Lakers tonight
VS. PHILADELPHIA
When: 7:30.
Where: Staples Center.
On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 710, 1330.
Records: Lakers 22-10, 76ers 13-19.
Record vs. 76ers: 1-0.
Update: The Lakers defeated the 76ers, 93-81, in Philadelphia on Dec. 17 when Lamar Odom scored 28 points. The 76ers are 5-13 on the road this season.
—Jim Peltz
Comments off
Bynum scored 18 points in 30 minutes of play in the Lakers' 103-88 win over the Hornets in New Orleans on Wednesday night, the most playing time the center has had since returning Dec. 14 from his knee problems.
His first start of the season also sent Lamar Odom back to the bench, at least when the game opened, but Odom nonetheless scored a team-high 24 points in 30 minutes of playing time as well.
The knee "was fine," Bynum said after the Lakers flew home and practiced Thursday in advance of Friday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Staples Center. Bynum, 23, said he was "still a little bit limited as far as explosiveness; other than that I feel pretty good."
Jackson shuffled his starting lineup after the Lakers' third consecutive loss Tuesday, against the Spurs in San Antonio.
"Fortunately, we came through [the change] with flying colors, but I thought it would be much more clumsy than it happened to be," he said. "We know that it's going to take a little bit of time before we're a full-fledged team that we think represents the championship teams that we've had."
He also praised Odom's response to the change, saying Odom, 31, "came out yesterday aggressive and it showed."
Odom, who's had what his teammates consider an All-Star season so far with an average of 15.8 points per game, said he was comfortable with the adjustment.
"It's good for the team," he said. "It was expected because that's [Bynum's] spot, that's his role on the team. So it wasn't like there was competition for a spot. That's the way it is, and that's what I expected as soon as he got back to full strength."
Changing course
The Lakers' three-game skid also prompted Jackson to call a team meeting before Wednesday's game.
"After being embarrassed by San Antonio like that, we had a long meeting, a long talk," Bynum said. A key topic was how the Lakers could be more "defensively mindful" with an eye toward being "able to stop a team consecutively three, four times" from scoring, he said.
"That's what's going to get your offense going, regardless of whether or not you're missing shots," he said.
Forward Pau Gasol said the meeting helped because "when you lose three games the way we lost them, it's not a fluke; it's not just an accident one night. It's something that is continuously happening. We have to understand how we can change this."
And finally
After the Lakers-76ers game ends shortly before New Year's Day, Gasol — a native of Barcelona, Spain — said he probably would join friends in the Spanish tradition of eating 12 grapes as midnight strikes. "It brings you luck," he said.
Comments off
He fought back the tears that welled up as the memories of winning back-to-back championships with the Lakers began to flood his thoughts.
Eventually, DJ Mbenga just enjoyed the moment, enjoyed watching his former Lakers teammates get their championship rings.
Wednesday night, Mbenga played against the Lakers for the first time.
"It was hard for me to make my decision to go," Mbenga said. "The hardest part was when I was in my room watching the ring ceremony. That was hard. You can feel that you're not there. But, it's business. It's basketball. I've got to do what I've got to do."
Mbenga, who was a Staples Center fan favorite, will be presented his championship ring when the Hornets play the Lakers in Los Angeles on Jan. 7.
He'll return with another former Laker, Trevor Ariza.
Ariza first left the Lakers after the 2009 championship, signing with the Houston Rockets.
But the Rockets traded Ariza to the Hornets last summer.
"It's a transition I'm still getting used to," Ariza said.
Though Ariza is more than a year removed from playing with the Lakers, his feeling about his former teammates haven't changed.
"They are cool people and I like them personally," said Ariza, who attended Westchester High and UCLA. "But on the court I hate them. I like them off the court, but on the court, it is what it is."
Ariza wasn't much of a factor against the Lakers.
He scored four points on one-for-two shooting. He did have four assists, but he also had four turnovers and four fouls.
He entered the game averaging 10.5 points per game. He's making 36.8% of his shots, 25.4% of his three-point attempts.
"My season has been up and down," Ariza said. "But it's an experience. I enjoy every day."
The Hornets started the season strong with an 11-1 record.
But they have struggled of late and are 18-14 after losing to the Lakers, 103-88, on Wednesday.
Comments off
He remained that way when the game started, calm and in control of himself. At one point he even looked as if he were enjoying himself. Where's a photographer to record history when you need one?
There was nary a scowl. No technical fouls. In the second quarter he sat on the bench joking with Andrew Bynum and then began coaching him.
Had he changed anything in his approach to this game?
"To have more fun," he said, and I can't say for sure, but I believe he was funning with me.
Now frankly it didn't take as long to get Kobe straightened out as I thought it might. He can be stubborn, you know.
