I don't know what to tell you kiddos. Once again the Lakers gave Oklahoma City their best punch, only to watch the Thunder hang around and win the game when it mattered most, as the Thunder beat the Lakers 103-100 at the Staples Center. Like a boxer that takes an uppercut that should have put him on the canvas, the Thunder only stumbled around as their opponent let them recover by not going for the kill. And once more, Kevin Durant hit the shot that decided the game. Deja Vu? This time Kobe got the chance to respond and couldn't.

The Lakers are now down 3-1, and I don't need to tell you that only "x" amount of teams in NBA history have come back from a 3 games to 1 deficit. Considering how the Lakers have thrown away games, what is there to tell us that they could win 3 straight games against these Thunder. I'd love to have enough faith to believe it, but it seems the Lakers are more interested in placing blame. Kobe's pointing at Pau.

Arash Markazi, ESPN LA:

"It was just a bad read," Bryant said of Gasol's turnover. "It was just a bad read on Pau's part. It happens."What can't happen in Bryant's eyes, however, is Gasol being passive on offense when Oklahoma City's defense keys in on him and Andrew Bynum.

"He's just looking to swing the ball too much, he's just got to shoot it," Bryant said of Gasol. "We played pretty much the same way the entire game. The second half what they did was front Andrew, so when they front Andrew and in the fourth quarter they crowd me, the other guys have to be more aggressive, simple as that."

Pau's passively-aggressively pointing at Kobe:

Arash Markazi, ESPN LA

"It's definitely one play, one mistake, but there was a lot of mistakes in that fourth quarter and a lot of mistakes during the game," Gasol said. "Obviously if I could've gone back, maybe I could've shot it, and I would've. But it's one play -- obviously at a critical time -- but I don't feel like we lost the game on one turnover. There's plenty of bad plays or mistakes in the fourth."

This is what's it's ultimately come down to, and I'm tired of the finger pointing. None of it matters. The Lakers lost and it all starts with Kobe, who was bested by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in the biggest moment of the season. If we're going to give Kobe all the glory when the Lakers win, then he should accept the burden of blame when they lose, especially when the go down in flames. It all starts and ends with Kobe, and it's now the beginning of the end of the Kobe/Pau Lakers. Kobe is right about Pau, but Pau isn't wrong either. There were other options than Pau, namely Andrew Bynum, who was playing well and ignored down the stretch. That wasn't Pau's fault, Kobe. There's blame all-around, just be the captain and go down with the ship when you have to. Be the leader and accept responsibility, not just the glory. Too bad it's ending like this. It's been one hell of a ride.

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Man, this one stings. I haven't felt a loss this much since the Lakers blew that 24-point lead against the Celtics in Game 4 of the 2008 Finals. Last night's loss wasn't crucial as that loss four years ago, but the feeling (at least for me) is the same. Why? That loss was a soul crusher. Anything that could have gone wrong on the way to losing, did. Just like last night, when what should have been a lead that a championship contending team should be able to hold. Seven points, two minutes, and the Lakers playing defense against the Thunder as well as they probably could. Coulda shoulda woulda....and now we're banking on home court to save the series. The Thunder seem too good to blow chances against, just like the C's in '08.

When the Lakers lost on their home floor in 2008, you knew it meant the series. Instead of being tied 2-2 with another game at home, they put their backs against the wall by falling down 3-1, and we all know what happened after that. The Celtics were just too good, and it was a wrap two games later. What now?

The Oklahoma City Thunder are good enough to be champions, and they're young, brash, and full of confidence. I have to feel their self-belief just shot up up drastically by winning a game they had no business winning. A game the Lakers had no business losing. The Lakers had the perfect opportunity to swing the series in their favor, and completely change the outlook on what will have to be a long series if they're going to win it. Now, Los Angeles is faced with two must wins on back-to-back nights against the one team that is best suited to play back-to-back games.

Still, hope shouldn't be lost. The Lakers should at least walk away from this game knowing they can beat the Thunder, or knowing that they should have beaten the Thunder. Did the Thunder win the game, or did the Lakers gift them a win. Or does that matter? A loss is a loss. No matter what, the Lakers figured some things out defensively, and we have to assume that Kobe can't be that bad down the stretch again. But now the Thunder know they can win any game. OKC was clearly frustrated, but it was them, the supposedly young team that kept their composure, while the team with championship history and veteran leadership is the one that wilted under the pressure. Let's just hope that the Lakers don't take this loss as badly as we are today. They can beat the Thunder, but they can't afford to burn possessions and they definitely can't afford to burn wins.

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The Los Angeles Lakers will face the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight. This series could very well provide a glimpse of who the new champion could be. I consider the Thunder the favorites for the O'Brien Trophy if picking favorites even mattered. The Lakers? We know what this team could be, if only they could string along long stretches of championship-caliber play. The Thunder don't have that problem. They're consistent and now, have an increased motivation to go with their fresh ambition. These aren't the same Lakers from 2010, and these aren't the same Thunder.

Here are some thoughts:

Land O' Lakers:

The series features serious star power, with each team trotting out a high-end big three. Oklahoma City's combo of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden brings, among other things, scoring punch and athleticism, while the Lakers counter with the length, experience and skill of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. Lovers of subplots and intrigue will have a field day, too, starting with the NBA's two leading scorers facing off in a battle of old vs. new guard. Metta World Peace and Harden will share the floor for the first time since this happened. Bynum and Gasol each have narratives to repair.

And, of course, the Lakers face a motivated Derek Fisher in a playoff series. The citizenry fears getting .4'd.

I'm a lover of subplots, and I'm intrigued by the thought of what this means for the immediate future of the NBA depending on the winner. Admit it, you're secretly fearing Fisher roasting the Lakers at least once, when it matters the most.

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Starring James Harden and the young, gunning Oklahoma City Thunder, and Metta World Peace.

• First Look: Lakers vs. Oklahoma City - Los Angeles Lakers Blog - ESPN Los Angeles
• Forum Blue And Gold " Initial Thoughts On The Thunder
• Ready or not, Lakers set for series opener with motivated Thunder - latimes.com
• Bynum thinks Lakers will win title if they focus on defense | ProBasketballTalk
• The Lakers vs. Thunder: This isn't 2010 anymore - Lake Show Life
• Lakers vs. Thunder Pre-Game Report: Scoring Powers Set to Explode | Lakers Nation
• 2012 NBA playoffs -- Los Angeles Lakers' Metta World Peace not planning to acknowledge James Harden - ESPN Los Angeles
• SLAM ONLINE | " Hunger Games

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Was there any doubt who the player of this series was? It wasn't even close as Kobe Bryant was far and away the best player on the floor, which is nothing new. Although it took the Lakers seven games to dispatch a pesky Denver squad, you should be impressed with the multiple faces of Kobe we had the pleasure of watching throughout the series. You name it, Kobe did it. He was an assassin, a facilitator, he was a defender and a rebounder, all at once, yet sometimes played one role more than others at any given time in any game. Most importantly, he was a leader.

