Honey, I'm Home!

Ok... no need to make this any weirder than it has to be. After what we'll call a "hiatus", one that saw, among other things, the acquisition of Pau Gasol, 2 (TWO!) trips to the Finals, heartbreak and humiliation in Boston, Kobe's 61 at the Garden, Game 7 against the Rockets, and rightful return of the NBA title to LakerWorld, I am back! 

Rather than focus on what's passed (although no one should hesitate to continue celebrating title #15!), there is plenty to get to in the coming weeks. In less than one week, the Lakers (and the rest of the league) will take part in the NBA Draft, with the world-champions holding the 29th, 42nd and 59th picks, and in less than two weeks, the like of Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza will become free agents, presenting Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak (more on him very soon) with some interesting decisions.

I wish I had been able to check in all along, but, hey, life happens! I had to settle for the frequent frustration and ultimate jubilation of watching the Lakers' return to the top, and Kobe's vindication from the "yeah, but" losers. Now, if everyone will kindly direct their attention to the future, there is still plenty of Laker talk to get to...

Bynum Banged Up vs. Grizz

Andrew Bynum went down last night following a relatively mild collision with Kobe Bryant. Ordinarily the diagnosis of a sprained knee would suffice, but in Bynum’s case, it’s difficult to keep from assuming the worst. While hoping for the absolute best for Andrew Bynum, it’s difficult to keep from thinking back to last season, when he dislocated his left kneecap, again after running into a teammate (last year it was Lamar Odom), again against the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Lakers went on to get the win, their sixth in seven games, topping the Grizzlies 115-98, but one can’t help but worry about their championship aspirations if Bynum is sidelined for a significant period of time- especially if it extends into the postseason. An MRI has been scheduled, with the results expected before the Lakers take the floor Monday night in New York, and the specter of another playoff run without Andrew Bynum must be haunting the Lakers.

Rooting interests aside, hopefully all basketball fans are also hoping for a speedy return to the floor for Andrew Bynum, who looked to be elevating his game to a new level recently, averaging 20.3 points, 8.1 rebounds (13.8 in his last five games) and more than 2 blocks in his last twelve games.

Bynum Breaking Out?

After emerging as a potential force in the paint last season, Andrew Bynum looks ready to dominate. After a string of solid performances, Bynum torched the Clippers for a career-high 42 points, on just 24 field goal attempts, on Wednesday night, and followed up that performance with a rock-solid 23-point effort (on just 12 FG attempts) in a blowout win against the Washington Wizards the following night, tossing in 29 rebounds and four blocked shots in the two games, just for good measure. The most exciting aspect of the back-to-back performances, from the Lakers’ perspective at least, is that Bynum doesn’t seem to be playing over his head.

What’s happened in the last two games is not an anomaly, nor has it been absent all season. It just hasn’t happened with this magnitude or with the consistency that many predicted before the season. However, the last two night have given us a glimpse of what Andrew Bynum is expected to become, and looks to be on his way to becoming. A great set of physical tools, combined with his increased physical maturity, added game experience and the tutelage of a legend have Andrew Bynum on the path toward becoming the latest dominant big man in Lakerland.

A legitimate 7-footer, Bynum has done a fantastic job of adding muscle to his once-skinny frame, becoming noticeably more imposing, now tipping the scales at a solid 285 pounds. This strength allows him to hold his own against virtually any NBA big man, but it’s the set of supplemental skills he’s developed that point to Bynum becoming a special player in the near future. Bynum’s combination of length (he has a 7’3” wingspan), soft hands and athleticism (33” vertical leap) are a rarity in man of his size, and have provided his tutor, Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a full complement of tools with which to work. And that work is paying off, as the skills that Andrew Bynum has developed have Kareem’s fingerprints all over them.

As valuable as Bynum’s size and athleticism may be, what’s now giving him the look of a great big man are his footwork, passing and movement without the ball- hallmarks of Kareem’s dominant career. No longer does Bynum look like “Bambi on ice”, as did in his first two NBA seasons- he’s now identifying the spots on the floor that he wants to get to, getting there, establishing position, and making strong, confident moves once he receives the ball. Rather than allowing him to rely on his considerable, albeit raw, physical assets, Kareem has worked with Bynum, who’s build is very similar to his own, on refining his footwork and always maintaining his balance, which, combined with his ever-improving play without the ball, both on the strong side and the weak side of the floor, have helped Bynum develop a smooth jump hook, a potential go-to move, and to find opening in the paint for easy shots.

Not only has Bynum made great strides with regard to getting his own shot, he’s also improved his passing, both in terms of vision as well as touch. Though he’s not there yet, more than any aspect of his game, Bynum’s passing from the post is reminiscent of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who’s widely regarding as one the league’s best-ever passing big men. In an offense so predicated on effective ball movement, Bynum’s ability to find the open man along the sideline, on the perimeter, and cutting down the lane has added another vital dimension to the Lakers offense. With his improved passing, combined with that of Pau Gasol, another excellent passer, the Lakers boast a pair of top-flight passing big men, which keeps defenders honest, and forces far more single-coverage in the post, since neither man has a problem looking over double-teams to find the open man.

After showing flashes of his potential last season, only to be derailed by a dislocated kneecap, Andrew Bynum looks ready to ascend to the next level. While his consistency hasn’t immediately return this season, it’s obvious that Bynum possesses every tool necessary to become a truly dominant big man, and given the way he’s used those tools over the past 48 hours, he seems to be learning how to harness his power.

Less than 18 months ago, Kobe Bryant was livid that GM Mitch Kupchak didn’t send Bynum to New Jersey in exchange for Jason Kidd. It’s probably safe to say that Kobe’s never been happier to be wrong. Few, if any, GMs would even consider that trade today. And who would blame them?

What A Difference A Year Makes

Was it really just a year ago that the Chicago Bulls arrived at Staple Center, at the height of the Kobe Bryant trade hysteria? Feels like that was a lifetime ago! After an offseason filled with talk of a potential trade for Kobe Bryant, the Bulls arrived in Los Angeles on November 18 during their annual "circus roadtrip", amid a flurry of rumors centered on Kobe's "impending" relocation to the Windy City. It was about then that the wave finally broke.

It's been said about the stock market for years, “buy when there’s blood in the streets”. This will likely hold true in the current economic downturn as well- when there is seemingly no hope, when the outlook is the most bleak, and it looks like there is nowhere but over the cliff, one day, things stop getting worse. Faced with the nightmare of persistent trade demands from the best player of the post-Jordan era, the Los Angeles Lakers, and Kobe in particular, were booed off the floor following a 95-93 home loss to the Houston Rockets in their season opener. The Lakers world was in flames, and there was NO catalyst for a recovery- it was clearly the beginning of the end for Kobe Bryant with the Lakers.

Then, inexplicably, glimmers of hope began to appear. Two days after their deflating home loss against Houston, the Lakers went into Phoenix and proceeded to clobber the heavily favored Suns by 21 points, leading by as many as 33 points in the 4^th quarter. It was a comprehensive “team” victory, with eight players finishing with at least eight points (five in double-digits), Vladimir Radmanovic led the team with 19 points (on just 8 shots!), Kobe grabbed 11 rebounds to go with his 16 points, on just 15 shot attempts, and Andrew Bynum, in just 23 minutes off the bench, began to justify the organization’s faith in him, scoring 14 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, while hitting on seven of his ten field goal attempts. It was the kind of victory that, at least temporarily, heals all wounds.