It just took a quick trip to San Antonio and a reminder that the game can be fun. Now all is well again with the Lakers.
That's what made Wednesday night's trip to New Orleans so enjoyable. I got the chance to just sit back and watch the Lakers like Phil does most nights.
The Hornets really aren't very good. But it shouldn't disguise the fact the Lakers look like a different team with Bynum fully engaged and starting.
An agreeable Lamar Odom coming off the bench is a tremendous bonus. Anywhere else, no one dreams of starting a game with Odom on the bench.
Odom's wraparound, behind-the-back drive in the fourth quarter that resulted in a missed layup with a follow-up dunk was a knee-slapper as well as spectacular. His 24 points, according to sideline TV gabber John Ireland, were the most by a Laker off the bench in five years.
Who knows if Ireland was just making it up. After all, most days he does sports talk radio. No matter, Odom's contribution made it appear as if everything were right in Lakersland.
As Khloe Kardashian wrote in a first-half tweet, "I'm so proud of Lamar for being such a TEAM player! He can handle any role and he has played phenomenally! I am so PROUD of him!!"
Great performances by Odom, though, are really not that uncommon. By most accounts he's been the team's most consistent performer this season.
The big story here was the big man. Jackson told Bynum on Wednesday morning that he would start. Jackson had planned to make the move after the start of the new year, but matchup opportunities and three straight defeats changed his mind.
"I'm not sure he's ready for it, but it was the right thing to do because this team was small, and we could overwhelm them with size," Jackson said.
Is he convinced now, after watching Bynum play, that Bynum is ready?
"You know, I think so," Jackson said. "What told me something, he was able to dunk the ball. He has not been finishing strong at the basket. But it looks like he's ready to do it."
Comments off
Not to mention defense, rebounding and a lineup change that surprises just about everybody.
The Lakers opted to play team basketball and ended their three-game skid with fewer one-on-one moments than any of their games over the last …week? Two weeks? Month?
Please excuse the confusion, but it was hard to acknowledge these were the Lakers (22-10) after one of their worst weeks in the regular season in years.
Fifteen assists and 68% shooting in the first half? A 24-point lead in the third quarter? Sixteen of 20 from the free-throw line? Impossible.
Lakers Coach Phil Jackson even threw a wild card into the mix, starting Andrew Bynum a day after laughing off the idea.
Bynum responded with 18 points and six rebounds in his eighth game since off-season knee surgery, one of many sources of strength for the Lakers.
Kobe Bryant was a much more efficient shooter than his horrific eight-for-27 outing against the Spurs, scoring 20 points on eight-for-14 shooting against New Orleans.
He was in facilitator mode early, finding Bynum for a dunk and Steve Blake for an easy layup, and though he finished with seven turnovers, he seemed to have a better time with his teammates.
"It's always fun when you win," he said.
As much as Bryant's recent irritable behavior had been the story, the near future with Bynum as a starter was equally important to note.
Bynum started off wobbly, dropping an entry pass and getting called for a three-second violation, but then he dunked off a feed from Bryant and scored on a layup off Ron Artest's pass.
Later, he was short on a layup attempt but tracked down the rebound and dropped a short jumper over DJ Mbenga, his former counterpart at Lakers practices.
Most of Bynum's work came against Mbenga or defensive-minded veteran Emeka Okafor.
"I know I still have some explosiveness to get back," Bynum said. "It will come with time and I'll be back to jumping."
Even if he didn't love his game, the Lakers were glad to see him playing with power.
"He makes a big difference," Bryant said. "He's plugging up the middle, rebounding. Makes a big difference for us defensively."
The Lakers avoided their second four-game losing streak in a month by towering over the Hornets, crushing them on the boards, 44-24, and in the paint, 46-30.
The seven rebounds the Lakers allowed in the first half tied a franchise record for an opponent low in a half (Dallas in 1986). The Lakers held the Hornets to 41.8% shooting.
Imagine how many points the visitors would have scored had they not committed 21 turnovers, but perfection would be hard to demand from for a team that had been struggling so badly.
They seemed perfectly happy logging 13 assists on their first 18 baskets, an uncommonly high number for them.
"We had a shot selection that was good," Jackson said. "The ball moved."
The Hornets (18-14) continued their slide after an 11-1 start. Chris Paul had 20 points but a surprisingly low seven assists, and typically reliable David West had only eight points, sustaining a sprained ankle near the end of the second quarter that appeared to hound him in the second half.
The Lakers were glad for the first time in over a week. They weren't the ones being hammered by somebody.
twitter.com/Mike_Bresnahan
Comments off
On Wednesday, however, he continued being a vitally important player for the Lakers simply by accepting the switch from starter to sub, as he had done numerous times the last few years.
