CHRIS WAS ON A ROLL

Phoenix Suns played our NBA

Lakers Sunday evening at

Staples Center and we won!

Chris Kaman made the very first

two points of the game and continued

playing like wildfire all evening long.

In fact he made 28 points in all.

He made 17 rebounds and doled

out 6 assists and led the way.

Jodie Meeks scored 22 points,

Ryan Kelly had 17 off the bench.

Kendall Marshall had 13 points and

11 assists and Kent Bazenmore and

Nick Young had 12 and 11 points

respectively. The Lakers led 26-15 after

one quarter and 61-43 at halftime.

In fact they went up by 26 points

in the third quarter, during which

they had a 17-0 run. Yes, it was 

a mighty happy locker room after

that particular game.  Score:115-99.

Not nearly as well played were

the two road games played prior

to this one, namely Milwaukee and 

Minnesota. Grim, and really not

what this writer now belatedly

 cares to relate to you at this time.

Suffice it to say that we, the fans,

were not very happy over those

particular two games played.

An interesting note to ponder

is about Robert Sacre. He works

harder than anyone else on the 

team, Coach D'Antoni tells us. 

He works out in the weight room,

out on the floor, in practices

and is trying to make himself into 

a better player. He has averaged

only a modest 5 points on 48.5 % 

shooting and 3.7 rebounds in

15.8 minutes. It does help Sacre

is under contract through next

season for a relatively inexpensive

$915,243. The Lakers then have

a team option on him for the 2015-

16 season worth $981,358.

He keeps saying he is going to get

better and is happy with where he is

right now but no, not happy with 

where he was but there are still 

many things he feels he can do 

in order to play far better.

Also in Staples Center, our Lakers

will be playing Portland Tuesday 

evening and as always, we do wish

them well. Pau (may) be back to

play but this is not guaranteed.

BABS WELLS

ANOTHER VICTORY

Erroneous info given before and I am sorry

about that. When I told my readers

that the game against N.Y. Knicks was

to take place in NY, when in fact no,

it took place last evening down at

Staples Center here in L.A.

And, when it was told  to me that we

had but 8 games left to play in

this season., my bad again..Believe

it is 12 games left to play and hope

they win those as well. Certainly did

a super job last evening. Was wondering

when they would be televised though

as the OKC game against Dallas went

on so long and then in to an overtime 

besides. Finally got to view our Lakers 

and win we did. Score: 127-96. Even our 

Chris Kaman finally was able to get out 

there on the floor and show his worth. 

Cannot understand just why Coach D'Antoni 

refused to place him to be playing before 

when the previous game showed Pau Gasol 

sidelined due to illness for the entire second half.

I'll tell you Chris was not too happy over

that fact either and voiced his concerns.

He is tall, he is able and he is ever so

willing so why on earth is he not used more 

often? Anyway, he made the very first 2 points

against the N.Y. Knicks. By the way,

our former coach, Phil Jackson, was

indeed on hand to watch his former

Lakers team play although he sat upstairs

in a box seat and not down on the floor.

Phil has now signed on the dotted line

and has accepted the job as N.Y. Knicks

new President and for a 3 year contract

worth around $60, Mil. so that can't hurt!

Laker Pau Gasol has been diagnosed having

Vertigo which causes nausea and a feeling

of light headedness and did in fact, spend

the night in a hospital. His MRI came back 

okay, gratefully. He wants to thank everyone

that were puzzled over his illness & sent him

their personal best wishes, saying " Thanks so

much to all of you". We do not want him

to return out on that court however until he

honestly is really feeling far better. Drink

plenty of water, Pau so dehydration exits.

It is a problem to wonder about too with

Steve Nash, whether or not he might be

returning to play soon. Jordan Farmar is

out as well being still on the injury list.

With a hurt wrist it is "iffy" regarding Xavier

Henry for being fit enough to play.

Poor Nick Young, (Mr. "Swaggy") had quite

a jolt last Sunday having been burglarized

during his Staples play time. He lives in

Sherman Oaks and thieves' broke a window

and entered his home stealing over $100,000

worth of equipment, clothing and other expensive

items so he now has new locks, (yes, had Insurance)

and he spent that night away from his home after

the investigators got through with their search, etc.

