Lakers for redemption

Lakers and the Celtics again is what everybody wants to see in the finals.

But I think the Lakers will win the championship this time and Kobe will get his fourth ring.

The New Guitar Heroes Commercial!

Watch Kobe Bryant on the mic, A-Rod and Michael Phelps playing the guitars, and Tony Hawk hitting the drums in the latest commercial of guitar heroes. It's so funny.

Is Kobe playing tonight?

Kobe Bryant is expected to play Tuesday against Portland Trailblazer for the opening game of the season. He "kinda" injured his knee when he bang into Josh Powell against the Bobcats on Tuesday. He was a little worried when it happened but later said that he was okay. The Lakers is playing the Bobcats again tonight for another preseason game. 

Is Kobe playing tonight?

Want to trade Lamar?...Think Again.

Lamar Odom is part of the bench mob now and I don't know about you guys but I think Lamar coming off the bench is the best thing for the Lakers if they want to win the championship. The fans and media are always giving him a hard time because he's inconsistent...wanting to trade him. I think he should stay because he does all the other small stuff that builds up to something big. As a Laker fan...we shouldn't take him for granted.

Find out why he would help the Lakers

Jordan Farmar's Goal as a Laker

Jordan Farmar has been playing great so far during the preseason. Coming off the bench, he's averaging 12 points a game, 3 assists, 2 steals, making 59.1 percent of his field goals...all 2nd in the team. His goal is to definitely start for the Lakers one day and he's pushing himself to do so. Right now, he's learning from the master Derek Fisher. 

Find out when he will start

Lakers' Kobe Bryant injured in exhibition

Kobe Bryant has experienced just about every injury in a pro career spanning 37,519 minutes, but this was a new one.

Bryant sustained a hyperextended right knee and was listed as day-to-day after banging knees with Lakers forward Josh Powell in the second quarter of Tuesday's 102-98 exhibition victory over the Charlotte Bobcats. Bryant was injured while going for a rebound off Sun Yue's missed shot from the wing. Bryant bumped into Powell, his knee was hyperextended and he landed off balance.

Bryant immediately signaled to the bench that he was injured, and a timeout was called with 3:08 left in the second quarter. He walked over and sat at the end of the bench for a few moments before heading to the locker room under his own power, with trainer Gary Vitti closely behind.

Bryant did not return for the second half and will be re-evaluated today. The injury is not considered serious, and an MRI exam is not scheduled for today unless he wakes up and experiences pain.

"We'll see how it feels [today]. It's sore," Bryant said in a brief...read full article

"The Machine" is working again.

Sasha Vujacic participated through the entirety of Monday’s practice, saying that he had a little discomfort in his ankle but no sharp pain. He didn’t want to push off it too much, and won’t play in L.A.’s preseason game in San Diego on Tuesday. However, he does feel good about his progress and will see how the ankle responds to a day’s worth of activity.

Click here see the Vujacic interview on video.

WOULD YOU RATHER: ANDREW BYNUM/JORDAN FARMAR

We played a game of “Would You Rather” with Andrew Bynum and Jordan Farmar, with names like Kimbo Slice, James Bond, Jessica Alba and Mr. Belding coming into play.

If you can figure out whose answers are better, let us know. I’m undecided.

MT: ... Would you rather fight Chuck Norris in a cage match or Kimbo Slice on the street?
Bynum: Chuck Norris. He’s a little bit smaller than Kimbo. I’m going to be able to stay away from Chuck a little bit, and I don’t want Kimbo to be touching me. 
Farmar: Chuck Norris, because I like organized sports. I don’t play basketball in the streets really anymore … I like being in a gym with refs. I’ll take my chances with Chuck.

MT: ... Be James Bond for a day ... Or Hugh Hefner for a day?
Bynum: James Bond. All day. You get the cars, you can shoot very well, you’re an ace, you’re a ladies’ man … You have the total package. 
Farmar: James Bond. Come on, he’s a highly-trained assassin/double-agent. He does his thing, and he still gets girls. He drives the hot car, he’s young, he’s fly, athletic, coordinated … Plus I’m not a Playmate kind of guy.

