Category — Lakers

They lead the league in points in the paint, mainly because they blow past defenders in their sometimes high-octane offense. The Nuggets won in Oklahoma City tonight by 10 and made them prime candidate to nail that No. 3 spot in the West. Laker fans, some of them still dreaming dreams of grandeur, want no parts of Denver. Go ahead Warrior fans.
Did we mention the Nuggets have captured 12 in a row? Didn’t think so.

This gem from Dave McMenamin, who covers the Lakers for ESPN/LA.
Metta World Peace was doing a postgame interview. Robert Sacre interrupted him. Here’s what happened.
World Peace: “Sometimes you just got to give credit to the other team…”
Sacre: (Coming over to collect the name placard above World Peace’s locker as part of his rookie duties) “Ron Artest’s new album, coming in stores! Walmart, baby!”
World Peace: “Don’t listen to this guy, please. Whatever you do in your life, don’t listen to him.”
Sacre: “Walmart! Ron Artest’s album!”
World Peace: “Walmart …”
Reporter: “His name’s Metta …”
Sacre: “Oh, word?”
World Peace: “Yo, what the hell? Respect, rookie.”
Sacre: “My bad.”
World Peace: “My goodness.”
Sacre: “You know what (the album’s) going to be called? St. John’s.” (World Peace went to St. John’s).
World Peace: “Gonzaga.” (Sacre went to Gonzaga).
Sacre: “Oh, it should.”
World Peace: “I’m going to come up with a song called, ‘Gonzaga.’”
Reporter: “Did you fill out your bracket today?”
World Peace: “No, this loser (gestures towards Sacre) still didn’t give me my bracket.”
Sacre: “It’s right there, do you want me to hand it to you?”
World Peace: “Yes. Give me my bracket.”

With the latest toast coming at the expense of a Canadian club, Miami has now won 22 in a row. Should the old Lakers of 33 straight be shaking in their boots? Uh, no. One test of the streak comes Monday when the Heat visit the C’s.
But the NBA this year? Well, yeah. The Heat are huge favorites to repeat, particularly as they continue to play like this.
Makes us foolish dropping a quarter on the Spurs at 4-1 (from 5-1 on 2nd night of my last Vegas venture, sum bitches) to hijack the title, no?
Miami Herald

Laker fans and Kobe Bryant. Neither should expect much sympathy around the NBA, particularly with the Lakers clinging to their playoff lives.
But was Dahntay Jones being as dirty as Kobe portrays? Was it premediated? Many seem to think it was.
Us? We know he’s a Duke guy, and their is history between he and Kobe, but is Dahntay that quick of a thinker on his feet?

Warren G, from the LBC, delivered last night (March 6) at LAX Nightclub at the Luxor Hotel & Casino in Vegas.
Image courtesy of Al Powers of Powers Imagery, LLC

Where’s Arte Moreno? Magic Johnson?
The usual suspects such as Roger Goodell, David Stern and Bud Selig are among a list of the 50 most powerful people (only 3 women) in sports. But Ed O’Bannon? That’s right. The former UCLA star could change the landscape of college sports with his suit against the NCAA.
SI.com

We’re trolling around in our 2nd home, the always entertaining Las Vegas. Hit the over (202.5) for the Spurs-Clips blowout, but due to a brief case of blindness at the betting window, we bet the Clips instead of the Spurs. And the old lady wondered why I was cussing?
Anyway…
Your favorites for the NBA championship? The Heat (+165) and the Thunder (+280) are the picks now, but we all know how quickly that can change. The rest: Spurs (5-1); Clippers (6-1); Lakers (13-1); Knicks (12-1); Bulls (14-1); Warriors (16-1); Pacers (25-1); Celtics and Nuggets (35-1); and Rockets (60-1).
Us? We like the Spurs. That could change too. If we’re wrong, we’ll plead another case of blindness. Seriously.

You know his mamma called. “Boy, don’t you EVER…”
And we thought he was smoking some good shit in Cali.

Unlike ESPN, I could care less about the hoopla and the circus centering around Michael Jordan turning 50. But I couldn’t resist reading this awesome piece by the outstanding Wright Thompson, who pens some of the finest pieces I’ve read the past few years.
Of course it’s all about Mike, but Thompson, as he is prone to do, explains some of the nuances about Jordan, and even better, why he’s still an asshole. It just goes with the territory. Right Kobe?
ESPN The Magazine

Of all the statements Magic Johnson made today regarding the death of Dr. Jerry Buss, none struck a cord (because he’s so accurate, but Dr. Buss’ son Jim is too full shit to realize it) with me more than this one: “I hope Jeanie Buss takes over the team.”
Though Magic and Dr. Buss operated on a much larger platform, I couldn’t help thinking about Barry Switzer and Billy Sims. Back in my days in Norman in the late 70s, there were always stories about the off-the-field exploits of Barry and Billy.
But this was a much larger party. And a lot more of them. Magic and Dr. Buss, regardless of your opinions of either, were the origins of “Showtime” and the legends of it crossing a ton of barriers, the Hollywood element, the Laker girls (Paula Abdul among the most famous), the parties (did we mention the parties?) and Johnson stunning the world years after the high times when he announced he was HIV positive.
And those are just starter pistols.
Having moved to L.A. in 1986, during the height of Showtime, I was as consumed with it as any basketball fan. And this was as a time when the Herald-Examiner, particularly the sports section, was the best read in town.
Before Buss purchased the team in 1979 from Jack Kent Cooke, the Lakers were practically 2nd city to the Dodgers, Rams, USC football and UCLA basketball. Imagine that now.
Columnist Bill Plaschke scratches the surface with some quick-hitting recollections from Magic.
L.A. Times