It's nothing new for Odom, and all he did was score 24 points, his career high as a reserve, making 10 of 15 shots in the Lakers' 103-88 victory over New Orleans.
"Some people could have taken it personally," Odom said. "It didn't matter to me."
Odom was averaging 15.6 points and 9.8 rebounds on 57.4% shooting before Wednesday, enough to be an All-Star "for sure, no question about it," Kobe Bryant said.
But Lakers Coach Phil Jackson sensed Odom stumbling in recent games and decided on the lineup change Wednesday morning. He also thought the Lakers could exploit New Orleans' smaller frontcourt.
"I think Lamar saw it coming, knew it was coming," Jackson said. "I thought he kind of was looking over [his shoulder]."
Odom was a one-man highlight show Wednesday, drilling a three-point shot with 1.6 seconds left in the third quarter, and putting back his miss with a short bank to end a mini-run by the Hornets in the fourth quarter.
Later, he wrapped the ball around his back and dunked off his miss in case Magic Johnson happened to be watching.
"It's funny that a play like that happens in New Orleans," Odom said. "Basketball is almost like jazz. You make one move, take it to another move, but you never know which way it's going."
Jackson, ever the stickler for fundamentals, didn't like it, but Odom didn't seem affected.
"He's never impressed with what I do," Odom said.
The big difficult
The Hornets have been a franchise in flux for years, temporarily moving to Oklahoma City a few seasons ago and recently completing a transaction in which the NBA would buy the financially troubled team.
Jackson, however, said he was "not happy" about the NBA taking control of the Hornets because it could muddy up transactions with other teams.
"Who is going to trade whom to who? Who is going to pull the button on it?" he said. "When Chris [Paul] says he has to be traded, how's that going to go? Someone has to make a very nonjudgmental decision on that part that's not going to irritate anybody else in this league. Don't know how they're going to do that."
Jackson's long-term visions weren't so bullish.
"I don't know if New Orleans can support a team," he said. "It hasn't been successful supporting a team up to now."
twitter.com/Mike_Bresnahan
Times staff writer T.J. Simers contributed to this report.
Comments off
SEASON& SERIES NOTES; CONNECTIONS
The Lakers took last season's series from New Orleans 2-1 after winning the 2008-09 series 3-1. The Lakers are 7-3 in their last 10 games against the Hornets including a 3-1 mark in their last four meetings. The Lakers are also 7-3 in their last 10 homes games against the Hornets and are 12-4 all-time against the Hornets at STAPLES Center. Since the Hornets move to New Orleans from Charlotte prior to the 2002-03 season, the Lakers have gone 7-3 at New Orleans Arena while going 0-2 at Ford Center in Oklahoma City during their temporary relocation from 2005-07. Under head coach Phil Jackson, the Lakers are 19-9 against the Hornets. In 2006, the Lakers and Hornets took part in the city of New Orleans first professional sports game following Hurricane Katrina when they met at the New Orleans Arena March 8, 2006. The Lakers won that contest 113-107 behind 40 points from Kobe Bryant. In 2006-07, Bryant scored a series record 50 points 3/23/07, becoming just the second player in NBA history to score 50+ points in four consecutive games. In their first meeting of the 2007-08 season (11/6/07), Peja Stojakovic made a Lakers opponent record 10 three-point field goals while Chris Paul became only the 7th Lakers opponent to record at least 21 assists in a game and the first since John Stockton did so in April of 1990. In a January 6, 2009 loss to New Orleans, David West scored a series-high 40 points for the Hornets, surpassing Baron Davis' old mark of 37 established when the team was in Charlotte back in 2002. Lakers assistant coach Jim Cleamons spent the 2004-05 and 2005- 06 seasons as an assistant coach in New Orleans. Hornets forward Trevor Ariza played 106 regular season games with Los Angeles from 2007-09, averaging 8.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.54 steals during his Lakers career while helping the team to the 2009 NBA Championship. Additionally, Hornets center DJ Mbenga played three seasons with the Lakers from 2007-10, averaged 2.3 points and 1.6 rebounds and was a member of two championship Lakers teams (2009, 2010).
CONSECUTIVE DOUBLE-FIGURE DEFEATS
With their loss December 28th at San Antonio, the Lakers saw their five game road win streak come to an end while extending a different rather dubious streak. In falling to the Spurs 82-97, the Lakers have now lost three consecutive games by double-figures for the first time since March of 2007 when they lost five consecutive games by 10 or more points (3/6/07 3/15/07, 4 road losses, 1 home).
