December 2009 Archives

Ron Artest shot some baskets today, but he wasn't cleared to practice or to play. He was listed as doubtful to play in Friday's game against the Sacramento Kings, sitting out a fourth game after suffering a concussion on Christmas Night at home. The Lakers are 2-1 since Artest was injured, defeating the Kings in double-overtime last Saturday, losing to the Phoenix Suns on Monday and defeating the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday.

If today's treadmill workout goes off without a hitch and Ron Artest feels fine Thursday morning, then he might practice with his teammates for the first time since falling down some stairs Christmas Day at home and suffering a concussion. If practice turns out fine and he feels fine Friday morning, then he might be able to play later that night against the Sacramento Kings. He sat out his third consecutive game Tuesday night, when the Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors. Officially, Artest is said to be day-to-day. The Lakers did not practice today, but will return to their training facility Thursday morning.

Now they can rest. One day, then back to work. The Lakers won two of four games during their four-games-in-five-days marathon. They beat the Warriors tonight and needed double overtime to defeat the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. They lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday and the Phoenix Suns on Monday. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers tonight with a season-best 44 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter. Pau Gasol added a season-high 27 points plus 12 rebounds.

Of Bryant, Golden State coach Don Nelson said: "That guy is amazing. You know, to be able to shoot like he did, with the finger problems that he has on his shooting hand, it's amazing. Sixteen free throws for 16, take a game over like that, make jump shots. You know it's not the same shot that he's been shooting with that big ball of tape on his hand. That guy is amazing. You know, I love watching him play and it's always a pleasure to coach against him."

Playing their third consecutive game without Ron Artest, the Lakers gave up a season-high 60 points in the first half to the Warriors tonight at Staples Center. Golden State shot a sizzling 55.6 percent in the half (25 of 45). Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 13 points. Kobe Bryant had 17 points and Pau Gasol added 16 for the Lakers, who were playing for the fourth time in five days. The Warriors were coming off wins Monday over the Boston Celtics and Saturday over the Phoenix Suns. The Lakers lost Monday at Phoenix.

PHOENIX -- The Lakers didn't play the right kind of defense tonight against the Phoenix Suns. In fact, they didn't play any kind of defense at all while giving up a season-high 118 points. Their previous high was 110 in a Nov. 1 win over the Atlanta Hawks. They knew what they did wrong, but they were helpless when it came to helping themselves.

Andrew Bynum put it best when he said, ""It's all our fault. Defensively, everybody was doing something different. We weren't connected. ... It was just terrible. ... We went over what we were supposed to do in shootaround. It just didn't work."

Said Lakers coach Phil Jackson: "They got all the things they do, the way they wanted to get it done with (Steve) Nash and (Amare) Stoudemire. ... We got confused out there. ... Very irritating, very irritating."

Said Kobe Bryant: "It was just execution. We just beat the (mess) out of them the first two times (earlier this season), and they returned the favor. It's about execution and they executed extremely well and we didn't defensively, and that was the difference."

PHOENIX -- The Lakers gave up a season-high in points tonight as the Suns ran them ragged in the second half. Phoenix's bench outscored the Lakers' backups, 52-31. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 34 points on 14-for-26 shooting. Andrew Bynum added 14 points. Amare Stoudemire led Phoenix with 26 points. Jared Dudley had 19.

PHOENIX -- Kobe Bryant got smacked on his broken right index finger 6 1/2 minutes into tonight's game. Lamar Odom sprained the index and middle fingers on his right hand in the opening minutes of the second quarter. The Lakers also started the game by shooting 28.6 percent (6 for 21). So, how come they trailed by only six by halftime? Bryant recovered from a 1-for-6 start and scored 17 points on 7-for-14 shooting. Andrew Bynum added 10 points and seven rebounds and Pau Gasol had nine points. Amare Stoudemire led the Suns with 15 points.

PHOENIX -- Ron Artest continued to show improvement today after suffering a concussion in an accident at his home Friday. He saw a neurologist again today, but was not cleared to rejoin the team. The Lakers will play the Phoenix Suns tonight. Artest will sit out for the second consecutive game. He told the team he was hurt when he fell down some stairs whiie carrying some boxes a few hours after the Lakers' loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

PHOENIX -- Ron Artest saw a neurologist again today and showed improvement, according to a Lakers spokeswoman. Artest will see the doctor again Monday, but he won't rejoin the team until he's cleared. He suffered a concussion Friday at home and did not accompany the team on its trip to Sacramento and Phoenix. Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he hopes Artest will be cleared and can play Monday against the Suns.

Kobe Bryant said he plans to play against the Suns despite suffering a strained right elbow in the third quarter of the Lakers' double-overtime victory Saturday against the Kings. He had 38 points, including two key 3-pointers in the second overtime. He said he has regained feeling in his arm, but has been careful not to knock it against anything or anyone.

