Lakers beat Wolves 132-119

This one went pretty much as expected. The Lakers rolled to a 132-119 victory. L.A. led by 15 going into the 4th quarter. Kobe was unstoppable, putting up 30 points, 8 rebs, 5 assists in 35 minutes of work. Andrew Bynum more than held his own against Al Jefferson with 27 points and 15 boards. Bynum played solid defense making Jefferson work for every basket. Pau Gasol dropped in 21 points and 9 rebounds of his own. For Minnesota Al Jefferson had 34 points and 13 rebounds. Randy Foye chipped in 27.

All five Laker starters scored in double figures. The Lakers are starting to look like the Lakers of the early 2000's with Shaq and Kobe. They have a strong inside game with excellent perimeter shooting. This team has more offensive weapons than the Lakers championship teams of 2000, 2001 and 2002. Bynum and Gasol are the perfect complements to Kobe's game. Nights like tonight show just how potent the Lakers are offensively.

This was the start of a tough six game road stretch. The Lakers face the Memphis Grizzlies tomorrow night at 8. They follow that with games against the Knicks, Raptors, Celtics and Cavs. The last two will be tough tests as the Lakers face off against the Eastern Conferences two best teams.

Tonight at 8pm: Lakers(35-9) at Timberwolves(16-28)

This should be an easy win for the Lakers. Minnesota is 7-3 in their last 10 games but they are still a bad basketball team. The Lakers have a huge advantage in the backcourt with Kobe Bryant, Derrick Fisher going up against Sebastian Telfair and Randy Foye. Foye has been playing better lately but the Wolves' backcourt has no chance defending Kobe. Expect a huge game from Kobe. In the front court Paul Gasol should have his way with Ryan Gomes. Luke Walton and Craig Smith are a wash. Neither will be much of a factor in this game. Andrew Bynum will have his hands full with Al Jefferson. Jefferson is a beast at the center position and could go off for a big game. If the Lakers are focused and ready to play they should cruise to an easy victory at the Target Center.

Prediction: Lakers win by 7

Most Improved Player of the Year

1. Shaquille O'Neal - Shaq has found the fountain of youth and is playing like he did his 1st year with the Heat. Shaq made the All Star team by averaging 18 points, 9 boards, almost 2 blocks a game. Shaq appears more fit and looks quicker this season. Every now and then he throws in some dominant games that remind you of the old Shaq like his 29 point, 8 rebound, 3 block performance against the Wiz.

2. Jameer Nelson - Too small to play in the NBA? I think not. Nelson is flourishing in his 4th NBA season. The Magic point guard is averaging 17 points, 5 assists while shooting 44% from 3 point land. Nelson was rewarded with his stellar play by making his first All Star team.

3. Danny Granger - One of the better players that nobody has ever heard of. He is an unknown star averaging over 25 PPG for a terrible Pacers team.

4. Nene Hilario - Nene has fought off injuries and cancer to re-establish himself as a solid player. Nene is averaging 15 points and 8 rebounds while displaying the talent that made him the number 7 pick in the 2002 NBA draft.

5. Devin Harris - Devin has taken the leap from solid NBA player to NBA stardom. He is averaging over 21 PPG and 6.5 assists. That Jason Kidd trade to Dallas looks more and more one sided.

Bobcats clip the Lakers in double OT

It took 6 quarters but the Bobcats pulled it out. The Bobcats played the Lakers tough as they always seem to do and escaped the Staples Center with a 117-110 win in 2OT's. The Bobcats have won 5 of their last 6 games against the Lakers. Charlotte dominated the Lakers in the paint shooting 47% from the field and outrebounding the Lakers 53 to 42. All five Bobcats starters scored in double figures led by Boris Diaw with 23 and Raymond Felton with 22.

