The Lakers are still struggling to find consistency but thanks to the heroics of Number 24, they've been able to fend off the Portland Trailblazers and Minnesota Timberwolves. Phil Jackson told Kobe he needed to be more aggressive at the start of the games, rather than trying to facilitate in the first half and then taking over offensively in the second. This game plan hadn't been working so well, as Kobe was being too passive, which caused the Lakers to fall behind early and then they would have to rely solely on Kobe to bring them back in the second half (which we've all seen him do repeatedly). However, the leads were becoming insurmountable - even for the great Number 24.
Kobe responded pretty well to Phil's demands, to say the least. He lit up Portland for 65 points in a 116-111 win. He followed that stellar performance with a 50 point effort against the T-Wolves in another Lakers win. If you're counting, that's 115 points in two games. That's the third highest point total over a two game span in the last 40 years. Only Michael Jordan's 118 (1990) and Kobe's 118 (last year) are better. The awe-inspiring performances this weekend earned Kobe the Western Conference Player of the Week honors.
Here are some of his stats over the past three games: Points per game - 46.7 Field Goal Percentage - 52.7% 3 Point Percentage - 46.2% Free Throw Percentage - 88.2%
Oh, and by the way Kobe has earned his reputation back. Don't believe me? Well, millions of fans in the US suggest otherwise as Kobe's jersey is the number one seller in the States. Not too surprising, right? How 'bout this one. He also has the number one selling jersey in China. That's right, China! Not even their benevolent giant Yao Ming could surpass Kobe's popularity.
Next up for Mamba, the woeful Memphis Grizzlies, owners of the worst record in the NBA. Do I smell another 81?
The Los Angeles Lakers were up against a well-tuned basketball team in the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night, who were riding an NBA best 16 game winning streak. At the complete opposite end of the spectrum are the Lakers, who came into the game losers of 5 straight. The mismatch resulted in a 108-72 thumping, the largest margin of defeat at home in the long and storied history of the Lakers franchise. The Lakers hadn't lost a home game by more than 30 points since 1969. Even more embarrassing, the beloved fans at Staples Center booed the Lakers off the court in the final minutes of the game. Ouch! The The Mavericks, who are the odds-on favorite to win the championship this year, extended their winning streak to 17 (the seventh best in NBA history), while the Lakers continued their nosedive.
Kobe Bryant has remained the only constant for the Lakers. He led all scorers with 25 points, while pulling down 9 rebounds. In an attempt to explain the Lakers' ugly defeat he said, "Our team is not about having the best talent in the world. Our team is built on chemistry and guys knowing how to play together. So when you take three starters out of the lineup (referring to Luke Walton, Lamar Odom, and Vladimir Radmanovich) and insert guys who are new to these concepts, it makes it difficult."
Lakers head coach Phil Jackson said, "There's no reason for a blowout situation. We were embarrassed."
Let's try to end with something positive shall we? The Lakers can put this behind them knowing that Luke Walton and Lamar Odom are expected to play against the Nuggets, in Denver, this Thursday. Luke Walton has been out of the lineup since Jan. 28th after a right ankle sprain, and Odom has been out since March 2nd with a labrum in his left shoulder. Optimistically speaking, Odom and Walton will be well rested and the chemistry will return to the Lakers just in time for the playoffs.
There is some talk traveling around in the sports world that the Lakers are interested in signing the 41-year old Scottie Pippen. Did I mention he's 41? Well he is. If this isn't desperation on the Lakers part then I don't know what is. Pippen is apparently strapped for cash and would love to make a quick fortune (by my standards anyways), and the Lakers are trying to stay afloat in the highly-competitive Western Conference after suffering injury after injury to many of their key players.
Pros: 1) Pippen knows the triangle offense better than anybody currently on the Lakers, and second to nobody not named Michael Jordan. 2) Won 6 NBA championships with Lakers coach Phil Jackson while playing in Chicago. 3) Scottie could be a quick fix for the Lakers off the bench.
Cons: 1) He's 41. 2) He's old (41 years old). 3) He's 41.
In other Lakers news: They lost to the talented Phoenix Suns on Sunday 94-99. I know a loss is a loss, but I have to say that they hung in the entire game despite not having Lamar Odom, Vladimir Radmanovich, or Luke Walton in uniform; while the Suns were completely healthy. Not bad. Makes you wonder what might have happened had the Lakers had a full squad.
Here's a moment I won't soon be forgetting from the Lakers-Suns playoff game last May.