I'm sure his critics would snicker at the mention of Kobe's leadership considering that a couple of his teammates gave some pretty pathetic performances which led to an all-or-nothing Game 7. Whatever the reason was, it should have been clear to anyone watching that Kobe played tough all series, no matter the situation. When his teammates shined, he praised them. When they struggled, or damn near quit, he encouraged them, yet demanded more from them. We all know Kobe typically plays the bad cop when it comes to motivating teammates. Kobe's a pros' pro, and effort is something no professional athlete should ever lack, so he demands that his teammates bring full intensity and produce. He doesn't take a step back when things aren't going right, he demands more. More of himself, more of his teammates. Just be better.

I'd imagine that Kobe's ways may grind on teammates. He has a way of calling teammates out, while usually never fully accepting blame for his role in any Lakers' failures. If the the team shot poorly, and he did too, he says "we missed shots." If the team's defense was lazy and lacked intensity and desire, meanwhile he fails to rotate or close out shooters, he says "our defense sucked." Deep down, he's right. It is a team sport after all, "we" should always be the pronoun used when talking about failures as a team, but Kobe's take on things often tend to deflect from his own faults. If he wants to point a finger at a certain teammate, he most certainly will. Through it all, the one thing you can never take from Kobe's way of leading is he demands results. Kobe's tough, but when he believes in his guys, it usually pays off. First the effort, then results.

With the season on the line, Kobe Bryant pulled off what could be one of, if not his finest job ever leading his teammates to victory. Realizing his shot wasn't exactly on target, he didn't decide to force matters (and possibly adding to years of Bill Simmons' cracks about 6-for-24). He let Denver's double teams come and he looked for Steve Blake. He looked for Metta World Peace. He looked for Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Ramon Sessions. With Kobe's clock ticking, and another shot at a title fading away and chance to pad to his legacy, he put his faith in teammates that had been pretty bad the last two games.

And let's face it, these wins, these championships belong to Kobe. Anything the Lakers accomplish now will be remembered as reflections of Kobe, and no one else. We'll remember Pau, Lamar Odom, Andrew, and Ron Ron, but these are Kobe's wins. He put his faith in guys who wound up stepping up better than we could imagine. Then he put the finishing touches with a dagger of a 3 that nailed the coffin shut on the Nuggets. No matter how many 38 or 43 point games Kobe will have for the rest of these playoffs, watching Steve Blake and Metta World Peace go mini-nova on passes from Kobe Bryant in the 4th quarter when he needs them most is what makes me appreciate this version of Mamba most. The version of Kobe that this team needs the most - Kobe the Leader. (Oh, and that defense on Lawson in the crunch wasn't too shabby either.)

Here are Kobe's stats for the series:

29.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals, and 3.3 turnovers per game in 40.3 minutes per game. He shot 77-of-172 from the field for 44.8% FG, including 15-of-42 for 35.7% on three-pointers. He was 35-of-44 for 79.5% from the free-throw line.

Highlights after the Jump...

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Last night, the Denver Nuggets were able to stave off a exciting comeback led by the great Kobe Bryant, as they beat the Lakers 102-99 in Los Angeles. With a flurry of threes, Kobe put on a show late, making us all so anxious that he could single-handedly pull the Lakers off the canvas with about 5 minutes to go. He just it wasn't enough to bail the Lakers out from what was an otherwise uninspired game.

Ken Berger ,CBS:

"I almost bailed us out, that's what happened," said Bryant, who had 43 points -- 14 in a dizzying fourth quarter -- as the Lakers lost to the Nuggets 102-99 in Game 5 of their first-round series. The Nuggets, trailing 3-2, sent the series back to Denver for Game 6 on Thursday night.

"I started making shots left and right, and that's not something that we can use to rely on to get us to a championship," Bryant said. "It can't be that. We all have to step up, we all have to contribute and we all have to play with that sense of urgency and energy."

So about closeout games being easy? Apparently they aren't what Andrew Bynum thought there they were, but I guess we should cut him some slack since he only meant if the team trying to close played hard, which the Lakers didn't do in the least bit. So let's just assume the professionals who get paid millions to play basketball were able to dig deeper than their pockets should warrant. Bulletin board material?

John Krolik, NBC ProBasketball Talk:

Mike Brown admitted what his All-Star center said could be construed as "bulletin-board material," but didn't necessarily have a problem with Bynum's comments.

"It is bulletin board material," he said. "If a guy wants to say that, in my opinion, he's got to back it up. But we all have to get his back and try to help him back it up. We did not as a team."

McGee admitted Bynum's comments were motivational, but being in the playoffs for the first time in his career was likely a bigger reason for the way he came out and dominated in a potential elimination game.

"Usually I'm nowhere near the playoffs," he said, referencing the fact that he played the past three and a half seasons for the dismal Washington Wizards, before the mid-season trade that brought him to Denver in March.

"My last game is usually, if it's a regular season, in April," he added. "I definitely didn't want tonight to be my last game."

He played like it.

Or maybe the Lakers purposely tanked just to get Metta World Peace back in time for OKC? Personally, I think everything is according to script. I picked the Lakers in 6, so I'm not surprised. JaVale McGee was allowed to audition for his next contract, and he performed well. Congrats kid. I'd like to think Bynum would show some flex in Game 6, and show he's worth the hype. The spotlight's on him even more now and the stage will be his. Once again, we'll be checking to measure his professionalism. Will he follow through? Just don't ask Kobe to write your story for you should Bynum once again leave us scratching our heads.

In a game that featured a cuckoo lady walking onto the court while the ball was in play, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets 92-88 to take a 3-1 lead. Apparently this woman has a history of stalking players, and oddly enough, that wasn't even the craziest part of the game. Once again, Denver came out with tons of energy and played at a pace that kept the Lakers on their heels for the better part of the 1st Half, as they opened up a 6-point halftime lead. Ty Lawson pushed the pace, Kenneth Faried, Timofy Mozgov, and JaVale McGee were active and annoying, Danilo Gallinari provided some scoring, and Andre Miller abused our point guards, and the refs left a lot of calls out on the floor as the game shaped up to look like a repeat of Game 3.

