Los Angeles Lakers News
12-5-14: The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the worst teams in the Western Conference this season as the team has only been able to post a 3-12 record in the first five weeks of the new NBA season. The Lakers started this week by traveling back home to Staples Center to play host to the Minnesota Timberwolves. During the contest the Lakers and the Timberwolves traded buckets for much of this contest as the game went down to the final buzzer to determine a winner. With just 0:05 left in the game Kobe Bryant scored two of his 26 points to tie the game giving the Wolves one more shot in regulation. Minnesota would call a time out before knocking down a quick bucket to take a one point lead late setting up a buzzer beating shot for Bryant. Kobe missed the shot as the buzzer went off as the Lakers went on to lose the contest by the score of 120-119. In the next contest for the Lakers the team was back at home in Staples Center to host the Toronto Raptors with a huge milestone for Kobe Bryant within reach. Kobe Bryant was within striking distance entering the contest of becoming the first player in NBA history score at least 30,000 points and have 6,000 assists in a career and he did not disappoint. Kobe led all scorers with 31 points while collecting 11 rebounds and dishing 12 assists for the triple-double and the milestone. Toronto attacked Los Angeles with more of a team effort and with a late push forced an overtime period in the contest. The Lakers took over in the overtime period scoring 20 points while holding the high powered Toronto offense to just 13 points as the Raptors fell by the score of 129-122. The Lakers looked to start a winning streak in their next contest when the team traveled to Detroit to take on the Detroit Pistons. During the contest the Pistons held Bryant to just 4-11 shooting from the field in the contest and 12 points while taking a narrow one point lead with them into halftime. The Lakers, and specifically Jordan Hill, exploded in the second half as the Los Angeles center finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds to lead all scorers. While Detroit presumably felt good about limiting the damage done by Kobe the team itself shot just 37% from the field and fell behind the Lakers in the third quarter. The Pistons could not make up the deficit and ended up losing to the Lakers by the score of 106-96. The Lakers ended their week by traveling to Washington to take on the Eastern Conference’s own Washington Wizards. During the contest the Wizards took full advantage of a slow shooting night from the Lakers and specifically Kobe Bryant. Washington held Los Angeles to just 39% shooting and Bryant to just 8-22 shooting although the Lakers star did score 29 points. Washington on the other hand shot 48% from the field while Bradley Beal scored 27 points in a 111-95 victory over the Lakers.When the week was all said and done the team finished with an overall record of 5-14. Get your Lakers tickets for next week as the team travels to Boston to take on the Boston Celtics before heading back home to Staples Center to play host to the New Orleans Pelicans and the Sacramento Kings.
11-28-14: The Los Angeles Lakers have had one of the tougher starts to the 2014/2015 season but have won each of their last two contests to push their record to 3-9 in the campaign. The Lakers started this week by traveling to Dallas to take on Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks on the road. In the game the Lakers were led by 18 points from Jeremy Lin and a double-double from Jordan Hill but the team could not overcome a cold night from Kobe Bryant. Bryant finished with just 17 points on 6-22 shooting as the Mavericks made quick work of the Lakers 140-106. In the contest the Mavericks were led by 23 points from Dirk Nowitzki as the team shot a staggering 62% from the field in the victory for Dallas. In the Lakers next contest the team was back in the Staples Center hosting the Denver Nuggets in a home game. In the contest the Lakers were led by 27 points from Kobe Bryant while Jordan Hill added a double-double but it was not enough in a 101-94 loss to the Nuggets. Los Angeles shot just 37% from the field and a miniscule 13% from beyond the arc as the team dropped their second straight game. Meanwhile Denver had five players that scored in double figures while the team shot 38% from the field in the victory for the Nuggets. Memphis spent the night before Thanksgiving playing their final game of the week as the road team in Los Angeles against the Los Angeles Lakers. During the contest the Grizzlies held Kobe Bryant in check allowing 22 points to the Lakers star. The good news for Memphis was that 10 of Bryant’s 22 points came on the free throw line as Bryant finished shooting just 5-15 on the night. Bryant’s efforts were not enough as the Lakers fell to the Grizzlies in this contest by the score of 99-93. Memphis was led by 19 points each from Marc Gasol and Mike Conley in the game as the Grizzlies out-shot and out-rebounded the Lakers in the contest. When the week was all said and done the team finished with an overall record of 3-12. Get your Lakers tickets for next week as the team stays home in the Staples Center to host the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Toronto Raptors before setting out on the road to face off with the Detroit Pistons and the Washington Wizards.
