Treading softly early on in the first quarter, finally our Lakers decided to step up the pace. Jumping into the water with both feet we found our tempo and even realized the bench was watching carefully to add to the game. Jordan Farmar, Sasha and Lamar Odom were instrumental in helping us win points. Derek Fisher guarded Steve Nash with a set purpose and it worked great. Ending the first quarter on home court at Staples center in L.A., it was a sure thing we had the game pretty much in our pocket with the Phoenix Suns left in the wake. Kobe Bryant made 40 points and Lamar made 19 points with 19 rebounds. Amare Stoudemire of the Suns, tried to make shots but Pau Gasol of our Lakers was always right there to block. He himself made 21 points. We absolutely ran away with the game. We won 128-107. We will get the opportunity to play again in these playoffs with the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday evening. Fun game to watch! We'll see how this next game fares for us too. Babs Wells

Paul Newman was instrumental in projects I have just recently learned about. Seems his proceeds from race car driving to his various kitchen offerings (salad dressings and so forth) have been funding 7 different camps. The 6th one is actually just a short drive away from my own home by Lake Hughes..it is situated in a tree lined camp and is where youngsters with disabling and life threatening diseases along with family, can stay for a week plus everything without any charge. They have fun and learn skills to use in their own handicapped lives. A full medical staff is there during camp times and Getty has given art works and artifacts for its' beauty as well. It is called "The Painted Turtle" and can be found at 17000-Elizabeth Rd.,Lake Hughes,CA 93532 #661-724-1550. www.thepaintedturtle.org The Vineyard church folks of the Antelope Valley has a keen interest in this "The Hole in the Wall Camps" It is reported our basketball team "The Lakers" have donated $100,000 toward this project. I felt it was worthy of note to see just some of the many activities our NBA is a part of. Lakers will be meeting now on Monday with the Phoenix Suns at our own Staples Center, L.A. Although we do have tall players on our team, the Suns ambitious endeavors with such devotion for unified play and their speed + youth playing on the courts will give us a very good and lively game to watch. See you then. Babs Wells

Lakers now have 6 days in which to splash around and relax while the Suns shine their rays and worry over the upcoming games that will be played in the playoffs. With Steve Nash in Phoenix tending to his swollen eye (had 6 stitches taken) and no, the Suns are not up to the speed of the Spurs or the Mavericks either. So now we will see what is looming ahead (and on home court at that) for our next game scheduled for play on Monday. Andrew Bynum will be able now to get some rest for his torn meniscus knee. Last Mondays' game with the Utah Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan up on his feet claiming our Kobe Bryant is likened to "Miss America" in that he seems to get what so ever it is he wants.Interesting comparison? In game 4 of the Western Conference semifinal series at Energy Solutions arena the drama unfolded as our Laker team won 111-96 playing Utah. Kobe Bryant seemed to control the flow of the entire game with Derek Fisher making his shots to the boo's in the poor mannered Utah crowd. They evidently were disgruntled for their former player going back to L.A. So Derek dug in his heals and proved to one and all what a great man he is. The change in teams happened as you recall in order for his daughter to receive better medical care when Dr's. diagnosed her having cancer of the eye. Some Utah fans were so discourteous as to be overheated, rowdy and pathetic. Pau Gasol has now been dubbed Mr. reliable and that he is with his 7 ft. stature.He makes the game of basketball seem like a back yard lark almost. He has such a quiet style and gets the ball inside the hoop so often when it is sliding around and looking as if it refuses to fall. We rely on our Pau quite a lot! Recovering now for a few days reprieve, we soon tackle the Phoenix Suns who resemble the Jazz in their speed and savy at point guard. So.. ready, set, go! Babs Wells

babsbaby

one..un..ein..uno..all spell out one and that is the magic number
for yesterdays' game in Utah winning in last seconds by the 3 pointer
former Utah player gave us. Derek Fisher came to the rescue so
we won 111-110 !!! Was a difficult game to watch from the coach
point of view, a real nail biting game to watch for Laker fans.
Kobe Bryant scored 35 points with his Dad, Joe, in the audience
to watch and to cheer him on. Pau Gasol lent 14 points to the game.
Andrew Bynum played very little. Ron Artest gave us 20 points as
well as our Derek Fisher scoring 20 points also.
Earlier there seems to have been a few moments of wonder regarding
Ron Artest on twitter becoming a tad upset with coach Phil Jackson.
Ron attended a funeral so made a delay with the team practice but it
all got ironed out alright. In a frenzied atmosphere in Utah with game 3
we had an absolute classic with 20 lead changes in the second half.
The folks in the stands were up on their feet during most of the game.
We give a nod of approval to Derek Fisher with a hats off salute.Good work!
Babs Wells

