Pre-Game Ramble: Lakers v. Spurs

With only 3 regular season meetings with the spurs and leading the season series 2-0, the Lakers have clinched a season series victory over the Spurs for the first time since 2003-04 season (3-1). The Lakers have not swept a season series from San Antonio since the 1997-98 season (4-0). In 37 career games including 32 starts against San Antonio, Bryant is averaging 24.6 points per game while in his 6 games against the Spurs dating back to last season, he is averaging 31.3 points per game. In addition, Horry was a teammate of Kobe Bryant for all three Lakers championships from 1999-2002,

Starting for the Lakers: Odom, Radmonovic (in for an injured Walton), Bynum, Parker & Bryant.

Pre-Overtime Ramble (Special Edition): Kobe just 2 points away from 18K Points

Kobe hits a tre and tying the game 91-91....Forcing overtime and bringing Kobe within just 2 points of a career high 18,000 points AND the youngest player ever to do so in NBA history.

Half-Time Ramble (Special Edition): Kobe 23 Points Away From Career 18,000 points

Pre-Game Ramble: Lakers Vs. Charlotte Bobcats

The Lakers are 2-0 all time against Charlotte at Staples. In their last meeting in Los Angeles on 12/4/05, the Lakers rallied back from a 10 point 4th quarter deficit to defeat Charlotte 99-98. In that game, Kobe scored 29 points, while Lamar was just 3 points shy of a triple double, finishing with 7 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. The Bobctas rookie center Ryan Hollis was a teammate of Jordan Farmar on both the Bruins 2006 Pac-10 championship Team & and the Final Four Team. Michael Jordan who is the Managing Member of Basketball Operations for the Bobcats, won 6 NBA Championships with the Chicago Bulls under current Lakers head coach Phil Jackson.
UPDATE: LAMAR ODOM WILL START TONIGHT.

Bryant Will Start 9th Straight All-Star Gaame: 3rd in League-Wide All-Star Game

The NBA announced the starters for the 2007 NBA All-Star appearance today, with Kobe earning his 9th overall All-Star appearance as well as his 9th consecutive start for the West (1998,2000-07- no game in 1999). Bryant, the youngest All-Star in NBA history in 1998 named MVP of the 2002 game in his home town of Philidelphia, earning 2,138,177 votes, 3rd overall league-wide behind Lebron James (2,516,049) & Yao Ming (2,451,718). Bryant joins Yao, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Tracy McGrady in the Western Conference starting lineup. Teaming with James in the East will be Gilbert Arenas, Chris Bosh, Shaq O'Neal and Dwayne Wade.

In selecting reserves, the head coaches must vote for 7 players. including 2 guards, 2 forwards, a center and 2 players regardless of positions. Coaches are not permitted to vote for players on their own team. after the coaches select their reserves. If a player is unable to participate,in the All-Star game NBA Commisioner David Stern will appoint a replacement.

Laker Girl Jessica Named to '07 All-Star Dance Team

Pre-Game Ramble: Lakers Vs. Golden State Warriors

The Lakers are currently leading the series with the Warriors (1-0) they swept the 2005-06 series wih the Warriors 4-0 sfter going 3-1 against Golden State the year before. The Lakers have not lost a season series to the Warriors since they were defeated (2-3) in the 2004-05 season . The Lakers are 9-1 in their last 10 overall meetings with Golden State and are winners of their last five in a row . In their first meeting of the 2006-07 season on November 1, the Lakers spoiled the Warrior's season openerat Oracle Arena with Lamar Odom coming close to his second consecutive triple-double against the Warriors by recording 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists.

Lakers vs. Mavericks

Best Road Win of the Year! Lakers Kick Spurs

The Lakers defeat the Spurs, 100-96. Kobe Bryant hit a jumper with 1:24 remaining to give The Lakes the lead for good. Bryant finished with 34 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds. Vladimir Radmanovic scored 13 points and Maurice Evans added 11.

Lakers Turn Down The Heat In OT: 124-118

Pre-Game Ramble: Lakers Vs. Miami Heat

The Heat & the Lakers have met on Christmas Day in each of the last 3 seasons and will meet for the second consecutive Martin Luther King, Jr. Haliday on Monday, January 15. The Lakers defeated the Heat 100-92 at Staples last MLK day with 37 points from Kobe Bryant. In Kobe & Shaq's 4 head to head meetings, Bryant is averaging 35.5 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists while O'Neal is averaging 21.3 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2 blocks. As head coaches with the Lakers, Jackson (355) and Rilley (533) account for 888 of the Lakers 2,372 Victories, more than 1/3 (37.4%) of all Lakers victories in the Los Angeles era.

Stop Feeding the Chris Webber Rumors!