SACRAMENTO -- Kobe Bryant scored 38 points with a right pinky that needs surgery some day, a fractured right index finger that needs another month to heal and a strained right elbow that went numb at the most inopportune time tonight.

Bryant managed to overcome his ailments and the Sacramento Kings. He sank two key 3-pointers in double overtime as the Lakers went out and redeemed themselves after their lackluster loss Friday to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Pau Gasol added 24 points and 11 rebounds. Shannon Brown had 15 points in a reserve role and Lamar Odom had 13 points and 15 rebounds.

Said Brown of Bryant: We know every time he's going to do something crazy that you're not going to see on a daily basis on another team. It's almost become, like, second nature. We knew he was hurting. We were waiting for him to start shooting again."

SACRAMENTO -- Beno Udrih scored 13 points and hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lead the Sacramento Kings to a two-point lead over the Lakers at halftime tonight. Kobe Bryant had 14 points to lead the Lakers, and Pau Gasol had 12 points. Lamar Odom scored nine points while starting in place of Ron Artest, who did not make the trip after suffering a concussion in a fall at his home Christmas night. The Lakers played with far more intensity and efficiency than during their dreary loss Friday to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

SACRAMENTO -- Ron Artest suffered a concussion after a fall at home Friday night, the Lakers announced today. Artest will not be available to play in tonight's game against the Sacramento Kings. He has improved since tripping over a box at home and falling down a flight of stairs. He was treated at the emergency room at UCLA Medical Center and received stitches to close wounds on his head and left elbow. He was examined by a neurologist today and will return for further examinations daily until he is cleared to return to the active roster.

The Lakers paid for their indifference going into today's game. They treated it was if it was just another game. The Cleveland Cavaliers treated it as something more, and the results were obvious. The less said about the "fans" who chucked promotional foam fingers onto the court in the fourth quarter the better. Here's all you need to know about the Lakers' feelings about their Christmas clunker, courtesy Pau Gasol:

"Obviously, we didn't come out right and weren't ready to play. They played harder and they played better, and they took the game. Things happen. We just thought it was going to be an easier game than it actually became. I'm disappointed how the game turned out. I'm disappointed how we approached the game. I'm disappointed how we played the game."

Well, the Lakers said they didn't particularly care about facing the Cleveland Cavaliers on Christmas Day, and then they went out and played like they didn't particularly care about facing the Cavs on Christmas Day. The Lakers trailed by as many as 20 points in the first half today before the alarm clock sounded and they crawled within 51-42 by halftime. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 18 points on 6-for-16 shooting in the first half. LeBron James and Mo Williams had 11 points apiece for Cleveland. The Lakers shot 36.4 percent in the first half.

Here are a couple of items about Kobe Bryant, one minor and one not so much.

First and foremost, Bryant said he went through today's practice without suffering any pain in the left knee he tweaked during the Lakers' victory Tuesday over the Oklahoma City Thunder. He also said of his knee, "It's good. No problems. I feel fine."

Also, Bryant continues to be the overall leader in All-Star voting by the fans, outpacing James by 1,380,383 to 1,315,292 in the latest balloting update released by the league. Additionally, Andrew Bynum was second to Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire among centers in the Western Conference.

Here's some of what Pau Gasol had to say after signing a three-year, $57-million contract extension today: "It's a beautiful thing. ... It gives me tremendous peace of mind. ... We both compromised in this deal, and we're both happy about it. Hopefully, a lot of great things will continue to come."

Here's some of what GM Mitch Kupchak said about trying to sign Kobe Bryant to a three-year extension: "We've continued to have a dialogue with Kobe and his representative. ... I do anticipate further discussions. ... I've always felt Kobe began his career here in Los Angeles and he should and will end his career in Los Angeles.

Speaking more generally, Kupchak also said, "You can't predict what the economy will (have) in store for anybody, but being able to know the core of our team will be together is most important for our fan base. ...

"We're trying to send a message ... that we want to keep this team together for as long as possible, so we can continue to pursue what Los Angeles wants us to continue to pursue, which is championships."

The Lakers have just announced they will hold a press conference this afternoon to announce a three-year contract extension for power forward/center Pau Gasol. The money is in the neighborhood of $64 million over the three seasons. The exact figures won't be locked in until after the salary cap is set for the first year of his deal. Gasol still has two seasons left, including 2009-10, on his present contract. The next item of business for Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak is completing a similiar three-year extension for Kobe Bryant.

Blue Bruin raises a couple of good questions in response to my post on the travel problems experienced by the Lakers' beat writers, who were snowed-in here in New York.