11-21-14: The Los Angeles Lakers have had a terrible start to their 2014/2015 campaign both on and off the court.
The bad start began with the loss of Steve Nash and Julius Randle to injury and has spilled over onto the
court as the team has started the young season with a 1-7 record. The Lakers started this week by
playing host to the defending NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs at home in Staples Center as the team
searched for its second win of the young season. In the contest Kobe Bryant was absolutely cold from
the field shooting just 1-14 and 0-5 from the three point line as the star guard managed just nine points
in the contest. Meanwhile the Spurs were led by the usual suspects in Tim Duncan and Tony Parker as
San Antonio went on to beat the Lakers in convincing fashion by the score of 93-80. The Lakers looked to
turn things around in their next contest when the team headed home to host the Golden State Warriors
at Staples Center. In the game the Lakers were led by none other than Kobe Bryant as the Los Angeles
guard scored 44 points and grabbed five rebounds but once again his supporting cast was a no show for
the most part in the contest. The Warriors had much more of a complete team game on the night with
seven players from Golden State scoring in double digits including Stephen Curry’s 30 point night. The
Warriors outlasted Kobe and the Lakers in this contest winning by the score of 136-115. In the Lakers
next contest the team was back out on the road in Atlanta taking on the Atlanta Hawks from the Eastern
Conference. In the contest the home team Hawks were led offensively by 29 points from Paul Millsap
and 23 points from Jeff Teague while the team shot an impressive 48% from the field. The Lakers were
all that much better on the night as Kobe Bryant led Los Angeles with 28 points while Carlos Boozer
added 20 points and 10 rebounds in the Lakers second victory of the season. The Lakers would win the
game by the score of 114-109 after scoring 67 points in the first half and coasting to victory in the
second half. The Lakers looked to win their second consecutive game in their last matchup of the week
as the team traveled to Houston to take on the Houston Rockets. In the contest the Rockets were led by
none other than James Harden as the Houston guard scored 24 points. The Rockets did not take nearly
the amount of shots in the contest as the Lakers did as Houston attempted just 74 shot attempts for a
41% make percentage. Los Angeles also had a 41% make percentage shooting on the night but
attempted 91 shot attempts in a 98-92 victory for the Lakers. Kobe Bryant led the team with 29 points
while Carlos Boozer and Jordan Hill each added a double-double in the Lakers victory. When the week
was all said and done the team finished with an overall record of 3-9. Get your Lakers tickets for next
week as the team travels to Dallas to take on the Dallas Mavericks before coming back home to host the
Denver Nuggets and the Memphis Grizzlies at home in Staples Center.
11-14-14: The Los Angeles Lakers 2014/2015 campaign did not start the way that Steve Nash, Julius Randle, and Kobe Bryant had hoped as two of them are gone for the season and Bryant is 0-5 to start the season. The Lakers started this week by taking four days off before traveling to Charlotte to take on the Charlotte Hornets. In the game Al Jefferson once again led the way for the Hornets with 23 points but the Lakers duo of Kobe Bryant and Jeremy Lin combined for 42 points. In the end the Lakers got their first victory of the season as Los Angeles beat Charlotte in convincing fashion by the score of 107-92. The Lakers looked to make it two victories in a row in their next game as Los Angeles traveled to Memphis to take on the Memphis Grizzlies. In the contest Mike Conley led the Grizzlies with 23 points while Beno Udrih added 16 points in a 107-102 victory over the Lakers. Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 28 points in the contest but once again had little help from his supporting cast in yet another loss for Los Angeles. The Lakers finished their week off by traveling to New Orleans to play a Western Conference road game with the Pelicans. In the contest the same old story went down for Los Angeles as Kobe Bryant led the team in scoring with 33 points but his supporting cast was not supportive enough in a 109-102 loss for the Lakers. The Pelicans offensive attack was led by 25 points from Anthony Davis in the victory for New Orleans. When the week was all said and done the team finished with an overall record of 1-7. Get your Lakers tickets for next week as the team hosts the San Antonio Spurs and the Golden State Warriors before traveling out on the road to face off with the Atlanta Hawks and the Houston Rockets to finish the week.
