It's getting more fun each outing to watch this year's Lakers. That bench just keeps the point waves comin' when the electric starters sit down. Third-best offense in the league, as of the middle of the 1/9 Lakers-Hornets game (eventually won by the Lakers, handily).

They're only slightly Second Water at the almost half-way point of the season, breathin' down the necks of perennial Western Conference First Waters, San Antonio, Dallas, and Phoenix. Over in the Eastern Conference, it remains to be seen if the record-class-of-their-own Celtics have Mavs-Warriors-style banana peel in their future.

Chalk the greater cohesion up to Zen Master Phil's continuing steady hand, the stabilizing, energizing return of D-Fish, and the powerful emergence of A Bynum under the deep sound tutelage of Maestro Kareem.

Continue reading "DEEPER LAKERS APPROACHING FIRST WATER"

Really now, can't K Brown and Odom and Turiaf TOGETHER cover for the emergent young homegrown star Bynum, lately down in the knee?

One hates it when Kobe has to take the team back on his shoulders, when his quota's 50 instead of 30, since the last anybody checked, it was a team sport. S'up with those other guys? I guess it's a rhythm thing when there's a new Robert Parrish in the hole, and he goes down.

Bench play will help, D-Fish will help. A little more O from Kwame and Odom. Kobe shouldn't have to ratchet up 20 extra pts., just maybe 10.

Well, PhilJack knows Zen and the Art of Basketball Team Maintenance, of course, so look for the calibrations to keep a better balance, winning on the floor, while Bynum's knee heals. Eight weeks? Like, ouch.

Continue reading "HOW POINTS IN THE PAINT, WHERE BYNUM NOW AIN'T?"

Good to see that Kobe was back to modest pt. production, in the wake of Lakers good team effort defeating Nuggets, even with Ariza going down with injury for 2 mos., a la Bynum.

Another big test: on the road against defending champ San Antonio Spurs, Jan. 24:

Early team effort good. D-Fish, Kwame, Lamar, Kobe, smooth as a team, leading 17-10.

Mbenga had a tough spell as backup center. But still no doubt better than a firing squad in the Congo. Sidebar road to a 10-day contract.

Rone Turiaf closes 1st quarter strongly for Lakers, making 2 key free throws for 27-23 lead, AND getting back on defense to short-circuit attempted Spurs quick score.

Sasha and Farmar perform well in 2nd quarter, 41-33 lead.

Lakers struggle a few series late in 2nd quarter, but pull it together, finish strong, 54-45 at the half.

Continue reading "WHOLE LAKERS TEAM TAKES UP SLACK, BUT STILL SLACKS BEWILDERINGLY"