First of all, the Lakers travel by chartered aircraft from city to city. In the case of Saturday, their plane was waiting for them on the tarmac at Newark Airport. After beating the Nets, showering and speaking to reporters, they hopped aboard a bus and made the drive through the snow to the airport. After some serious de-icing, they flew to Detroit to face the Pistons. After the Detroit game, they showered, spoke to reporters and flew back to LAX.

Lakers beat writers never fly with the team. We fly commercial on the day after the game. We watch the games, interview the players and write and file our stories, update our blogs shortly after the final buzzer and head back to the hotel. Next day, we fly to the next city. Our flights are sometimes delayed or canceled and it makes life difficult. But, as I said in the earlier post, I've been at this a while but have never missed a game until Sunday.

Kobe Bryant scored 28 points on 11-for-23 shooting and the Lakers completed their first extended trip of the season with a victory tonight over the struggling Detroit Pistons. Andrew Bynum scored 16 points on 7-for-8 shooting. Ron Artest had 14 points, five rebounds and nine assists. Pau Gasol added 13 points and 11 rebounds. The Lakers improved their league-leading record to 22-4 and won their fourth in a row despite scoring only 10 points in the fourth quarter. Rodney Stuckey scored 16 points for Detroit (11-16). The Lakers barely escaped a blinding snowstorm in the New York area, leaving the Newark airport after some serious de-icing on their chartered plane early this morning. They landed at a suburban Detroit airport at 3 a.m., and checked into their hotel around 4.

NEW YORK -- I won't be in Detroit to cover tonight's game against the Pistons. Can't get there from here. A massive snowstorm hammered the Eastern seaboard Saturday afternoon through this morning. Most flights into and out of the New York area have been canceled. This is a first for me in nine seasons of pro beat reporting. I've never missed a game because of weather or travel problems. None of the four beat writers will make it to Detroit. It will be a weird feeling to be here in New York while the game is going on.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Lakers added to the New Jersey Nets' misery with a comprehensive victory here tonight. Kobe Bryant scored 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the league-leading Lakers (21-4). Pau Gasol had 14 points and 14 rebounds. Lamar Odom had 14 points and 12 rebounds and Jordan Farmar had 14 points. Devin Harris led the Nets (2-26) with 21 points. The Lakers led by only 10 after the third quarter, but raced away with a superb final period. Next: at Detroit on Sunday.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Phil Jackson said tonight that the Lakers' move to sign Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant to three-year contract extensions would not impact his decision whether to coach the team beyond this season. He praised the move to re-sign each player, although neither has actually put ink to paper. (Gasol's signing could come Monday or Tuesday and Bryant's could follow soon). Jackson said his health and the team's success would have the greatest impact on his future. Jackson is in the last season of a contract that pays him about $12 million.

Here's more, in his own words:

"How the team does this year has a lot to do with it, too. They have a great chance to be a very good team for a while. Drew (Andrew Bynum) is locked in. That's a great start from a standpoint of putting together a roster that has some commonality. They've played together. They give them a good base. There are a couple of other things that have to get done and they're going to feel good about it."

Question: When will you decide?
Answer: "June. July."

Question: If you repeat, will that make a difference?
Answer: "Oh, sure. It really does. But it's not a definitely that I would continue even we were to repeat.

Question: So, winning will determine whether you return?
Answer: "If things didn't go well, if we didn't win, that would obviously be something that would be ... you would think maybe it would be time for someone else to look at this job and carry this team forward from there. That's possibly not going to happen that way, where it's going to be that kind of an issue. But just winning it outright doesn't mean it's a natural to come back and coach this team. I don't see that as a natural thing. A lot of it has to do with the direction the league is going in. The direction the ownership wants to go in. You know, people are cutting costs all around the league, and that's a big part of it. Coaches' salaries are going to take a cut, too, along the way. They might not want to hire me, you know what I mean? They can save some money. They can't write that off.

Question: So, You wouldn't work for less?
Answer: "Why would you?"

Then he laughed.

Here are the key paragraphs in a story posted on the Web site Hoopsworld:

"A well-placed source has told HOOPSWORLD that Gasol and the Lakers are nearing a three-year contract extension.

"Currently Gasol's deal is set to expire after next season. He's currently earning $16.5 million for the current campaign and $17.8 million for the next.

"The additional three years would be the maximum permitted under the rules of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

"While it's not clear what dollar figures are being discussed, Gasol would be eligible for $18.7-$19.7 million in the first year of the extension depending on where the salary cap falls that year.

"Of course the CBA still needs to be renegotiated, which could have an impact on the numbers."

The Lakers declined to comment.

