Quote of the Day -Kobe Bryant

"He got tripped. They're not going to make that call. So what?  Both teams shot the heck out of the ball. I mean, its tough to lose a game like that." -Kobe Bryant on the traveling call with 1 second left in the game when it was a damn foul!!!

Lakers, Spurs 112-111: Another one for the books

Another season, another great contest between the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs. The bad news? A final result of 112-111, with San Antonio on the better end of the stick. The Good news? If you can look past that unfortunate outcome (and as ESPN's Marc Stein reminds Laker fans, it's plenty safe to do so), roundball fans were treated to quite the entertaining contest.  Back and forth scoring. A buzzer beating three from Manu Ginobli to end the third quarter, right on the heels of a trey ball fro Trevor Ariza. The Lakers steadily getting back in the race...read full article

LAKERS: A great deal of work remains

There was no formal practice Thursday, but that didn't mean the Lakers rested after their two-game trip to Texas. There remains a great deal of work to be done before they can breathe a sigh of relief, or as close to one as they can manage at this point. First, there's the Orlando Magic, followed by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Clippers, Washington Wizards and San Antonio Spurs. Rest is a relative term as far as the Lakers are concerned. "You have to be ready because there is no break," 7-footer Pau Gasol said after the Lakers' 112-111 loss Wednesday to the...read full article

Lakers star Bryant to write blog for Chinese web site

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant has signed a lucrative marketing agreement with Internet giant SINA.com to write a blog for their Chinese website. The 30-year-old Bryant enjoys a huge following among the 1.3 billion people in China where his popularity rivals that of Houston Rockets star Yao Ming. "As a kid growing up I never in my wildest dreams thought I would have this big fan base half way around the world in Beijing and Shanghai," said Bryant during a red-carpet reception Thursday at the Club Nokia bar to announce the...read full article

Manu Ginobili is a role model for Lakers reserves

Though the Lakers were missing two key reserves, their bench still played well against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. It's just that San Antonio's bench was more productive. Well, to be fair, Spurs sixth man Manu Ginobili was great. Ginobili had 27 points. He was nine for 15 from the field, four for eight from three-point range. He also had three steals. The Lakers' bench of Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza and Josh Powell combined for 25 points on 11-for-20 shooting. They also had 13 rebounds, five assists and five steals. But what one can't forget is that...read full article

Mason's late three pointer lifts Spurs over Lakers

Roger Mason nailed a three pointer with just 10 seconds left as the San Antonio Spurs edged the Los Angeles Lakers 112-111. After Kobe Bryant drilled a three-pointer over Mason that gave the Lakers a 111-109 lead with 12 seconds left, the Spurs called a timeout, setting up Mason for the heroics. Matt Bonner had trouble inbounding the ball, but found Mason in the corner. He faked, then hit a tough shot as he was fouled by Derek Fisher. Mason made the ensuing free throw, giving the Spurs a one-point lead. The Lakers had one last chance but Bryant was doubled...read full article

Spurs beat Lakers 112-111 in West finals rematch

Roger Mason hit a jumper with 10 seconds left and made a free throw after being fouled by Derek Fisher, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Los Angeles Lakers 112-111 on Wednesday night in the first meeting between the teams since the Western Conference finals. After Mason's three-point play, the Lakers failed to get a shot off when Trevor Ariza was called for traveling with .8 left. The Lakers rallied from 11 points behind in the fourth quarter and led when Kobe Bryant hit a 3-pointer with 12 seconds left. The Spurs called timeout and worked the ball over the...read full article

Lakers don't always finish strong

They have played a lot of close games, and sometimes things don't bounce their way.

If the Lakers could have shortened some of their games to 47 minutes and varying degrees of seconds, their record would be that much better. It's akin to saying some baseball teams would look better in eight innings of play, or that some football teams would be just fine if an opponent's final 83-yard drive had been wiped off the record. But for conversation's sake, of the losses suffered by the Lakers (31-7), four have been in the waning seconds, including...read full article

Lakers impress rival coach Gregg Popovich

San Antonio gets the win, but the Spurs' coach comes away with an appreciation for what the Lakers are doing this season, as he credits Phil Jackson.

Reporting from San Antonio -- His team won and yet San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich still is impressed by what the Lakers are, what they have become and what they can be. Popovich had heard so much about the Lakers, about their talent, depth and drive to win an NBA championship after losing to the Boston Celtics in the 2008 NBA Finals. He credits Lakers Coach...read full article

NBA Power Rankings: hollywood style

The new year has wrought quite a few changes in the NBA’s pecking order. Young, strong teams are tearing down the walls, but while the birds are flying high in the NFL, the only one on this list took a dive.

1. Los Angeles Lakers (30-6) - Just to prove that I’m not still bitter about the Lakers/Kings conference finals in 2002, I’m going to give the Lakers this top spot. It’s a gift, because even though they have won 9 of their last 10, injuries to Odom, Walton, and Farmar are going to make sure LA won’t be number 1 again for quite a while. I’m chalking this bad luck up to...read full article

NBA Preview from The Sports Network

Los Angeles Lakers (30-6) at Houston Rockets (24-15), 8:30 p.m.

The Los Angeles Lakers kick off a quick two-game road swing through Texas on Tuesday when they arrive in Houston to face the Rockets at the Toyota Center. The Lakers won their third straight game on Sunday when Andrew Bynum scored a team-best 24 points, including a key putback in the waning moments of the fourth, as Los Angeles went on to post a 108-105 victory over the Miami Heat at Staples Center. Kobe Bryant had 19 points on 5-of-14 shooting with seven assists, while Derek Fisher had a game-high 11 helpers and 13 points for...read full article

NBA Power Rankings: Cavs Finally Reach the Top

Cleveland's win over the C's coupled with L.A.'s loss was enough to get the Cavs into the number one position for the first time all season. The struggling Celtics fell another spot from last week, and there's also a new team occupying the basement at number 30.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (29-6) - The Cavs get my top billing thanks to a pair of convincing wins, including one over the Celtics. I'll try not to jinx it, but this team absolutely has what it takes to go undefeated at home.

2. Los Angeles Lakers (30-6) - I bumped the Lakers down after losing to the Hornets and barely surviving close calls against the Warriors, Pacers and Heat. Next week's...read full article