The Lakers Nation

10:02:02 PM Jim Murdoc: can you have the pregame ready by sometime tomorrow?

10:02:12 PM Andrew Rafner: haha

10:02:12 PM Jim Murdoc: TUESDAY, SON!

10:02:14 PM Andrew Rafner: wow

10:02:18 PM Andrew Rafner: it just got real

And boy it is real. The 2008-09 season unofficially kicks off with the hallowed first game of the preseason at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA.

I will spare you the requisite “I missed doing pregames so much” speech and save that for opening night. I will not make any mention of Game 6 in Boston. I will not get giddy over Pau and Andrew in the frontcourt.

Why will I forgo all that juicy postulation and inane analysis?

To put it simply: at this point, it is useless. It is useless to try and glean something from the paltry haphazard undertaking that is NBA preseason, more specifically, Laker preseason.

Uncle Righteousness himself, Phil Jackson, has stated that Laker superstars Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant will see ultra-limited minutes in these exhibitions, so unless you are totally geeked out of your mind to see Brandon Heath and C.J. Giles in their purple and gold debut, don’t get your hopes up too much for Tuesday’s inaugural preseason contest against Utah.

Don’t expect to see a wacky battle like last season’s second round playoff matchup. Don’t weep in your pillow if by some wild offhand chance the Lakers drop this game by a staggering margin.

It is preseason. Let the optimism flow wildly, yet do not over exert. There are still 23 long and cruel days until Portland comes to town for a game that actually counts.

Television -

Los Angeles: KCAL 9 (Joel Myers & Stu Lantz)

Radio -

Los Angeles: AM570 KLAC (Spero Dedes & Mychal Thompson)

Storylines -

The Coby Show: With starters and key bench contributors expected to see limited action, second year guard Coby Karl may look to secure his spot on an already crowded Laker roster. Karl’s paper-white skin and freckly face managed to stay on the Laker books for the duration of last season, which included some impressive D-league performances. Karl’s goofy white-guy style and keen outside shot could be the difference in tonight’s glorified D-Fender’s game.

First Impressions: In early-October 2003, Karl Malone and Gary Payton walked onto the court in Laker purple and gold for the first time. I giggled like a schoolgirl from pure disbelief/sheer excitement. I have high hopes that the first glimpse of Pau, Andrew, Lamar, Kobe and Derek all trotting out together will have a similar effect

National Views: Now, I know we all live and breathe Laker basketball, but do yourself a favor and TiVO the Presidential debate that will be happening concurrently. If you have not made your selection already, these debates provide important forums for the candidates to discuss and explore complex and pressing issues facing our country. Regardless of where your allegiance lies, it is important to participate in the national discussion and if nothing else, it is DANG entertaining to see McCain and Obama duke it out.

Varsity Challenge -

(Prize: a tender kiss from the Mono afflicted Sun Yue)

Name the last 5 training camp invitees to have made the Laker opening night roster.