Two nights later, the Lakers looked to build on their emphatic win in Phoenix, when they faced another quality opponent, this time the Utah Jazz at home. The Lakers turned in a performance very similar to the one they’d produced against the Suns, even scoring an identical 119 points, albeit in a much closer game. Though Kobe Bryant did lead the way this time, scoring 33 points, he did so on just 19 shots, leaving plenty of opportunity for the Lakers’ suddenly intriguing supporting cast, who rose to the occasion again. Kobe led six players in double figures (and Radmanovic scored 9 points), with Derek Fisher (19) and Bynum (15 points and 9 rebounds in just 19 minutes) providing major support. However, the real catalyst in the win, which saw the Lakers trailing by a point after three quarters, was Jordan Farmar, whose stat line (12 points, 4 assists in 17 minutes) does not do justice to his impact. It was Farmar who started the fourth quarter with a rebound, and driving assist to Bynum, followed by three made field goals (one was a three-point play), and a pair of assists to Kobe and Ronny Turiaf. Maybe it was naive optimism, but it was during this that it seemed possible that “something cool is happening here”.

The Lakers won three of their next five games, but with Chicago coming to town on November 18, the trade rumors persisted, as the Bulls were included on Kobe’s short list of “acceptable destinations”, and they had several talented young players that could comprise an enticing package. The uncertainty surrounding the situation raised the level of speculation surrounding the Lakers-Bulls matchup to near-comedic levels, making the actual game an afterthought, and perhaps rightfully so, given the 106-78 thumping dished out by the Lakers. However, it was during the game that powerful messages were sent, by both sides. In yet another balanced attack, the Lakers saw six player score in double-figures, with no one scoring more than Kobe Bryant’s 18 points. Again, Bynum and Farmar played significant roles, scoring 14 points each (Bynum added 10 rebounds, Farmar had 4 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 steals), with Luke Walton, Vlad Radmanovic and Chris Mihm also scoring in double-digits. Though the Lakers’ supporting cast had been showing Kobe for two weeks that grass was not necessarily greener, this was their moment. It was as though the Lakers’ younger players were collectively saying “Them? You’re demanding a trade so you can go play with them?”

As for the Bulls, well, their core simply cemented in GM Mitch Kupchak’s mind why he did not want to trade Kobe Bryant, and definitely why he didn’t want to trade him for a combination of these guys! Of the Bulls’ players who’d been rumored to be part of a potential deal, the then-untouchable Luol Deng did not suit up due to a back injury, while Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich, Ben Wallace, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah combined to score 37 points on 14-for-39 from the field.

In the 12 months since the Lakers and Bulls last met in L.A., the Lakers have amassed a regular-season record of 57-23, become the deepest and most talented team in the NBA, thanks to adding Pau Gasol without having to surrender any key pieces, and have made a trip to the NBA Finals, and look poised to return. On a side note- would anyone trade the Lakers supporting cast for the ENTIRE Bulls’ roster today?

And the Bulls? They’ve posted a record of 36-47 in their 83 regular season games since that night. On the bright side, they did win the one postseason competition in which they participated. Ok, so it was the draft lottery, but still!

One year ago tonight was the moment that it all hit the fan for John Paxon and the Bulls- not only had he created a massive distraction for his young players, he’d just watched the bottom fall out of the trade value of the core of his young, highly-regarded roster. Had the lucky bounce of a ping-pong ball not delivered Derrick Rose to Chicago, John Paxson’s ineptitude and mismanagement of what was once the best stable of young talent in the NBA would now be reaching Isiah Thomas levels.

Lakers' "Ghost" Haunting the NBA

Almost a year ago, after tours in New York and Orlando, Trevor Ariza returned to Southern California, where he’d played his high school ball, winning a state championship, and played his lone year (2003-04) of NCAA basketball at UCLA. Ariza, a second-round pick (43^rd overall) of the Knicks in 2004, spent 3+ seasons with the Knicks and Magic, playing sparingly, putting up nothing-special numbers on series of nothing-special (a generous assessment) teams. There was never any doubt about his athleticism, but not many predicted that Ariza would emerge as the second-coming of Michael Cooper.

The November 20, 2007 deal that saw the Lakers sent a package of Brian Cook, a seven-footer with a good outside shot (but not good enough to justify his lack of improvement in any other area) and another athletic defender, Maurice Evans, to the Orlando Magic, in exchange for Trevor Ariza, hardly had the look of an impact move. While the Lakers were getting younger by acquiring Ariza, then just 22 years of age, Evans (29 at the time) had been playing very well in a similar role as the team had run out to an unexpectedly strong start. Why rock the boat? As it turns out, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak (to whom I owe several apologies!), knew exactly what he was doing! Ariza was not a younger, more athletic version of Mo Evans, the departure of Cook freed up floor time, which was well-spent, as it was during these minutes that the emergence of Andrew Bynum took place.

Despite losing much of 2007-08 to a broken foot, Ariza brought a level of speed, athleticism and defensive intensity to the 2/3 position that is matched by only one other Laker- Kobe Bryant. It is exactly this that has made Trevor Ariza so valuable; while Kobe Bryant can match Ariza in terms of both physical tools and defensive prowess, he is also counted on to be the Lakers’ most dominant offensive player. Trevor Ariza makes it possible for Kobe to not have to guard the opposition’s best offensive player, protecting him from foul trouble as well as fatigue from having to play the most challenging role at both ends of the floor.

But as good an on-the-ball defender as Ariza is, it is his ability to find the ball and make plays coming off the weak side that truly set him apart. It's this talent that has led Lakers' coach Phil Jackson to call Ariza "the Ghost", saying that "Sort of a stealth player. Just all of a sudden he shows ... and he's gone. He's a blip and he's away." Not only is Ariza as good as there is in the NBA at coming from a ballhandler’s blind side (2.2 spg), he's an excellent rebounder (5.2 rpg; ~10.6 reb/48 minutes) as well. Also, he’s proven to be a solid, and ever-improving, offensive player as well, averaging 10 points a game, while shooting better than 50% from both the field (51.2%) AND 3-point range (54.5%), and not giving away possessions (.7 TO/g).

Following a trade that turned very few heads at the time, Trevor Ariza has turned out to be an outstanding find for the Lakers, contributing defensive intensity and incredible athleticism to what may already be the NBA’s deepest and best team- all while flying under the radar.

Memo to John Paxson

Dear Mr. Paxson,

You blew it! Everything your franchise has been working toward since the retirement of the man who legitimized you as anything more than a mildly effective spot-up shooter, you've doused with lighter fluid and torched.

I understand it’s fun to be “loaded with young talent” and an “up and coming” team every year, but you were given the opportunity to trade for the NBA’s best player at price you could afford, and you… passed? For what? Luol Deng? You mean the same Luol Deng that passed on you by turning down a 5-year, $50 million contract extension? While Deng is clearly an excellent young player, even of he sticks around, he will never come close to having the impact of Kobe Bryant, both on the floor and in the cash register.