11-7-14: The Los Angeles Lakers started their 2014/2015 season off last week by dropping their home opener to
the Houston Rockets and by dropping their first road game of the season to the Phoenix Suns to start
their season 0-2. With the 2014/2015 season entering its first full week the Lakers headed home to host
their crosstown rivals in the Los Angeles Clippers in Staples Center. The Lakers were without Steve Nash
and Julius Randle in the contest and had nobody to defend Blake Griffin as he dropped 39 points in the
contest. Jordan Hill scored 23 points for the Lakers while Kobe Bryant added 21 points in a loss to the
Clippers by the score of 118-111. The Lakers continued their quest for their first victory of the season
when they traveled to Golden State to play the Golden State Warriors on the road. In the game the
Warriors Klay Thompson went off offensively scoring 41 points while Stephen Curry added 31 points in a
game that Golden State won by the score of 127-104. In the game Kobe Bryant did his part scoring 28
points while Jordan Hill added 23 points but the defense had no answer for Thompson and Curry in this
contest in the loss. Los Angeles ended their week back at home in Staples Center when the Lakers
hosted the Phoenix Suns for the second time in their young season. Kobe Bryant went off offensively in
the game scoring 39 points and grabbing 9 rebounds while getting help from Jeremy Lin, Jordan Hill, and
Carlos Boozer. While Kobe was a one man wrecking crew for the Lakers the Suns played more of a team
game when Markieff Morris, Gerald Green, and Isaiah Thomas each scored over 20 points while pulling
down a combined 22 rebounds in the game. The trio for Phoenix was too much for the Lakers as the
Suns beat Los Angeles for the second time in the young season by the score of 112-106. When the week
was all said and done the team finished with an overall record of 0-5. Get your Lakers tickets for next
week as the team hosts the Charlotte Hornets before traveling out on the road to take on the Memphis
Grizzlies and the New Orleans Pelicans.
10-31-14: The Los Angeles Lakers tipped off the 2014-2015 season by facing off with the Houston Rockets on the road and it didn’t take long for the Lakers season to absorb another blow. The Lakers are already without Steve Nash for the entire season and may now be without lottery pick Julius Randle after he suffered a broken tibia in his NBA debut, a Lakers 108-90 loss to the Rockets. The Lakers are going to apply for a disabled list exemption for Nash and may do so as well with Randle if the injury is deemed season ending, which looks extremely likely. Los Angeles is now pursuing former Nuggets forward Quincy Miller who was just waived by Denver. The Lakers are set to save about $4.851 million on the Nash contract and $1.499 million on the Randal contract that Los Angeles will use on a free agent or two like Miller to replace their players. One good line of thinking that the Lakers are employing after the losses of Nash and Randle is that the team will likely be in contention for a Top 5 lottery draft pick next season. The Lakers 2015 first round pick is owed to the Phoenix Suns but is protected if Los Angeles’ pick is in the Top 5. Get your Lakers tickets for next week as the team travels home to host the Los Angeles Clippers before traveling to take on the Golden State Warriors. Los Angeles will then head back home to host the Phoenix Suns before taking four days off before their next game.