Let the debate rage. Or not. Whatever. But there were differing opinions on whether Kobe Bryant charged into Andrew Bogut to draw a foul after making a short shot late in overtime. Or did the referees get the call right? Bryant thought Marc Davis made the right call by whistling Bogut for a foul. Bogut was sure Davis got the call wrong, although he declined to come out and say so for the record. He did tell the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: "If I gave you my honest opinion, I'd probably get fined. Let's just leave it at that. History tells you that if I tell you the truth, I'll get fined."

MILWAUKEE -- Kobe Bryant swished a 15-foot jumper just off the left elbow as the buzzer sounded to give the Lakers an overtime victory tonight over the Milwaukee Bucks. Bryant finished with 39 points one night after scoring a season-best 42 in the Lakers' victory over the Chicago Bulls. He made 13 of 28 shots. Michael Redd missed a runner from the paint with 8.9 seconds left and the Bucks ahead by 106-105. Bryant took the ball at Charlie Bell and swished his jumper at the buzzer. Pau Gasol added 26 points and a career-high 22 rebonds for the Lakers (20-4).

MILWAUKEE -- Kobe Bryant missed a jumper from about 15 feet at the buzzer and the Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks headed to overtime tonight. Bryant has 32 points and Pau Gasol has 24 points and 20 rebounds. Andrew Bogut had a chance to put the Bucks ahead by missed a free throw with 20.7 seconds left in regulation.

MILWAUKEE -- The Lakers played down to the level of their competition for the second consecutive first half. Still, they were within striking distance tonight after Milwaukee's Brandon Jennings gave the Bucks a two-point lead with a driving layup with 1 second left in the half. Pau Gasol led the Lakers with 13 points and 10 rebounds in the half, and Kobe Bryant had 12 points. Michael Redd led the Bucks with 11 points in a reserve role.

CHICAGO -- Here's Chicago's Joakim Noah speaking about Kobe Bryant, who scored a season-high 42 points in the Lakers' victory tonight over the Bulls: "He's the best player in the world. He's unbelievable out there. What a talent. We had some opportunities, but there's a reason they're world champions. It's not just Kobe. They have a lot of weapons and they are so well coached. They have the best coach in the world (Phil Jackson) and the best player in the world, so that can be a pretty tough thing to handle."

CHICAGO -- Kobe Bryant put the sluggish Lakers on his back and carried them to a victory tonight over the Chicago Bulls. Bryant scored 20 of his season-high 42 points in an electric first quarter. He made eight of his first 10 shots, setting the tone early. His fractured right index finger did not seem to slow him in the least. He made 15 of 26 shots one game after making only 7 of 24 in the Lakers' loss Saturday to the Utah Jazz. Andrew Bynum scored 11 points and Pau Gasol added 10 points and a team-leading 16 rebounds. Derrick Rose and Luol Deng led Chicago with 21 points apiece, and Joakim Noah had 11 points and 20 rebounds.

CHICAGO -- The Lakers trailed by as many as 10 points in the first quarter tonight before Kobe Bryant got hot and snapped them to life. Bryant scored 20 points in the first quarter, making eight of his first 10 shots. He swapped splints on his injured right index finger, dropping the one he used during Saturday's loss to the Utah Jazz. The old one was metal; the new one is plastic. Bryant made only 7 of 24 shots against the Jazz. He made 10 of 17 in the first half en route to 25 points. Derrick Rose led the Bulls with 12 points.

Here's what Ron Artest blogged today in an open letter to Tiger Woods.
Enjoy.

Dear Tiger,
In reading the statements you have made, I can tell you are a stand up guy. Please remember only Jesus is perfect. You made a mistake and you admitted your infidelity.
I have made the same mistakes. Before I got married to my wife, I had a baby with another young lady, after I already had two by my girlfriend who is now my wife. We also had another baby which makes three for us and four for me. Two boys and two girls.
My wife is a much better wife than I am a husband. We still argue and disagree after being together 16 years. and I still cope with the fact that there are so many women out there and I choose to stay loyal to my wife.
I want to be home every night, but with traveling I can't, and sometimes I might want to go to a bar or club and be one of the fellas. Most of the time I stay in, because I have my kids and wife.
I cannot sit here and say the thought to have many women has never crossed my mind. If I were Jesus I could.
I have known my wife for 16 years- since I was 14 years old.
She was my first.
On the way to 2010 we had many ups and downs on the way, mostly my fault. But I really choose to work hard and play ball to support her and my kids. The same reason you are building your legacy.
I have been disturbed by this because there are many people who are happy that this bad news has come out.
There are a lot of sports announcers and regular reporters who are not perfect in their own homes, yet they want to bring you down.
You have done so much for people, the sport of golf, and your family and you gave your wife a life that people can't even dream of.
I thought you were 36 or 37 until I read the news today. A 33-year-old man who has been a model citizen with so much at stake. This is your first publicly known issue since you started your career, compared to my 50 or more publicly known issues and mistakes.
You have been the perfect role model for me and my sons for longer than anyone I have known.
With the exception of a few legends.
As your fan, I can't wait to see you golf again.
And us athletes know how much you personally love your family.