Except this time, after the Lakers were able to ride Kobe Bryant in the 3rd Quarter to cut the Nugget lead to one point, they were able to overtake the Nuggets in the 4th with huge contributions from the bench. Just as every Nugget made some kind of contribution, every single Laker, outside of Devin Ebanks possibly, all came up huge. Especially Jordan Hill, who chipped in with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while helping Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol keep the Nuggets off the boards, in contrast to Game 3. The Lakers enjoyed a a 48-38 rebounding edge tonight, including 19 offensive rebounds. McGee, who had 15 rebounds in Game 3, was limited to only 4 tonight, while Faried had 7, down from his 15 the game before. Due to their decrease in rebounds, the Lakers were finally able to slow the pace and keep Ty Lawson from controlling the tempo of the game.

It was the 4th where the real craziness started, when Kobe, returning from his rest seemed to do his best to give back the small lead the bench was able to gain. He played like shit to start his 4th, took some bad shots, turned the ball over, then did it some more. But the Nuggets failed to capitalize, yet kept it close until the final minutes, when Danilo Gallinari nailed a three that was actually a two, then did a euro flop trying to buy a call on the next possession. Then as we're cursing out Mike Brown for insisting on playing Ramon Sessions and Steve Blake at the same time, since they spent most of the game being made fools of by Lawson and Miller, each nail huge three-pointers to seal the game and possibly the series. The unlikeliest hero being Blake, who pretty much refuses to shoot the ball most of the time. Props to him for hitting some pretty clutch shots tonight.

The series shifts back to Los Angeles on Tuesday night as the Lakers will look to close out the Nuggets at home. Nighty-night y'all.

Following a loss, sometimes it isn't so easy to pick the Player of the Week. It's usually the bad taste of a loss that lingers in our minds, and it tends to put a cloud over whatever good things happened just a game or two before. Kinda one of those "what have you done for me lately?" feelings. Especially in the playoffs when every game matters so much more than the regular season. Wins feel great and everything feels perfect. Losses? They feel like the sky is falling and we end up racking our brains discussing what went wrong.

Personally, I don't think last night's loss should be anything to worry about. Ask yourself if you actually expected the Lakers to sweep the series? I'll assume that most of us did not. Considering that, Game 3 should be the game the Lakers might be expected to lose if they were to lose at least one. The Pepsi Center isn't exactly the easiest to play in, and the young Nuggets did lead the NBA in scoring during the regular season, they played with urgency, and George Karl is still a very good coach. Sometimes you just have to tip your cap to the other team. They are professionals too after all, and they went out and did what they had to. Kudos to them.

Still, it's last night's loss that makes picking this week's Player of the Week a tougher task than it should be. Everything went so right in the Lakers first two wins, but there was just enough wrong (besides losing) that we could place blame on each and every Laker. Especially my two candidates, Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum.

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The Los Angeles Lakers go on the road tonight, as they prepare to face the Denver Nuggets, in hopes of taking a commanding 3-0 series lead. Of course, they will once again play with out their suspended starting forward, Metta World Peace, who will miss his fourth game of a seven-game suspension to his over-emphatic "celebratory" elbow that decked Oklahoma City's James Harden.

While the Thunder themselves enjoy a 3-0 lead over the Dallas Mavericks, it's widely assumed that the Lakers will be certain to meet OKC in the 2nd Round. Which begs the question: Do the Lakers want to face the Kevin Durant and the Thunder without MWP? Some of us have wondered if the Lakers should "make" this a 6-game series just so MWP's return coincides with facing KD for the entirety of the series. It's not a serious thought, because no team should ever give away games, plus that Devin Ebanks kid hasn't been too bad.

Personally, I picked the Lakers in six anyway, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Lakers keep their focus and look for the sweep. Especially if Kobe's keeps ups his high level of play and leadership. In Denver, how the Lakers and Kobe continue to work around Arron Afflalo's defense will be key in getting a win in a hostile environment. Also because the Nuggets can't do a damn thing with Andrew Bynum, who's vast skill set continues to impress.

LA Times:

While Mike Brown has been getting more credit lately, Kobe's leadership and calm presence has just as much to do with why the Lakers have seemed to settle in.How to explain Bryant's patience with Andrew Bynum's immaturity issues, Metta World Peace arriving to training camp out of shape and Bryant's willingness to be a coach on the sideline during his recent shin injury? He has a former head coach to thank.

"It's part of being around Phil [Jackson] so much," Bryant said. "A lot of it has rubbed off on me. I try to communicate that around the guys as best as I can."

Ahhh, Phil Jackson. With the Knicks getting their asses handed to them by the Heat again, you know the Phil-to-New York talk has already started. Which reminds me, if the Lakers win the title this season, do we Lakers fans still put the asterisk on San Antonio's lockout championship in 1999? Bill Simmons, perhaps getting ready for the Heat to beat his Celtics en route to "not one, not two, not three, not four, not five"....(ehh, you get the point) is already claiming footnotes to this championship (and others). Calm down, Bill. The Heat always look great in the 1st-Round. I'm picking your C's to make the Finals and lose to our guys. Lakers vs. Celtics one more time? Wouldn't that cap off one hell of an era? Plus, as a soon-to-be 33-year-old, I feel a great source of pride knowing these youngins can't beat my generation. Jay-Z did say 30 is the new 20, but no one told him Brooklyn's new logo is booooooring.

3-0! Let's Go!!!

Starring The Lakers without Metta World Peace, and Kobe's leadership.

• How Do the Lakers Free Metta World Peace: L.A.'s Guide to Tanking | Lakers Nation
• Thursday practice video -- Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, Mike Brown - Land O' Lakers
• Andrew Bynum can multitask - Land O' Lakers
• Forum Blue And Gold " The Breakdown: Keeping Afflalo From Kobe
• Kobe Bryant leading Lakers with calming influence - latimes.com
• Kobe Bryant Talks About Different Relationships With Bynum, Gasol | Lakers Nation
• Playoff Podcast " Lakers Blog
• Unexpected rest at season's end a playoff boon for Bryant | NBA.com

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Just when things were looking so great, the Spurs waxed the Lakers again. It's been 10 days since the Andrew Bynum and the Kobe-less Lakers dominated the Spurs in San Antonio. It was that game, when Bynum grabbed 30 rebounds and seemed to stop anything that crossed his path, that seemed to solidify the Lakers as true contenders for the title. Since then, the Lakers have gone 3-2. Their two losses have come against those very Spurs the Lakers looked so good against. They weren't just losses though. They were blowouts to a team they had just previously dominated. San Antonio has been able to kick it up another notch and show the Lakers that they might not be where they hoped to be.