10-29-14: With Kobe Bryant back to full health, Lakers tickets on the secondary market have experienced a steady increase in price since last season. The average secondary market price for Lakers tickets at Staples Center this season is $232.55, 46.2% higher than last year’s average of $159.06. Kobe and his young cast of talent will take a stab at LeBron’s Cavaliers on January 15 at home, which will be the most expensive game on the Lakers schedule this season. The average price for Lakers vs Cavaliers tickets is $482.10, 107.3% above the season average, with a get-in price of $88.
10-24-14: The Los Angeles Clippers finished in first place in the Pacific Division last season but have struggled in the postseason this year. The team sits at 2-5, failing to post a victory on the road. Some kinks will need to be worked out, though Blake Griffin and company will likely have another stellar year at the Staples Center.
10-15-14: The Los Angeles Lakers opened their preseason schedule on Oct 6 with a 98-95 win over the Denver Nuggets, but have since dropped two straight games to the Golden State Warriors, including a 116-75 loss in their last outing on Oct 12. Next on the Los Angeles Lakers preseason schedule is a meeting with the Utah Jazz at the Honda Center this Thursday, followed by four more preseason games to go with another meeting with Utah, then Phoenix, Portland, and Sacramento before they kick off their regular season on Oct 28 at home against the Houston Rockets.
10-8-14: The Los Angeles Lakers got a win over the Denver Nuggets this past Monday to kick off their preseason as they now get ready to play two upcoming games with the Golden State Warriors on October 9 and 12, followed by two meetings against the Utah Jazz on October 16 and 19, with the remaining preseason games against Suns, Trailblazers, and Kings to finish off their preseason schedule. After rough season filled with injuries, gone is Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, and Mike D’antoni. In comes new head coach Bryon Scott and a healthy Kobe Bryant who hasn’t played much in the past year and a half due to injuries.
9-22-14: The Lakers point guard situation last year was riddled with injuries. Steve Nash and Jordan Farmar were sidelined for a lot of the season. Point guard duties fell to d-league call-up Kendall Marshall who played well but is now with the Milwaukee Bucks. The fill their hole the Lakers acquired sensation Jeremy Lin from Houston. Looking to learn under and take the minutes load off of Steve Nash the lakers hope to have their point guard woes solved with this signing. Regardless fans will love seeing Linsanity in the purple and gold.
8-13-14: The LA Lakers didn’t get much of a boost to their roster this offseason as they struck out in the Carmelo Anthony sweepstake and getting rejected by Pau Gasol when offering a 3 year deal worth $29 million. However, they did add Jeremy Lin to the squad after he lost his starting job in Houston, and Carlos Boozer from a waiver who was being benched by Chicago in crunch time. Jordan Hill is back for $9 million, while Kobe is 36 years old and Steve Nash is 40 both coming off injury plagued seasons.
Los Angeles Lakers 2014 Draft Overview
Round 1, Pick 7, Julius Randle, PF, Kentucky
Round 2, Pick 46, Jordan Clarkson, PG, Missouri (via trade with Washington Wizards)
4-7-14: Friday night was one to forget for the Lakers. They gave up more than 140 points for the second time in March as they fell by 36 points against the Timberwolves in Minnesota. However, on Tuesday, Chris Kaman and the Lakers played the role of spoilers for the visiting Phoenix Suns. Kaman put up 28 points and 17 rebounds as Los Angeles won, 115-99. Then on Tuesday, Nick Young scored a game-high 40 points and Steve Nash registered a double-double, but those performances were not enough as the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Lakers, 124-112. Then, Wednesday was not a good night because Pau Gasol, Xavier Henry, Kaman and Nash all sat out, and Los Angeles lost by five points in Sacramento.
4-1-14: The Lakers’ week did not start so well, but they ended up going 2-2. On Friday, they lost to the Washington Wizards by 10 points and Pau Gasol left Sunday’s game after experiencing dizziness and nausea. However, the Lakers fought hard without their star. Jordan Hill scored a career-high 28 points as Los Angeles defeated the Orlando Magic, 103-94. On Tuesday, Gasol remained out as the Lakers set their franchise record for most points scored in a quarter. They put up 51 points in the third quarter against the New York Knicks and went on to win, 127-96. The Lakers could not make it three wins in a row, as they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks, 108-105.