He has such a positive attitude that even though

it startled him, his teammates began cracking

jokes (at his expense) & it did cheer him up.

We play now the next game on Thursday

evening but earlier in the day, at 5:30, to

be played in Milwaukee and then on to Minnesota.

Our cheers of hope go out to you all on the road.

BABS WELLS

KUDOS' KIDS!!!!

You could almost tell right from the

get-go that this game against Orlando

was very likely to be our game Sunday.

Pau looked pale I thought and sure 

enough, he did sit out a goodly portion

of the game feeling a bit ill. Jordan

Hill was our top man, making a career 

high 28 points. Nick young was playing 

too and made 26 points. Steve Nash 

played Friday against Washington 

but his back seemingly did not feel 

quite right so he decided not to play 

on Sunday.  Xavier Henry, who was 

back in the lineup for just 9 games 

after missing 28 games due to a bone 

bruise on his right knee, was then 

sidelined again due to a torn ligament 

in his left wrist. He will be re-examined  

today, (Monday). 

We have 8 games on our remaining

schedule and against teams that

currently are over 500.

Sundays' winning score was: 103-94.

Our oft-injured guard, Steve Nash,

stepped in for playing on Friday evening 

against the Washington Wizards 

and made 11 assists. Our point-guard, 

Jordan Farmar, is nursing a groin

injury so that left us open for  requiring

someone to fill his position. We lost that

game however, with the score: 117-107.

The Wizards are having their best

season ever since 2007-08 when

they ended a string of 4 consecutive 

playoff berths. They have already

surpassed last season's win total

by 7 with 13 games remaining for them.

They, in fact, are 6th in the Eastern

Conference with a 7 game lead over

the N.Y. Kicks, who the Lakers play

against next  this Tuesday evening 

in Madison Square Garden. 

And, according to Jeanie Buss,

engaged to former Laker Coach,

Phil Jackson, she seems to be alright

with his new job in New York.

Phil will be Knicks new president.

On another note, we see that the

leading NBA center of the 1970's,

Sam Lacey, has died at only age 66.

Lacey spent most of his National

Basketball Association seasons

with the Cincinnati Royals and with

the Kansas City Kings. Actually his

biggest game as a rookie took place

in Madison Square Garden  when he

blocked 3 shots by the Knicks' star,

Center Willis Reed. Thankyou for

those long ago games Sam. R.I.P.

BABS WELLS

NEWS ABOUT PHIL JACKSON

Well, no, the Lakers can no longer

sort of wish that former Lakers Coach 

Phil Jackson may one day become 

a part of the team in the future. 

But, we read that Phil has become the

New York Knicks new president.

That is where he used to play

ball in 1970 and 1973 and then

he went on to win 11 championships

with the L.A. Lakers and the

Chicago Bulls. This will be his

first time as an executive and the

Knicks say he will be in charge

of all basketball decisions.

This might be a rather touchy

area to be in however, due to

the fact he is engaged to marry

Jeanie Buss who is the business

part of our L.A. Lakers since the

death of her father, Jerry Buss.

Phil tells us that he will continue

to spend a great deal of his

time in California. Phil will not

be making big changes quickly

in New York and tells reporters

that they will have to go out and

work the bushes for players

next year. Madison Square Garden

chairman James Dolan is grateful

to have Phil aboard and feels that

now perhaps the Knicks might very 

well beat a path for success.

We, the fans, hope for the best for

our former Lakers coach. Good luck

and success, Phil Jackson.

Our Lakers tried ever so hard last

evening down at Staples Center to

stay in the game against the San

Antonio Spurs and did so for three

quarters, actually, but then it became

far too much for them to handle and

the ending score was 125 - 109.

Spurs the winning team. What is a

maligned team to do? We trailed

them by only 5 entering the fourth

quarter and even were tied at one point.