I guess you could discount the losses if you really felt the need to make excuses. No Kobe for Tuesday night's loss, and a just returned Kobe in last night's drubbing. I can't. No matter the circumstances, the Lakers should be good enough to avoid blowout losses to the same team in a matter of days. If you ask me, the main reason for back-to-back thumping from the Spurs lies solely in Mike Brown's inability to make proper adjustments. How else could you explain the Spurs being able to pull a 180, while the Lakers seemed to get more confused? The Spurs had their way in the 3rd-Quarter, and it broke the game open. Unfortunately, 3rd-quarter crappers have been a trend for the Lakers this season. What is it the Lakers coaching can't see that opposing staffs of good teams notice and exploit with ease? Greg Popovich might be the best coach in the NBA now that King Philip is retired, and Pop just ran circles around Mike Brown and left the Lakers in search of answers with the playoffs only two games away. San Antonio is supposedly team the Lakers would rather see?

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The season is winding down and the Lakers seem primed to make a serious run at the Finals. For the first time in a few years, they won't be the favorites to represent the Western Conference, but realistically, is there a favorite? I'm guessing OKC would be the team most people would pick (besides their favorite), but the Thunder still have something to prove.

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Wake up folks. The Lakers play early today and Lamar's coming back to town. Oh what was that? He's no longer a Mav? That was a waste. Only Lamar Odom could be the reigning 6th Man of the Year and somehow manage to make two teams worse. As it stands, the Lakers should be meeting Dallas in the first round, and so far, the Lakers are 3-0 against the Mavs this season. LO barely registered in any of the games, and the only impact he had on this season was in your local supermarkets checkout aisles.

So, we went through a whole lockout supposedly drawn out in part because the owners wanted to limit the power players had. Yet, Lamar Odom can be paid to leave the defending champs because he wasn't feeling the situation. Great job, NBA. Players still run things I guess.

As Kobe sits out another game, other Lakers are stepping up and giving us real hopes that they have as good a shot at the title as any team in the NBA. With Metta World Peace playing like Ron Artest, it's possible that the Lakers have the best starting five in the NBA. Of course, I'm a homer so I'm biased, but I'm not crazy. These guys can play. The only questions are Kobe's health and is the bench good enough?

Have a round with any mention of:

• Lamar's and Mark Cuban's shouting match
• Kobe's walking boot
• Bynum's flagrant foul on J.J. Barea
• Sweep
• Goudelock playing

I want 8-0. Let's go...

Remember when the Lakers were terrible at point guard and small forward? Oh, how times have changed. In a month and a half, they acquired Ramon Sessions and with him, have a dynamic weapon at the point that they haven't had since Nick van Exel. At small forward, Metta World Peace has played his way into shape and finally looks more like the Ron Artest that was once the best player on three different teams in Indiana, Sacramento, and Houston. Matt Barnes? He could be considered the Lakers' most consistent player this season.

With their small forwards playing so well, the Lakers have gone 3-1 in Kobe Bryant's time off due to a shin injury. While both players have definitely been afforded more minutes and opportunities with the ultra alpha-dog missing time, their uptick in play has been slowly building for weeks now. Now that he's in shape, MWP has transformed into the offensive weapon that used to carry teams. Was his crappy start of the season really due to an injury that prevented him from being in shape?

Per Mark Medina, LA Times:

The explanation World Peace provided to reporters, including The Times' Mike Bresnahan and ESPN Los Angeles' Dave McMenamin, sounds simple. Nerve damage in his lower back last season made it difficult for him to move. He couldn't completely fix it until this season, since the NBA lockout forbade him to work with the Lakers' training staff. That caused him to arrive at training camp out of shape. World Peace said he felt so limited that he considered retiring.

This might seem puzzling for Lakers fans, because they've never seen World Peace like this for the past three seasons. He usually looked lost in the offense. A good shooting night appeared to happen by luck. His typically strong defense proved a mixed bag in offsetting his offensive weaknesses.

World Peace's sudden emergence doesn't look impressive just because he's scoring more. It's the way he's doing it. He's taking on-balance three-point shots and jumpers. He has shown speed when he attacks the basket. He seems focused.

And just when you think Matt Barnes couldn't be any better than he has been, he gives us a 24-point, 10 rebound effort off the bench. He remains the one guy on the bench that the Lakers can rely on night in and night out to help them when the starters take their rest. He hits his threes, he plays D, hustles, rebounds, and runs the floor. I've already given him two POTW awards and he just keeps getting better. I'm running out of words for him.

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March wasn't the kindest month for Kobe Bryant. He shot the ball pretty poorly overall, shooting just 38.7% for the month in 17 games. Of those 17 games, only three of them were games that Kobe shot less than 20 shots. If there's one thing we know about Kobe, it's that his self-confidence will never waver. There are some moments we'd wish his belief in himself was tempered just a bit, but overall, Kobe's insistence on continuing to play "his" way is his most professional trait.

As frustrating as it is watching Kobe shoot 3-21 like he did in a win over the New Orleans Hornets, I admire his unflappable lack of self-doubt that allows him to start the game 0-15, yet still have no hesitation nailing the three-pointer that gave the Lakers a lead that they would never relinquish. Of course, if he misses that shot, we'd all be ready to crucify his stubborn ways. But he made it, and we all marvel at his determination in never thinking he won't make his next shot. With millions of fans dissecting every shot attempt, being able to shut all of that out and follow up terrible shooting nights with huge clutch shots and performances against the Warriors, Nets, and Clippers is a quality that we should all be in awe of. Just when people are ready to pile dirt on his coffin, Kobe always seems to be able to string together a bunch of great games that leave you speechless. It's not that he decides to play differently or "smarter," he just has this awesome will that seems to just raise his play. The shots he hit this week are the same shots he missed in New Orleans, and the same shots he missed most of March. Whether or not he should take them is a post for another day, but when Kobe is nailing Kobe shots, there is nothing sweeter to watch.

Before the inevitable letdown loss against the Rockets, Kobe was sublime in torching any Clipper assigned to him, as he led the Lakers to a big win over a supposed rival in a game that could have wrapped up a top-3 seed in the West. It was his professional response to that terrible start in New Orleans that had me ready to give Kobe yet another Player of the Week. He just continues to shake shit off that would leave most players in search of answers. Kobe's only answer is to play better, and he usually responds well after terrible games. So far this month, he's averaging about 3 minutes less per game. Here's hoping more rest will keep Kobe from falling into slumps as the playoffs arrive. Especially since he had to sit out the Phoenix game to show that Andrew can't carry a team yet with an injury.