3-24-14: The Lakers played only two games this past week, and they faced the league-best San Antonio Spurs twice. Pau Gasol put up game-highs in both points and rebounds on Friday in San Antonio, but that performance was not enough as the Los Angeles Lakers became the first team to be eliminated from the 2014 NBA playoffs. The Spurs won that night, 119-85. Then on Wednesday, the teams faced off at the Staples Center. The Lakers topped 100 points in this contest as Gasol filled the stat sheet again: 22 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and four blocks. However, the Lakers dropped that game by 16 points.
3-17-14: The Lakers made the Staples Center crowd happy as they won their only home game this past week. After dropping Friday’s contest at Denver by eight points, Mike D’Antoni’s squad returned home to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder. The juggernaut of the Western Conference was shocked by Jodie Meeks’s career-high 42 points on Sunday. With Meeks scoring by far the most points by a Laker in a game this season, Los Angeles was able to upset Oklahoma City, 114-110. On Wednesday, the Lakers organization announced that Kobe Bryant would sit out for rest of season. Then on Thursday, the Lakers were unable to get two victories in a row against the Thunder.
3-10-14: The Lakers had a crazy four games this past week. On Friday, they made a franchise-record 19 shots from 3-point distance in their 126-122 win over the Sacramento Kings. Then on Monday, Kent Bazemore’s lob to Wesley Johnson with 6.9 seconds remaining lifted the Lakers past the Portland Trail Blazers, 107-106. Although the wins stopped there, the excitement did not. The Lakers put up a lot of points on Tuesday against the New Orleans Pelicans, but suffered their first loss when scoring at least 125 points in regulation since 1990. Then on Thursday, the Lakers’ 48-point loss was their worst in franchise history.
3-3-14: It is all about the high draft pick now for the Lakers. They will be looking to develop some players on their current roster, but like past years, the organization will try to find gems on the open market. As far as on the court, the Lakers stopped another losing streak on Friday. They defeated the visiting Boston Celtics, 101-92, to snap their franchise-worst eight-game home losing streak. Kent Bazemore and MarShon Brooks combined for 29 points off the bench in the victory. Bazemore then moved into the starting lineup, but his teammates could not continue their success. He averaged 18 points per game the rest of the week, but the Lakers dropped games to the Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers and Memphis Grizzlies.
2-26-14: This Friday's matchup with Sacramento is the cheapest such game at Staples Center of the past four seasons. With Kobe Bryant injured and both teams struggling at the bottom of the Pacific Division, the luster of a Lakers/Kings matchup seems to have faded away this season. Cheapest ticket available is currently $17.
2-24-14: Kobe Bryant, who is out indefinitely with a fractured left knee, was voted to start for the Western Conference All-Star team, but had to sit out the exhibition contest. There were no other Lakers representatives during All-Star weekend. Los Angeles has had quite a few injuries this season, but the organization traded one of its remaining healthy players. The Lakers sent Steve Blake to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Kent Bazemore and MarShon Brooks. Mike D’Antoni’s squad had a light week on the court. The only game was Dwight Howard’s return to the Staples Center. Howard’s 20 points and game-high 13 rebounds led the Rockets to the 134-108 victory on Wednesday.
2-18-14: Well, at least the Lakers are not the worst team in the NBA. They faced the second-worst squad in the league, the Philadelphia 76ers, on Friday and beat them by 14 points. Although Jordan Farmar missed that contest due to a leg injury, Steve Nash scored a season-high 19 points. Then, the team struggled the rest of the week, but there were some good individual performances. Both Chris Kaman and Kendall Marshall double-doubled in the Lakers’ loss to the Chicago Bulls on Sunday. On Tuesday, Kaman made it back-to-back double-double games for the first time this season as he went for 25 points and 14 rebounds. Kendall Marshall matched his career-high with 17 assists on Thursday against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the Lakers encountered their franchise-record seventh straight home loss.
