Lakers come up short in OKC

OKC Russel Westbrook drives through the lane in
last nights game vs Lakers

For all that happened Tuesday night, nothing really happened.
The Lakers never led and played close up until the 6 minute mark in the final quarter.

They never showed the hunger that the defending Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder did.

And so the Lakers lost, 122-105, to fall back under the .500 mark in the latest example that they are not back to their preseason status as legitimate title contenders.

Mike D'Antoni's defense tied the NBA record for fewest turnovers forced, and Dwight Howard aggravated the torn labrum in his right shoulder and expressed frustration at not getting any field goal attempts in the second half.

When asked if that bothered him, Howard said: "Yeah." Then he added after a pause: "But we've got to play through it." Howard shot 1 for 7 from the field in the first half.

Lakers Pau Gasol lays on the floor grimmesing from the pain
on his body.

The Lakers' injury grew heavier with Metta World Peace spraining his right ankle in the final minutes and limping off the court, but he said he would play Wednesday in New Orleans. World Peace was the one who ran into Howard's arm early in the game, leaving Howard to say after the game: "Different kind of hit, but it's in a lot of pain."

Kobe Bryant played through an ulnar nerve contusion to his right elbow from the opening minutes, limiting some use of his right arm. But neither Bryant's 30 points nor Howard's 16 rebounds was enough compared to Oklahoma City's Russel Westbrook, who had 37 points, 10 rebounds and five assists and one turnover.

The turnover came with 5:06 to play and was the last one for Oklahoma City, which had just 2 tying the fewest in an NBA game. The fewest by a Lakers opponent all time was three, set by Phoenix against Mike Brown's Lakers last season. The fewest in the NBA this season by four by Philadelphia against Detroit on Nov. 14.

Oklahoma City entered the game averaging 15.8 turnovers, second-most in the NBA after Houston. Told that the Lakers who also blocked only one shot had tied an NBA record for fewest turnovers forced.

Kobe talking to Thunder's Kevin Durant in last nights loss.

Kobe Bryant dribbled up the court left handed and quickly fired in a 3point shot. Next time the Lakers got the ball, Bryant did it again.

At the end of the Lakers' bench, Robert Sacre stretched his arms up and out and howled to the heavens: "Mamba!"

Bryant's shot making despite a ulnar nerve contusion to his right elbow in the opening minutes Tuesday night gave the Lakers some bright spots.

Bryant returned to the locker room for treatment on his elbow after he hurt it trying to break free from Thabo Sefolosha's tough defensive coverage and aggravated it shortly after committing a foul. When he returned to the game, he passed up an open jump shot to drive and miss a left handed shot.
But Bryant worked through the problem and shot 5 of 9 from the field and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line to score 18 first-half points. His defense was not stellar, however. As halftime wound down, Bryant was still massaging above, below and right on his right elbow.

Lakers win 21 staright over T-Wolves

Timberwolves JJ Barara
drives past Lakers Steve Blake
late in the first half of
the Lakers 116-94
victory.

With their 116-94 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Lakers have moved to a 4-1 record since the All Star break, one game under the .500 mark and two games behind the Houston Rockets for the eighth and final spot in the tough wild wild west. While the Lakers did play well last night, the outcome of the win is much more important than how they actually went about winning the game. With a home loss to a very bad road team in the Timberwolves, it would have put the Lakers back three games behind the Houston Rockets with games against the Hawks, Thunder and Bulls coming up in the next five. And while the other five teams competing for the last 2 and 3 playoff spots Utah, Houston, Golden State, and Portland have all been struggling recently, it’s not in the Lakers best interest to keep pace with their struggles if their ultimate goal is to make the post season. Considering their upcoming schedule 12 of the last 23 games will come against non-playoff and/or bubble-playoff teams they have an opportunity to finish the season very strong and could very well end up as high as the seventh seed. Every win matters from here on out, and losses will really matter more.

The second unit was able to put in work tonight. Other than Kobe Bryant, the great teamwork of Steve

Lakers starters looknon as the bench puts in work.

Blake, Antawn Jamison and Jodie Meeks outscored the Lakers starters with 46 points on 37 shots with 18 rebounds and 7 assists. Blake played very well by getting the offense in its sets, finding open teammates with 6 assists and picking his spots well. Blake was three for five from the three point line and had a very immpressive seven rebounds. I thought Blake was very good passing the ball. He had a pass to Jamison who slipped a screen late in the first that was very smart and a pass to Dwight Howard in the second where he drew the defense in until Howard was free, then gave a nice bounce pass right behind Greg Steisma of the T-Wolves.

Lakers walking off after a very pleasable victory.

It was a great night for the Lakers. With Golden State, Houston and Utah all losing two days ago and with Houston playing in Orlando, the Warriors playing the Celtics, and the Jazz playing the Bobcats it was essential for them to pick up this win and close the gap between those currently in the top 8 seeds and themselves. Again, they’re only two games outside of a playoff spot with 23 games left to play in the regualr season. Getting in is very going to be very difficult and a feirce battle, but they have to win the gimmie games like tonight that they had struggled with to begin the season. They play again on Sunday night at 6:30 (pacific time) against the Atlanta Hawks.

Could Derek Fisher have helped out the slumping Lake Show?

Derek Fisher in his last game in a Dallas Mavericks
uniform.

Derek Fisher signed a contract for the rest of the season with the top team in the very difficult wild wild West, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Derek Fisher played only 9 games for the Dallas Mavericks earlier this season, but had been let go after he hurt his knee. The reaction to Fisher wearing anything other than the Purple and Gold is still a nightmare for the Lakers faithful. With 5 NBA titles under his belt, Fisher is on a very short list of players who any team would take in a quick second right? Michael Jordan, who was recently declared as still better than any player on the Bobcats roster as it stands right now is on that list. Beyond the player, imagine the amount of money the team would make if they had signed him. But Robery Horry, also known as "Big Shot Rob" expressed even the most slight interest in coming back and playing for any NBA franchise, for me I would take the 7 time NBA champion way before MJ. Big Shot Rob Hits nothing but big shots, especially with the game on the line. After those 2, Derek Fisher has the most experience in a winning organization. He knows what it takes, to a man, to win in it all.
Lakers fans are very aware of Fisher's strengths, and at the old age of 38 years old, his set backs. He has great leadership abilities, great shot selection, and takes the best charge in the league. But he doesn’t guard the fast and in shape guards very well, and timely shooting is a set back, like inconsistent shooting.

The Lakers starters ready to check into the game.

But this Lakers team has a very short list of players who have won before. Kobe with 5, Gasol with 2, and Metta with 1 NBA title represent a brand new, Championship inexperienced team. Fisher doesn’t know the new coaching system, but with his experience who’s to say he wouldn’t bring a better winning influence?

After trading away James Harden, the Oklahoma City Thunder is a good team, but they are lacking one very huge set back, depth. Fisher helps that with an experienced leader, one who has experience in that locker room none the  less. It is a great signing for OKC.

Forget who’s roster spot he would need to take. Derek Fisher may be able to help this Lakers team, but it’s not a big impact he would make. He would add more years to an already very old roster. With Fisher’s close ties to Phil Jackson, it is highly unlikely that Jim Buss would consider giving Fisher another chance with the team in which he became very familiar with winning. It is the biggest choice to let the Lakers legend go his own way, but on a team full of new players, one more "New player" could be just what the Lakers have been looking for.