Wednesday’s best game features the offensively challenged Los Angeles Lakers hosting the L.A. Clippers, who are trying to win a season series against the Lakers for only the third time in franchise history. But don’t call it a rivalry, yet. Kobe Bryant had no problem scoring (42) in a losing effort against the Clippers in their first meeting this season. But despite Bryant leading the NBA with 30.5 points a game, the rest of the Lakers’ offense has been a box-office dud. Pau
Sunday night’s best game starts after the football is over and has the surprising Indiana Pacers visiting the Los Angeles Lakers, who are in a favorable stretch of their schedule and have an opportunity to fix some of their issues on offense. The first issue is scoring. Despite having the NBA’s leading scorer in Kobe Bryant, the Lakers are just 21st in offense at 92.1 points and dead last in the NBA in 3-point percentage at 25.7 percent. Derek Fisher is 7-of-29,
Russell Westbrook was under the microscope earlier this season, and rightfully so. Like many players who have been recent All-Stars, he needed to step up his game. As a player with a seemingly limitless ceiling, Westbrook was coming off a pair of firsts – his first All-Star berth and first deep playoff run, which made the Oklahoma City Thunder look like legitimate championship contenders entering this season. Westbrook was also coming off his first major controversy, having bickered with superstar teammate Kevin
For a six-game night, there are some nice matchups. The Nets are visiting the Magic, which means the New York metro area media will be zoning up Dwight Howard. There should be a relay race in Portland, where the Blazers entertain the Nuggets. And on TNT, the Mavericks try to figure out their myriad issues as they travel to take on the Thunder, where Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are bickering. But the best game is the back end of TNT’s
At least one player is figuring out a way to get paid during the lockout: @MettaWorldPeaceMetta WorldPeace Party!!!! Thursday!!! Chris Brown and Ron Artest!! T Raider promotions!! Star Power!yfrog.com/nuvd0spj
@MettaWorldPeace Metta WorldPeace Yay No lock out 1 hour ago via Echofon Although this later tweet shows he was messin’ with folks: @MettaWorldPeace Metta WorldPeace I had alot of people fooled. Just like media. See yal should listen to ur parents. Not media. Believe in yourself. Not others Lol 7 minutes ago via Echofon
By Chris Sheridan So, maybe it won’t be a totally terrible thing if the lockout extends through this week (negotiations resume this morning) and the start of the season gets delayed. Sideshows await, and there is PPV potential. Metta World Peace (ne Ron Artest) is looking for some action, on the basketball court and/or in the boxing ring (but not in the octagon). From the Lakers forward’s Twitter account: @MettaWorldPeace Metta WorldPeace I challenge any NBA player to a game. 500k$. Hit me at [email protected] .
By Mark Heisler Gee, already? After a one-month stalemate, a year of posturing, hints of contraction, et al., NBA owners and players began to engage last week…. Almost. The owners reportedly bumped their offer up… by like 1 percent. Hey, these things proceed at their own excruciating pace, and it was still early to expect anyone’s best offer. There was David Stern’s usual foreshadowing (“The calendar is not our friend”) and his usual light moment, even as darkness gathered (“We told them we wouldn’t say anything,