2-10-14: What an odd week it was for the Lakers. They closed out January on a six-game losing streak and finished the month with 12 losses for the first time in 50 years. The news did not get any better for the Lakers as star big man Pau Gasol was added to the team’s lengthy injured list with a strained right groin. Los Angeles finally had an injured player return to the lineup as Steve Nash played 25 minutes and dished out nine assists in his first game since November. Although the Lakers lost that evening, they won the following night in Cleveland despite having an extremely depleted roster. The excitement was short-lived though because Nick Young is now out for the next two weeks with a knee injury.
2-4-14: This is just getting ugly for the Lakers. Since starting the season 13-13, Los Angeles has won just three of their last 20 contests. Their Grammy road trip started well, but they lost the last four games of it and have now given up 100 points in an NBA-worst 13 straight games. On Friday in Orlando, Pau Gasol and Kendall Marshall each registered double-doubles, but the Lakers fell by nine points. Then on Sunday, Jodie Meeks unleashed a 3-point barrage in New York, but the Lakers came up short again. The Lakers fought hard two days later to tie the Indiana Pacers at halftime, but a bad third quarter led Los Angeles to its fifth straight loss.
1-27-14: Pau Gasol, the Lakers’ leading scorer and rebounder this past week, led the team to a 2-2 record as Los Angeles continues its lengthy Grammy road trip. They traveled from Phoenix all the way to the East Coast to take on the Boston Celtics and spoiled Rajon Rondo’s season debut on Friday. Gasol scored a team-high 24 points and rookie Ryan Kelly chipped in with 20 points of his own. Then, Nick Young led the Lakers in scoring the next two games. He scored a game-high 29 points in their win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. On Monday, Young registered the Lakers’ first 30-point game of the season. However, that performance was in a loss to the Chicago Bulls. The Lakers then dropped Thursday’s contest in Miami.
1-20-14: Well, at least the Lakers are in position to get a good draft pick. Since beginning the season 13-13, they have lost 12 of their last 13 games. They have been extremely unlucky with regard to injuries this season. Los Angeles does not even have enough healthy players on the roster to suit up a second five-man team in practice. Although Mike D’Antoni hopes that Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash return within the next couple of weeks, the team signed Manny Harris from the NBA Developmental League to provide some depth with Nick Young being suspended one game for throwing a punch at Goran Dragic on Wednesday.
1-7-14: The Lakers have lost their last six games, which is by far their worst losing streak of the season. The team’s situation has not gotten much better recently, as the injuries are piling up. Just as Pau Gasol returned from injury, Jordan Farmar, Xavier Henry, Wes Johnson and Chris Kaman went down recently. The combined record of the teams that the Lakers faced this past week was 29-70, but they still lost to each of them. The Lakers lost to the Utah Jazz by two points, lost to the Philadelphia 76ers by seven and lost to the Milwaukee Bucks by 15. Now standing at 13-19 on the season, the Lakers do not look like they will make the playoffs.
12-30-13: The Lakers had a busy week, especially with it being around the holidays. They began it with an impressive double-digit victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Staples Center. Nick Young, who is taking advantage of his extra touches on the offensive end, scored a team-high 25 points that night. Xavier Henry and Pau Gasol also added 21 points each. However, after getting back to .500, the Lakers suffered three consecutive losses for the second time this season. Mike D’Antoni’s squad went on a quick two-game road trip, but lost those games by a combined 46 points. They then returned home and put up a fight against the defending champion Miami Heat on Christmas Day, but lost by six points.
12-22-13: It has not been an easy season for the Lakers organization, which had to sign Kendall Marshall to get a ball handler on the roster. First, the Lakers lost all of their point guards from their opening day roster due to injuries, and then Kobe Bryant went down again. Bryant played just six games before fracturing his left knee, which will sideline him for six weeks. He did leave on a high note, as he and Pau Gasol led all scorers with 21 points in their road victory over the Grizzlies on Tuesday. The 96-92 win at Memphis ended a 2-2 road trip for the Lakers, which included a victory over the Charlotte Bobcats and losses to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Atlanta Hawks.