Hey Mike, rest Kobe more, free Goudelock.

This award was almost snatched away by Metta World Peace. Remember when it seemed like Metta was done? It wasn't so long ago that the point guard and small forwards positions were absolute weaknesses for the Lakers. Offensively, the Lakers solved the point guard issue, and with Matt Barnes also playing well, time has changed the Lakers' fortunes at the three. Now about that bench...

Here are Kobe's stats for the week:

In 4 games, he averaged 30.75 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game in 36.8 minutes per game. He shot 56.6% of his shots from the field, including 56.3% from three-point range, and shot 83.3% from the free throw line.

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Former UCLA and Lakers great Jamaal "Silk" Wilkes has been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Because of this accomplishment, the Lakers have also decided to retire his #52 jersey among the other Hall of Fame Lakers greats, an honor that could be considered greater than making the Hall itself.

Why the name "Silk?"

Forum Blue and Gold:

He was an offensive wizard that ran like a gazelle in the open court and hit high release jumpers when the game slowed down. He was a smart cutter and always seemed to be able to find the creases in the defense where he could hurt them with a part of his refined offensive arsenal. He could make the game look easy with a style so smooth they called him Silk.

One day, Kobe Bryant will be in the Hall of Fame, and will have at least one number hanging in the rafters in Staples. I wonder if he'll use his speech to answer his critics and doubters like Mike did. He has no problem calling them out now. The guy we'd like to be good enough to get into that great Lakers circle, Andrew Bynum is listed day-to-day with an ankle sprain. Glad it's not serious. Except, Drew's injury means that Troy Murphy may start vs. the Nets tonight. Uh oh.

Elsewhere in the NBA, OKC's Kevin Durant thinks Russell Westbrook should shoot more, New Jersey's Deron Williams plays assistant GM, and Derrick Rose should come back before the playoffs. Also, the Miami Heat make a statement off the court. Finally, congrats to John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats. Can we move them up to the NBA and drop Charlotte to the SEC?

More links after the Jump...

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With Kobe currently fatigued and struggling, Andrew Bynum still showing signs of frustrating immaturity, and Pau Gasol here and there, the Lakers are having an up-and-down season that has them playing like championship contenders one week, then like a team that could lose in the first round the next. They're just inconsistent. A large part of this inconsistency is due to the fact the Lakers don't have much of a bench, and it doesn't help that Mike Brown seems to make matters worse with no desire to make sense with his rotations. In spite of the bench's penchant for losing leads, and Brown's clueless substitution patterns(?), Matt Barnes, in my opinion, has probably been the Lakers' most consistent player this season.

While playing in a contract year, the 32-year-old Barnes has done all of the things he was brought here to do before last season. He's the garbage man who collects easy buckets off of missed shots, timely cuts, and running out on transition opportunities. He's been especially good since he's improved his three-point shooting over the past month. His shooting stroke allows more space for him to find lanes to cut to the basket. When Kobe Bryant, in full Mamba-mode is finding Barnes for wide open lay-ups, that should tell you how active he's been creating easy buckets for himself. Since the Lakers acquired Ramon Sessions, Barnes has been able to play his brand of basketball no matter what point guard is on the floor, meaning his effectiveness doesn't suffer no matter what kooky line-up Mike Brown trots out there. When Fish was around, Matt's opportunities for fastbreak points were slim to none, meaning Matt's real value was only realized when Steve Blake was on the floor. With Sessions, Barnes has been playing at his absolute best.

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So this is what it feels like to have a legitimate point guard? I almost forgot.

Not to diminish all that Derek Fisher has given us over the years. He'll always be remembered for his championship savvy, clutch shooting, and leadership. He gave us some great moments and he'll always have a place in our hearts, and if the Lakers didn't have such a great tradition of only retiring the numbers of the greatest of the greats, I'd like to think Fish's #2 would have been an easy pick to hang in the rafters of Staples Center as a strong reminder of all his accomplishments with the Purp and Gold. Today, all I can think about is how glad we are that he's gone.

Sorry if I seem to be disrespecting Fish here, but Ramon Sessions gives the Lakers another dimension that Derek Fisher and Steve Blake couldn't dream of doing. The speed, change of pace hesitation dribbles, lay-ups in traffic, transition points, and pick-and-rolls are all aspects of the game the Lakers haven't had a point guard be able to do well since.....I don't even know when. Nicky V maybe? With a real point guard, the Lakers' offense has looked as good as it has all season.

Per SI's Zach Lowe (h/t to Land O' Lakers):

"In the 100 minutes Sessions has played, the Lakers have scored 114 points per 100 possessions, a mark that would lead the league by a mile, according to NBA.com's stats tool. The Lakers have been more efficient in just about every way possible during those 100 minutes..."

Five games. That's all it took for the Lakers to look like the great offensive team they once were. Five games, one started. Of course, on Twitter, there were some Debbie Downers who felt the need to point out that once the hype has faded, we'll all realize how limited Sessions is. Let their words fall on deaf ears. Like it even matters what his flaws are in comparison (unless it's clutch, something Fish never lost). Nothing could be worse than what the Lakers were getting from their point guard, and for Sessions to make this strong of an impact in this short time period just underscores that fact. With Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol on the floor, Sessions is going to continue to have plenty of easy opportunities. So far, he's running away with them. Last night alone, he posted 20, 11, and 6. Go ahead and look up the last time a Lakers' PG put up a line like that.

*Update: C.A. did...

"... it's been nearly 15 years since a Laker guard not named Kobe Bryant put up 20 points, 11 assists and 6 boards in a single contest (Nick Van Exel pulled it off twice in 1997, and some dude named Earvin Johnson did it in 1996)."

In only one week and five games, Ramon Sessions has done what El Presidente and Bearded Caillou were only able to do a combined two times in the past two seasons. No, I don't mean run a fast break, or run a pick and roll, or make a post entry pass (although I'm guessing the number would be the same; for real, I can't understand why Steve Blake insists on turning the ball over on what should be a pretty routine pass for any NBA player, never mind a point guard). In only his first full week, Ramon Sessions has won our Lakers' Player of the Week, just as many as Derek and Steve. Damn right, he's fast.

BTW, Matt Barnes...I see you. Keep it up, and you'll win another one. Also, did you see Fish is wearing his age in OKC?

