutes, 38 seconds. The 40 points were a season-high for Bryant, who is recovering from off-season knee surgery.

The Lakers needed everything Bryant gave them on Tuesday. They led by 13 points before going scoreless over the first 6:22 of the fourth quarter.

The Lakers are now 8-3 on the young season and look to be playing well. They’ve now won four games in a row entering Friday’s game at Utah.

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Tragedy Drives Odom to Succeed

For those of you that have purchased Los Angeles Lakers tickets this season, you’ve had the good pleasure of watching a man whose game and attitude has been transformed. This transformation is the byproduct of an unfortunate tragedy that took the life of Lamar Odom’s son, Jayden. Tragedy has a strange way of making us appreciate our gifts and gives us a sense of urgency, realizing how fragile life can be. That same sense of urgency is why Lamar Odom is off to a blistering start to the NBA season.

Lamar Odom, an enigmatic player throughout his career; with MVP-type skills and a silky smooth game worthy of Lakers fan’s adulation, has always left coaches, fans, and pundits wanting and expecting more. During his seven-year NBA career, Odom has demonstrated moments of brilliance; at 6’9”, he has the ability to play every position on the floor. He effortlessly floats around the court and dominates when he wants to. However, too often Odom has failed to sustain this brilliance; his passive demeanor has been interpreted to mean he doesn’t care and he’s carried the soft label wherever he goes.

Odom’s life was turned upside down during a harrowing summer; not only did he lose his beloved son, but Odom also experienced the passing of his aunt, with whom he had a close relationship. And if those two events weren’t enough to make a man break, Odom was robbed during a visit to his hometown of New York City.

These tragedies have given Odom a determination and resolve that have been missing throughout his career. This season Odom has played with a sense of purpose that he’s channeled into aggressiveness on both ends of the basketball court. It’s too much of a coincidence to argue this summer’s events did not have a profound impact on Odom’s game. While he continues to mourn the sudden deaths of his son and aunt, Odom is taking his life-altering experiences and converting them into a passion for basketball. The game is his therapy; and will ultimately help heal his wounds. While these wounds heal, Odom will continue to take his pain and frustration out on opposing teams and leverage his immense talent to take the Lakers to the next level.

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Fast Start for Lakers to Begin Season

There is a buzz in LA swirling around the Lakers terrific start to the NBA season. The Los Angeles Lakers have gone from hot to scalding as fans clamor for the right to watch one of the league’s most exciting teams in action.

The terrific start for the Lakers gives fans optimism that is the year the Lakers return to prominence. The Lakers are off to a 4-2 start, despite Kobe Bryant’s absence during the first two games of the year; both wins for the Lakers.
Promising big man, Andrew Bynum, has come out of the blocks firing on all cylinders. Filling in for the injured Chris Mihm, Bynum has shown signs of becoming a dominant big man.

Bynum has split floor time with second-year player, Ronny Turiaf. Collectively, the two Centers have averaged 20 ppg and 11 rpg through the first week of the season. This level of contribution on offense is a pleasant surprise for the Lakers, who were hoping they could count on the two-headed monster to rebound the basketball and protect the middle. They have done both in impressive fashions.

The terrific start for the Lakers gives fans optimism that is the year the Lakers return to prominence. The Lakers are off to a 4-2 start, despite Kobe Bryant’s absence during the first two games of the year; both wins for the Lakers.Promising big man, Andrew Bynum, has come out of the blocks firing on all cylinders. Filling in for the injured Chris Mihm, Bynum has shown signs of becoming a dominant big man. Bynum has split floor time with second-year player, . Collectively, the two Centers have averaged 20 ppg and 11 rpg through the first week of the season. This level of contribution on offense is a pleasant surprise for the Lakers, who were hoping they could count on the two-headed monster to rebound the basketball and protect the middle. They have done both in impressive fashions. There are sure to be growing pains throughout the season for the Lakers as Bynum and Turiaf play their way through injuries and the inevitable slumps. The Lakers need both players to take the next step in their evolution as every-day players and become consistent and reliable contributors. If Bynum and Turiaf take this leap before the all-start break the Lakers could be looking at home-court advantage come play-off time.

If you don’t get your Lakers tickets soon you may have to settle for watching them on ESPN, TNT, or KCAL. Your destination for Lakers tickets is always StubHub, where you can find the largest selection of Los Angeles Lakers’ tickets on the web.

Turiaf Gives Lakers Fans One More Reason to Cheer

You may remember Ronny Turiaf from his playing days at Gonzaga; the man with the big smile and the bigger hair. Turiaf’s exuberance and passion made him a favorite among Zags’ fans, the same qualities that will surely make him popular among Lakers ticket holders.

