Tuesday, January 19, 2016

From The Blogger' Daughter

Hello Lakers Fans!

This is WenDee, Mom (Babs' youngest), letting you know she is taking an unfortunate immediate leave from this blog. She will be away for some time and the family will appreciate all your prayers and positive thoughts towards her at this time.

Thank you and please comment to leave her some kind words.

WenDee and Paula, her daughters.

Friday, January 15, 2016

ONE STEP FORWARD AND ANOTHER BACK

Tuesday's win over the New Orleans Pelicans
was really lovely to see for Lakers fans.
Even though Kobe had troubles with his right
Achilles, he felt he had  to play. After the pain got
to him he had to give it up for playing after 16
minutes of play. Yes, we did manage to win
this game with score ending: 95-91.
The 18,997 fans cheered and greeted our
Kobe happily. Staples Center was host and 
you could hear chants of M-V-P, when he stepped
up to the foul line. Plenty of Lakers fans behind
the basket also took pictures with their cell
phones to document that moment. The buzz
only increased when Lou Williams made 2
consecutive bank shots, while Julius Randle
converted on a lay-up and one of two foul
shots to secure the win.

And, yes, Kobe made another effort for his
fans by suiting up and playing in the Golden
State Warriors game on Thursday night.
He again came out on to the court, but
sorry, it was not quite enough for us to win 
this one. We lost with the score of 116-98.
Lakers forward Brandon Bass missed
Thursday's game due to a sore right foot.
An interesting note however is this:
Kobe Bryant has maintained a firm
edge in the NBA All-Star votes and 
the third returns released on Thursday
showed he had a league-leading 1,533,432 
votes for his 18th and final NBA All-Star
appearance in Toronto on Feb. 14th.

I goofed last blog and said the leaps of
Lou Williams were ever so great to witness.
The player that ought to have been in that
role was Larry Nance, Jr. and I am sorry
about that. We shall hope for yet another
win this coming Saturday when we willl
be playing against the Utah Jazz.
BABS WELLS

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

WE SHALL WAIT IT OUT AND SEE

Two more losses. We played hard and
we played well but with our new rookies
learning their trade and finding their
balances together, we can hope and watch
and we can cheer them on and see what
the team does come up with for future
games. Kobe still having problems with
that darned right shoulder and icing it.
Randle and Larry Nance Jr. seem to
team up rather well together I thought.
D'Angelo Russell was limping off to
nurture his injury and coach Byron Scott
took over with re-programming his subjects. 
I see that Sacre was on the court which
I did like but wish that Marcello Huertas
could figure in for far more playing time.
Nick Young looked swaggy and smart.
Lou Williams 44 point career high in
meeting his opposition on Friday night
showed such force and drive that it left
us all in awe. His leaps into the air remind
us of some long ago players that did this.
Our loss, yes, but barely. Final score: 117-113.
O.K.C. Thunder drove us hard and we do
need to heed these kinds of players as this
is the content of learning how to come around
far better and to make the right shots quicker.
Jordan Clarkson made another 17 points
by himself and plays against Kevin Durant
are not easy to do. Kevin is a seasoned
player, tall and oh so able.. Only Kobe Bryant
and now Lou Williams have made over 40 points
in any given game ever since November. 2014.


Sunday's game with the Utah Jazz began with 
our team holding their own sans Kobe.
It looked like a sleep-walk & was, to a near
record loss. Players tired? Un-focused?
Who knows. But the game was agony to watch.
The shots clanged off the rims. The players
energy looked listless.And so yes, another loss
with ending score of: Jazz, 86 & Lakers, 74.
Pitiful game and one that I am certain the
coach will land into the players for lack of
wanting to do anything else to, save grace.
They nearly set a franchise record for fewest
points scored in a game during shot-clock era.
Slightly scoring more than the 70 points the
Lakers scored against Cleveland back in
Nov. 2002. The Lakers also posted a season
low 30 first half points on 12-of-42 shooting
(28 %). A mark worse than the 35 first half points
they scored against Indiana on Nov. 2015.
And to make matters worse, the Jazz had lost 
their previous 6 games so if we'd been more "on
the ball", it seems we could easily have won.
Tuesday eve. we play the Pelicans. How?
Well, dream on, perhaps we can beat 'em.