Here are Ramon's stats:

In four games this week Sessions averaged 15.25 points, 7.5 assists, 3.75 rebounds, 0.75 steals, and 1.75 turnovers per game in 29.25 minutes per game. He shot 58.8% from the field, 62.5% from 3-PT, and 80% FT.

Highlights after the Jump...

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As the Lakers stroll into to Dallas tonight, they do so on the heels of yet another head-scratching loss, continuing their frustrating habit of killing the momentum of winning. Just when it seems like things can't get any better for the Purple and Gold, of course they give us two "WTF" losses in a row to kill our excitement just enough. Lord forbid forbid they actually go on some real kind of streak. It's just the way these Lakers roll.

They're inconsistent. Yet even with stupid losses, you never forget how good they actually are, or can be, when they aren't playing like boneheads. In December, L.A. traded the player many Lakers fans had become accustomed to associating with inconsistency, Lamar Odom. At the time, the it seemed like Lamar was traded for nothing, and there were some fears that Odom's trade would go down as one of the worst in team history. The move was the kicker in a series of off-season moves that made Lakers fans wonder what the hell was going on in El Segundo. How could the Lakers trade the reigning NBA 6th Man of the Year for a low 1st-round draft pick and a trade exception to the defending champ Mavericks, of all teams, who had just recently dusted the Lakers en route to their first title? How could a player so valuable for two championships be discarded so easily? Everything seemed to being going the wrong way.

In the three months since the season started, many of our fears have subsided. Fears of mediocrity have been replaced with excitement, and the Lakers have shown the ability to compete with any team in the NBA when they're playing to their potential. Meanwhile, Lamar Odom continues to struggle in Dallas since he was cast from Staples Center for a salary dump. As sad as it is to watch a beloved former Laker lose his passion for basketball, every bad game he has actually strengthens my faith in the Jim Buss Era.

Maybe Jimbo knows what he's doing after all?

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After he won last week's Player of the Week, I asked Andrew Bynum to make us believe. He was once again playing great and I wanted to put faith in him. I was slowly coming back around on him. You could say my doubt that Jim Buss would ever trade him forced my about-face. After all, I'll always root for the jersey. Bynum just needed to show me what he had down deep. Could he be a guy we'd be comfortable with deciding the rest of Kobe Bryant's legacy? Would he be a player we could trust the world's greatest franchise with? I wasn't so sure. We were seven years into a career that was still described as potential, or injuries. Bynum had never really arrived.

What a difference two weeks makes.

In such a short span, the kid has started an All-Star Game, changed the minds of millions of Lakers fans, seemingly put a legend at ease, and made Jim Buss look smart. It's hard enough to do the first two, and seemed damn-near impossible to accomplish the latter two, but he did it in such convincing fashion the season has taken on a new shape. He's forced a change in our perspective.

So what. Tell me you didn't say that to yourself as you watched or read about Dwight Howard "deciding" to opt-in with the Magic for another season. Even if you thought trading for Dwight was the right move, you had to have felt something about the trade never was. For the past year, we'd been looking forward to March 15th, feeling it was a no-brainer, and fearful that Jim Buss just might be dumb enough to never pull the trigger. On top of that, there were various reports of Kobe's unease, and Pau's supposed mental fragility. At the middle of it all was this oft-injured, immature 24-year-old who'd never been asked to lead before. Everything centered around what Bynum could do (pun intended). Today, everything the Lakers have done to prepare for the future makes sense. With Bynum looking the part, the Lakers appear to be in position to transition into the future without sacrificing the ability to compete. Jim Buss doesn't look so crazy now (no wonder he wanted Chris Paul). The Lakers got younger and more athletic and still managed to save money, all while keeping an eye on the new luxury-tax rules set to go into effect soon.

Game-saving bucket over KG to beat the Celtics. 37 and 16 against All-Star Marc Gasol, then 25 and 18 the next night in overtime against the New Orleans Hornets. Two nights later, 15 and 14 against Minnesota was his off game. But those are only silly stats compared to the genuine smile his play has put on Kobe's face. I don't know if it was gradual or overnight, but Kobe's been playing like a guy who finally realizes after 5 seasons that he can win a championship with Bynum, not in spite of him. That makes all the difference in the world. Oh, and a new point guard doesn't hurt.

You know, Andrew...I like what I'm seeing from you lately. It's no secret that I've often questioned if the Lakers would be making the right move should they keep you over the rumored trade for Dwight Howard. I mean, Dwight's awesome and all, and some kind of mega superstar, so it just seems to make sense.

It's not that I don't like you. I think you're a hell of a player. I remember how good the Lakers looked in your breakout but injury-shortened 2007-08 season. I haven't forgotten your flashes of brilliance before injuries killed your momentum twice more. I've never doubted your talent.

What I have doubted about you, like just about everyone else in Lakers Nation, is your ability to stay healthy (of course) and your maturity. There's nothing you can do about injuries. You haven't been all fat and lazy like Shaq was. You've just been unlucky, no hard feelings there.

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I dunno.... another loss like last night's actually made me feel better about the Lakers' road woes. I know, that probably makes no sense to you. How could I possibly feel better about yet another terrible Lakers loss?

Are the Lakers really a bad road team? At this point, I can't really tell. I guess I'd have some sense of relief knowing they just aren't good enough to get W's on the road. At least I know where the team really stands. If they suck, they suck. You can look at the roster and easily assume that to be the case. There's some odd sense of acceptance knowing your team simply isn't good enough, but I don't know if I'm buying that excuse.

Ignoring schedule losses, the Lakers have had their fair share of chances to have a much better record away from Staples Center. Let's face it, the Lakers have lost their share of games on the road in large part due to the decision-making of Kobe Bryant. Which explains why I question who they want to be versus who the Lakers are.

At this point, the way the Lakers lose on the road is just comical. How many games have the Lakers lost due to Kobe just wanting to take ridiculous threes? Five? Six? It just makes no sense to me that the same guy we watch destroy the Wolves, Kings and then Heat is so willing to revert back to such a lazy brand of basketball.

For a team still in search of itself, and what seemed like on the cusp of a real-deal hot streak, why does Kobe insist on burning wins in hopes of nailing the dagger shot? I'm glad if Kobe actually has enough confidence in his squad that he feels regular season wins are so important that they can be wasted in preference of the highlight shot. That can't be the case though.

