CHEERS AND TEARS

Memories..like the shadows of the mind,

Remember some of these young men? Lamar

Odom, Matt Barnes, Turioff, Carom Butler?

Well, yes, they played with our L.A. Lakers.

Now, in their new jerseys they play for the

L.A. Clipper team and it seems our own

team is hurting. We were able to keep Pau

Gasol and Kobe Bryant, Steve Blake and

Metta World Peace. That is true, even acquiring

Steve Nash and Dwight Howard as well and

yet, some thing is missing. Unity? Better

coaching? Fewer injuries? More defense?

Something, surely..but still we continue to

root for them as loyal fans always do.

Losing so many games and even our last

one that almost was a win with Houston.

If Kobe could only have made his trade

mark of a 3 pointer, we would have gone

into overtime and had 5 more minutes play.

Did not happen and tonight we are going 

into another game. Jeanie Buss got her

big diamond and the romance continues.

Phil Jackson (our former coach) is ready

to tie the knot it would appear. Daddy Jim

Buss is pleased, surely but not so about

our team's lack of wins. My husband

is 92 and ill. I am now caregiver 24/7

and at age 82, perhaps it might even be

the right time to change pace. Unsure.

But, I do know that for awhile, this blog

will be on hold while I try to figure some

things out. All too often plans made by

mice and men go awry and my own

goals, plans and dreams are being in

limbo at the moment so I guess for right

now, I will tell you that of course I am

going to root for our team and hope

for the best!! Meantime though, S'Long

it's been good to know you...been a long

time since we have been strong...and I now

must be moseying on.
Sportsnet and Sportsnut -
Thank you Lakers Fans!

Babs Wells

GOOD NEWS FOR OUR LAKERS

My email account was not working and I had earlier said  

"Yuletide Greetings Lakers & fans" but now will greet you 

with tidings of good cheer as we soon approach the brand 

new year ahead of us. Our team has won four games now so yes, 

we are in good spirits already as we play a back to back game tonight with Denver. 

We cheer and feel great for the fact Steve Nash has once again returned to the 

playing courts. With the game against the Charlotte Bobcats, it was a struggle.

Winning by only one point is a nail biting scenario. 101-100. On Saturday in
O.T. we won 118-115 Playing against Golden State. I would have to state
that this game was indeed an early Christmas present for us. Nash hit a
3 pointer in the final minutes that gave us a one point lead. Going into O.T.
against the Warriors we did finally win this game. Nash's leg was still giving
him some pain however but he told D'Antoni it was manageable to play.
Being away from playing for more than two months gave us all cause to
worry somewhat. Our coach used to coach in N.Y. with the Knicks and
right on Christmas Day we played the Knicks iin L.A.. beating them
100-94 so it was a rather bitter/sweet played game. Our loss two weeks
ago to the Cleveland Cavaliers gave another nearly weeping moment.
We play Portland then on this Tuesday evening and play at home.
On a winning streak now so hopeful we can keep up this pace!
Babs Wells

WHAT IS IT YOU ARE SAYING? WE WON?????

Yes, Lakers fans, indeed we finally broke

our losing streak and actually won a game.

It took poor Kobe to do it though even

having back spasms. With Pau out now

and Steve Blake as well, we had hopes

Steve Nash would be able to join his

teammates but evidently not so.

Metta World Peace, Dwight Howard and

our Kobe, fought to win and finally were

able to. Final score Friday night was:

102-96 against the Washington Wizards.

Coach D'Antoni mighty disgusted by the

way our team had been losing games.

He stated"We're not even close to being

a good team. We played at a snails pace

and allowed 17 fast-breaks. We were so

even posting 30 points in 44 minutes,

although sharper on defense, Kobe's back

was not at full strength." Metta World

Peace scored 13 points and Dwight Howard 

made 12 points with Devin

Ebanks scoring 8 points in his first

start at power forward. This win was

lackadaisical and lethargic . Kobe too

had a few comments to make saying that

this guaranteed a four-game trip that

ends Sunday in Philadelphia and should not

go completely to waste after losing the 

first two. It also gives the Lakers relative

relief over the frustration stemmed from

problems they have yet to resolve.

Losing like they did against Cleveland

and the N.Y. Knicks, hurt pride and play.

To finally win a game even though for awhile

still gave us the willies watching, is a

boost and one sorely needed. Now to get

back up, suit up and show us another win!