The Bobcats looked faster then the Lakers tonight and exploited L.A.'s defense with their quickness. Boris Diaw and Gerald Wallace were too much for Pau Gasol and Luke Walton to handle. Odom played major minutes tonight as his size and quickness were needed. Kobe kept the Lakers in the game all night with his great shooting going 15 for 28 and dropping 38. Kobe added 8 rebounds and 5 assists for an all around great game. Andrew Bynum has a big night with 24 points, 14 rebounds and 6 blocks. The Lakers bench had an off night tonight contributing only 19 points.

I think that the Lakers would have won if Kobe played the whole game. Kobe fouled out at the end of the first overtime. The Lakers were outscored 14-7 in the second overtime with Bryant on the bench. The Lakers two man game was not enough to beat the Bobcats complete team effort. Bobcats star Gerald Wallace was injured in the 4th quarter on a flagrant foul by Bynum.

Andrew Bynum

Andrew Bynum was named Western Conference player of the week. Bynum averaged 23.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.2blocks. His dominant play led the Lakers to an undefeated record last week.

Defensive Player of the Year

1. Dwight Howard - Howard leads the league in blocked shots averaging 3.2 per game. He also leads the league in rebounding pulling down 14 boards per night. Howard has really taken his game to another level on both ends of the court this season. He is a great hustle player and a
solid defender.

2. Kevin Garnett - KG averages 9 boards and 1.5 blocks per night. You can't measure KG's impact by numbers alone. He is the heart and soul of the Celtics defense which holds opponents to 91.3PPG. Any doubts, look at the way KG shut down Dirk Nowitzki last Sunday.

3. Chris Paul - CP3 leads the league in steals averaging 2.68 steals per night. Paul is an underrated defender. He has the NBA record of 108 consecutive games with at least one steal.

4. Lebron James - James has really stepped up his defensive intensity this season. He is playing hard on both ends of the court as evidenced by his 2 steals a night. He had led the Cavs to the number one ranking in points per game against and scoring differential.

5. Marcus Camby - Camby is second in the league with 13.8 rebounds per game and blocked shots with 2.60. Playing for the Clippers kills any chance the he would have at winning the award.

Rookie of the Year

1. O.J. Mayo - I know his team doesn't win enough and everyone has picked Derrick Rose but O.J. Mayo is my rookie of the year at the midseason. O.J. is leading the Memphis Grizzlies in scoring, averaging 19.1 PPG and shooting 37% from three point land. O.J. has scored over 25 points in a game 10 times this season and scored over 30 four times. Mayo is living up to the expectations thrown on him in high school. If he were in a bigger market he would have had a shot at the All Star team.

2. Derrick Rose - Rose is as good as advertised averaging 16.7 PPG, 6.3 APG. Rose has done a solid job playing the most difficult position on the court as a rookie. Rose's game has superstar written all over it. Give him another year or two and he will be an All-Star. DRose is a great example of the hometown boy making good.

3. Brook Lopez - Brook Lopez has been a surprise. I had no idea what the Nets were thinking on draft night taking Lopez. They proved me wrong. The big man has been solid averaging 11PPG, 8 REBS, 2 BLKS. His season highlight is a 31 point, 13 rebound performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

4. Russell Westbrook - Westbrook, Durant and Green have the makings of a deadly threesome. Westbrook is averaging 14.5 PPG, 5REBS, 1.5 STEALS. Westbrook has been up and down at times but has shown signs of explosiveness.

5. Eric Gordon & D.J Augustin - Both have been wildly inconsistent following great games with duds. You never know what they are going to give you from night to night.

Biggest dissapointment - Michael Beasley..I expected him to be a starter from day one and to put up big numbers. He has all all the talent in the world. The only thing that holds him back is his mental focus.

Lakers beat the Spurs

Another well rounded effort by the Lakers as they beat the Spurs in convincing fashion 99-85. This was a good game to watch in the first half. It was going back and forth. Then the Lakers took control of the game in the 3rd quarter and never looked back. 5 players scored in double figures led by Kobe with 22. Kobe and the starters were able to sit out the entire 4th quarter. Bynum kicked in a double double of 15 points and 10 boards. The Lakers bench kicked in 39 points also. Jordan Farmar was draining jumpers and hooked up with Trevor Ariza on a couple of alley oop dunks. Ariza added 17 and Farmar kicked in 14. Farmar looked good in his first game back from injury.