One love,
Ron Artest
This is just a fan mail letter to Tiger Woods fans and indirectly to Tiger himself.
Please, everyone support Tiger in these tough times for his family.

Also if you are a sports announcer or regular everyday reporter or blogger please step up like Tiger and tell your wife or husband if you have any skeletons in your closet. Especially if you were one of the few attacking TIGER!!
One Love People

Just got word from Lakers HQ in El Segundo. Kobe Bryant participated in the team's light workout this morning and showed no signs of the stomach ailment that slowed him to a crawl during the Lakers' loss to the Utah Jazz. Bryant needed intravenous fluids before and during Saturday's game. He scored a season-low 16 points on 7-for-24 shooting. The Lakers expect him to play in Tuesday's game against the Bulls in Chicago.

Is this a temporary stop for the former Lakers guard, who was fired earlier in the season as the coach of the New Orleans Hornets? There are plenty of people who believe he could be next in line if Phil Jackson decides to retire at the end of the season.

From the ESPN press release: Former NBA star and head coach Byron Scott has joined ESPN as an NBA studio analyst and will start his new role in January. Scott previously served as an ESPN analyst during the 2003-04 season.

Scott most recently served as head coach of the Hornets (2005-09), and won NBA Coach of the Year in 2008. He was head coach of the New Jersey Nets (2000-04) and, in 2001-02, led them to a franchise record 52 wins and The Finals against the Lakers. Scott led the Nets back to The Finals the following season (2002-03) against the San Antonio Spurs.

Scott was a key player for the Lakers during the "Showtime" era, playing alongside Magic Johnson, James Worthy, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He played for the Lakers for 10 consecutive seasons (1983-1993). During that time he won three NBA championships (1985, 1987 and 1988).

Here's a sampling of what Shannon Brown's Lakers teammates are saying about him and his leaping and dunking ability in a feature set to run this week:
Derek Fisher: "He's just one of those guys who makes you think that humans really can fly,"
Kobe Bryant: "I've never seen a guy who can get up like that. He's just explosive, extremely explosive, but also has a good feel for the game. He just turned 24, so there's a lot more he can do. He can do a lot more than (dunk).

SALT LAKE CITY -- The Lakers' 11-game winning streak ended tonight, with the Utah Jazz building a 17-point lead in the second half and holding on down the stretch. Ron Artest, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol each scored 16 points, and Derek Fisher had 15. Bryant was off his form because of a stomach ailment and a fractured right index finger. Deron Williams led the Jazz with 21 points and 11 assists. Ronnie Brewer and Wesley Matthews added 19 each. The Lakers lacked the spark that carried them during their streak. Bryant's illness and injury had something to do with it. So did playing on consecutive nights.

SALT LAKE CITY -- Kobe Bryant started by missing four of his first six shot but finished the first half with eight points on 4-for-10 shooting tonight. Derek Fisher had 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting to lead the Lakers, who trailed by as many as nine points. Wesley Matthews torched the Lakers for 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting in the half. Deron Williams added 10 points and five assists for the Jazz, who lost to the Lakers on Wednesday.

SALT LAKE CITY -- Kobe Bryant started by missing four of his first six shot but finished the first half with eight points on 4-for-10 shooting tonight. Derek Fisher had 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting to lead the Lakers, who trailed by as many as nine points. Wesley Matthews torched the Lakers for 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting in the half. Deron Williams added 10 points and five assists for the Jazz, who lost to the Lakers on Wednesday.

SALT LAKE CITY -- Kobe Bryant arrived at EnergySolutions Arena tonight with an upset stomach. He received intravenous fluids before the Lakers faced the Utah Jazz. He was expected to play in the game. Bryant also suffered a fractured right index finger, which required him to wear a splint. Lakers coach Phil Jackson said the injury would take four to six weeks and that Bryant might be forced to wear the splint for the next week or two.

Did the Lakers' 11th consecutive victory come with a price? it turns out Kobe Bryant suffered an avulsion fracture of his right index finger. It did not stop him from scoring a team-leading 20 points on 8-for-18 shooting, but it remains to be seen how it will impact him in future games. The Lakers left late tonight for the start of a five-game trip. Pau Gasol had 17 points and 20 rebounds and Ron Artest added 16 points as the Lakers improved their league-best record to 18-3. Al Jefferson led Minnesota with 24 points. Kevin Love couldn't shoot straight, but the former UCLA standout had 19 rebounds. Love scored only seven points on 3-for-14 shooting.