Since the end of the Michael Jordan era in 1998, the Chicago Bulls have focused on accumulating young talent and freeing up loads of cap space, all with an eye toward making a bold move to attract superstar talent returning to title contention in the NBA.

Heading into the season, your rumored trade for the NBA’s best player, Kobe Bryant, seemed inevitable. For a package consisting of some combination of Ben Gordon, Tyrus Thomas, Ben Wallace, Kirk Hinrich (but NOT Luol Deng!), plus cash and draft picks, the Bulls were on the doorstep of acquiring the best player of the post-Jordan era. However, as was the case with Pau Gasol, and Kevin Garnett before him, Kobe Bryant proved to be just a mirage- the latest in a series of attempts by the Bulls to complete their return to the NBA’s elite. After a decade of planning and scheming for a way to attract a top-flight NBA show-stopper to the Bulls, you not only failed to grab the best opportunity that will EVER present itself to you, you succeeded in turning the Chicago Bulls into a joke. Congratulations, you have officially supplanted the Knicks as the NBA’s “Team Who Cried Superstar” most often without acquiring an actual game-changing playmaker.

For all of the young talent on the Bulls, this is still a flawed team plagued by chronic issues like their slow starts to every season, as well as the lack of both an inside scoring threat and a bona fide “go-to guy”, not to mention the improvement of several teams at the top of the Eastern Conference. If these issues weren’t troublesome enough, a whole new series of obstacles are poised to slam the window shut on the championship aspirations of this Bulls’ era:

• Both Luol Deng and Ben Gordon turned down 5-year, $50 million contract extensions before the start of the season. The ultimatum that is presents is simple- pay one (or both) of these solid #2 players superstar money ($13+ million/year), or turn back the clock to the 1999-2000 season.

• After years of hoarding cap space, the man you finally elected to make a huge commitment to, one-time defensive stopper and rebounding specialist Ben Wallace, is a complete bust and looks to have aged about a decade in a little over a year. In addition to having lost his game, at a price tag of $44 million over the next three seasons (including 2007-08), he has NO trade value until he becomes Theo Ratliff 2.0 during the 2009-10 season, with his $14 million salary poised to come off the books.

• Your other big-money man, Kirk Hinrich (owed $47.5 million thru 2011-12, including 200-08), is an inconsistent, foul-prone (3.33/game for his career) point guard, who’s not much of a shooter from the field (41.1 career; 37.3% in 2007-08).

• Finally, for all the talk of highway robbery that circled around your trade of Eddy Curry to the New York Knicks, what do you really have to show for it? Well, you paid Tim Thomas to go away (he thrived elsewhere), I think Mike Sweetney and Jermaine Jackson parked my car last week, Tyrus Thomas is a very nice player (but’s he’s Shawn Marion without a Steve Nash), and Joakim Noah will go down as one of the most useless top-ten picks in recent memory. Hell, at least Curry’s good for double-figure points!

So let’s get this straight, in your time running the Bulls, you didn’t trade a guy who wouldn't re-sign with you in order to acquire the planet’s best player, you threw gobs of cash at two flawed and overrated players, and you traded Eddy Curry (an underachiever in his own right) for a package of 5 players, only two of whom are on your team today- and they’re giving you a stellar 11.6 points, 8.6 rebounds per game?

Man, you are a terrible GM! Lucky for you Isiah Thomas is still running amock in New York. Otherwise, the NBA might be focusing on what a joke you’ve turned the Bulls into!

Opening Night Rematch In Houston

Lakers (3-3) @ Houston Rockets (6-2)

November 14, 2007, 9:00 PM Eastern (8:00 PM Pacific); Shown nationally on ESPN

Toyota Center- Houston, TX

A day after suffering their worst loss of the season in San Antonio, the Los Angeles Lakers are in Houston for the second half of a brutal back-to-back. The Lakers will be looking to avenge their opening night defeat at the hands of the Rockets, when they were beaten 95-93 at Staples Center. That night, the Rockets led by double-figures for much of the second half, before blowing a 12-point lead in the game’s final 1:28, before being saved by a Shane Battier 3-pointer with just a few seconds left. The Lakers come into tonight’s game sporting a solid 3-3 record, which includes quality wins against two Western Conference contenders (Phoenix and Utah). The Lakers will need to secure a win against the Rockets tonight in order to avoid losing three of four games, and to maintain any early season momentum that they may have built up with their solid early season play.

After a loss against the Spurs last night in the season’s first “measuring stick” game, tonight’s game offers the Lakers another opportunity to measure their progress in a road game against another of the Western Conference contender.

Lakers’ Notes

Based on the assumption that Kobe and Tracy McGrady offensive numbers will effectively cancel one another out, it is imperative the Lakers control the tempo of this game from the outset and not allow the Rockets to establish Yao Ming’s inside presence early. The Lakers will need to speed up the game’s tempo, which will reduce Yao’s impact at both ends of the floor- particularly on defense, where not allowing him to fully set up on defense will provide opportunities to draw fouls against the Rockets’ big man. Since the Lakers do not have a big man capable of consistently battling Yao in the low post, it will take a group effort, led of course by Kobe Bryant, to take the ball hard to the basket at every appropriate opportunity.

As always, the Lakers will have to turn in a balanced offensive performance, looking to create early, high-percentage chances for interior players like Andrew Bynum Ronny Turiaf and Kwame Brown. Finally, ball movement in the halfcourt will be key, as the Lakers, who are shooting under 30% from 3-point range, will need to find open shooters around the arc when they have good looks available..

Defensively, the focus will have to be (as it always is) on limiting the number of quality looks for Tracy McGrady (Maurice Evans will be huge here) and Yao Ming and making every offensive opportunity as difficult as possible for them. However, in doing so, it will important not to leave the Rockets outside shooters, of which there are a few (Battier, Luther Head, Mike James) alone on the perimeter- as they did with Peja Stojakovic in their loss to the New Orleans Hornets, getting burned for a ridiculous 10 3-pointers.

Injuries continue to plague Lamar Odom, who in just his second game back from a shoulder injury, tore a tendon in his right (non-shooting) pinkie. Though he’s in some pain, Lamar expects to start tonight in Houston. In addition to Odom, Kwame Brown is still bothered by bursitis in his right heel, which limited him to just 14 minutes in San Antonio Tuesday night. The Lakers’ starting lineup should feature Kobe and Derek Fisher in the backcourt, with Lamar Odom, Ronnie Turiaf and Kwame Brown up front.

Rockets’ Notes

The Houston Rockets, who have gotten off to an impressive 6-2 start this season, are also finishing up a back-to-back set, having lost in Memphis to the Grizzles on Tuesday night, 105-99, despite 63 points from Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. McGrady, whose performance allowed him to take over the NBA’s scoring lead at 29 points per-game (Kobe’s at 28.3), made sixteen of his twenty eight field goals and added four rebounds and four assists in the losing effort. While they will obviously ride their their two superstars, the key for the Rockets (much like it is for the Lakers) will be to get some consistent performances from the supporting cast, who had only player in double figures (Mike James, 10 points) and shot just 37% (16-43) from the field. Despite Rick Adelman’s reputation as an up-tempo, offensive-minded coach, the Rockets will need to look to slow down the tempo of the game, allowing Yao Ming’s presence in the paint to have greater impact at both ends of the floor.