The Lakers improved their record to 35-8 overall and 23-3 at home on the season. They gained another game on the second place Spurs for home court advantage throughout the playoffs. The Lakers are playing outstanding basketball right now getting contributions from the entire team. Kobe no longer has to carry the team because he has a solid cast around him. L.A. will look to run their winning streak to five this Tuesday against the Charlotte Bobcats.

NBA MVP

NBA MVP

1. Lebron James - King James is a one man wrecking crew averaging 28PPG, 7 REBS, 7 DIMES. He leads the Cavs in points, rebounds and assists. He has dominated on the offensive end of the court and stepped his game up defensively this season as well. He has led the Cavs to a 33-8 record without a legitimate sidekick.

2. Kobe Bryant - The reigning MVP is averaging 26PPG, 5 REBS, 5 DIMES per game. He has gutted it out all season by playing with a dislocated right finger all season. This hasn't stopped Bryant from leading the Lakers to the best winning percentage in the NBA.

3. Dwight Howard - The man child has come into his own averaging 20 PPG, 14 REBS, 3.2 BLKS. He has sparked the Magic to a 33-9 start. The scary thing about Dwight Howard is he has yet to reach his peak. Howards is already the best big man in the league at only 23 years of age.

4. Dwyane Wade - Dwade is the most underrated superstar in the NBA. He is leading the league in scoring at just under 29 points, grabbing 5 boards and dishing out 7 assists per game. He averages twice as many points as the second leading scorer on the Heat and averages 1.5 blocks per game despite being just 6'4". He has guided a depleted Heat team to a winning record.

5. Chris Paul - Chris Paul is simply the best point guard in the NBA. He took the title from Steve Nash two years ago and has never looked back. Paul averages 21 PPG, 11 DIMES, 5 REBS, a night. He leads the league in steals with just under 3 a game and has made the Hornets a NBA title contender.

Others deserving consideration:

Chauncey Billups - Just look at what the Pistons have become without Chauncey.

Dirk Nowitzki - Dirk is playing the best basketball of his career, too bad the Mavs aren't.

Lakers Crush the Wiz

I watched the game on TNT last night and it was a rout. The Lakers picked up their 34th win of the season in a relatively easy fashion. The Lakers led 72-47 at the half and cruised to a 117-97 victory. The hapless Wizards were undermanned and outmatched. The win was a total team effort. Seven players scored in double figures. The starters were able to sit out the 4th quarter and nobody on the team played more than 28 minutes. Andrew Bynum had a double double with 23 points and 14 rebounds. Bynum seems to be rounding into shape. His physical conditioning is improving and he looks like he is getting quicker. This is good news for L.A. The Lakers need Bynum to be a major force in the interior as he is the team's only true post up player. Pau Gasol added 18, Lamar Odom 16 and Kobe Bryant chipped in 11.

The Lakers next game is Sunday@ the Staples center against the San Antonio Spurs.

Lakers Midseason Report

The L.A. Lakers are off to a great start this season. The Lakers are currently 33-8 and have the best record in the NBA. The Lakers lead the Pacific divison by 9.5 games. They have a 5 game lead over the Spurs for home court advantage throughout the Western conference playoffs. The Lakers lead the league in scoring averaging 107.6 points per game. The Lakers are first in rebounding, fourth in field goal percentage and seventh in field goal percentage against.

Kobe Bryant is having another MVP season. Pau Gasol is continuing his stellar play from last season. He is the perfect Robin to Kobe's Batman. The addition of Bynum gives the Lakers a legitimate chance to defeat the Celtics in the NBA Finals this season. Derrick Fisher continues to give the Lakers solid minutes at the point. Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza and Jordan Farmar make up the deepest bench in the NBA. If the Lakers can continue playing at their current level, they have a great chance to win the NBA championship.

Welcome to Fourth Quarter Finish

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