RARE HOME STRUGGLES
On Christmas Day, the Lakers lost by 16 points to the Heat. In their previous game on December 21st, they lost by 19 points to the Bucks. With both losses coming at home, it is only the third time in franchise history that the Lakers have lost back-to-back home games by at least 16 points. The team was in Minneapolis the previous two times this happened, once in January 1959 and once in November/December 1959. In both cases, the Lakers played at least one road game in between the losses.*
BACK-TO-BACK
Wednesday's game at New Orleans is the second of a back-to-back set with the Spurs and Hornets. This season, the Lakers are 4-2 in the first game and 4-1 in the second of back-to-backs. On the year, the Lakers will play 15 sets of back-to-back games as opposed to the 20 they faced a season ago. The only other time the Lakers have played 15 or fewer sets of back-to-backs came in the team's first ever NBA season (1948-49) when they also played 15 sets of back-to-backs. Chicago, Milwaukee and Atlanta lead the league with 23 back-to-backs each in 2010-11 while Oklahoma City (17), Phoenix (16) and the Lakers (15) will play the fewest sets this season.
KOBE BRYANT LEADS ALL PLAYERS AFTER 1st ROUND OF ALL-STAR BALLOTING
On December 16th, the NBA announced its FIRST returns of 2011 NBA All-Star balloting with Kobe Bryant (722,682) LEADING all players in All-Star voting, ahead of Orlando's Dwight Howard (611,561) and Miami's LeBron James (607,994). Pau Gasol (390,808), who made his third All-Star team last season as a reserve, ranks 2nd among forwards in the West behind Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant (470,881). Andrew Bynum (198,044) ranks 2nd among West centers behind Houston's Yao Ming (430,984), while New Orleans' Chris Paul (386,649) ranks 2nd among West guards behind Bryant. In the East, James and Boston's Kevin Garnett (456,111) lead the forward voting, Miami's Dwyane Wade (570,489) and Boston's Rajon Rondo (497,141) are the top two vote-getters at guard and Howard leads all East centers in balloting.
In each of the last three seasons, Bryant has led the Western Conference in all-star balloting. Last season, Bryant received 2,456,224 votes, finishing second overall to Cleveland's LeBron James (2,549,693). In 2008-09, he accumulated 2,805,397 votes, finishing third in overall balloting behind Dwight Howard (3,150,181) and James (2,940,823). In 2007-08, Bryant garnered 2,004,940 votes to finish fourth in overall voting behind Kevin Garnett (2,399,148), James (2,108,831) and Howard (2,066,991). In 2006-07, when he earned his second All-Star MVP, Bryant finished third overall in balloting behind James and Yao Ming. A three-time All-Star MVP (2002 Philadelphia, 2007 Las Vegas, 2009 Phoenix), Bryant is a 12-time All-Star and had started 11 consecutive All-Star games before missing last year's contest due to a sprained left ankle. Bryant, who was the youngest All-Star in NBA history in 1998, led all players in NBA All-Star balloting in 2003. Gasol has made three All-Star appearances (2006, 2009, 2010) and in 2009, became the 27th Laker in franchise history to be named to an All-Star team.
BRYANT NOW 3RD ON NBA FRANCHISE CAREER POINTS LIST
Last season, with his 29th point on February 1, 2010 at Memphis, Kobe Bryant surpassed Jerry West as the Lakers all-time leading scorer. In the history of the NBA, only two players have scored more points with a single franchise than Bryant (26,573): Karl Malone (1st/36,374) and Michael Jordan (2nd/29,277). This season, Bryant has moved past Hakeem Olajuwon (26,511) for 3rd on this list (12/19 at Toronto) and John Havlicek (26,395) for 4th (12/10 at Chicago).
BRYANT PASSES JOHN HAVLICEK FOR 11th ON NBA'S ALL-TIME SCORING LIST
With 23 points at Chicago (12/10/10), Kobe Bryant passed John Havlicek (26,395) for 11th on the NBA's all-time scoring list. Should he continue to score anywhere near his current pace (25.3 ppg), Bryant (26,573) would move to 6th on the all-time list by season's end. Next on the all-time list ahead of Bryant are Dominique Wilkins (10th/26,668), Oscar Robertson (9th/26,710), Hakeem Olajuwon (8th/26,946), Elvin Hayes (7th/27,313) and Moses Malone (6th/27,409).
Bryant has been steadily moving up the list over the past few years and last season alone, passed Alex English (25,613), Reggie Miller (25,279), Jerry West (25,192), Patrick Ewing (24,815) and Allen Iverson (24,368). In passing West with a slam dunk at the 4:14 mark of the third quarter February 1, 2010 at Memphis, finishing the game with 44 points (West's retired number), Bryant became the leading scorer in Lakers franchise history. In 2008-09, Bryant passed Hall-of-Famers Charles Barkley (23,757), Robert Parish (23,334), Adrian Dantley (23,177), Elgin Baylor (23,149), Clyde Drexler (22,195), Gary Payton (21,813) and Larry Bird (21,791).