12-19-13: After returning from the achilles injury just a week ago, Kobe Bryant is once again on the shelf, this time for six weeks with a fracture of the lateral tibial plateau in his left knee.
12-13-13: Kobe Bryant is back, but all of a sudden, the Lakers are now having trouble winning games. Without Bryant, the team started the season 10-9, including Friday’s victory over the Kings. The Lakers star then returned, and the team lost home games to the Toronto Raptors and Phoenix Suns. After faltering at the Staples Center, they have to play five of their next seven games on the road. In addition, the Lakers will be without Steve Blake, who will miss at least six weeks with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Bryant needs to get his game into gear sooner rather than later if the Lakers want to make a push for the postseason.
12-7-13: Kobe Bryant is soon to return to a Lakers team that has fought valiantly without him early in the 2013-14 season. Before losing on Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles had won five of its previous six games. Pau Gasol has been his typical self, but Nick Young and Jodie Meeks have provided great scoring for the Lakers. It will be interesting to see how Mike D’Antoni’s squad changes when Bryant is back to playing full minutes. In the Lakers’ win in Detroit on Friday, Wesley Johnson led all scorers with 27 points on very efficient shooting. He and Xavier Henry have made strong contributions to this season’s Lakers as well.
11-28-13: Lost in the hubbub of the gigantic Kobe Bryant contract extension news (2 year, $48.5M), was the continued surprising play of the Lakers sans Bryant. The Lakers have won four of their last five games, with essentially a different role player stepping up each night to support Pau Gasol. Kobe took part in a full-team practice last Tuesday but said after the game that he considered himself “weeks” away from returning rather than “days”. Still, fans should be encouraged by the early play with the Lakers treading water at 8-8 and Kobe nearing return.
11-25-13: Kobe Bryant has signed a two-year extension with the Lakers worth $48.5 million dollars. Bryant will earn $23.5 million in 14-15 and $25 million in 15-16.
11-22-13: Despite getting just 135 minutes from Steve Nash and 0 minutes from Kobe Bryant through 12 games, the Lakers have somehow managed to claw their way to a 5-7 record. All despite playing the league’s strongest strength of schedule so far. With Kobe Bryant miraculously ready to return to the court from his torn Achilles, the Lakers may be a team that is forced to be taken seriously. After five days rest, the Lakers take on the Golden State Warriors Friday night.
11-15-13: Steven Nash is taking an indefinite leave from the court in L.A., as nerve issues with his back are causing too much pain for him to play. The absence of Nash and Kobe Bryant (achilles) apparently aren’t enough to drown the new-look Lakers, though, as they’ve held their own with a 4-6 mark through their first 10 games. Los Angeles isn’t playing great defense and doesn’t have a true go-to scorer, but they’re getting by with team offense and just biding their time until they can get back to full health.
11-8-13: Kobe Bryant is still sidelined and Steven Nash is looking the part of a 40-year old on the court, yet the Lakers keep clawing their ways to wins. Oddly enough, the current roster in L.A. seems to perfectly fit head coach Mike D’Antoni’s offensive system, and the Lakers find themselves at a solid 3-3 record through two weeks. Xavier Henry is just one of the many pleasant surprises on offense, as the no-name Lakers already own impressive wins over the Clippers, Hawks and Rockets on this young season.
11-1-13: Kobe Bryant battled through injuries to get through the 2012-13 regular season, but was physically unable to play in the playoffs. After another offseason surgery, he was absent from the active roster at the beginning of the season. In the meantime, newcomers Nick Young, Jordan Farmar, Xavier Henry and Chris Kaman will have to step up to fill the void. Starting center Pau Gasol, who had a strong preseason, has to take on a lot of responsibility as well until Bryant can return to the lineup. It will be interesting to see how Mike D’Antoni adjusts his offensive scheme when his star is able to play at or close to 100 percent.