The Rockets come in without any significant injuries and should field a starting lineup of Yao, Shane Battier and Chuck Hayes up front, with Tracy McGrady and Rafer Alston in the backcourt.

What should we look for tonight?

Remember that the Lakers led Rockets for much of the game on opening night, despite playing without Lamar Odom in the midst of swirling Kobe Bryant trade rumors. Not only is Odom now back in the Lakers’ lineup, the team’s collective attitude, not to mention the increased balance in the offense, has improved dramatically in over the past two weeks. Also, with Houston’s next three games coming against the Spurs (in San Antonio), Phoenix and Dallas, there is a very real possibility that the Rockets may be looking past this game. Just as the Lakers found themselves in a classic “trap” game against New Orleans last week, the Houston Rockets are staring down the barrel of a “trap” game Wednesday night. Look for the Lakers to play well against Rockets once, this time having enough in the tank to pull out the win over Yao, McGrady & Co.

A Legend's Take on the Lakers

In yet another outstanding article published yesterday, long-time Lakers’ insider and the organization’s official biographer, Roland Lazenby discusses a recent phone conversation he had with former Lakers’ assistant Tex Winter. One of the best basketball minds around, the 85 year-old Winter shared his thoughts on the evolution of Kobe Bryant and the current state of the Los Angeles Lakers. The comments from Winter are accurate and optimistic, and at the same time very candid in their calls for self-assessment and self-improvement- the kind of constructive advice one can expect from a caring and observant grandparent.

With regard to Kobe Bryant and his trade repeated requests, Tex opined the time has come for Kobe to stop pushing for a trade and to realize that remaining with the Lakers is clearly the best move for him. Winter went on to say that while he likes the talented young roster of the Chicago Bulls, “Frankly, I’m not sure how much he’d be able to help that club.” As the conversation shifted to his brainchild, the famed Triangle offense, Winter expressed the opinion that the offensive system he’s spent a good deal of his life developing is still as effective as ever. Tex goes on to say that Kobe Bryant’s physical and mental abilities make him the best player for the Triangle in the NBA, “And he knows it. I wish he would concentrate on playing the game and making his teammates better and not worry about all this other stuff.” Winter was also eager to praise Kobe for his maturity and dedication to the team concept in the early season, citing Kobe’s recent praise of Andrew Bynum’s work ethic, renewed dedication on the defensive and, most importantly, his willingness to play with in the offense.

Winter goes on to say that the Lakers’ offensive development will hinge on two things- greater attention to detail with regard to Triangle fundamentals (constant movement and precise passing and cutting), and improved passing from their big men. Tex mentions that of all the Lakers’ big men, Andrew Bynum has shown the potential to be the best passer out of the post (it helps to learn from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, one of the greatest passing big men in league history).

Winter, who suffers from painful shingles in his chest, is not currently with the team, but watches many game from his home in Oregon, had some additional observations on Kobe & Co. He says the Lakers’ could reach the next level, provided Andrew Bynum continues to work at his game with a high level of passion and dedication. He also says that Kobe needs to realize that the Lakers are terribly far from being the competitive team he so badly wants.

With Kobe’s dedication to being a part of this team, along with the improved play of the team’s younger players, the tension surrounding the Lakers has begun to subside a bit. Roland Lazenby’s insightful article about his chat with Tex Winter reveals two extremely encouraging realities in LakerLand- first, this team is better, and closer to contending, than many realize (and that comes from someone who knows!), and second, it’s nice to know that while Kobe is hopeful that his friend and mentor, Jerry West, will return to the organization he brought to prominence (man, would be great, or what?), there’s another caring set of eyes watching over him, with his best interest at heart.

Kobe Coming Around On Andrew Bynum?

In what has to be one early season highlights for the energetic and potentially surprising Lakers, the new, young-teammate-friendly Kobe Bryant praised his 20-year-old teammate, Andrew Bynum, for his effort in the young season. "He's working really hard in practice and before practice, and I see a lot of improvement in him," Bryant said. "The more he plays, the more his feet get wet, the more he gets acclimated to the type of conditioning that he needs to play at this level, but he's doing a fantastic job."

Of course, this is the same Andrew Bynum that was the target of some less-than-flattering remarks from Kobe Bryant in the off-season, after the Lakers refused to include Bynum in a trade for New Jersey guard Jason Kidd before last season’s trade deadline. In realizing that A) Bynum will be in L.A. for the time being, B) He [Kobe] will also be in L.A. for the time being and C) Bynum does actually have some pretty serious game, Kobe is taking steps to help the Lakers’ young center, both on the floor, where he is noticeably taking more of a mentor role with Bynum, talking to him and giving suggestions between plays, and off the floor, with sincere and encouraging words about his development. The only thing better than a talented, hard-working young player? A talented, hard-working young player being pushed toward success by the league’s most talented and hardest-working player!

Derek Fisher 2.0?

The 1996 NBA Draft will forever stand out in the minds of Lakers’ fans as the day Kobe Bryant entered the NBA, drafted by the then-Charlotte Hornets who proceeded to trade him to the Lakers 15 days later. The Lakers had their own selection in that draft as well, using the 24^th overall pick in the first round to draft an unheralded point guard out of the University of Arkansas, Little Rock- some guy named Derek Fisher. Fisher went on to spend the first eight years of his career with the Lakers, teaming with, among others, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and Robert Horry to win three NBA championships (2000-02).

Fast forward to the 2006 NBA Draft. A decade after drafting Derek Fisher, the Los Angeles Lakers, picking 26^th, again used a late first-round selection to add a point guard to the roster- this time selecting Los Angeles native Jordan Farmar from UCLA. After a decent-but-mostly-uneventful rookie season in which he averaged 4.4 points, 1.9 assists (vs. just 1 turnover) and just over 15 minutes per game, Farmar dedicated himself to improving his game and his conditioning as much as possible the off-season, even joining some fellow NBA players in Bora Bora for some intense yoga sessions. He reported to training camp ready assume an increased role with the Lakers and wasted little time in showing off the improvements he’d made over the summer, more than doubling his scoring and assist averages in the preseason, in only about 5 more minutes per game. This improvement looks to have carried over to the beginning of the regular season as well, with Farmar averaging 7 points, 2.6 assists (down from about 4 in the preseason, although his assist/turnover ratio is an impressive 2.6:1) and shooting just under 50% from the field (up from just 42% as a rookie) in just under 20 minutes a game. And frankly, Jordan Farmar’s statistics do not do justice to the quality of his play and the strides he’s made as an NBA point guard! Jordan Farmar’s rather modest 12 point, 4 assist stat line is dwarfed by the incredible role he played in sparking the Lakers to their November 4 victory over the Utah Jazz. Watching that game, you’d swear he had 12-and-4 in just the fourth quarter!