At only age 68, it appears we have lost
yet another former NBA player. John
Johnson died in San Jose. John was
was .a two time All Star forward with the
Cleveland Cav's. R.I.P. John.
BABS WELLS

Saturday, January 9, 2016

GUESS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ISN'T FOR US NOW

Last two games sure did not fare too well for our Lakers.
Jordan Clarkson sat and watched during the first half of
the game while Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson
shoots. Our guard saw the shot and winced. And Kobe
Bryant sat out for the 3rd.straight game. The Warriors
maintained a healthy lead as Clarkson made 23 points.
The ending score was 109-88. Sad but true never the less.

The second game up north was in Sacramento. Along with coach
Byron Scott, Kobe decided in spite of his right shoulder being
not all that he'd' wish it to be that yes, he would suit up and play
So then in practice, Julius Randle (forward) was asked just
how he felt and he stated that he "was holding up". Later saying
"I'm good"  Scott said he had a nice little talk with Randle 
about his frustration with playing only 16 minutes in the Lakers 
win on Sunday in Phoenix. Randle had posted a combined 
four points on 1 of 12 shooting, 21 rebounds and seven assists 
in the other past two games. Scott then told the press that Randle 
is a very humble young man and he wants to do good and be like 
what the Lakers are known for and he gets along very well 
with most of our young guys.

With Kobe on the bench the entire fourth quarter, this was then the
first game in Sacramento that he was reminded of that had
taken place back on Dec. 10th,1996. (His rookie season).
And once again, even in this 2016 game played @Sacramento,
we played well and yet lost to the Kings. Final score: 118-115.
It was a great showing and one good game to watch.
The game took place in Sleep Train Arena. This was Kobe's
33rd. time playing the Kings yet he made 7 points right
in the first quarter and added some positive signs
amid another loss. And so, with Bryants' farewell coinciding
with his younger teammates developing, any (even small)
victory we are able to achieve, we shall accept with grace.

Not much rest, I am afraid, for tonight
we are to meet with the OKlahoma City Thunder
for another game to be played. Good luck lads.
BABS WELLS

Monday, January 4, 2016

ONE..TWO...THREE...YOU'RE IN..!!!!!

Larry Nance, Jr. has surely proven his worth in these
past games. He hardly flinched on the idea that he
will ultimately become a so-called "Stretch forward".
He stated that he would feel comfortable playing
the small forward spot, though he and Lakers
coach Byron Scott have never discussed the idea.
But with Nance Jr. averaging 9.0 points on 66.7 %
shooting in the past five games, Scott sounded
just as willing to allow Nance Jr. to expand  his
game out to the perimeter. He has 3 point range.
He may not take a shot unless the shot clock is 
running down, coach exclaimed , but he had a 
lot of confidence he said, when he shoots the ball
Happens, too to note, it was Larry's 23rd.Birthday.

Lou Williams scored 12 of his 24 points in the
fourth quarter during the 76'ers. game. 
Jordan Clarkson added 19, leading the L.A.
Lakers to a 93-84 victory over the Philadelphia
team Friday evening. Julius Randle scored 15 
off the bench for us in a match up between
teams with the NBA's two worst records.
The Lakers and the 76'ers have played 4
times in the NBA Finals most recently in 2001.

The earlier injured right shoulder of Kobe
Bryant's has been in question so he opted
out of playing in both the last two games.
This younger set really gave chase to the
Phoenix Suns on Sunday evening. They
kept them at bay with a 20 to 10 point lead
almost through out the entire game.
At games ending down in L.A.Staples
Center, against the Phoenix Suns, score 
was: Lakers : 97 and Suns: 77.

A looming decision awaits the NBA future
for Metta World Peace (Ron Artest),
Tarik Black and Marcelo Huertas. Both
Huertas and Metta downplayed uncertainty
on whether the Lakers will retain them
after this week to make their contracts
more guaranteed. Huertas made the
reply to the press, that he was not all
that worried as it seemed the people
making this decision appear happy with
him as a player & are eager to tutor
the younger guys.. All contracts will
become guaranteed after this coming
Sunday. The Lakers will decide by
Friday so that the players have time
to clear waivers.

The Lakers will then be playing again
on Tuesday against the Warriors.
Tomorrow evening we'll  test the waters..
So see y'all then at 7:30
BABS WELLS