NO REST, NO PROBLEM
In their second game of a back-to-back set with the Wizards and Pacers, Kobe Bryant scored 31 points in a 109-94 victory at Indiana. Bryant's average of 29.0 ppg in the second game of back-to-back sets is the highest in the NBA this season. The Lakers have played five sets of back-to-back sets on the year, with Bryant scoring 30 points 11/3 @ Sacramento, 33 points 11/17 @ Detroit, 27 points 12/1 @ Houston, 24 points 12/8 @ LA Clippers and 31 points 12/15 @ Indiana (all 2nd of back-to-back games).*
WIRE-TO-WIRE
With their 109-94 victory in Indiana on December 15th, the Lakers recorded their FIFTH wire-to-wire win of the season. The Lakers other wire-to-wire victories came against the Warriors (10/31 vs. GS, 11/21 vs. GS), Grizzlies (11/2 vs. MEM) and Wizards (12/7 vs. WAS). Last year, the Lakers claimed NINE wire-to-wire victories (games in which they never trailed); seven during the regular season and two during the 2010 Playoffs (4/18 & 4/27 vs. Oklahoma City). During their previous championship run in 2008-09, the Lakers claimed 11 wire-to-wire victories; nine during the regular season and two during the 2009 Playoffs (4/29 vs. Utah & 5/17 vs. Houston). Last season, the Lakers also lost twice in wire-to-wire fashion (98-107 1/8/10 @ POR and 75-91 3/26/10 @ OKC).
GAME WINNERS
Known for his clutch shooting, Derek Fisher delivered once again for the Lakers in their 87-86 victory over the Clippers on December 8th, this time in game-winning fashion with a running three-foot layup high off the glass as the buzzer sounded. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, since the stat began being tracked prior to the 2000-01 season, Fisher now has five game winning field goals, four in the regular season and one in the playoffs (FGM in last 10 seconds of the 4th quarter or overtime). Only two, however, have actually come with the Lakers; the other being his famous 0.4 second buzzer beater 5/13/04 at San Antonio (74-73 win). Fisher's other game winners came with Utah (2/10/07 vs. NY (104-102 win) and Golden State (3/25/05 vs. MIL (118-117 win), 12/28/05 vs. BOS (111-109 win)).
Last season, teammate Kobe Bryant connected on six game-winners; the most game winning field goals of any player in a single season over the last 10 years (Carmelo Anthony ranks second on this list with five game-winning field goals in 2005-06). Since the start of the 2000-01 season, Bryant has 20 field goals that have given his team the lead within the last 10 seconds of a fourth quarter or overtime, the most in the league over that span.
EMPHATIC END TO LOSING STREAK
The Lakers ended their first 4-game losing streak since April of '07 with a 113-80 victory over Sacramento (12/3/10). It's the second-largest margin of victory to end a losing streak of at least four games the Lakers have ever had. The Lakers ended a four-game losing streak by beating the Hawks by 46 points on January 9, 2004 (113-67).*
IRON MAN
Entering the Lakers game at New Orleans, Derek Fisher has played in 444 consecutive regular season games dating back to April 15, 2005, the longest consecutive games streak among all active NBA players. Fisher moved into the top position after Portland's Andre Miller (632) missed the Blazers game against Phoenix (12/7/10) due to NBA suspension. Additionally, Fisher has started 322 consecutive regular season games dating back to January 15, 2007, tops among all active players by more than a season's worth of games (2nd Luis Scola). Former Laker A.C. Green holds the NBA record for most consecutive games played with 1,192 dating from 11/19/86 4/18/01 while a member of the Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat.
Comments off
SEASON& SERIES NOTES; CONNECTIONS
The Lakers took last season's series from New Orleans 2-1 after winning the 2008-09 series 3-1. The Lakers are 7-3 in their last 10 games against the Hornets including a 3-1 mark in their last four meetings. The Lakers are also 7-3 in their last 10 homes games against the Hornets and are 12-4 all-time against the Hornets at STAPLES Center. Since the Hornets move to New Orleans from Charlotte prior to the 2002-03 season, the Lakers have gone 7-3 at New Orleans Arena while going 0-2 at Ford Center in Oklahoma City during their temporary relocation from 2005-07. Under head coach Phil Jackson, the Lakers are 19-9 against the Hornets. In 2006, the Lakers and Hornets took part in the city of New Orleans first professional sports game following Hurricane Katrina when they met at the New Orleans Arena March 8, 2006. The Lakers won that contest 113-107 behind 40 points from Kobe Bryant. In 2006-07, Bryant scored a series record 50 points 3/23/07, becoming just the second player in NBA history to score 50+ points in four consecutive games. In their first meeting of the 2007-08 season (11/6/07), Peja Stojakovic made a Lakers opponent record 10 three-point field goals while Chris Paul became only the 7th Lakers opponent to record at least 21 assists in a game and the first since John Stockton did so in April of 1990. In a January 6, 2009 loss to New Orleans, David West scored a series-high 40 points for the Hornets, surpassing Baron Davis' old mark of 37 established when the team was in Charlotte back in 2002. Lakers assistant coach Jim Cleamons spent the 2004-05 and 2005- 06 seasons as an assistant coach in New Orleans. Hornets forward Trevor Ariza played 106 regular season games with Los Angeles from 2007-09, averaging 8.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.54 steals during his Lakers career while helping the team to the 2009 NBA Championship. Additionally, Hornets center DJ Mbenga played three seasons with the Lakers from 2007-10, averaged 2.3 points and 1.6 rebounds and was a member of two championship Lakers teams (2009, 2010).
