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The World Loses A Legend, Kobe Gone At 41
01.28.20
I have been so upset and shocked the last few days as I’m sure you have, I haven’t really thought how to post something on the site. I still don’t know what to really say, except the basketball world lost an icon on Sunday, not to mention Kobe’s lovely 13-old daughter Gigi, and seven other innocent people whose families have lost love ones. It’s a horrible, horrible, unfathomable tragedy that is just so hard to accept, but there’s no choice but to move forward of course.
I’ve always used Kobe’s image as part of the avatar for LakerStats on social media, and his picture has always been on the top left of the site, so I won’t have to make any changes to honor him that way on here. All I can say is RIP to all those innocent people who perished, my prayers go out to Vanessa, Kobe’s children, and all the families and friends who lost loved ones. Also best wishes to Laker fans, Kobe fans, and all basketball fans who have been hit hard by this terrible event. Mamba Out…But Never Forgotten!
Lakers End Losing Streak, Cruise Past Hornets
12.30.10
Lamar Odom lays up two against Hornets.
The Lakers avoided another four-game losing streak in fine fashion, as they led virtually all the way, in a surprisingly-easy 103-88 win against the Hornets in New Orleans on Wednesday.
After the loss on Tuesday against the Spurs, coach Phi Jackson decided to shake up the lineup, and put Andrew Bynum into the starting five for the first time this season, thus moving Lamar Odom back to his familiar sixth man role. And did that move pay off on this night for both players.
Odom scored a game-high 24 points on 10-15 from the floor, the most points scored by a Laker bench since 2005 when Tierre Brown had 27 against Atlanta. He also had a highlight play when he wrapped the ball behind his back on a drive to the rim, and after missing the layup, casually slammed home his own rebound. It was that kind of night for the Lakers.
Andrew Bynum scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds in his first start of the season, and is looking more comfortable now as he works his way back from knee surgery. Kobe Bryant scored 20 points, hitting 8-14 shots from the field, and needed to play less than 28 minutes in the win. Pau Gasol had 11 points (on only five shots) and 12 rebounds.
The Lakers led 26-23 after one quarter, but outscored the Hornets 33-18 in the second, for a 59-41 halftime advantage. The Hornets never got closer than 13 points in the second half, as the Lakers cruised to their seventh win in their last 11 meetings in New Orleans.
For the game, the Lakers shot 58.6% from the field, and at one point late in the second quarter were still shooting over 70%. They also held the Hornets to just 41.8% from the floor, and 4-16 (25.0%) from the three-point line. The Lakers also dominated on the boards, holding a 44-24 rebounding advantage. In fact the Hornets only had 18 defensive rebounds, that’s how well it on both sides of the ball for the Lakers.
Chris Paul led the Hornets with 20 points and seven assists, but wasn’t really able to be much of a factor as he usually is against the Lakers. Marco Belinelli had 15 points, most of them in the second half when the game was out of reach. He only shot 4-16 from the floor for the game.
The Hornets did have a scary moment when leading-scorer David West went down with an ankle injury after landing on Ron Artest’s foot in the second quarter. He left the game, but did return for the second half. He scored just eight points in 28 minutes.
With their losing streak behind them, the Lakers play their next three games at home. The first will be New Year’s Eve against the Philadelphia 76ers. This will be the second meeting of the year between the two teams. The Lakers won the first meeting 93-81 in Philadelphia back on December 17th behind Lamar Odom’s 28 points.
It’s Official, The Mailman Delivers in LA
07.10.03
ESPN is reporting that Karl Malone today verbally agreed to join the Lakers this upcoming season, just days after Gary Payton made the same commitment.
Malone will play for a mere $1.5 million, nearly $18 million less than he made last season as a member of the Utah Jazz. While he could of have signed for more money in San Antonio or even Sacramento, the “Mailman” was lured to Los Angeles by the desire to win a championship, and the chance to play along side Gary Payton, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O’Neal.
The Lakers starting lineup, on paper, could be the most formidable in league history, with four potential Hall of Famers.
Payton and Malone’s agreement to play for very little money for a run at a championship is proof positive that for some players do play to win first.
With these two signings, the Lakers have addressed their two biggest weaknesses from last season, a power forward who can shoot the jumper and rebound in Malone, and a point guard with the stellar offensive and defensive skills of Gary Payton. And they did it all for just over $6 million.
News Link: ESPN – “Malone makes move, heads to Lakers”
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