The Lakers' Big Three of Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol scored 10 points each in the first half tonight. Bryant suffered a fractured right index finger late in the first quarter and played only 16 minutes in the half. Al Jefferson and Ramon Sessions each had 12 points for Minnesota. Before the game, the Lakers presented Minnesota coach Kurt Rambis with his championship ring. Actually, Lakers coach Phil Jackson did the presenting at halfcourt. Rambis, a former Lakers player and assistant coach, received a warm reception from the Staples Center crowd.

Kobe Bryant fractured his right index finger while reaching for a pass with 1:40 left in the first quarter of tonight's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He walked directly to the Lakers' bench and received treatment from athletic trainer Gary Vitti. Moments later, Bryant was back in the game and making a short left-handed jumper from the paint.

Luke Walton had one question before making his debut as a color analyst on the Lakers' radio network tonight. "Are we on the air during commercial breaks? Does that mean I can't say anything?" Play-by-play man Spero Dedes then took Walton aside and explained the ins and outs of radio to him.

Here's some of what Lakers coach Phil Jackson had to say today about former assistant coach Kurt Rambis, who brings the Minnesota Timberwolves to face the Lakers on Friday night for the first time since he became their coach last summer:

Question: What's it like to go against a former coach?
Answer: "You try to bust 'em really hard, give 'em no quarter. No, it's nice to see this team starting to play well. They got over the hump, so to speak. I'm warning these guys not to take them lightly."

Q: Is there an emotional aspect to the matchup?
A: "We're both professionals, so it will be easier to go through this. You look at the team and you hope his players perform well and they do a good job and learn what they're trying to learn out there. They are (running the triangle). They're still running the single guard and giving their young guard a lot of open opportunities but they still run their offense. They're doing a good job."

Q: Kurt had a lot of opportunities to coach elsewhere. Did you support his decision to go to Minnesota?
A: "Whatever he wanted to do, I was supportive of it. There were a couple of them that were rumored. I was hopeful last year that Chicago would have been an opportunity. Then there was the Sacramento job and the Minnesota job. Except for the fact that it's cold up there and it's a whole different climate, and Kurt has been a Californian his whole lift, it's going to be a good fit for him, I think."

Q: What advice did you give him?
A: "He's learned everything. He doesn't need any advice. He saw all the mistakes I made over the years, I'm sure. You just have to be yourself. You have to follow your instincts."

Q: Have you talked to him much?
A: "We text back and forth. I think he's got his head on his shoulders as far as the record goes. He knows this is a team that has to grow and however they grow and whenever they do it this year is important. It's not one week or one month. It's a season-long project. ... You're going to learn some sleep when you're a head coach. You have all those things you want your team to do better. The big key is not to get worn out by losses or depressed by them. That way you can keep your team active and keep them going. I think he's done that."

Here are some of the best and brightest postgame quotes tonight:

Coach Phil Jackson on the Lakers' 10-game winning streak: "Oh, we'll lose. We have a loss coming somewhere down the line. We just have to enjoy this (streak)."

Jackson on the fourth quarter, when the Lakers outscored Utah, 28-6: "That was an amazing quarter. ... We were able to apply some pressure. They gave Deron (Williams) a rest out there. We were able to get a little pressure on the ball and get some things happening. (We forced them) into tougher shots, 24-second violations, turnovers and things happened for us. I think once that happened, it kind of just became like an avalanche."

Utah coach Jerry Sloan on the Lakers' defensive play in the fourth: "They came out and just destroyed us. We were hanging in the ballgame, but that just shows you what a great team they have -- the ability to get up and make us turn the ball over as much as we did. I believe that was time times in the fourth quarter."

Pau Gasol on what changed for the Lakers in the fourth quarter: "We were much more aggressive defensively. We came up with a bunch of great stops. They were kind of out of whack. They didn't exectue well enough to get good shots in the fourth quarter."

The Lakers turned a 63-55 deficit into a 24-point victory tonight thanks to a 46-14 flurry to end the game. Utah seemed to be giving the Lakers serious trouble midway through the third quarter, but suddenly couldn't score and couldn't keep the Lakers from scoring. The Lakers sprinted away for their 10th consecutive victory, outscoring Utah by 28-6 in the fourth quarter. Kobe Bryant scored 27 points, grabbed six rebounds and added eight assists for the Lakers (17-3), and Pau Gasol had 19 points and 12 rebounds. Deron Williams led Utah (12-9) with 17 points and eight assists. The Lakers shot 46.2 percent; the Jazz shot 33.7 percent.

Utah last won at Staples Center when William Howard Taft was President. No, not really, but the Jazz had lost five in a row at the Lakers' home court. They took a modest lead in the first half in hopes of ending their streak. Mehmet Okur had 12 points and Deron Williams and C.J. Miles added 10 apiece. Pau Gasol had 15 points and Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum each scored 10 for the Lakers. The Lakers shot 52.6 percent but still trailed.