Home court? Jack Nicholson's lucky purple shirt? Dustin Hoffman in the stands paying allegiance to our team? Dunno..but we won! Pau Gasol was right where he needed to be so baskets became completed. Kobe Bryant was certainly back in form. Andrew Bynum, even with knee troubles, took command and allowed four points to be added to our total. Ahead at one time by 15! Got behind a few points in 4th quarter, but Utah Jazz just could not catch up. They were missing two of their tall players however, Mehmet Okur and Andrei Kirilenko, so the odds were in our favor and Lakers won 111-103. Carlos Boozer (Utah) and Wesley Matthews seemed to not be a match for our Ron Artest though. It has been mentioned before, but it really is looking as if coach Phil Jackson would like to remain in L.A. with the Laker team. Dr. Buss is still not making a statement to that fact and at the larger payroll numbers of $12 million annually for Phil, perhaps it is one reason that it is being carefully considered for a new contract. The Lakers have been the class of the NBA for the majority of Dr. Buss' 30 years ownership, winning 9 titles & reaching the finals 15 times. Yes, this large amount of money paid out yearly for Phil is huge, but we feel he is worth it guiding our team to 4 NBA titles & 6 appearances in the finals. Seems the last thing we should do is to mess around with that just to save money. Star power and great players have proven to be a winning plan. Hopefully Dr. Buss sees it this way as well. Thanks for reading. Any comments any one of you would care to make here? Babs Wells

Cable problems caused concern. Unable to see our Lakers in playoff game at Utah but gleaned info. from the newspaper + the computer in order to put together an article to read all the same. Yes ! We won ! 104-99! Well, seems we had quite a good lead actually but then let it slip away..In the 4th.quarter Kobe Bryant put forth energy and allowed the spectators to see his magic take place. He made 11 points in the final 4 minutes of the game and made 31 points in entire game. Andrew Bynum played 24 minutes in Sunday's game even with a small tear in his right knee meniscus. He had 8 points & 10 rebounds. Pau Gasol got 25 points and 12 rebounds so all in all it made for a most exciting game to watch. Wish we could have done so! A footnote: coach Phil Jackson won 103rd. play- off game with L.A. passing Pat Riley for Franchise lead! Asking your indulgence for a minute today however to give you a little Kudo Korner glance into my own immediate family..two weddings took place this last wk.end for this gal to be a part of..my heart patient grandson Jason wed his longtime pal, Jennifer on Saturday in a gorgeous (every little girl's dream) wedding here locally. Even with winds whipping up, everything could not have gone better..all the love in that country club dining room was noticeable + the enjoyment we all felt for this important occasion was evident throughout. Following day in Simi Valley, another wedding..a pretty garden celebration took place...my oldest daughter Paula said her vows in a most scenic setting, with her partner of 6 years, Henry. Tears flowed at both events of course and happiness was in the air at both of these May weddings. Jason & Jennifer now leave for their cruise to the Caribbean while Paula and Henry go away for three weeks to walk & observe, vacationing in Europe. So thought I would just share a little tidbit here today with my readers. Thank you for indulging me. Now comes our Laker team meeting with Utah Jazz once more (on home court) Tuesday.Hope to see it!! Babs Wells

Three little words: "Thank you Pau"! With only 1/2 of a second to go, Kobe attempted to make a basket and it instead made a ringer so .."Ta...Da..!" Pau sunk it! Game at Target center in O.K. City. Fans there went wild and seems they even gave credit where it was due and applauded our team at games end! Good touch! Ron Artest guarded Kevin Durant like he has been doing through out these playoff games.This of course was the last game for Oklahoma this year so now our Laker team plays Utah on Sunday.Phil Jackson (coach) was all smiles last night and proud of his boys. Thank you fellas for good entertainment! Score was a cliff hangar..ended at 95-94 Babs Wells