Following his senior season at Gonzaga, Turiaf was diagnosed with a heart ailment that required open-heart surgery. The dream of a career in the NBA was quickly flashing before his eyes as he received the diagnosis that he may never play basketball again.

After the surgery and a battery of tests, Turiaf was cleared to resume playing basketball again. Full of resolve and determination, Turiaf started his comeback with the CBA’s Yakima Sun Kings, where he played his way back into basketball shape. After his relatively brief stint with the Sun Kings, Turiaf was called-up by the Lakers during the past season.

Playing in 23 games this past season, Turiaf’s number were modest (2.0 ppg. and 1.6 rpg), but his game continues to evolve. While he scored the basketball in college he does not feature a polished offensive repertoire. Right now he’s an energy guy; someone Phil Jackson can rely on to come off the bench and provide quality minutes without taking a step-back. He’s a nice complement to Chris Mihm and Brian Cook, both of whom prefer to face the basket while Turiaf is more of a banger.

It’s truly a miracle that Turiaf is playing basketball again, much less playing for the Lakers. You’ll love his energy and how hard he plays every night. If you needed another reason to watch the Lakers this year, now you have one. Need Los Angeles Lakers tickets? StubHub has got you covered.

 

Permalink - Posted in General on October 31, 2006 - Post a comment

Staying Healthy Is the Ticket to Lakers’ Season

After four long, grueling weeks of preseason camp, there’s only one candidate for Lakers MVP and that’s Gary Vitti. The long-time trainer has been a fixture with the organization for more than two decades and this may be his toughest assignment yet; getting key players, such as Kobe Bryant (knee) and Chris Mihm (ankle) healthy for the start of the regular season.

The Lakers were banged-up throughout the preseason and their record is indicative of the rash of injuries. Veteran, Aaron McKie spent much of the month of October battling back spasms, while forward Brian Cook, who the Lakers will rely on to provide depth in the frontcourt, suffered a sprained ankle that limited his playing time during the preseason. Not to mention, Phil Jackson is still recuperating from hip surgery.

The Lakers are one team in the Western Conference that can ill afford to lose key players. Depth is a concern for Coach Phil Jackson at just about every position. The Lakers are optimistic that Kobe Bryant’s surgically-repaired knee is fully healed and will not hamper him during the year. There are a lot of question marks with the Lakers right now. If they can get healthy and manage to limit injuries that would deplete their roster, they should be competitive in a Pacific Division full of parity.

Thankfully for the Lakers, they have a head trainer that’s been around the block and worked with some of the best players in NBA history. If Gary Vitti is able to craft his magic and nurture the Lakers walking wounded back to health, the Staples Center crowd should shower him with chants of M-V-P…M-V-P. The preseason is over and it’s time to start playing ball that actually counts. Visit StubHub for a Los Angeles Lakers tickets buying experience that is (James) worthy of an all-star vote.    

 

 

Permalink - Posted in General on October 31, 2006 - Post a comment

Looking at the Lakers’ Roster

With the start of the NBA season just three weeks away, it’s time to take a closer look at the Lakers roster and dissect the squad by position.

Guards
When you think of the Lakers the first name you have to mention is Kobe Bryant. Kobe is the reigning NBA scoring champ and commands serious attention from every defense the Lakers face. Kobe is good for 30, 6, and 5 every night. However, the key to the Lakers backcourt is fourth-year player, Smush Parker, who averaged 11.5 ppg., but only 3.7 apg, too low for a primary ball handler. If Parker emerges as a legitimate scoring threat he can alleviate some of the defensive pressure off Kobe.

Forward
Arguably the Lakers deepest position. They feature one of the league’s most versatile players in Lamar Odem, who has the capability to play point forward or settle on the block and work-out down low. The Lakers also added swingman Vladimir Radmanovic to the roster via free agency with the expectation he will give them a consistent outside scoring threat. Off the bench the Lakers will bring Luke Walton and Brian Cook to the rotation; two players that understand the game and can score, rebound, and pass.

Center
This position is the biggest question mark for the Lakers. They will rely on Kwame Brown to give them a reliable contribution for 82 games. With Bryant and Odem carrying much of the scoring burden, Brown will not be asked to score big for the Lakers; rather Phil Jackson will expect Brown to become a functional offensive threat while focusing on owning the boards and defending.

Is this the year the Lakers return to glory? How will you know if you’re not there to watch them play? Go to StubHub and get your Los Angeles Lakers tickets now.

Permalink - Posted in General on October 20, 2006 - Post a comment

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