The Lakers were the NBA's most valuable franchise in 2008-09, according to figures released today by Forbes magazine. The franchise is worth $607 million, ending the New York Knicks' four-year reign as the most valuable team in the league. New York dropped to second for 2008-09, worth a hefty $586 million.The Chicago Bulls ($511 million), the Detroit Pistons ($479 million) and the Cleveland Cavaliers ($476 million) comprised the rest of the top five. The Clippers, the Lakers' co-tenants at Staples Center, were 23rd ($295 million).

Shannon Brown was guilty of relying on the old cliche about being wary of the bumps in the road as the Lakers prepare to hit the road Saturday to start their first extended trip of the season. A wise reporter (not me) pressed Brown, "Bumps? What bumps have the Lakers hit so far?" Brown smiled and shrugged before answering, "We've got good shock resistance, man. We're riding kind of smooth." The Lakers are 16-3, after all.

Backup center DJ Mbenga tweaked his right ankle near the end of the Lakers' scrimmage this afternoon and could not continue. His status is day-to-day. If he can't play Wednesday against the Utah Jazz, the Lakers would be down to 11 healthy bodies. Reserve forward Luke Walton continues to be sidelined by a back ailment.

Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry delivered what sure sounded like a concession speech after the Suns lost to the Lakers, 108-88, on Sunday. "I don't think our top priority is beating them right now," he said. "Our emphasis is not on how the heck we're going to beat the Lakers. There's Denver, Houston, New Orleans, Utah -- a lot of other teams that we've got to try to beat before we think about the Lakers." The Lakers also hammered Phoenix by 19 on Nov. 12.

Tough to find fault with the Lakers' ninth consecutive victory, a 20-point rout tonight of their closest rivals in the Pacific Division. Kobe Bryant scored 26 points, grabbed seven rebounds and added three assists for the Lakers, who never trailed. Ron Artest had 15 points, five assists and five steals. Pau Gasol added 14 points and Andrew Bynum had 13. The obvious mismatch for the Lakers against the Suns was in the paint, and the Suns tried to make up for it by double-teaming in the low post. The Lakers moved the ball into and out of the post as well as they have all season. As a result, they hit 10 of 21 3-pointers (47.6 percent). Amare Stoudemire led Phoenix with 18 points and eight rebounds. The Lakers held the Suns to a season-low 88 points. They were averaging 110.4 points.

There were few signs in tonight's first half that there would be a repeat of the Lakers' 19-point rout of the Suns on Nov. 12 at Staples Center. But the Lakers edged away to a double-digit lead just before halftime, with Kobe Bryant scoring 15 points on 6-for-8 shooting in the opening half. Ron Artest added 12 points. Amare Stoudemire led Phoenix with 10 points and seven rebounds. The teams played old-school when referee David Jones was forced from the game because of a brief dizzy spell in the opening quarter. Derrick Stafford and Kevin Fehr worked the game in a two-man crew. Jones went to a local hospital to get checked out. There was no immediate word on his condition.

Short practice today before the Lakers hosted their annual holiday party for some kids from the Boys and Girls Club. The talk of the day was still on Kobe Bryant's ridiculous game-winning shot from Friday night and the status of Pau Gasol's twice-poked eye.

Pau said it was uncomfortable but that he'd be fine to play in Sunday's game against Phoenix. He said he was using a lot of drops and had taken some antibiotics to prevent infection but did not have blurry vision. Phil Jackson's official diagnosis, ``It's probably just a bruised eyeball.''

As for Mr. Bryant, the respect for his game-winning-shot-making abilities never seems to dim amongst his teammates, though some of them admit to being a little spoiled.

``You expect it, which is unfair but that's how he likes it,'' Lamar Odom said. ``You've seen him hit so many, and he's so good, that he spoils you.''

Somehow, some way, the Lakers pulled out a victory tonight over the Miami Heat at Staples Center. Kobe Bryant's 3-pointer off the glass at the buzzer lifted the Lakers to their eighth consecutive victory, their longest winning streak since February 2008. Bryant scored 33 points, and the last three were memorable for all sorts of reasons. First and foremost, it won the game for the Lakers. Second, it went in off the glass. Third, he took it off his left foot. The right one is the right one for a right-handed shooter like Bryant. Fourth, it was all set up when Miami's Dwyane Wade missed one of two free throws at the other end.

"When I released the ball, I thought, 'No effing way,'" Bryant said. "I didn't think the ball was going in. It felt good, but I didn't think I was going to make that shot. ... I liked my chances if I had squared up. I wanted to, but I slipped, I was doubled and all I could do what shoot a runner. Like I said, it felt good. I just couldn't believe that this ball might go in on that b.s. shot."