CONSECUTIVE DOUBLE-FIGURE DEFEATS
With their loss December 28th at San Antonio, the Lakers saw their five game road win streak come to an end while extending a different rather dubious streak. In falling to the Spurs 82-97, the Lakers have now lost three consecutive games by double-figures for the first time since March of 2007 when they lost five consecutive games by 10 or more points (3/6/07 3/15/07, 4 road losses, 1 home).
RARE HOME STRUGGLES
On Christmas Day, the Lakers lost by 16 points to the Heat. In their previous game on December 21st, they lost by 19 points to the Bucks. With both losses coming at home, it is only the third time in franchise history that the Lakers have lost back-to-back home games by at least 16 points. The team was in Minneapolis the previous two times this happened, once in January 1959 and once in November/December 1959. In both cases, the Lakers played at least one road game in between the losses.*
BACK-TO-BACK
Wednesday's game at New Orleans is the second of a back-to-back set with the Spurs and Hornets. This season, the Lakers are 4-2 in the first game and 4-1 in the second of back-to-backs. On the year, the Lakers will play 15 sets of back-to-back games as opposed to the 20 they faced a season ago. The only other time the Lakers have played 15 or fewer sets of back-to-backs came in the team's first ever NBA season (1948-49) when they also played 15 sets of back-to-backs. Chicago, Milwaukee and Atlanta lead the league with 23 back-to-backs each in 2010-11 while Oklahoma City (17), Phoenix (16) and the Lakers (15) will play the fewest sets this season.
KOBE BRYANT LEADS ALL PLAYERS AFTER 1st ROUND OF ALL-STAR BALLOTING
On December 16th, the NBA announced its FIRST returns of 2011 NBA All-Star balloting with Kobe Bryant (722,682) LEADING all players in All-Star voting, ahead of Orlando's Dwight Howard (611,561) and Miami's LeBron James (607,994). Pau Gasol (390,808), who made his third All-Star team last season as a reserve, ranks 2nd among forwards in the West behind Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant (470,881). Andrew Bynum (198,044) ranks 2nd among West centers behind Houston's Yao Ming (430,984), while New Orleans' Chris Paul (386,649) ranks 2nd among West guards behind Bryant. In the East, James and Boston's Kevin Garnett (456,111) lead the forward voting, Miami's Dwyane Wade (570,489) and Boston's Rajon Rondo (497,141) are the top two vote-getters at guard and Howard leads all East centers in balloting.
In each of the last three seasons, Bryant has led the Western Conference in all-star balloting. Last season, Bryant received 2,456,224 votes, finishing second overall to Cleveland's LeBron James (2,549,693). In 2008-09, he accumulated 2,805,397 votes, finishing third in overall balloting behind Dwight Howard (3,150,181) and James (2,940,823). In 2007-08, Bryant garnered 2,004,940 votes to finish fourth in overall voting behind Kevin Garnett (2,399,148), James (2,108,831) and Howard (2,066,991). In 2006-07, when he earned his second All-Star MVP, Bryant finished third overall in balloting behind James and Yao Ming. A three-time All-Star MVP (2002 Philadelphia, 2007 Las Vegas, 2009 Phoenix), Bryant is a 12-time All-Star and had started 11 consecutive All-Star games before missing last year's contest due to a sprained left ankle. Bryant, who was the youngest All-Star in NBA history in 1998, led all players in NBA All-Star balloting in 2003. Gasol has made three All-Star appearances (2006, 2009, 2010) and in 2009, became the 27th Laker in franchise history to be named to an All-Star team.