So what’s the significance? What’s the connection between Derek Fisher and Jordan Farmar? Well, consider Farmar’s on-court demeanor and style of play, the fact that he, like Fisher, seldom, if ever makes a mental mistake. Though Fisher wasn’t necessarily a deadly outside shooter, if Kobe was not an option, most Lakers fans preferred that Fish take the big shot. And though Fisher never put up eye-popping, Steve Nash-type assist numbers (his career high is just 4.3 apg), but it seemed like he was always there to make the key pass.

Again, the importance? Two days after the ten-year anniversary of the 1996 NBA Draft, the Lakers seem to have duplicated the feat by drafting the man who looks poised to become the next Derek Fisher!

Fish's Return Is Paying Big Dividends

Man, it’s great to have Fish back!

His selflessness, character and leadership made Derek Fisher perhaps the most beloved member of the great Lakers’ teams of the Shaq-Kobe era, and his return to the organization brought with the promise of a veteran leader, both on the floor and in the locker room, for an inexperienced team mired in controversy and looking for stability. Through the team’s first six games, Fisher’s contribution to the team is apparent, as he’s not only averaged more than 12 points, 3 assists and a steal in his 27 minutes per game, but also helped the Lakers dramatically transform themselves from “impending train wreck” to “potential sleeper” in a mere two weeks. Needless to say, every member of team deserves his share of credit for the improved attitude of the Lakers, but anyone familiar with the Lakers’ previous title-winning teams will concur that it’s very likely that Fisher played a significant part in the turnaround.

Odom’s Return Also An Important Bounce-Back Game

Lakers (2-2) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (0-3)

November 9, 2007, 10:30 PM Eastern (7:30 PM Pacific)

Staples Center- Los Angeles, CA

Following two outstanding wins, the Lakers were bought back down to earth on Tuesday night by the New Orleans Hornets, 188-104. The Hornets were led by the red-hot Peja Stojakovic (10-13 3-pt) and brilliant playmaking of Chris Paul, who notched 21 assists. Tonight’s game at home against the winless Minnesota Timberwolves is vitsl on two fronts- first, tonight’s game marks the return of one of the Lakers’ top playmakers, Lamar Odom, who has been nursing a shoulder injury. Also, tonight’s games provides an excellent opportunity for the Lakers to get back on the winning track after stumbling against the Hornets. This is particularly important considering the brutal schedule that Kobe and Co. will be facing over the next ten days, when they will travel to San Antonio and Houston before returning home to face the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls.

Lakers’ Notes

Expect the Lakers to be ready for this game as they try to erase the memory of Tuesday night’s disappointing loss. Odom’s return will provide an extra spark for the team, as well as another top-notch talent on the floor. The Lakers will also be looking for continued strong play from their young support cast- Andrew Bynum, Jordan Farmar and Ronny Turiaf in particular. With the team not scheduled to play again until Tuesday night in San Antonio, tonight’s game is an excellent opportunity to go all-out for a win and to reintegrate Lamar Odom into the squad. While an easy, double-figure win should be in order, expect Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher to log some extra minutes on the floor with Odom, as the club looks to prepare for its upcoming Texas trip.

Kwame Brown, who is bothered by a sore right heel, will miss his second straight game on Friday night. Expect him to return against the Spurs, but sitting out the last two games will end up giving him nine days rest. Also, Luke Walton, who missed practice this week with a sore hamstring, will likely move to the bench with the return of Lamar Odom. As a result, the Lakers’ starting lineup should look like this: Kobe and Derek Fisher in the backcourt, Odom and Ronnie Turiaf at forward and Andrew Bynum in middle (it’s about time!).

Timberwolves’ Notes

The Minnesota Timberwolves are a team in transition, and while no one is expecting a lot from this young team in 2007-08 (and maybe rightfully so, as they’ve started 0-3), the Wolves have been competitive in each of their three losses, havng yet to lose a game by double digits. Also, Al Jefferson is an absolute monster in the paint. Big Al is well on his way to being one of the best big men in the NBA, averaging 19 points and 11.7 rebounds unfortunately for the Wolves, they don’t have many other major offensive threats on the roster, although their balanced attack does feature FIVE other double-figure scorers (Rashad McCants, Greg Buckner, Ryan Gomes, Theo Ratliff and Craig Smith). If the Timberwolves are going to really challenge the Lakers, it is going to have to be in the paint, where Jefferson, Ratliff and Smith should be able to get some work done against the Lakers’ front line.

What should we look for tonight?

If the Lakers are properly motivated for this game, it really shouldn’t be close. Minnesota is an extremely young that is just beginning to rebuild and should not be able to push the Lakers too hard. Also, the return of Lamar Odom, along with Tuesday night’s loss, should provide more than enough motivation to come out and really take care of business tonight. Look for the Lakers to cruise to a double-digit win in this one.

Trap Game: Lakers Try to Avoid a Letdown

Lakers (2-1) vs. New Orleans Hornets (3-0)

November 6, 2007, 10:30 PM Eastern (7:30 PM Pacific)

Staples Center- Los Angeles, CA

The Lakers are riding an impressive two-game winning streak, beating both the Suns (in Phoenix) and the Utah Jazz by double figures over the weekend. The biggest concern coming into this matchup will be to avoid an emotional letdown after having knocked off two of the top contenders in the Western Conference in three days. As great as the last wins were, they will only take on real significance if the Lakers can use them as a springboard to strong start to the season.

The quality of play tonight should be relatively high, as the unbeaten Hornets, led by the supremely gifted Chris Paul, lock up with the Lakers. With just one game on the NBA schedule on Monday night, and neither of these teams playing in it, both teams should be relatively fresh and ready to go from the opening tip.

Lakers’ Notes

For the Lakers, this game has letdown written all over it. Though they may not be in the class of the Suns and the Jazz, the Hornets are definitely not to be overlooked. They pretty loaded with talent and a likely playoff team in the loaded Western Conference It will be very important for the team’s leaders (Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher) to preach consistency to the younger members of the team, reminding them that two quality wins don’t automatically make you a contender.

As the Lakers look to continue their streak of balanced offensive performances, it will be vital to create some early open looks for Vladimir Radmanovic, Luke Walton and Derek Fisher, as well as some quality opportunities in the post for Andrew Bynum. With Kobe likely to be guarded by Morris Peterson (he, of the Toronto Raptors’ defense in Kobe’s 81-point game) or David West or Rasual Butler, it’s pretty reasonable to pencil him in for at least 30 points, but it will be more important for Kobe to get his teammates rolling as well.

Defensively, the New Orleans Hornets present one of the biggest challenges of the Lakers’ early schedule, as they feature an elite point guard with a full compliment of diverse weapons. Led by Chris Paul, the Hornets offense is not only highly skilled, but among one of the most versatile in the league They feature threats in the paint (Tyson Chandler and David West), in the mid-range game (West, Peja Stojakovic, Rasual Butler), and on the perimeter (Peja, Butler, Morris Peterson), not to mention the issues created by Chris Paul’s (or Bobby Jackson’s) penetration. The best strategy for dealing with the New Orleans offense is three-pronged: 1) attack Tyson Chandler (he may block a few of your shots, but he will commit some fouls), 2) make Chris Paul be the Hornets’ primary weapon by giving him open jump shots rather than driving and passing lanes (and staying at home any time he does beat his man), and 3) if you have to give defensive help in the paint, DO NOT LEAVE PEJA STOJAKOVIC! When he’s healthy, which he is right now, Peja is still the deadliest spot-up shooter in the NBA and should NEVER be left alone on the perimeter.