Webber has a lot on his plate.

There have been a lot of blogs dishing out speculation on whether or not C-Webb will don a Laker uniform. So, what if Webber signs with the Lakers? Could he be biting off than he can chew? Between trying to co-exist with Kobe Bryant, trying to digest the triangle offence and icing his sore knees, I think he might.

Phil Jackson's response was telling; when asked about reports that free-agent forward Chris Webber had a wish list of five teams for which he would like to play, the Lakers being one of them:

“Did he give it to Santa?” Jackson quipped. “It’s a little bit late for that.”

After reaching an agreement on a buyout, Webber was waived Thursday by the Philadelphia 76ers. The Lakers could offer Webber a prorated contract for the veteran’s minimum of $1.117 million, of which $433,797 would be covered by the NBA.

“We’ve always respected Chris Webber’s game and he’s a great player,” Jackson said.

All these rumors are giving me an upset stomach, and quite frankly, make me wanna throw up.

Let the Spurs have him.

The Lakers have a recipe that's perfect, so let's not mess with it, okay Kupchak? Or you may be eating crow off of a Chris Webber Commemorative Plate.

Has Big Handles; Takes Up 5 Blocks; & On the Floor Most of the Game

"Uh, hey Lady, I think you dropped something"

Carnac the Magnificent holds the 'hermetically sealed' envelope up to his turban and says, "Big Handles; Takes Up 5 Blocks; On the Floor Most of the Game." Carnac opens the envelope and reads, "What do Ronny Turiaf and the lady's purse next to me have in common?" Carnac's psychic abilities were the only 'magic' worth mentioning tonight, as the Lakers win 109-106 against the Orlando Magic with the help of Turiaf's 5 blocks, infectious enthusiasm; Smush Parker's career high 26 points, 3 steals and Kobe with 28 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Wow, the Lakers played bigger than that Lady's gargantuan purse pushing against my leg the whole game.

Carnac the Magnificent

Speaking of big purses, let me address this disturbing trend. What is the deal with women and these massive purses? I mean, they seem to be getting bigger by the day. The woman next to me would have a hard time checking it in as a carry-on at the airport it was so big. You've got to be kidding me, if it was any bigger she would have to buy it a seat. Ladies, please...do something about this before it gets out of hand...literally.

But I digress...

Lakers played hard tonight, but the Lakers are going to have to dust off their own bag of tricks for some more magic against the Miami Heat on Monday.

Let's just make sure it's a big bag.

Pre-Game Ramble: Lakers Vs. Orlando Magic

TheLakers are currently leading this season's series 1-0, winning last seasonls series against Orlando 2-0, sweeping the Magic for the second time in the last three seasons and for the sixth time in eight years. The Lakers are currently 7-0 all-time against the Magic at Staples Center and have won their last nine consecutive games against Orlando in Los Angeles. In their last meeting, five Lakers scored double figures as L.A. defeated Orlando 106-93. The Lakers are 13-6 this season when five or more players score in double-figures.

Starting for the Lakers tonight: Brian Cook, Luke Walton, Andrew Bynum, Smush Parker, Kobe Bryant

Starting for the Magic: Tony Battle, Hedo Turkoglu, Dwight Howrd, Jameer Nelson, Grant Hill.

Lakers Don't Quit! Smokin' the Mavericks 101-98

A Benched Walton: Luke takes some time out of his busy schedule to visit with the Dallas Bench; "hey guys, let's be friends...did you know that I'm ranked 3rd in the NBA for 3-point shooting? ...no, really."

Lakers made New Years resolutions this year, but to quit smoking the competition was not one of them. The Lakers lit up the court as a fuming Cuban (Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks) looked on. Speaking of a hot Cuban, the Lakers fans were stoked to see the fresh Lakers bench get hotter than a Cohiba cigar, truly unbelievable. Lakers were definitely hot tonight, there was no denying that, by beating the team with the best record in the NBA.

So should we be surprised by this win? It did live up to all the hype...all this and without Lamar Odom and Kwame Brown. The Lakers deserved this 4th straight win, and Phil Jackson was also deserving of his 900th career victory.

Kobe Bryant had 26 points, eight rebounds and six assists and Luke Walton scored 21 and outscored Dallas 7-2 by himself to move the Lakers within two points with five minutes left; Sasha worked his magic with a career high 16 points (3 of the most important in last 28.5 seconds) and played incredible defense. Ronny Turiaf (I haven't seen his much enthusiasm on the Lakers since Tyron Lue) added 13 points and Smush Parker scored 11.

Deepest team in the league? The Lakers bench is so deep we drowned the Mavericks in there own tears; and even that couldn't put out the fire that was raging at the Staples Center tonight, way to go Lakers!