We took the lead once on a layup by

Sacre and Xavier Henry made a 3-pointer

with 19 first half points. The last time that

we played at home we beat Oklahoma

City. Our team has pride and remain NBA

players through and through. Pau Gasol

made 22 points and is a consistent best

player and a lad we are so proud of.

Friday night (again at Staples Center).

we play Washington at 7:30 PM. 

Losing to the Spurs last evening, by the way,

was for the third time this season. Who knows?

Maybe our luck will change on Friday night!

BABS WELLS

THUNDER AND SPURS

At Chesapeake Energy Arena, OKC took on

the NBA Lakers team. Even after resting and

with their best foot forward, it took its toll all the

same. It has been a lost cause stewing about

the Lakers non-existent defense. The Lakers

will not be making the playoff's for only the

5th time in franchise history. Oklahoma

City won Thursdays game with a score of:

131-102 plus we now have learned that

both Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash will not

be playing for the entire rest of the season.

Nick Young is still in rehab. so unsure

just when he might be able to return.

On Friday (back to back games) Lakers

took on San Antonio in their hometown.

Jodie Meeks and Pau Gasol did their

best on the courts, but the win for the 

Spurs was immediate right from the start.

They won with score of:119-85. Pretty

bad no matter how one might look at it.

L.A. was shooting only 17% from the field

just 2 minutes into the second quarter.

Seems now we are supposed to be taking

them on once again this very next Wednesday

at Staples Center. Oh boy! We of course do

wish them well but we do with faint hearts.

How this all plays out remains to be seen

under the coaching of Mike D'Antoni. Will

it get any better or will they now see perhaps

it was a big mistake in hiring him to coach?

We then merely continue to fight during

this lost season and fight with passion.

That is the job each and every player must

take upon their shoulders so we'll see what

can perhaps take place on Wednesday.

As always we, the fans, do wish them well.

BABS WELLS

WELCOME BACK DEREK FISHER

We made headlines, surely, in this last game

as we played against Oklahoma City. Rightly so

since we played our hearts out and against the

top in the basketball game of this season. San

Antonio and Oklahoma City have vied for first

place and our poor laboring team have sunk

to very last place in the Western Conference.

It is no wonder we are strutting a bit right now.

So proud of our fans giving Derek Fisher (a

former Laker) the ovation he received on Sunday.

The final score was: 114-110 in a most vibrating

and wondrous game that helped us to the victory.

Pau Gasol had 20 points and Jodi Meeks set a

record high in points with having made 42.

The Lakers have experienced so many of their

see-saw playing games that to see them out in

force on Sunday gave us all that lift we needed.

Our injury plagued team this season has been

ever so discouraged for winning games as we ought.

Our former Lakers, Derek Fisher, is thinking quite

seriously of retiring after this playing season.

His teammate Kevin Durant is trying to convince

him to remain on for at least one more year.

We hung our heads in shame after losing to

the Clippers by such a large margin. 48 points.

Jordan Farmar is very adamant about his feelings

to be on the Lakers losing team thus far. The Lakers 

ranking next to last in points allowed at 107.9,

are a league-worst in giving 112.5 points a game

since January 1st. Jordan Farmar, despite scoring

24 points off the bench in Friday's 136-124 loss at

Denver showed his frustration and states that

he hates to be on a losing team. Granted he says

he never wants to let his teammates down as it

always shows up in the course of the game. He

did mention that he is hoping somehow to be

a catalyst for some kind of a change.

The Clippers have a terrific coach in Doc Rivers,

and their team has shown such great advances

this season. Our coach does not appear to be

quite the coach we all had been hoping for.

Not really understanding all of the in's and out's

of coaching, certainly, the loss against the Clippers

recently gave us all some knowledge that there

remains to be seen a form of aid that we are 

plainly not accepting or simply not getting. 

Jordan Hill did not play in Clippers game due to

a sore right knee. The arena started emptying

after the third quarter ended in that fatal game.

We want today to tell our readers about the

renowned sports medicine specialist Frank Jobe.

He died on Thursday at age 88. He was a consultant

for many years with the Lakers in addition

to his ground-breaking work with his innovative

Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery.