Babs Wells

OKC and JAZZ

Wondering just what former coach Mike Brown
or even new coach Mike D'Antoni must be thinking
right about now. With Dwight Howard, Metta
World Peace, Meeks, Hill and our own Kobe
Bryant, even lacking Pau Gasol, Steve Blake
and Steve Nash, one would certainly be in
thoughts that a win would be coming our way.
So far, not so and tonight we play yet again.
No, not on our own home court either, but
rather in Cleveland with another game to
look forward to, playing on Thursday eve.
in New York (and back to back the following
night in Washington on Friday). So, the games
loom ahead for us but the scores we have
been experiencing have not been very promising.
With Friday's game with OKC, former UCLA star,  
Westbrook continued to torment the Lakers.
He scored 33 points and made career-high
five 3-pointer shots. Final score: 114-108.
Paul Millsap of the Utah Jazz, scored 24
points and Mo Williams added another 22
and so Utah outplayed our Laker team with
the final score 117-110 on Sunday night at
Staples Center. It seems to have been quite
a struggle with injuries causing upsets and
with our team being defeated, not seeing
all that many victories. In fact, we have won
only 4 games in the past 11 games played.
Sad to report that our Lakers still are not 
getting it together even after having a brand new
coach to better show them their ball move-
ment and hopefully be getting some more "3's".
Kobe led the team with 34 points making 12
of his 14 free throws. Jordan Hill added a
career-high 17 points and Jodie Meeks made
16 coming in off the Lakers' bench. With
giving up too many transition points, the 
game was then hard pressed for a win.
Let's just hope and watch for tonight's' game.
Babs Wells

OVER 30,000 POINTS!!!

Kobe Bryant began his basketball career with the Lakers
at age 17 and now at age 34 is the youngest of the famed
players to obtain over 30,000 points in his 17 years playing
with the L.A. Laker team. A legacy that spanned obtaining
5 NBA Championships, 2 Finals MVP'S and a fifth place
standing on the league's all time

 scoring list. And some
fairly prestigeous players they are too, namely Kareem
Abdul Jabbar, Karl Malone, Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.
Michael Jordan had the same mindset as Kobe it seems.
He played with his head down and played to win at all
costs. Kobe says he has had some of these same type
of conversations with Westbrook and Durant. To compete
at such a high level is what Kobe is doing out on the court.
Pau Gasol has been sidelined for awhile due to tendonitis
in his knees. Steve Blake underwent an abdominal surgery
procedure so is not able to play and Steve Nash is expected
to finally be able to play once again before too long. The loss
we endured by only 2 points did hurt but the winning game
played against New Orleans was great winning for our side
at score of: 103-87.
Tonight we play in Oklahoma City and then back home for
a game on Sunday against Utah. Coach D'Antoni is doing
far better too since his knee surgery and with our recent
big win it ought to help some for tonight's disposition.
Babs Wells

PURPLE AND GOLD

Dwight Howards' state of elation

epitomized his nearly constant

feelings of elation and giddiness

ever since the Lakers acquired 

him from the Orlando Magic in

August in a 4-team, 12 player

trade. He states that "I've been

having a lot of fun since I have 

been here" and T.V. showed us

some of the footage taken at his

house for Thanksgiving day with

around 40 in attendance it did

look like. Many there were team-

mates. Howards' drastic change

of emotions of a season-long soap

opera that featured plenty of twists

surrounding his future, entailed a

trade demand and then a back injury

that threatened his career. He remains

about 75-80% recovered from his back

surgery.  He averages about 18.6 points

He tells reporters that he just loves being

a Laker and that the motivation of every-

body here is championship material.

Lakers point-guard, Chris Duhon,

played with Howard in Orlando. Duhon

mentioned that a weight seems to have

been lifted off Howards' shoulders with

everything that has taken place in L.A.

The Lakers transition to Coach Mike

D'Antoni's system is being watched closely

and then we find a game like what was

played on Friday and with a game like

the one played against the Denver Nuggets

gives us pause to reflect more and it is

about time.With 7 of our next 9 games

being played away from home and still

no Steve Nash out on the court, we have

to do the very best job that we can with

our Kobe Bryant, Metta World Peace,

Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard.

Hopefully we now have found our

direction.

Babs Wells

Black Friday

Black Friday did not start out meaning

the day retailers' balance sheets start

showing a profit (or go in the black).

Folks took off the day following Thanksgiving

and called in sick to their work so it

began having a bad connotation that way.

Some started calling that day "Big Friday".

However, in 1961, Public Relations News reported

that in December that year the media

cooperated in spreading the news of beauty

in shop windows readying themselves for

the Christmas holiday. Thus, people

began to hustle right after Thanksgiving

before stores became too crowded. They would view

the prettily clad shop windows and in doing

so, the day following "turkey" day, emerged

into what is known as Black Friday. Having

found out these bits of offerings I bring

to you today the fact Friday our Lakers lost

their game  playing against Memphis.

Following that game, a winning game

seems more happily to speak about though

right? Speaking of that I shall. The winner

for Sundays game were indeed our Lakers!

They played Dallas and won hands down

with a score of: 115 to 89. No Black Friday

phrasing there surely. In fact, Howard

and Gasol both broke their personal

slumps and L.A. got their first win

away from Staples Center. Interestingly

too is that the Lakers actually showed up 

on defense. Most unpredictable these

players of ours. To move the ball more

and develop far better pick and roll

is the aim of new coach D'Antoni .

So, pick and rolls fella's. Next game is 

back home Tuesday night with Indiana

and that game is followed  on Friday

night (also at home) with Denver.

 

Babs Wells