In the year 2008…
We decided to ask our beloved Lakers Nation staff members one question to start the New Year, “What do you expect from our Los Angeles Lakers in 2008?” This is what they had to say…
Archive for December, 2007
TLN’s Post-Game Report: Lakers vs. Celtics
The Celtics have earned my respect. Their 26-3 record is no fluke. They held a team that averages 107 points a game, with even more at home to 91. The Celtics forced the Lakers into several tough shots and the Lakers as a team only shot 35%. The Lakers also had shades of last year with 17 assists and 16 turnovers.
It was an ugly game all around for the Lakers. While several fans blame the shorts, I’m not convinced that had anything to do with it. Paul Pierce put on a show for his hometown fans as the Celtics upset the Lakers tonight (Lakers were favored by 2.5). Now, the bests of the day:
Lakers Short Shorts Gives ‘Em No Luck vs. Celtics
ESPN: Paul Pierce scored 33 points and Kevin Garnett had 22 points, 12 rebounds and six assists Sunday night to lead the Boston Celtics to a 110-91 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Boston took the lead in the first quarter and never relinquished it. Each time the Lakers threatened, the Celtics would pull away again.
Kobe Bryant scored 22 for Los Angeles, going just 6-of-25 from the floor. Lamar Odom had 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The victory in the final of two meetings between the teams this season ran Boston’s NBA-best record to 26-3 and extended its winning streak to six straight. It also ended a four-game winning streak by the Lakers, who still have won 10 of their last 13.
The Celtics prevented Lakers coach Phil Jackson from moving ahead of Boston Hall of Fame coach Ray Auerbach on the career wins ladder. Jackson remained tied with Auerbach for seventh on the all-time list with 938 victories.
Ray Allen added 19 points for Boston and Tony Allen, filling in for Rajon Rondo, had 16.
There obviously was a lot of emotion during the game — and a lot of jawing at the referees, who called seven technical fouls over the course of the game: on the Celtics’ Garnett, Kendrick Perkins, Ray Allen and coach Doc Rivers; and the Lakers’ Bryant, Trevor Ariza and Kwame Brown.
Continue reading ‘Lakers Short Shorts Gives ‘Em No Luck vs. Celtics’
BREAKING NEWS: Lakers to make “short” work out of Celtics tonight
A few of us have known and have had to keep tight lipped about it, but TheLakersNation.com has been granted permission to confirm the Los Angeles Lakers will indeed wear the 80’s throwback jerseys with the shorts.
Enjoy the SEXINESS!
TLN’s Post-Game Report: Lakers vs. Jazz
The Lakers are quieting the critics. This team is for real. The Lakers played 3 quarters of flawless basketball. The Lakers moved the ball amazingly with 34 assists. The Lakers did have 15 turnovers, but most was due to the second unit getting sloppy in the fourth. The second unit also blew free tacos for all the fans in the fourth by playing no defense.
But the first unit played out of its mind. Kobe, Lamar, Trevor, Andrew, and Fish played like a championship first unit. The Lakers shot 54% from the field and 57% from three point land (thanks Kobe!). All five starters made double figures in points and this is a great win to send us to one of the biggest games of the year. Now, the bests of the day:
Lakers ease by Jazz as Jackson matches Auerbach
ESPN: Phil Jackson pulled even with Red Auerbach in regular-season victories, 5 1/2 seasons after tying the Boston Celtics coach for the most NBA championships won.
Kobe Bryant had 31 points and seven assists before sitting out the fourth quarter and the Lakers beat the Utah Jazz 123-109 Friday night, giving Jackson his 938th career win and a share of seventh place on the career list.
“The longer you stay here, the more wins you’re going to accumulate,” Jackson said modestly. “But I’ve never really followed that stuff, you know? I think the night that made the most sense to me, in terms of numbers of wins, was when I got my 500th and Bill Fitch was coaching on the other side. He was my college coach, and he came over and shook my hand after the game.”
As fate would have it, Jackson will get a chance to pass Auerbach when the Lakers host the Celtics on Sunday night in the 177th regular-season meeting of the NBA’s greatest rivalry. They’ve faced each other 10 times in the finals, with Boston winning the first eight and the Lakers prevailing in 1985 and 1987.
ackson, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sept. 7, has won nine league titles as a coach. Three of them came with the Lakers and the other six with the Chicago Bulls — who won 72 games with Jackson at the helm in 1995-96.
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Pincus: Rumors – Laker Blockbuster Unlikely
Hoopsworld’s Eric Pincus chimes in with the latest Kidd/L.A. rumors as well as provides us with new tidbits about it…
Hoopsworld: Lots of rumors involving the Los Angeles Lakers have been bouncing around recently, specifically in regards to Jason Kidd and Jermaine O’Neal. What’s interesting is that both players make the same $19,278,000 salary this season.
The Lakers are currently on an upswing behind the play of developing center Andrew Bynum. While the New Jersey Nets and Indiana Pacers wouldn’t make a deal in earlier talks without the inclusion of Bynum, it’s become apparent he is simply untouchable.
In Jersey, Kidd would love to make a move to play alongside a player like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony. Facing a mediocre product, declining attendance and an unhappy superstar, the Nets are open to making a change.
Similarly a source says the Pacers aren’t averse to moving Jermaine O’Neal for similar reasons (though O’Neal has been more of a good solider).
While both teams want value in return, financial relief is a considerable factor.
The problem the Lakers have is coming up with enough expiring contracts to trigger a deal. At this point that may not be possible with either New Jersey or Indiana without a third team’s participation.
Considering how well the Lakers are playing, they’re not willing to do a 5-1 swap, crippling their depth to take on an overpaid star. Even if they decided to package sparkplug point guard Jordan Farmar with the expiring deal of Kwame Brown, the Lakers simply don’t have enough short contracts to make up the gap.
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Is it time to praise Kupchak?
O.C. Register: In the spirit of the season, let’s send some holiday cheer to someone who has earned it — someone who spent much of 2007 getting hammered, and not in the fun, eggnog way.
We’re speaking of Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak, whom Lakers Nation fired about a thousand times in ‘07 but Lakers management never did.
Based on the way this season has started — with the Lakers at 18-10 and the GM’s biggest rebuilding block, Andrew Bynum, literally in the center of it all — keeping Kupchak appears to have been the right move.
Hindsight is just wonderful that way.
When everyone from Kobe to Jack thought the Lakers should ship Bynum to New Jersey for quick-fix Jason Kidd, Kupchak took the long view and held firm. Now he has another slam-dunking, shot-blocking big man to pair with Bryant (although Bynum mustn’t become satisifed with his recent success and still must prove he can be a double-double threat for 82 regular-season games and multiple playoff series).
Ariza is adjusting after trade
The forward, who came to the Lakers from Orlando on Nov. 20, is feeling more comfortable.
L.A. Times: Uncertainty and apprehension appeared in the Lakers’ locker room soon after the trade was announced.
The move that brought Trevor Ariza to the Lakers and sent Brian Cook and Maurice Evans to Orlando was met last month with raised eyebrows, even genuine concern, by players who thought the success of the Lakers’ second unit could be affected by losing two peripheral contributors.
That unease has gradually faded.
Ariza responded to his first start as a Laker with 14 points, seven rebounds and a memorable dunk over Grant Hill in the Lakers’ 122-115 victory on Tuesday over Phoenix.
Ariza’s minutes have risen in recent games, while Evans and Cook have seen a decrease in their playing time with the Magic. Evans had one point in six minutes on Wednesday against New York, and Cook did not get onto the court for a fifth consecutive game.
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