Basketball, guess we fans just love it all the same,
win or lose. (of course granted we like the wins).
After losses of 6 games for our Lakers, we finally
did win with Utah and a terrific game it was too.
Pau Gasol showed us what great stuff he could do.
Making over 20 points alone, he states that he does
not wish to be traded and would like to remain a
Laker. Knowing all about trade rumors, this 33 year
old Spaniard has been hearing them about himself
the past couple of years and it is happening again.
By now, one might think Gasol would just want to
get out of Dodge and say "Adios" but no, he claims
L.A. is now his home and the Lakers are his team.
He also says he would certainly like to ride out this
current storm of losses and being a loyal player,
he knows once our star players are on the well list
all things will fare better. True, Pau has not been
too happy in Mike D'Antoni's system, and no, he has
made no bones about that. Gasol is right now in his 7th.
season with the Lakers and he is shooting 44.3%
from the field which is not as he is accustomed to doing.
Kendall Marshall is a young gent we shall be watching.
He came out of the D-League Dec. 20th. He is a left-
handed shooter with a different looking shot but is
stoked to be getting this opportunity to start.
Losing against Milwaukee and then winning against
Utah gave us some anxious moments. We also had
some gratifying ones too, against Denver. Being
that it was a home game at Staples, was tough.
Reflecting on last year, it was a most sobering one with
the loss of Jerry Buss, long time executive Bill Sharman,
and Vern Mikkelson, who helped our team win 4 NBA
titles in Minneapolis. We also got swept in the first round
of the playoff's and had star-crossed Kobe Bryant in
the lineup for only 6 games so far into the season.
Even some of our newcomers found that they were
vulnerable. Xavier Henry was sidelined for the first time
this season because of a bone bruise and cartilage
abnormality in his right knee, and forward Wesley Johnson
did not play due to a bout of gastroenteritis. Chris Kaman
sat out too due to a troublesome left ankle sprain.
It would seem the Gods are against us, but playing on
is what we do, no matter all the illnesses or injuries and
on Tuesday there is another game with back to back
play again on Wednesday. Just hope for the best.
BABS WELLS
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