MT: ... Be able to communicate with animals, or be able to read women's minds?...read full article

Farmar backboard alley hoop pass to Ariza for the slam!

The Lakers are looking like the team to beat already. If you missed the Lakers vs. Raptors game on Sunday, here's a clip to show you that the Lakers are taking it all the way this year. Jordan Farmar to Trevor Ariza for a fast break backboard alley hoop slam!

Lakers' Kobe Bryant still needs some legwork

MVP might be a little fatigued from the Olympics and Phil Jackson is keeping an eye on him.

Long after the NBA Finals ended in mid-June, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol took center stage in an international theater, helping their respective countries to gold and silver finishes at the Beijing Olympics.

Has there been a carry-over effect from almost two months' worth of overtime? Gasol seems to be faring fine on the court this month, but Bryant has looked fatigued at times, Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said.

"Kobe still looks to me like his legs might be a little bit tired," Jackson said. "So I constantly ask him if he wants to take a day off or if he needs a day off. I check in with him."

Bryant sat out a few practices the first week of training camp and was sidelined for the second part of Friday's practice after feeling a twinge in his back. He is not expected to miss preseason games tonight and Sunday at Staples Center.

Bryant's shot has been somewhat flat in preseason play. He is shooting 36% (nine for 25) in three exhibition games.

"That's all legs," Jackson said. "He's got to get his legs into it."

Bryant also had a subpar exhibition season a year ago, but he snapped back to life with a 45-point effort in the season opener against Houston and eventually won his first...read full story

Lakers' Luke Walton may be scrambling for court time

The team has a logjam of talent at small forward and Jackson is still trying to define the forward's role.

Once, Luke Walton was the starting small forward for the Lakers, seemingly putting him on the path to success.

He was awarded a six-year, $30-million contract during the summer of 2007 after having a career year during the 2006-07 season in which he started 60 games, and all five of the Lakers' playoff games. But now Walton is in a struggle to find minutes because of the log jam of talent at his position. And it hasn't helped that Walton fell behind in training camp while recovering from ankle surgery.

"My job is to go out and play. His job is to determine who plays where, when and how much," Walton said of Lakers Coach Phil Jackson. "That's out of my control."  When Walton was a starter during the 2006-07 season, he averaged career highs in points (11.4), rebounds (5.0), assists (4.3) and minutes (33.0).

Last season he played in 74 games, but only 31 as a starter.

Walton's role this season has yet to be determined.

"I really don't know," Jackson said today after practice. That's because Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza, Vladimir Radmanovic and even Kobe Bryant all will spend time at the small forward position.

Andrew Bynum's agent disappointed with contract talks with Lakers

The center is in the final season of his contract and could become a restricted free agent next year if the Lakers don't sign him to an extension by Oct. 31.

Andrew Bynum turns 21 on Oct. 27. Then comes an even bigger date. The Lakers have until Oct. 31 to sign Bynum to a five-year contract extension, though discussions with the team have been "few and not significant," according to Bynum's agent, David Lee. "I just don't get it," Lee said. "I do not understand certain things that happen. Andrew has taken everything the Lakers have thrown at him, including criticism. He doesn't do anything to respond other than go on the court. He just goes on with his business."

Lee is traveling from New York to meet today with Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak in hopes of working out a deal.

Bynum, who will make $2.8 million this season in the final year of his contract, can sign a five-year extension worth up to about $85 million, a figure that won't officially be determined until the NBA's salary cap for the 2009-10 season is announced next summer.

The Lakers currently do not plan on offering Bynum a maximum deal, and they want to gauge his health and on-court prowess over the final five exhibition games.

Bynum has said his surgically repaired left knee feels fine. He also said he didn't think too often...read full article