WE DID IT!!

Our players joined forces and we won our

last two games! Hopeful that once we do

get out there on the road, some of this

enthusiasm will be packed within the clothes

suitcases too so we can strut our stuff!

Pau Gasol said he would gladly donate

$1,000 for each point he made on Friday

to give the proceeds to the relief effort

for the horrid Phillippine storm. He made

24 points and therefore donated $24,000

and mentioned he hoped others would be

following suit for their own gifts of love

and caring for those poor victims and

their families. Nick Young was in good

form as was Jordan Hill. The entire team

seemed to be very unified and set on

winning. It was so much fun to watch.

Stu Lantz has had laryngitis so his

speaking voice was mum. Bill McDonald

was telling the viewers about his earlier

days with Chic Hearn and pictures of

them together brought back memories.

Stu's deep voice almost mesmerizes you

when he is speaking and describing the plays.

He is announcer for our NBA Lakers

in his 27th season now. James Worthy

filled in for Stu along with Bill doling play

by play. Stu missed 3 games back in

2009 when he took time off  while his

wife recovered from surgery. In other years

he skipped games to attend his mothers'

funeral and his daughters' college graduation.

This then was the first time he missed a game

because of health issues. Another note

of mention is that fans brought in books

that were gently used to donate to a local

charity in honor of Chic Hearn, former broadcaster.

Back soreness kept Chris Kaman off the courts

so that he could heal. In fact he was out for 2 games.

Kobe Bryant is still in a process of recovering from

his Achilles heal tendon surgery. Coach D'Antoni

stated that it is timing, conditioning and many other

things that fall into play for healing and that he

chooses to not hurry Kobe back into uniform until

he deems he is more ready to tackle playing.

Steve Blake and Pau Gasol talked about the plays

Kobe has made though in practice and that he

looked good and they were quite surprised.

D'Antoni also talked some about Steve Blake's

hustling his plays and although not super tall,

he runs fast and dunks shots and never seems

to flinch doing so at every single possibility.

He has brought some relative backcourt stability

while both Nash and Bryant heal up. Steve Nash

does seem to be doing some better. He traveled to

Vancouver with personal trainer Rick Celebrini

but will return to L.A. next weekend before L.A.

hosts the Portland Trail Blazers on Dec. 1st at

Staples Center. He did have (some) comfort after

his epidural Shot on Nov. 12th, He turns 40 in Feb.

Winning against Golden State and Sacramento

gives us some more confidence and watching how

well Xavier Henry did also lent us some real hope.

There are 24 "away" games out of 36 so now we

shall watch and see how well we do when not at home.

BABS WELLS