In addition to Lamar Odom, Kwame Brown will be out of lineup Tuesday night with an injury to his right heel. As a result, the Lakers’ starting lineup should look like this: Kobe and Derek Fisher in the backcourt, Luke Walton and Ronnie Turiaf at forward and Andrew Bynum in middle.

Hornets’ Notes

Led by Chris Paul, the NBA’s future-best-point-guard, the New Orleans Hornets are putting together a very strong start to their 2007-08 season, with consecutive blowout wins over the Sacramento Kings and Portland Trailblazers (sure these are bad teams, but the Hornets really took care of business), and an impressive 93-88 road win over the Denver Nuggets. The Hornets have gotten some stellar play from Chris Paul (18.7 ppg, 9.7 apg, 6.3 rpg, 3 spg) and one of the NBA’s best young big men, Tyson Chandler (12.3 ppg, 13.7 rpg, 1.7 bpg; can you believe he’s only 25 years-old?) and one of the NBA’s underrated offensive players, David West (16 ppg, 7.7 rpg). Hornets’ coach (and 3-time world champion as a Laker) Byron Scott also has a collection of viable, but certainly not spectacular options on the bench, with Bobby Jackson and Rasual Butler ready to step in on the perimeter and Melvin Ely and second-year center Hilton Armstrong backing up Tyson Chandler in the paint.

The Hornets are not nursing any notable injuries and should field a starting lineup comprised of Tyson Chandler, Peja Stojakovic and David West up front, with Chris Paul and Morris Peterson in the backcourt.

What should we look for tonight?

Tonight’s match-up with the Hornets could end up being the Lakers’ biggest test of the young NBA season. Like the Jazz, the Hornets feature a talented and intelligent point guard who runs the show flawlessly. This game sets up as a classic “trap” game for the Lakers- they’re feeling great after back-to-back wins over quality Western Conference opposition. With the Lakers’ next game at home against the winless Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night likely to result in another victory, if they can avoid a letdown tonight, they will go into next week’s Texas Two-Step (11/13 @ San Antonio, 11/14 @ Houston) riding a four-game winning streak, with a chance to make a real impact on the early NBA season. Look for tonight’s game to be entertaining and free-flowing, with neither team able to open up much of a commanding lead. Expect the final margin to be no more than five or six points. The Lakers’ level of focus will ultimately determine which side of that margin they’re on.

Something's Happening Here...

There’s something happening with the Lakers. Three games into the season is clearly too early to make any bold proclamations about a team’s fate over the long run, but the about-face performed by Los Angeles’ Lakers’ over the past week, in the face of constant distractions, has been as nothing short of phenomenal. A young team with a disgruntled superstar, who’s been called selfish by his detractors in the best of times, has gelled into a selfless, cohesive unit, seemingly overnight. Kobe suddenly seems to trust his teammates- and they’re proving themselves worthy of his trust. All of a sudden, this is a pretty dangerous team!

The off-season was dominated by Kobe Bryant’s trade demands, the organization’s statements about its apparent willingness to trade him, the subsequent in-house feud between Kobe and the Lakers’ front office, with the media there to document and magnify every non-event. The start of the regular season did nothing to diminish the chaos and the Lakers turned in an opening night performance against the Houston Rockets that, despite a brilliant comeback in the final 90 seconds, could best be described as uninspiring. Against this backdrop, the team’s next two games of the young season would consist of a trip to Phoenix and a visit to Los Angeles from the Utah Jazz, yet another Western Conference contender. It was hard to see anything but a disastrous start to the season for the Lakers. That’s when (for now at least!) the worm began to turn.

In the two days following the Lakers’ season-opening loss, while everyone was speculating that it was only a matter of “when” and not “if” with regards to a possible Kobe Bryant trade, a funny thing happened- Kobe’s rumored suitors saved the Lakers’ locker room. On Halloween, Mark Cuban announced that his Dallas Mavericks, one of the three destinations on Kobe’s “wish list”, would not be pursuing a trade for the Lakers’ superstar. The following day, John Paxson, GM of the Chicago Bulls’, the most frequently rumored destination for Kobe, announced that the Bulls were also putting an end to their pursuit of Kobe. These two events didn’t put an end to all the turmoil in LakerLand, but they allowed the Lakers (and Kobe Bryant in particular) to relax and make basketball their primary focus again.

The night following John Paxson’s statement, November 2, the Lakers took the floor in Phoenix as heavy underdogs against a Suns team that had thoroughly dominated them in the teams’ first-round playoff matchup last spring. Few, if any, expected the Lakers to be competitive, let alone victorious in Phoenix, which made their spectacular blowout win over Suns, in which they led by as many as 31 in the fourth quarter, an absolute shocker. If that weren’t enough, the fact that no Laker scored as many as 20 points and Kobe Bryant led the team not in points, shot attempts or minutes played, but assists, made the evening feel particularly significant.

The Lakers returned home to face the Utah Jazz, one of the NBA’s top teams, two nights later. The Jazz, who are extremely versatile on offense, not to mention a much stronger rebounding and defensive team than the Suns, figured to bring the Lakers back to Earth. In a much more competitive game than the contest in Phoenix, the Lakers and the Jazz locked up in a very entertaining game that really tested both teams. Kobe Bryant led six Lakers (SIX!!!) in double figures with 33 points (he also added 5 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks), with fellow starters Derek Fisher (19 points, 5 assists), Luke Walton (10 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists) and Ronny Turiaf (10 points, 4 rebounds) joining him with double-digit points. However, the biggest impact from the Lakers’ supporting cast was by two of the team’s young reserves, Andrew Bynum and Jordan Farmar. Despite fouling out in the fourth quarter, Bynum was almost unstoppable, making six of seven shots on his way to 15 points, while adding 9 rebounds in just 19 minutes. Also, with Derek Fisher on the bench in the second half, Jordan Farmar was able to step right in and take command of the team, scoring 12 points, handing out 4 assists and helping spark the Lakers to 73 second half points and a relatively easy 10-point win.

Needless to say the Lakers must manage to build on this early-season success by continuing this run of outstanding play against the remainder of the league as well. Their next two games, both at Staples Center, will see the Lakers take on Chris Paul the 3-0 New Orleans (which should be quite a challenge), and then the winless Minnesota Timberwolves. With the schedule poised to take a far more difficult turn in the coming weeks, it is very important that the Lakers take advantage of every winnable game they play. However, regardless of what happens in the short term, the 2007-08 Lakers have shown that despite not having many household names, there is certainly a good amount of talent on this team. If they continue to play the same brand of passionate, selfless basketball we saw over the weekend, this team could exceed everyone’s expectations.

