SOME TURKEY LEFT OVERS

Now that November is leaving
us it is time to concentrate
on December. For those of us
that have been wishing for a
very 'special gift, it seems
we will be rewarded. On
Christmas day we can awaken
to the knowledge that yes,
indeed, our Lakers will be
playing on the basketball
courts and not the legal ones
for a change. Seems we will not
see Andrew Bynum there,
as he has been suspended for
the first five games. No Phil
either but we will welcome to
the team, a new coach in seeing
Mike Brown spurring the team on.
The 149 day lockout is finally
history and we can breathe a big
sigh of relief as we cheer for the
Laker team with a 66-game
season this time. December 25th
we will be playing up against the
Chicago Bulls. We also will be
seeing a fit Matt Barnes. He has
lost 15 lb's. and strengthened
his surgically repaired right knee.
Three days ago Pau Gasol returned
to California from playing in his
native country in Barcelona.
He is also fit and eager to play.
Training camp begins December 9th.
Mike Brown has taken the well used
triangle away and replaced it with
the emphasis on specific play calls
and post-up chances. Along with this,
there is talk of hope for keeping
Lamar Odom on the roster.
There will be some back to back
games due to the scheduling and
the regular season would run through
April 26. This means that the
regular season will actually end
about 10 days later than is usual.
The last possible day of the NBA
Finals would be June 26, two weeks
later than the championship series
ended last season. Teams would play
48 games within their conference
and 18 non-conference games.
No team would play on three
straight nights more than three times.
Back to back games might also be
played during the second round of
the postseason.
We are proud of Derek Fisher for all
the hours he put in for negotiations
and flying time. He too is eager though
to be playing basketball but he is a
very noticed part of our team at age 37
to be a player plus our players association
president. He has invested countless days
and nights at the conference table and we
thank him profusely for all energies given.
Now it is time to knuckle down and begin
putting our suits and ties away and bring
out our purple and gold uniforms.
We are Lakers and want to play some basketball!
Let the games begin, and thank you St. Nick.
Babs Wells