Magic C Howard, Lakers G Bryant lead All-Star voting

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard and Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant continue to lead the All-Star voting for their respective conferences, the league announced Thursday. The defending slam dunk champion, Howard leads the entire league with 1,709,088 votes and is running away with the starting center spot on the Eastern Conference squad. Samuel Dalembert of the Philadelphia 76ers is a distant second with 239,089 votes. Cleveland’s LeBron James (1,521,272) and Boston’s Kevin Garnett (1,101,541) are the top...read full article

Lakers' Farmar back on the court, but just to observe

As his knee continues to heal, the guard says it has been hard to be away from basketball. Still, the Lakers guard couldn't stay away. "Being away from basketball is the hardest part," he said.
"I can't move, (but) I can watch. The faster we get the swelling out, the faster I can get to work. So anything that deters me from that is not a good idea." Jordan Farmar hasn't been seen much since undergoing arthroscopic surgery Dec. 24 to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. He is not expected not to return to the lineup until after the All-Star break. But that doesn't mean he can't hang around the Lakers' training...read full article

Rest time is over and big tests loom for the Lakers

Lakers point guard Derek Fisher, defending against the Knicks' Nate Robinson, has averaged 39 minutes in four games without backup point guard Jordan Farmar.

It won't be an easy month for L.A., with Utah on tap tonight and New Orleans, Cleveland, Orlando, Houston and San Antonio on the horizon. The Lakers practiced Thursday, the better to prepare for an upcoming stretch of 14 games in 26 days. In other words, break time's over. Tonight's game against Utah will be only their second in eight days, a quirk in the schedule that allowed them to savor their Christmas Day victory over the Boston Celtics, among other things. But they'll have...read full article

Deal or No Deal? or should I say...Kobe or No Kobe?

I can't believe this guy took forever to answer the question. If you are a true Lakers Fan...you would not even think twice about it....or would you? What would you have done? Leave a comment.

Lakers stand firm in economic storm

So far, so good for the high-flying Los Angeles Lakers, whose impressive on-court form this season has been matched by their robust resistance to the global financial crisis. Although the U.S. recession has forced the National Basketball Association and the National Football League to cut jobs and Major League Baseball to freeze budgets, the Lakers have been remarkably unaffected. While their players have again set the standard in the Western Conference with a stirring win-loss record of 25-5, Lakers' home attendances and the number of season ticket holders for 2008-09 have held firm. "As of this point, we have not been adversely affected but we feel fortunate that this is the case," John Black, vice president of public relations for the Lakers, told Reuters. "If the current economic climate continues to worsen, at some point we would imagine it will impact us in some way, as it is doing or will do with most every other business in...read full article

Lakers Team Report Jan 1, 2009

Just how good is the Lakers' offense?

After rolling up 130 points on 51.6 percent field-goal shooting Sunday night against Golden State, the Lakers are averaging 107.3 points on 47.3 percent shooting this season. The scoring average is easily a league high (Golden State is next at 105 points per game). Kobe Bryant has heated up dramatically with his shot as 2008 has neared its end. Bryant has made at least 50 percent of his field-goal attempts in six of the Lakers' past seven games. He is now at 47.3 percent field-goal shooting on the season—and scoring 26.3 points per game. "Kobe now has a grasp on the game (after reaching the NBA Finals last season) like no other player, and he controls it when he wants to," Golden State coach Don Nelson said...read full article

Lakers-Celtics earns highest rating in 4 years

The Christmas Day game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics was the highest rated regular-season NBA game in four years. The rematch of last season's NBA finals earned a 5.3 fast national rating on ABC, the network said. The rating for the Lakers' 92-83 victory, which snapped Boston's 19-game winning streak, was 51 percent higher than the 3.5 mark for last year's late Christmas game between the Lakers and the Phoenix Suns. The early game on Thursday between the...read full article

For now, end is not in sight for Lakers

Their record is fine, but they're not thinking about moving into the lead at his point in the season. After 30 games, they're focused on other things. To be sure, gaining home-court advantage for the playoffs remains a goal for the Lakers, but it's not something they're concerned about just now. "We can't let it be the sole driving force of what we do this season," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "It really has to be about measuring the season, how guys are playing, the minutes they're playing, how to sustain the effort and to keep as many players playing well as...read full article

Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson give Lakers an 'A'

The schedule's rare break results in a 'disconnected' practice, but both Lakers star and coach see the big picture as positive.

What a weird, wacky thing the NBA schedule can be. As sure as the Lakers rushed back from a four-game, five-night trip to play the Boston Celtics on Christmas Day, they are in the midst of the NBA equivalent of a bye week, with four full days between a romp over Golden State and, gasp, another game on...read full story

BDL NBA Power Rankings: Look who's looking up

The BDL NBA Power Rankings combine two parts champagne with one part flippant observation to create the most unbalanced ranking possible, and to offer the least accurate look at the state of the NBA on a weekly basis. If you disagree with your team's spot, go crazy in the comments or spit venom via email.

1. Los Angeles Lakers — Finally got their revenge in a win over the Celtics last Thursday in a game that was overshadowed by the Mavericks/Trail Blazers classic that followed later that night. Pity, because this plucky bunch of unheralded go-getters easily deserve a Christmas laurel and hearty handshake. Really, the Lakers should be ranked higher. [Kelly Dwyer]

2. Cleveland Cavaliers — A thousand words ...read full article

Bryant earns weekly honor

Who says he’s slowing down? Kobe Bryant, the reigning MVP, was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played last week. Bryant led the Lakers to four consecutive victories last week, averaging 30.0 points on 54 percent shooting, along with 5.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists. He scored a game-high 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists, as the Lakers defeated Boston on Christmas Day, 92-83, snapping the Celtics’ 19-game winning streak.

What will Laker fans remember about '08?

The year started with Phil Jackson surpassing late Celtics president and coach Red Auerbach with his 939th victory. It would be the first, but not last, time the stench of Auerbach's legendary cigars would be remembered in 2008. The Lakers continued to collect victories with ease and Kobe Bryant, an unhappy camper before the season, seemed overall pleased with his teammates and how the season was progressing. Eleven days into the New Year, the Lakers had won 15 of 18 games and moved a half-game behind first-place Phoenix in the...read full article