BRYANT NOW 3RD ON NBA FRANCHISE CAREER POINTS LIST
Last season, with his 29th point on February 1, 2010 at Memphis, Kobe Bryant surpassed Jerry West as the Lakers all-time leading scorer. In the history of the NBA, only two players have scored more points with a single franchise than Bryant (26,573): Karl Malone (1st/36,374) and Michael Jordan (2nd/29,277). This season, Bryant has moved past Hakeem Olajuwon (26,511) for 3rd on this list (12/19 at Toronto) and John Havlicek (26,395) for 4th (12/10 at Chicago).
BRYANT PASSES JOHN HAVLICEK FOR 11th ON NBA'S ALL-TIME SCORING LIST
With 23 points at Chicago (12/10/10), Kobe Bryant passed John Havlicek (26,395) for 11th on the NBA's all-time scoring list. Should he continue to score anywhere near his current pace (25.3 ppg), Bryant (26,573) would move to 6th on the all-time list by season's end. Next on the all-time list ahead of Bryant are Dominique Wilkins (10th/26,668), Oscar Robertson (9th/26,710), Hakeem Olajuwon (8th/26,946), Elvin Hayes (7th/27,313) and Moses Malone (6th/27,409).
Bryant has been steadily moving up the list over the past few years and last season alone, passed Alex English (25,613), Reggie Miller (25,279), Jerry West (25,192), Patrick Ewing (24,815) and Allen Iverson (24,368). In passing West with a slam dunk at the 4:14 mark of the third quarter February 1, 2010 at Memphis, finishing the game with 44 points (West's retired number), Bryant became the leading scorer in Lakers franchise history. In 2008-09, Bryant passed Hall-of-Famers Charles Barkley (23,757), Robert Parish (23,334), Adrian Dantley (23,177), Elgin Baylor (23,149), Clyde Drexler (22,195), Gary Payton (21,813) and Larry Bird (21,791).
NO REST, NO PROBLEM
In their second game of a back-to-back set with the Wizards and Pacers, Kobe Bryant scored 31 points in a 109-94 victory at Indiana. Bryant's average of 29.0 ppg in the second game of back-to-back sets is the highest in the NBA this season. The Lakers have played five sets of back-to-back sets on the year, with Bryant scoring 30 points 11/3 @ Sacramento, 33 points 11/17 @ Detroit, 27 points 12/1 @ Houston, 24 points 12/8 @ LA Clippers and 31 points 12/15 @ Indiana (all 2nd of back-to-back games).*
WIRE-TO-WIRE
With their 109-94 victory in Indiana on December 15th, the Lakers recorded their FIFTH wire-to-wire win of the season. The Lakers other wire-to-wire victories came against the Warriors (10/31 vs. GS, 11/21 vs. GS), Grizzlies (11/2 vs. MEM) and Wizards (12/7 vs. WAS). Last year, the Lakers claimed NINE wire-to-wire victories (games in which they never trailed); seven during the regular season and two during the 2010 Playoffs (4/18 & 4/27 vs. Oklahoma City). During their previous championship run in 2008-09, the Lakers claimed 11 wire-to-wire victories; nine during the regular season and two during the 2009 Playoffs (4/29 vs. Utah & 5/17 vs. Houston). Last season, the Lakers also lost twice in wire-to-wire fashion (98-107 1/8/10 @ POR and 75-91 3/26/10 @ OKC).
GAME WINNERS
Known for his clutch shooting, Derek Fisher delivered once again for the Lakers in their 87-86 victory over the Clippers on December 8th, this time in game-winning fashion with a running three-foot layup high off the glass as the buzzer sounded. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, since the stat began being tracked prior to the 2000-01 season, Fisher now has five game winning field goals, four in the regular season and one in the playoffs (FGM in last 10 seconds of the 4th quarter or overtime). Only two, however, have actually come with the Lakers; the other being his famous 0.4 second buzzer beater 5/13/04 at San Antonio (74-73 win). Fisher's other game winners came with Utah (2/10/07 vs. NY (104-102 win) and Golden State (3/25/05 vs. MIL (118-117 win), 12/28/05 vs. BOS (111-109 win)).
Last season, teammate Kobe Bryant connected on six game-winners; the most game winning field goals of any player in a single season over the last 10 years (Carmelo Anthony ranks second on this list with five game-winning field goals in 2005-06). Since the start of the 2000-01 season, Bryant has 20 field goals that have given his team the lead within the last 10 seconds of a fourth quarter or overtime, the most in the league over that span.