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As this season moves along, we've had the pleasure of watching Kobe Bryant continue to move up the NBA records ladders. He's put together a resume that will rival any great put next to him, be it past, present or future. One thing Kobe realizes is that while memories fade, rings and things do not. In 10-15 years, there will be a generation of fans that only know Kobe. Their only experiences of previous greats such as Jordan or Magic will be as sneaker brands or TV personalities. So, as Kobe collects rings and records, and there's a generation of kids and middle-aged adults who got the full Kobe experience, how do you tell them Jordan is better? How do convince them Magic is the greatest Laker when Kobe's memory is freshest? They never saw the beauty of Magic's game in person, nor Jordan's domination. No matter how crazy it seems, Kobe has a legitimate shot at being considered the GOAT simply due to the fresh memories of a generation, and record upon record to back them up.

This is the problem with comparing generations. Jordan's era began in Magic's, so it's easy to compare them. Jordan even won his first ring from Magic when Magic was still in his prime. It's not so easy to compare Magic to Kobe other than accomplishments. When we can't compare players head to head, we also judge the other greats they played with. When Kobe Bryant tells us he has no rivals, he's right. Not the generation he came in with (he mentions Allen Iverson or Vince Carter), nor the next generation that's yet to make a mark, like Miami's Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. Eventually, the argument always turns into Kobe vs LeBron.

No matter how many times we watch LeBron fail in the final moments of games, there's still an overall sense that he'll get his championships. We can bash him all we want. We laugh at his crunch time failures. We enjoy seeing him disappear in the crucial moments because it validates everything most Lakers fans know, Kobe has always been better. We just want him to be better now, but viewed as such 10-15 years from now. But deep down, you have to know Jordan's career path and LeBron's look eerily similar.

What if Lebron figures it out? What will everyone think then? Would it matter that Kobe dominated his peers for 16 seasons? Or will they point to Kobe's head-to-head match-up versus LeBron? So far, Lebron's teams are 11-5 against Kobe's. If 'Bron gets it together, critics will point to his regular season dominance vs.Bryant as validation of why LeBron was better, regardless of how long it took him. Only a fool could compare the two when one player has five rings and the other has zero, but time changes things. What if...? Then counting rings turns into, "Just look at their head-to-head match-ups!"

We feel this playing out with every loss to LeBron James. This is why these Kobe vs. LeBron match-ups always have extra meaning to us Lakers fans, and extra pain when they lose. Personally, I'm tired of being let down. It'd be nice for the Lakers to pad Kobe's record, so that we can have something to argue about in 15 years.

Okay, I got the obligatory Kobe vs. LeBron talk out of the way. Did I mention this is the most important game of Andrew Bynum's career?

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So far this season, Kobe Bryant has won our Player of the Week award three times. In each of those wins, no other Laker even came close to being given serious consideration over Kobe as the Lakers struggled through learning each other and Mike Brown's new system and way of doing things.

Each Kobe win came during the Lakers first month of the season. While Black Mamba went on a tear, proving to the basketball world that he was far from declining, the rest of the Lakers were a frustrating bunch looking like a team long removed from championship aspirations. Good for Kobe, bad for the team. Not bad because Kobe's dominance came at the expense of his teammates, but because no other Laker matched Kobe's play and the team looked mediocre at best. They seemed nowhere near being a group of players worthy of helping Kobe compete for championships as his prime winds down.

Since those first three Bryant wins, we've seen Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol, Matt Barnes, and Pau Gasol win. During Kobe's first three POTW's, the Lakers went 10-8. Since then? They've gone 12-6 (including 5 of their 6 road wins). Obviously, the Lakers are much better off when another Laker gives Kobe a run for his money. It can't be all Kobe.

This week, Kobe wins his fourth POTW by actually earning it over other deserving teammates. Namely Andrew Bynum.

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As we wait for the tonight's All-Star Game, we're reminded that only one of our spectacular big men will get to play alongside All-Star fixture, Kobe Bryant. In recent years, it's been Pau Gasol who got to wear the red and gold of the West. In a reversal, not only is it Andrew Bynum who earned the trip to Orlando instead (hmmm?)...he gets to start as well. Congrats to him. The Lakers haven't had two All-Stars starting since Shaq was in our good graces. Just a sign of where the fans' attention lies. Kobe Bryant and his Lakers still matter very much (as well as the Heat, and....Clips?) Enough that Bynum finally got his chance to be in spotlight in his first trial as an NBA superstar.

As far as Bynum's superstar status is concerned, the jury is still out. He hasn't quite shown that he's ready to carry a team in the mold of a Kobe, LeBron, Dwight Howard, Kevin Durant, or Derrick Rose. Far too often, he's been lost in the moment, or not able to overcome off-nights to make up the difference when teammates aren't up to par. That's not to take anything anyway from his game, nor his All-Star nod. The kid's an enormous talent, but the bulk of his success with these Lakers seems to rely on his ability to affect the game through defense and rebounding while managing his offense through hustle, opportunity, or huge advantages. It appears the Lakers are just better when Pau is the secondary option on offense, and Andrew third. Andrew just gets better looks when Pau takes attention away from him. Instead of a stuck offense, waiting on Andrew to hold the ball and wait for bothersome doubles, but not be able to pass it. Pau? He's far more effective when he's being aggressive. Even when he's off, when he can demand the attention from defenses he deserves, it opens up Bynum's opportunities because Pau is quicker to react.

This past week, we saw both have pretty good games due to both excelling at playing to their strengths. In spite of the trade rumors and "help" of Kobe, Pau remains quite the professional. I'm not buying the drama supposedly hanging over his head as reasons for any issues Pau might seem to have. If there's any excuse it should be tired legs from a hectic season. it could explain the less than Pau-like shooting numbers he had this month, when every other aspect of his game seemed perfectly fine. If this is what Pau plays like when he's a wreck, then it's no wonder why Kobe....ummm, "spoke up" for his bud.

In four games, Pau put up:

19.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.3 steals per game in 37.75 minutes per game. He shot 54.4%, going 31-of-57 from the field.

Bynum:

15.8 points, 13.8 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 1.8 assists, 0.5 steals per game in 34.25 minutes per game. He shot 52.3%, going 23-of-44 from the field.

Both players put up numbers we should never complain about, and got them in a manner consistent with team needs. The Lakers went 2-2 this week, but I'd like to point out that both losses could be classified as schedule losses, and no matter what happens with Pau or Andrew in the next two weeks, we should all feel positive since this team making strides in the right direction. Their play is a reason why.

Hey Drew? Please dunk the ball instead of giving us your front-rim special. It's the All-Star Game. Catch alleys and stuff. Don't bore us with boring, traditional backing down. Or rebound for Kobe. You know he's shooting for MVP. And in case you didn't already know, the whole NBA loving world will be watching you against Dwight. Let's see your star kid.

