Radmanovic to Start

After Luke Walton went down with a foot injury earlier this week, Jackson started Trevor Ariza in his place Sunday against the Trail Blazers. But tonight, it’s back to the bench for Ariza, the place he actually prefers, as Phil Jackson told reporters before the game that Vladimir Radmanovic would return to the starting lineup to face the New Orleans Hornets. There are a few obvious reasons why Jackson’s making the switch: Vladi prefers to start, and Ariza would rather come off the bench; Vladi spreads the floor better than Ariza, who’s struggled a bit with...read full article

New Orleans Hornets vs. Los Angeles Lakers game updates

The New Orleans Hornets welcomed the return of center Tyson Chandler to the lineup Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers after Chandler missed Saturday's loss to Denver while serving a one-game suspension. Chandler was suspended for a Friday night altercation with Portland's Joel Pryzbilla. "We definitely want to have a good game because they handled us pretty well at our place," Chandler said of the Lakers' two wins earlier this year. "We want to come out here and steal a couple of games on their home floor. "The last...read full article

Lakers Are Now the Best: It's Official

With their win against the Portland Trail Blazers, after the Celtics lost at New York and the Cavaliers lost at Washington on Sunday night, the Los Angeles Lakers claim the top spot with a league-best 27-5 record. Boston (29-6) and Cleveland (27-6) are now looking up to the Lakers' best record in the league. Kobe Bryant played for just 33 minutes and scored 26 points, Pau Gasol added 19 points in 28 minutes, and Los Angeles beat the Portland Trail Blazers 100-86 Sunday night for its sixth consecutive victory and 15th straight at...read full article

NBA Power Rankings: New Year, New Number One

It's been two weeks since the last edition of my power rankings, where the East's mighty trio of Boston, Cleveland and Orlando took the top three spots. But that was last year, and now that 2008 has come and gone, it's time for a new leader: the Lakers. There was plenty of repositioning elsewhere as well, including the Detroit Pistons re-entering the top-10 for the first time since mid-November.

1. Los Angeles Lakers (27-5) - Technically the Lakers are still a half-game behind the Celtics for the NBA's best record, but after L.A. beat Boston pretty convincingly on Christmas Day, then downed both Utah and Portland by double digits, there's no question who should be #1.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers (27-6) - LeBron couldn't rally the Cavs past the Heat last week on his birthday despite dropping 24 of his 38 in the second half, and I can...read full article

The Janus Report: New Orleans Hornets at LA Lakers Free Pick

The Los Angeles Lakers try to defend a six-game winning streak and their 15-game home winning-streak tonight against the 20-10 New Orleans Hornets. The two squads have met twice this year already, both times in the Hornet’s Nest, but with the Lakers walking away from New Orleans with convincing victories in each contest. Steve Janus offers you his free NBA picks all season long with the Janus Report! The Lakers are 7-point favorites tonight, and it’s not hard to see why. In their 18 wins at the Staples Center this year, Kobe and...read full article

NBA Power Rankings: Lakers at the Top

The Los Angeles Lakers top the power rankings this week because they now have the best record in basketball. With the Celtics and Cavs stumbling a bit in the East, L.A. has stayed consistent and moved into the prime position. Bet on the Lakers this week at Bookmaker.com! Despite losing four of their last six games, the Boston Celtics are still among the elite in the NBA. The biggest problem for them in this mini-slump has been offensive production off of the bench. Is signing Stephon Marbury the answer to that problem? The Cavs are now...read full article

Lakers defeat Blazers, claim best record in NBA

I go to the Bahamas for a week and look what happens. The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers Sunday night, 100-86, to claim the best record in the NBA at 27-5. The best record in the NBA? What happened to the Boston Celtics? When I left on Dec. 26 Boston had just suffered their third loss of the year. I get back and suddenly they've lost to the Golden State Warriors, Blazers, and the New York Knicks!?!? I need to go on vacation more often. Anyway, not much to say about the game tonight except that we need to...read full article

Lakers' Walton won't need surgery

The news was mixed for Luke Walton on Monday. On one hand, he learned he won't need surgery on his injured right foot after visiting with a specialist. On the other, he found out he will be sidelined for at least two weeks because of sesamoiditis, a condition on the ball of the foot more often associated with long-distance runners or dancers. As an added bonus, he was fitted with a fashionable black walking boot that will protect his foot while allowing him to walk without the aid of crutches. He also began rehabilitation exercises in a pool...read full article

Luke Walton out for at least two weeks

The Lakers announced that forward Luke Walton will be sidelined at least two weeks because of an injury in his right foot. Walton was examined today by foot specialist Dr. Ken Jung from the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Group, who said the Lakers forward is suffering from sesamoiditis, or irritation in the sesamoids, the small bones that run to the big toe. Walton, who was buried on the Lakers bench when the season began, had started 11 consecutive games at small forward but injured his foot before Friday's game against Utah. Although Walton played...read full article

I don't like Mondays... except when they include Laker practice vids!

Perhaps if the Boomtown Rats had peaked during the dawn of a certain purple and gold blog, they would have developed a different outlook on the day after Sunday. Of course, Luke Walton is an actual Laker and he's feeling down today. But who can blame the guy, after learning he'll miss at least two weeks with sesamoiditis, a foot malady that will keep him...read full article

Lakers Overtake Celtics for NBA's Top Record

Kobe Bryant finished this reverse dunk against the Blazers last night, and in the process helped his team to pass the Boston Celtics in the league-wide standings. Thanks to a bizarro night in the Association -- one where the Celtics fell to the Knicks, and LeBron's crab dribble couldn't save the Cavs from losing a close one in Washington -- the Lakers now own the NBA's best record with a 27-5 mark through the team's first 32 games. Of course, it's not like they're running away with it or anything; the Celtics have actually played three more games, and...read full article

Jake & Reese Caught Kissing At Lakers’ Game

The crowd at the Staples Center might have had their eyes glued to the court as the Los Angeles Lakers played the Portland Trailblazers Sunday night – that is until Jake Gyllenhaal planted a kiss on girlfriend Reese Witherspoon on the arena Jumbotron. Access Hollywood witnessed the smooch seen round the stadium during the portion of the evening when the crowd is encouraged to kiss a loved one sitting next to them on camera. VIEW THE PHOTOS: Hot Shots Of Reese Witherspoon With Jake Gyllenhaal As the camera panned to Jake and...read full article