The Lakers trailed after the first quarter tonight for only the second time this season, which probably says more about the lackluster level of competition they have faced lately than anything else. Anyway, they charged past the Heat and into the lead in the second quarter. Meanwhile, the Kobe Bryant-Dwyane Wade matchup was a dud until the final minutes of the half. Wade made a couple of spinning moves that lead to dunks and Bryant countered with an off-balance bank shot that fell through the hoop as the buzzer sounded. Pau Gasol had 12 points and Andrew Bynum had 11 to lead the Lakers. Mario Chalmers led Miami with nine points.

There was news today on Luke Walton's recovery from a back injury. He has increased his off-court workouts daily since undergoing a procedure last month to alleviate his back pain. He said he felt good enough to resume practicing with his teammates and playing in games. He's determined to make a slow but steady recovery. "That's the mistake I made last time,' he said of returning to full activity too quickly after suffering a back injury during training camp. "We're going to take the full recovery time this time. Hopefully, that will be the end of the back problems."

Ron Artest gave quite a few meandering answers today when asked about drinking during games while he played with the Chicago Bulls early in his career. He discussed his drinking in an interview for a story that will appear in the Monday issue of the magazine. He did not mention the words "drink" or "drinking" today while talking with reporters. Here's some of what he did say about why he said what he said:

"We're doing a program with (at-risk) kids on the verge of going to jail, we're doing something where people are there to speak to, giving them advice so they won't go down the wrong road. There are two examples of guys who went their own way. One is Leon Powe. You know his story and how strong he was. That's a great story. The other story is my friend (Michael) Chatfield, who passed away. That's a bad story."

Artest referred to Powe's story of being homeless for a time while growing up in Oakland. He also spoke of boyhood friend Chatfield, who was apparently killed in an act of street violence earlier this year in New York City.

Artest continued:

"For kids out there, you've got to watch who you look up to. I had some people I wished I hadn't looked up to. I played with people, in street ball, we would go get water and Gatorade and they got Olde E(nglish 800) to re-energize. It was funny to us back then. That's not something you want to put in your body as a professional athlete. Or any athlete. I don't think I'm one of those role-model type guys or somebody to give advice. I understand I'm in a situation where I have to be a role model. I'm in that situation. It's not something I'm running from. I have to tell people where I've been. When it comes up later, it's not going to be a shock. I think I'll be more of a role model in the future."

Said Lakers coach Phil Jackson:

"I really haven't talked to him about it. I thought we would at some point. We met this morning and talked about other issues that were important to us as a team right now. I anticipate that was something that was blown out of context a little bit. I don't know if that was a daily or game-by-game occurrence or not. I just believe that at all. I just don't think a player can get away with that kind of thing in the NBA. Somebody is going to see you or smell the alcohol on your breath. It's not going to happen on a day-to-day basis.

"And so Ron said those things and I have to respect that he's speaking the truth, but I still don't know how far that went, if that was like a once or twice occurrence. I haven't met with him individually. We had a team meeting. We had to talk about basketball. I just think Ron was talking about the struggles he had in his basketball career. As I understand it, he was alluding to the fact that losing was creating a situation that was difficult for him to master, you know, the temperament it took to play when you lost."

Ron Artest revealed in an interview with The Sporting News that he drank alcohol while with the Chicago Bulls from 1999 to 2002. "I used to drink Hennessy ... at halftime," Artest said in an interview with the magazine that will hit the newsstands Dec. 7. "I (kept it) in my locker. I'd just walk to the liquor store (near the United Center) and get it."

"I used to drink every night and party every night," he continued in an excerpt of the story released today. "The first team, in Chicago, I was a head case. I worked really hard but still had this ghetto thing in me that I could not get out."

The Lakers were too big, too strong, too experienced, too deep and too talented to lose to the shorthanded New Orleans Hornets tonight. Andrew Bynum scored 21 points, grabbed nine rebounds and added three assists to lead the Lakers to their seventh consecutive victory and the top overall spot in the NBA standings. The Lakers are 14-3; the Phoenix Suns fell to 14-4 after their loss at New York. Kobe Bryant added 18 points. Darren Collison, a rookie from UCLA, led the Hornets (7-11) with 20 points.

The Lakers appeared well on their way to their seventh consecutive victory tonight, battering the shorthanded New Orleans Hornets. Andrew Bynum scored a team-leading 13 points on 6-for-7 shooting in the first half. Kobe Bryant and Ron Artest had 11 points apiece and Pau Gasol scored 10. The Lakers shot 57.9 percent in the half and limited the Hornets to 42.9 percent shooting. Darren Collison, a rookie from UCLA, had 13 for New Orleans.