Don’t look now, but there’s something happening in LakerLand…

Riding High, But Here’s Another Test: Lakers vs. Utah Jazz

November 4, 2007, 9:30 PM Eastern (6:30 PM Pacific)

Staples Center- Los Angeles, CA

The Los Angeles Lakers (1-1) are coming off a dominating win over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night- their first of the young season. They return home on Sunday night to take on the Utah Jazz (2-1), one of the NBA’s most impressive teams in the season’s first week, and a serious contender in the loaded Western Conference. Like the Suns, the Jazz matchup with the Lakers comes as the second half of a back-to-back. On Saturday night in Salt Lake City, the Utah Jazz hosted the Golden State Warriors and, despite falling behind by double figures in the first quarter and a 38 point explosion from Al Harrington, cruised to a 133-110 victory.

Tonight’s matchup at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles is another opportunity for the Lakers to prove their ability to 1) play a well-rounded and balanced team game and 2) test their ability to compete with the Western Conference’s elite.

Lakers’ Notes

In the aftermath of their huge win in Phoenix, the Lakers will try to build up some positive momentum heading into the season’s second week. Again, the Lakers will be without Lamar Odom, who is still recovering from a shoulder injury. While we can reasonably expect Kobe Bryant’s output on offense to exceed 16 points, it will be vital for the Lakers bring the same philosophy into Sunday night’s game that they did to the game against the Suns. With Utah’s front line featuring elite rebounder like Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko, it will be important for the Lakers to put forth an extraordinary effort on the boards. Phil Jackson will also look to get as many players as possible involved in the offense early in the game in an effort to build on the outstanding effort of the supporting cast in Phoenix.

The Lakers’ starting lineup should resemble the unit that took the floor against the Suns- Kobe and Derek Fisher in the backcourt, Luke Walton and Ronnie Turiaf at forward and Kwame Brown in middle.

Jazz Notes

With the possible exceptions of the San Antonio Spurs and the Detroit Pistons, the Utah Jazz has been the NBA’s most well-rounded and dangerous team. In their first three games of the young season, the Jazz have blown out the Golden State Warriors twice by an average of 22 points, with a tough loss to the Houston Rockets (behind 47 points from Tracy McGrady) sandwiched in between. On offense, Utah boasts an incredible amount of versatility, with a starting lineup that features one of the NBA’s top frontcourt players in Carlos Boozer, a dealy outside-shooting big man in Mehmet Okur (not much worse than Dirk Nowitzki, just doesn’t get nearly the publicity), one of the league’s top point guards, Deron Williams and talented second year swingman, Ronnie Brewer. There is not a significant drop off for Jerry Sloan when he looks to his bench, as he has a more-than-capable replacement for each of his stars, with Matt Harpring, strong second-year power forward Paul Millsap, Gordon Giricek and point guard Jason Hart.

What should we look for tonight?

Like the Suns, the Jazz have a variety of perimeter weapons to go along with a dominant inside presence, and a talented and intelligent point guard to orchestrate the attack. This is a scenario in which the Lakers cannot afford a let down- it is vital that they communicate on defense, attack the boards and get a number of players involved. If the Lakers maintain the mentality they took into the game against the Suns, this should probably be a very competitive matchup. Expect a more aggressive game from Kobe on the offensive end, as well as an increased role for Andrew Bynum- he playing well enough in Phoenix to warrant a bigger role on this team. Whether the Lakers are able to pull it out will depend on two things- their ability to compete with the Jazz on the glass and the need to limit the number of easy looks Carlos Boozer gets from 15 and in.

Just What the Lakers Needed

No turmoil. No trade talk. No in-fighting. For one night, all was good in LakerLand. Better than good, Friday night was a glimpse of everything the 2007-08 Los Angeles Lakers are capable of. Coming off a disappointing home loss to the Houston Rockets in their season opener, the Lakers walked into the US Airways Arena and proceeded to completely humiliate the heavily favored Phoenix Suns in their home opener, hammering them by a score of 119-98 (and trust me, it wasn’t even that close!). After falling behind 8-2 to start the game, the Lakers outscored the Suns 31-12 in the lasy nin minutes of the opening quarter and never really looked back, leading by as many as 33 points in the fourth quarter.

How exactly did the Lakers succeed in dropping the hammer on the Suns? Rebounding and an unselfishness and balanced attack. Sure, they were on fire from the perimeter, making 22 of 42 attempts (52.4%; 56.5% overall) from 15 feet and beyond, including 8 of 13 3-pointers (61.5%), but the Lakers aggressive rebounding and offensive execution are what did the Suns in.

In disposing of the Suns, the Lakers only required 28 minutes and 16 points from Kobe Bryant, though he did play a huge part in the win adding 11 rebounds (3 offensive), a team-high 4 assists and 3 steals. Vladimir Radmanovic, yes THAT Vladimir Radmanovic was the team’s top scorer Friday, leading five Lakers in double figures with 19 points on just eight shot attempts (he made all four of his 3-pointers and all three of his free throws). In addition to Kobe and Radmanovic, Derek Fisher (14 points, 7-9 FG), Andrew Bynum (14 points; more on him in a second) and Sasha Vujacic (12 points, 2-3 3-pt, 4-4 FT) cracked double figures for the Lakers. All in all, this was a decidedly “un-Laker-like” offensive performance.

The other area where the Lakers dominated the Suns on Friday was on the boards, outrebounding Phoenix 54-34 (11-9 on the offensive glass) and holding Amare Stoudemire to a single rebound. Despite the strong rebounding efforts of Kobe and Kwame Brown (9 rebounds; 3 offensive), the Lakers were led on the boards by the man whose performance perfectly summed up the team performance- Andrew Bynum. The Lakers’ 20 year-old center came off the bench on Friday and in just 23 minutes, scored 14 points, making seven of his ten field goal attempts, grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds and handed out 3 assists. Man, it looks like this kid can really play!

As for the Suns, it looks like there could be some cause for serious concern. Their shortcomings against the Lakers are the issues that could plague this team throughout the season. Although his ineffectiveness on Friday was a rarity, Amare Stoudemire still seems unable to avoid foul trouble, and the Suns have only Brian Skinner and Sean Marks to back him up in the paint. Steve Nash also had a tough game against the Lakers, turning the ball over five times while handing out just three assists, which wound up hurting Shawn Marion, Grant Hill and Raja Bell, who combined for just 31 points on the night. That the Suns were not able to replace Nash’s production with back-up point guard Marcus Banks, who was just 1-of-6 shooting in 15 minutes (although he did have four assists), is also problematic as Nash’s minutes will need to managed in order to reduce the risk of injury on his chronically sore back and to keep him fresh for the NBA’s stretch run and the post-season.

To be clear, this is unlikely to become the standard performance from the Los Angeles Lakers this season, but it is a resounding example of this team’s potential. The Lakers turned in a dominating performance against a top-tier contender, albeit one on the back end of a back-to-back, by getting several members of the team rolling on offense early in the game, and by crashing the boards aggressively and not allowing the Suns’ fast break to get rolling. Was this performance a fluke, or will it have a lasting impact on the Lakers and catapult them to a strong start to the season? We don’t have to wait long to find out. Sunday night, the Lakers will host another Western Conference contender, the Utah Jazz, at Staples Center, as they will be returning home to face another challenging Western Conference matchup.