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Just when the Lakers are starting to play better, the plot thickens. They finally notch a good road win against a good team, and it was a footnote in the soap opera surrounding Kobe and Lakers' front office. Nothing is ever easy, huh?

It seems these Lakers always have some drama circling them. It's just how they operate during the Kobe era. Some issues are probably blown out of proportion due to the Lakers' extreme popularity, but there is usually some issue. Shaq, Phil, sexual assault trial, Shaq, Phil, 2007, is the team too soft, Phil again, aging, and now Jimbo. Of course, there's been far more great moments in that span, but it's never just a smooth ride.

We're used to it by now. No biggie. Right? Not really. The Lakers seem to be starting to gel. It'd be one thing if the Lakers completely sucked and major changes seemed so inevitable that drama couldn't possibly make a bad thing worse. It's a whole 'nother problem when the team gives you the impression that they're really starting to come together just to fall apart due to a lack of communication. How long will internal problems linger over this team and threaten to ruin momentum?

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For the first time this season, a reserve is our Lakers' Player of the Week. During a week in which the Lakers went 3-0 against the Raptors, Hawks, and Suns, it was improved bench play that allowed the Lakers to cruise to two easy wins (could have been three), and give the sense that this squad is making strides.

It feels as if these Lakers are slowly coming around. Mike Brown seems to be figuring his team out, and coming to a rotation he feels comfortable with. This consistency in minutes and roles has led to better play from the back-ups. Largely due to Steve Blake's return, the bench has improved enough to give the Lakers some semblance of balance.

The largest benefactor of Blake's return has been Barnes. With a point guard who pays attention to cutters, Barnes has been able to excel at doing the only two things he should focus on, running and rebounding. He's finding opportunities in transition due to his ability to find the right seam on fast break chances. Also, he's been great a finding cuts in halfcourt offense, which lead to wide open lay-ups and drives. Steve Blake may have trouble making simple entry passes to Andrew Bynum, but he's doing just fine rewarding Barnes' hustle. When those cuts aren't leading to lay-ups, they're creating opportunities for easy putbacks off rebounds. The three-pointers we wanted Matt to stop shooting? He's only shooting them when he's wide-the-f-open and has to. On defense, he is what he is. He has some trouble at times, but it isn't for lack of trying. He plays as well as he can, steals lazy passes, and hustles for loose balls.

Even with the uncertainty of what this roster will look like as the trade deadline approaches, and in spite of their lack of quality wins, these Lakers are starting to gel. They seem poised to make a run due the bench's increased reliability. No matter who's on the floor with Kobe, Pau, or Andrew, the rest of the Lakers have to make the defense accountable for them in order for the offense to improve. Matt Barnes has been successful taking advantage of his opportunities for the past two weeks now, leading to the Lakers feeling comfortable enough at back-up small forward to send Devin Ebanks to the D-League for reps. Let's hope Matt's play puts enough pressure on Metta World Peace to take notice. How Matt is playing is how MWP should be playing. I imagine Coach Brown's conversation with Ron Ron mentioned this.

With Kobe being Kobe, Pau being aggressive, and Bynum looking like an All-Star at times, any impact from the bench can help put this team over the hump, and on the road towards real improvement. Whomever that bench will consist of for the rest of the season, we should know for sure soon. For now, they're getting better and I'll take comfort in that. Congrats Matt.

Here are his stats for the week:

9.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals in 21.3 minutes per game. He shot 10-of-19 for 52.3% from the floor and 2-of-3 from three for 66%.

Highlights after the Jump....

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There goes another free agent that didn't choose the Lakers. Not surprising considering the Lakers can't offer the contracts some teams are able to. Ring chasing in LaLa Land this season doesn't seem to be worth the discount any top-tier free agent would have to give the Lakers. The nerve of these players...not taking the chance to help Kobe win his 6th!? What is wrong with this world?

ESPN:

Shooting guard J.R. Smith tweeted Friday that he has decided to join Carmelo Anthony,Amare Stoudemire and phenom Jeremy Lin in New York.

"New York Knicks It Is!" he posted on his Twitter account.

Smith, who played last season with the Denver Nuggets, had listed the Knicks, Clippers, Lakers, Magic, Bulls and Pacers as teams he was considering joining after a stint in China that started during the NBA lockout.

No contract terms were available, but the Knicks were able to offer Smith a pro-rated share of their $2.5 million mini mid-level exception and a player option for a second year. The Knicks will have to clear a roster spot to add Smith. Veteran guard Mike Bibby and seldom-used forward Renaldo Balkmanare candidates. According to a source, center Jerome Jordan will not be released.

Now go find some mouthwash to remove that taste of puke in your mouth. Bad enough our bench needs major help, but we had to pin some hope on the slight chance J.R. Smith (of all players) bought into tradition, celebs, and other silly things we'd like to think are worth more than money to a young professional basketball player who was willing to get paid in China instead of risking missing a paycheck. He chose Gotham. Score another one for Linsanity.

Oh, and please don't start with the Mike Bibby talk...On the bright side, we still have Jason Kapono. So there's that.

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We're now 29 games into this current lockout-delayed and shortened NBA season. Four games away from the halfway point, and exactly one month from the trading deadline. At this point in the season, we should know what to look forward to with these Lakers. For better or worse, there's a certain comfort in knowing how high or low to level expectations of your team. At least there's a definitive way to feel and you can manage your expectations accordingly. You know who your team is and what their strengths and weaknesses are. No matter what, you're able to hold some emotion towards your team. What the hell are we supposed to think about this year's Lakers so far? Excitement? Frustration? Disappointment?

Almost halfway into the season, the Lakers are still as huge a question mark (or twenty) as they were before Derrick Rose and his Chicago Bulls came to visit on Christmas Day. It's hard to have a concrete feeling about this team because I don't know how this team will look a month from now. In my rooting, I like to focus on positives. Sure Fish can't play D, but he knocks down big shots. No, World Peace can't shoot, but he play good defense off and on. I have absolutely no idea if the group of guys I'm watching and critiquing now will look anything close to whomever is going to share the floor with Kobe by the time Spring rolls around. Major trades have put a cloud over the entire Lakers season. The Dwight rumors have lingered forever, the Chris Paul attempt signaled the Lakers were seriously pursuing that major roster shake-up Magic Johnson promised us, and the Lamar Odom giveaway signaled (hopefully) more moves to be made. But, here we are on February 15th, still waiting.

How much longer will we have to wait?

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