MENTOR KOBE BRYANT

To watch Nick Young, one would find the words,

watch this young fella. Maybe another Kobe?

Well, our Kobe has seen the promise there too.

He has been finding the time to see to Nick Young's

status on the team and in his wealth of seemingly

great basketball techniques. Young stepped foot

in the Lakers' locker room at Staples Center 6

years ago, a place that gave him temporary access

when the former USC product starred in the Pacific-

10 Conference tournament. Just as quickly as he

goes on scoring binges, Young called dibs on Kobe

Bryant's locker. And no, it did not stop there. "I stole

one of his knee sleeves that day and it was so obvious

as we were cardinal and gold and there I was with a

purple sleeve on. I felt like I was Kobe that day" Young

said. Seems he has also donned his newest Nike shoe

titled the Kobe IX when the Lakers (16-26) visited the

Miami Heat at Airlines Center. Kobe has been a great

mentor for Nick Young telling him all types of things 

during the games. It must have seemed almost unbelievable

to Nick  this past year learning from the greatest of all

players in this game of basketball. Young, a former 

Cleveland High student of Reseda, California, grew up

watching Kobe play so it is no wonder there seems to be

quite a do-able match with these two players. It is a good

feeling for the both of them evidently. Young's "happy-go-

lucky" personality appears to be a complementing

competition streak all the same. It is noted Young is re-

sponding to the challenge of being an all-around player.

The Miami game had us all excited watching the closeness

these 2 teams had. Tying at times and then falling behind,

the Lakers soon caught up and even surpassed the Heat

a time or two. Bosh and LeBron James double teamed

our players often so even Pau was troubled to make a

basket oft times however our team could not be faulted

for doing such a super job with this Miami team on their

heals. Making at least 100 points for the 10th. straight

game is not to be considered a small thing. With so many

on our team out on injury, the younger players came forth.

Xavier Henry may be able to return to play a bit earlier

than at first expected, Kobe ought to be back on the courts

very soon, Steve Blake is improving steadily and Jordan

Farmar has made considerable improvement as well.

Jodie Meeks and Pau Gasol each scored 22 points. Nick

Young made 19 points. This game ended in :109-102 score,

with our Lakers taking a loss. Tonight they play at Orlando 

in Amway Center. Good luck!

BABS WELLS