EMPHATIC END TO LOSING STREAK
The Lakers ended their first 4-game losing streak since April of '07 with a 113-80 victory over Sacramento (12/3/10). It's the second-largest margin of victory to end a losing streak of at least four games the Lakers have ever had. The Lakers ended a four-game losing streak by beating the Hawks by 46 points on January 9, 2004 (113-67).*
IRON MAN
Entering the Lakers game at New Orleans, Derek Fisher has played in 444 consecutive regular season games dating back to April 15, 2005, the longest consecutive games streak among all active NBA players. Fisher moved into the top position after Portland's Andre Miller (632) missed the Blazers game against Phoenix (12/7/10) due to NBA suspension. Additionally, Fisher has started 322 consecutive regular season games dating back to January 15, 2007, tops among all active players by more than a season's worth of games (2nd Luis Scola). Former Laker A.C. Green holds the NBA record for most consecutive games played with 1,192 dating from 11/19/86 4/18/01 while a member of the Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat.
Comments off
Lakers 103, Hornets 88 (final)
Finally, they could smile, laugh and enjoy themselves.
Finally, they could breathe a sigh of relief.
Finally, the Lakers won, breaking a three-game losing streak that left some of them wondering where this team was headed.
With Andrew Bynum starting at center and Lamar Odom coming off the bench, the Lakers opened a lead as big as 24 points before easing to the finish line.
Bynum played almost 30 minutes, the most he has played in the eight games he has played in since returning from right knee surgery.
He had 18 points on eight-for-12 shooting, six rebounds and one blocked shot.
Odom had a strong game, leading the Lakers with 24 points on 10-for-15 shooting.
Kobe Bryant had 20 points on eight-for-14 shooting.
Chris Paul led the Hornets 20 points and seven assists.
Lakers 83, Hornets 60 (end of third quarter)
The Lakers began to pound the Hornets in the third, opening a 24-point lead.
But then Kobe Bryant picked up his fourth foul midway through the third and the Lakers seemed to lose some of their intensity.
They soon picked it right back up, opening a 23-point lead entering the fourth.
The Lakers ended the third with Lamar Odom making a three-pointer.
Lakers 59, Hornets 41 (end of first half)
They shared the basketball, which made it easier for the Lakers to make shots.
By the end of the first half, the Lakers had 15 assists on 23 baskets.
The Lakers shot 69.7% from the field in the first half, opening a 20-point lead at one point in the second quarter.
Lamar Odom, coming of the bench, had 11 points on four-for-five shooting.
Kobe Bryant had 11 points on four-for-eight shooting.
Derek Fisher led the Lakers with five assists.
The Hornets were hurt even more when power forward David West went down with an ankle injury, forcing him to the locker room with 4:18 left in the second.
Lakers 26, Hornets 23 (end of first quarter)
The Lakers were on fire in the first quarter, shooting 75% from the field, making 12 of 16 shots.
Still, the Lakers led by just three points at the end of the quarter because they turned the ball over seven times.
Andrew Bynum, making his first start of the season, had six points on three-for-four shooting.
Kobe Bryant (three for five) and Pau Gasol (two for two) also had six points in the first.
Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said there could be changes with the starting lineup.
Well, there was.
Center Andrew Bynum returned as a starter and Lamar Odom went back to the bench when the Lakers faced the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night.
This is Bynum's eight game back after he missed the first 24 regular-season games recovering from right knee surgery.
The Lakers have lost three in a row and are looking for a spark.
They must hope Bynum can provide it with his play down low.
Bynum made all four of his shots against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night, but he was just two for eight from the free-throw line.
-- Broderick Turner, reporting from New Orleans
Comments off
Andrew Bynum was the Lakers' best player Tuesday, scoring down low with improved rhythm and affecting a handful of San Antonio's shots with his defensive play.
He made all four of his shots, had 10 points and took seven rebounds. His major gaffes were at the free-throw line, where he made only two of eight.
"I've just got to be a little bit more assertive and really, really get that trust from my teammates again," Bynum said. "Just be a little bit more demonstrative asking for the ball, and be big in the lane.
Said Lakers Coach Phil Jackson: "I thought he looked better. I thought he looked like he had some intensity and played with the kind of energy we needed."
Bynum, a career 69.2% free-throw shooter coming into Tuesday, wasn't thrilled with his performance at the line, for obvious reasons.
"I was shooting and then it kind of got into my head a little bit," he said. "I put more pressure [on myself] and started shooting the ball too hard."
Seen this before
Kobe Bryant said the Lakers' malaise since an 8-0 start reminded him of the 2001-02 season, when the franchise encountered some regular-season losing streaks on the way to eventually winning a third consecutive championship.
"We had to deal with it when we won a three-peat here last time," he said. "Same type of situation that you deal with."
That championship team went through a 3-6 skid in January 2002 and a three-game losing streak a month later but never lost four consecutive games, which the Lakers did four weeks ago.
One last look
Back-to-back losses last week to Miami and Milwaukee set a new low for the Lakers.
It marked the first time since 1959 they had lost consecutive home games by at least 16 points. The franchise was still located in Minneapolis when it last happened.
twitter.com/Mike_Bresnahan
Comments off