Second Attempt At A First Win

November 2, 2007, 10:30 PM Eastern (7:30 PM Pacific)

U S Airways Center- Phoenix, AZ

In Tuesday’s season opener, a miraculous comeback almost resulted in an upset win for the Lakers’ the Houston Rockets, but came up just a bit short.

Tonight, at the US Airways Center in Phoenix, the Los Angeles Lakers will face off with the Phoenix suns in their home opener. Phoenix kicked off its season last night in Seattle. Despite being heavily favored heading into the game, the Suns’ 106-99 victory against Kevin Durant and the Supersonics was anything but easy, with Phoenix trailing for much of the game, including facing a 3 point deficit entering the fourth quarter.

Lakers’ Notes

With the Kobe Bryant trade talks dying down (at least for the moment), the Lakers can finally focus on basketball. With Lamar Odom still nursing an injured should, as well as a slight concussion suffered in a car accident on Tuesday, Phil Jackson’s starting lineup should resemble the unit that took the floor against the Rockets- Kobe and Derek Fisher in the backcourt, Luke Walton and Ronnie Turiaf at forward and (hopefully) Andrew Bynum in middle (although it will likely be Kwame Brown once again).

In order to have success on offense, the Lakers will need to look to the gameplan that allowed them to have success against the Suns in the 2005 Playoffs- try to control the tempo with their halfcourt offense, keep feeding the post, and only look to run when the opportunity clearly presents itself. Another aim of this strategy will be to attack Amare Stoudemire, who was very foul-prone early in Thursday night’s game in Seattle, much like he was last spring in the Suns’ playoff series against the Spurs. Until he shows the ability to avoid early foul trouble, this will be an area opposing teams should look to exploit against the Suns. The low post attack should not be confined to only Amre Stoudemire. The Lakers need to use Kobe, Fisher and Luke Walton to make the other members of the Suns, particularly Steve Nash, Leandro Barbosa ad Grant Hill, play defense on the low block. In addition to the fact that not one of these guys is a defensive stopper (Nash is actually a liability), they are probably a little tired. This is the second game of a back-to-back- and the first ended after 10:30 PM (Pacific Time) last night and took place 1,500 miles away.

Suns’ Notes

The Phoenix Suns did not look sharp for the first three quarters of their season opener. They did succeed in putting it all together in the final quarter against Seattle to come away with the 9-point win, but they clearly did not storm out of the gates. Granted, their style of play is such that as long as one guy is hot from the outside at a given time, they can hang some huge numbers on the scoreboard. On the injury front, both Leandro Barbosa is suffering from sore ribs and both Boris Diaw and Raja Bell are nursing sore ankles, but all three played at least 25 minutes last night without showing any ill-effects. Don’t look for the Suns to change anything in their gameplan. Regardless of the opponent, Nash & Co. will look to do what they always do- run early and often and move the ball until someone has a clean look from the outside. When that gets old, they’ll run some more, this time looking for Barbosa, Hill or Shawn Marion on the wings. The only way to stop them is to get back early on defense, find a man and guard him (even if it’s not “your man”) and keep your long-range misses to a minimum.

Look for the Suns to start Nash and Raja Bell in the backcourt, with Marion, Grant Hill and Stoudemire up front.

What should we be looking for tonight?

This is exactly the kind of game in which the Lakers have pulled many an upset before- they look out of sync, no one is really paying any attention to them on the court, Kobe is mad and the Suns took a late flight home following a hard-fought game last night. Expect another close one tonight. Also expect another big game from Kobe tonight- he’s just in one of “those” stretches where he looks like he’s shooting for 40 every night. Whether the Lakers are able to pull it out will depend on two things- their discipline in sticking with the half court game and their commitment to getting back early against the Suns’ break.

A Golden Opportunity Squandered Against Houston?

Despite trialing by double figures late in the fourth quarter, and playing without Lamar Odom, the Lakers pushed one of the Western Conference’s top-tier teams to the limit before falling by just two points. Whether it was the fumbled rebound between Luke Walton and Kwame Brown that bounced into the basket or Kobe Bryant’s eight missed free throws (his 9^th miss was intentional), the Lakers’ miscues cost them the opportunity to start the season off on the right note.

This issue is doubly important when the team’s early season schedule is taken into account. Starting tomorrow night in Phoenix, the Lakers will play seven games in the next two weeks, only one of which (11/9 vs. Minnesota) they really should win easily, and another (11/6 vs. New Orleans) that should be very hotly contested. The remaining five games over this stretch are against the NBA’s best: 11/2 @ Phoenix, 11/4 vs. Utah, 11/13 @ San Antonio, 11/14 @ Houston, 11/16 vs. Detroit.

Consider that if the Lakers cash in their home games against the Timberwolves and the Hornets, they’ll still need to beat two legitimate contenders just to be at .500 through eight games- that illustrates the enormous difference between 0-1 and 1-0. Granted the schedule has not done the Lakers any favors, but this team is not good enough to squander opportunities against good teams.

Paxson Pulls the Bulls Out of the Kobe Sweepstakes

For the moment, it looks like Kobe Bryant will remain a Laker.

In the interest of preserving the sanity of the players on his team, John Paxson, general manager of the Chicago Bulls, the leading candidate in the Kobe Bryant Trade Sweepstakes, stated that the Lakers’ superstar will apparently not be heading to Chicago.

Just a day after Mark Cuban withdrew his Dallas Mavericks as a possible destination for Kobe, and the news of a supposedly discussed three-team deal in which Kobe would have joined the Bulls, free-agent power forward P.J. Brown (in a sign-and-trade) and shooting Ben Gordon would go to Sacramento, and the Lakers would receive Ben Wallace and Ron Artest, the Bulls have taken their name out of the running for the NBA’s best player.

Undoubtedly, there are more details to come. But one thing is certain- if the Bulls are out of running for Kobe, there is no reason to believe that a trade is imminent.

So maybe, just maybe, we can take a short break from the Kobe trade talks?

Let's See What We've Got

It’s time to stop protecting Andrew Bynum- let’s throw him into the fire and see what we’ve got. By now everyone knows that last season the Lakers’ belief in Bymun’s potential as a franchise center led them to pass up the opportunity to acquire Jason Kidd, drawing the ire of Kobe Bryant and contributing, at least in part, to his desire to leave the Lakers. The Lakers’ front office made an executive decision and now the team has to live with it- but let’s start living with it already! Bynum is entering his third year, he’s visibly bigger and stronger than last year, he showed some flashes of his potential last season and had a very impressive preseason this year (He wasn’t terrible in his 19 minutes on Tuesday night either- just 4 points, but 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and NO turnovers). What more are we waiting for? Name Andrew Bynum the starting center, start giving him some serious minutes and let’s see what the kid can do. Not that it was a conscious decision at the time, but dynamic duo of Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss indirectly chose Andrew Bynum over Kobe Bryant last season. Time to start living with that decision.

Note: Apparently Bynum was late in arriving at the arena on Tuesday night, understandably leading Phil Jackson to bench him for a good portion of the game as punishment. However, let’s hope we’re not in for a season’s worth of 19-minute outings for Andrew Bynum.