The Lakers are going for their seventh-straight win, and a franchise record 16th win at home, as they try to maintain the league’s best record (27-5).
The key to tonight’s game against the New Orleans Hornets will be Peja Stojakovic. In the first two games this season between these two West powerhouses, it was all Lakers (LA had 20 point leads in both, both victories) but the Hornets were without their outside sharp shooter.
I can’t think about Peja without visualizing that famous airball in the Playoffs. Oh, those were the good old days between the Lakers and Queens. But two years ago Peja made 10 three’s at Staples, so the LA defense will have to account for him every trip down the floor.
9:48 1st Qtr
Both teams are cold coming out of the locker room. Peja bricks one. Paul bricks one. Fisher can’t finish and Pau throws up a fade away long. They are a combined 1-11 right now. 2-1 Hornets
7:40 1st Qtr
Kobe goes behind his back on a change of direction and nails the fade away jumper to tie it. 6-6. Only Kobe can make that shot consistently.
5:00 1st Qtr
Fisher makes his second three of the night, but at the other end, Bynum and Fish get caught in the classic Hornets pick-and-roll, and Chris Paul finds Tyson Chandler for the lab dunk. We’ll keep an eye on Fish tonight, because without Jordan Farmar in the line up, it’ll be up to “Small but Mighty” to keep CP3 in front of him. That could be tough later on tonight if Phil asks Fish to play 30+ minutes. 16-11 Hornets
3:00 1st Qtr
Paul has nine early points and is taking advantage of the pick-and-roll (he averages 23 and 13 in his career vs. LA). But Chandler picks up his second foul early and takes a seat. For the second game in a row, the Lakers are starting slow. The Hornets are out scoring the Lakers 7-0 in second chance points. 23-15 Hornets
END 1st Qtr 32-26 N.O.
CP3 is on tonight and has 11 points on six shots. It’s getting a little chippy out there, especially between Sasha Vujacic and Paul. But Sasha makes two dumb fouls away from the basket and goes right back to the bench with three fouls after scoring a quick five points on two shots.
9:00 2nd Qtr
Lakers start running the floor a little bit with the second unit in, but there are a lot of whistles tonight, and most of them are forcing the Lakers to play a slower pace. It’s time to go inside to Bynum, I think. 36-32 Hornets
8:00 2nd Qtr
Any coincidence that Joel and Stu are interviewing former Laker/King Vlade “King of the Hustle Flop” Divac as Trevor Ariza hustles, gets on the floor, and finds Radmanovic for the layup? By the way, the Kings are going to retire Divac’s number this year. Eww. 38-35
5:30 2nd Qtr
I really like Ariza guarding Paul. He is long enough to disrupt his dribble. But Paul is so good at drawing people, and he does exactly that, grabbing two assists with some good passes. Lamar Odom nails a three from the corner and drives it to the hole for the And 1. 43-41 N.O.
3:00 2nd Qtr
Boy oh boy there’s a lot of whistles tonight (total 32 FT attempts already). I like it though. When these two teams get together it’s always entertaining. And with this chippy element added, it makes me think how good a second or third round playoff series would be between LA and NO. 50-48 Hornets
HALFTIME 61-56 Hornets
First things first, the Lakers need to get it started on defense. 61 points?!?! They really fell asleep at the wheel in those last two minutes and the Hornets went on a 9-0 run that included some nice penetration from Paul (23 pts, 7 ast). Kobe hits a running three at the buzzer to make it a five-point game. Seriously though, has anyone seen Pau Gasol?
11:00 3rd Qtr
Kobe comes out of the break and hits back to back jumpers (21 points on nine shots). Bad news though, L.O. is back in the locker room and he’s not coming back on the floor tonight. Meanwhile, Kobe drives and kicks it to Fish who nails the three. 65-63 Hornets
8:15 3rd Qtr
Is David West really dominating Pau Gasol right now?!?!? The only reason we know Gasol is on the floor is because West keeps shooting over him or just going around him. By the way, Chris Paul is really good. Like really good. 75-67 N.O.
4:45 3rd Qtr
This is the definition of taking over. Kobe (34 pts, 17 in the 3rd) makes back to back to back three’s, and he’s the only reason this is close. I hate to say it, but it’s going to take more than #24 to beat the Hornets with the way CP3 is playing… HEY! Pau makes a basket to tie it up! Nice of him to show up! 80-80
2:47 3rd Qtr
Kobe balling has opened it up for his teammates, and Fisher hits his fourth three of the night to give the Lakers only their third lead of the night. 85-83 Lakers
END 3rd Qtr 92-89 Lakers
Wow, this turned into quite the game! Kobe is balling, Paul is balling, and everyone else is trying to keep up. It’s a good thing Peja is 2 for 9, or the Lakers would be in trouble. Still, like I said, it’s going to take more than just Bryant to put the Hornets away. I’m still looking at you, Pau! How about giving Bynum a few minutes, Phil?
10:02 4th Qtr
This game’s tempo just went through the roof, and I’m not sure which team benefits more. The numbers say Hornets, but the home court says Lakers. 92-92
8:20 4th Qtr
Ariza hits a three from the wing to give LA a five-point lead. With Odom’s return a question mark (they are calling it a hyper extension) not only will Trevor have to step up tonight, but maybe for a few more games in January and February. Knock on wood, I guess. 99-94 Lakers
5:54 4th Qtr
The Laker offense goes dry for a minute with Kobe on the bench, and frustration is showing as the normally calm Fisher gets a technical foul. Okay, seriously, does David West really have 34 points right now? Is this someones idea of a joke? Phil calls on Josh Powell to stop the Hornets four-man, and that doesn’t work. Bynum? Bynum? Anyone? 104-99 Hornets
4:30 4th Qtr
Another Fisher three (his fifth) stops the bleeding after a 15-0 Hornet run. 109-102 N.O.
3:02 4th Qtr
Sasha comes in for Trevor. Is “The Machine” the answer to the suddenly ineffective offense, or should I say, a Laker offense that goes cold when Kobe isn’t scoring. 111-102 Hornets
1:00 4th Qtr
Another Chris Paul layup caps a 19-3 Hornets run. 113-105 N.O.
FINAL 116-105 Hornets
Don’t even look at any number other than David West’s 39 points. Yeah, Chris Paul had 30 and 15 ast, but he’s going to get his. It’s the interior defense that will be the Achilles heel of this Laker team, just like it was in the Finals last June.
Leave all that league’s best record, 70 wins, Finals trip talk behind for a second. With L.O. out for who knows how long, it’s time for this Laker team to come out strong (something they haven’t done in three games) and dominate someone in the paint. Gasol, Bynum, I’m most definatly looking at you.