10-18-13: The Los Angeles Lakers are 2-4 through six preseason games. Xavier Henry was the leading scorer for the Lakers in their first two games, scoring 29 and 15 points, respectively. After defeating Golden State 104-95, the Lakers lost 97-88 against the Denver Nuggets the following game. They have lost the last three, but Pau Gasol was the leading scorer with 16 points in the Lakers’ most recent 115-89 loss to the Warriors. The Lakers have two preseason games left:
- Oct 22 vs Utah
- Oct 25 vs Utah
10-17-13: The Lakers have waived their 2012 draft pick, Darius Johnson-Odom.
9-5-13: The Lakers have signed free agent forward Shawne Williams. The six-year vet has played with the Pacers, Knicks Nets, and Mavericks. Details of the contract were not disclosed.
8-23-13: After losing out on re-signing Dwight Howard, the Los Angeles Lakers are a team without a clear direction for the first time in almost two decades. With Steve Nash set to turn 40 at the start of the season, Pau Gasol showing serious signs of wear and tear, and Kobe Bryant recovering from a torn Achilles, there isn’t much hope in the immediacy for Lakers fans. Luckily, going to Lakers games is about being seen! With Kobe Bryant expected back early in the season, fans will still get a chance to watch one of the all-time great Lakers perform at a high level. While they may not have the sex appeal Lakers fans are used to, the signings of Nick Young and Chris Kaman will help in a big way to stabilize the lineup.
The Los Angeles Lakers open their season at the Staples Center on Tuesday, October 29th against their in-town rivals, the Clippers. Dwight Howard will make his first return appearance with the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, February 19th and will return once more on Tuesday, April 8th. The Oklahoma City Thunder will come to town on Thursday, February 13th as well as on Sunday, March 9th. The Miami Heat will make their sole appearance against the Lakers on Christmas Day.
Key Home Games:
- October 29th – Los Angeles Clippers
- December 25th – Miami Heat
- February 9th – Chicago Bulls
- February 19th – Houston Rockets
- February 23rd – Brooklyn Nets
8-20-13: During the 2013-14 season, the Lakers will wear white short-sleeve jerseys for a handful of games across the season. They will also be wearing a black alternate jersey.
8-19-13: Kobe Bryant has released a video on of him running on an Alter-G, which is a weight-bearing treadmill. According to reports, he's been walking on the treadmill for a while now, and has recently increased those workouts. Based on his current progression, Bryan expects to be back from his torn Achillies tendon well before the expected recovery time.
7-9-13: It was announced yesterday that the Lakers plan on using their amnesty clause on Metta World Peace. With the move the Lakers would save approximately $30 million in luxury tax savings.
7-8-13: The Lakers have agreed on a 1-year deal with free agent center Chris Kaman.
Lakers 2013 Draft Summary:
Round 2, Pick 18: F Ryan Kelly, Duke.
6-12-13: There are many teams that would feel accomplished after locking up a 7th seed and winning 45 games, the Lakers are not one of those teams. All in all, 2012-2013 season was a complete failure for the Lakers. Attempting to load up on talent and build a west coast super team was a huge disaster and pieces were never able to fit correctly. Injuries to Dwight Howard, Steve Nash and Pau Gasol did not help the matter either. Coach Mike D’antoni was hired after the season had already started and he was never able to find the right mix on the floor, nor did it seem he earned the respect of his players. The shadow of Phil Jackson seemed to loom very large over the players, Mike D’antoni and the organization itself. Kobe’s season ending Achilles injury was the nail in the coffin and there is no telling as to when he will return to the court.
11-26-12: Even this early in the season it is rare to see the Lakers sitting at .500. Since the early coaching change the Lakers have gone 6-2 despite recent losses under Mike D’Antoni to the Kings and Grizzles. Lakers have been under the spotlight with the acquisition of Dwight Howard and should definitely be looking toward a long winning streak once he becomes acclimated.