Hundreds of athletes have had their careers either

prolonged or saved by this remarkable medical

surgery procedure. We pray he now rests in peace.

BABS WELLS 

NEW MEN ON THE COURT

Was so good seeing Xavier Henry return to

play with our Lakers again, during our game

with Portland. He had been nursing an injury

to his left leg. He has already missed 42 games.

Seems maybe tired legs and fatigue might have

been a factor with rookie Ryan Kelly. Nick Young

still remains an absent player with soreness

in his left knee. So this leaves Kent Bazemore,

Wesley Johnson and  Marshon Brooks. Pau

has consistently made super points in each

and every game he has played most all of

this season. He made 22 points in Portland.

And we won that game with score: 107-106.

The Lakers scored 32 fast-break points

stemmed from 12 steals and forcing 20

turnovers. Jodie Meeks contributed 21 points

featuring a pair of unexpected dunks in-

cluding a one-handed throwdown in the

second quarter. It was such a fun game to

watch. In spite of Pau Gasol making 29

points at Staples Center against New Orleans,

it looked almost from the start as if it just

plain was not going to be a win for us last

night.Our newcomer, Kent Bazemore, made

23 points and Jordan Farmar had 20. 

Xavier Henry gave us 12 points in 14 minutes.

Our loss was the 27th. in 35 games so now

has us dropped back into sole possession

of last place in the Western Conference

which is showing us as a half game behind

Sacramento and Utah.

Something worth noting are the writings of Jeff

Pearlman about the 1980's glory days which

is still relevant concerning our Lakers team.

Pearlman had about 300 interviews over 

a two year period for the "Showtime"

era of the 1980's. In "Showtime", Magic

Johnson, Kareem, Riley and the L.A.

Lakers Dynasty of the 1980's (Gotham

Books) was released Tuesday, Pearlman

polishes off some gems we don't believe we 

have read before or could not have known

at all had he not traveled around the

country to meet up again with those that

lived it first hand.

Our current next game will be with our

other L.A. team, the Clippers, and that

will be held on Thursday at Staples.

BABS WELLS

JORDAN FARMAR AT 30 points

Once, Farmar left the Lakers only to

return. Now he has favored an injury

and finally made it like the player

we always felt he was all along. We

were at stake as the worst in the West,

and that might not have been such

a bad thing. Only our losses had 

been adding up so to win was an

increasing and saving grace that

had our players working ever so

hard to accomplish. We won over

the Kings! Score? 126-122. And yes,

Farmar had a very good night but

our newcomer, Marshon Brooks, 

did too with 23 points himself.

Once upon a time Farmar felt

neglected in his Laker uniform

and left us only to rethink it all

and return. Are we ever glad he did!

Pau made 22 points too and he is

going to very likely be leaving us

when this season is finished. No,

we do not like thinking this but with

his discouragement regarding

Coach D'Antoni, it is only a matter

of time almost all of us do believe.

Seeing those two Gasol brothers

in Memphis makes us realize it is

even possible that one day they

just may be out there together

playing on the very same court.

We play in Portland tomorrow

night at 7:00 and can only guess

as to just how that game may go.

Another point I'd like to make here 

pertaining to basketball, is the

way the Harlem Globetrotters do

their schtick to entertain us all.

The actual NBA was not formed

until 1949. 

Back in 1930 (when this writer was born!) 

and in the 1920's, then onto the 1930's, 

teams in the U.S. went from town to town 

without the structure of a league. They'd 

play against other teams simply for the 

entertainment of the townspeople.

This type of play is called "barnstorming".

One 'special' team formed in 1926 in

Chicago. It later became known as the

"Harlem Globetrotters". Granted, they are

most well known for their crazy antics out

on the court. Acting as sort of clowns they

can really play ball plus are sort of 

ambassadors of goodwill. They go to

visit the sick in hospitals, they share 

messages and enthusiasm with sick

children and they hold summer skill

clinics for children as well. They promote

goodwill and cheer and abhor bullying.

Some of their skills are certainly off

the courts and help with kids fitness.

Lets' all cheer for our Lakers but do

not forget about those silly Globetrotters!

BABS WELLS