Then again, so did Anaheim but I really did not think we were going to stand a chance against Phoenix. Not until we get us a new head coach to replace that cad known as Randy Carlyle. I already fell out of favor with his ass since that nasty four-game skid in late October.
In any case, here's an article I wanted to share with you, just for the l.u.l.z. factor. Enjoy.
---
Lakers roll past league's worst team
By Elliott Teaford, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/29/2009 11:16:34 PM PST
Someday, somewhere, the New Jersey Nets will win a game.
Sunday was not that day and Staples Center was not that place, however.
The Lakers ushered the Nets to a date with destiny by sending them reeling to a league record-tying 17th consecutive loss to start the season. The Lakers delivered a 106-87 beat down for their sixth consecutive win - each by double digits.
It hardly was a fair fight.
The Lakers, after all, have an embarrassment of riches at every position; the Nets do not. The Lakers have a deep, experienced and talented team many observers believe is capable of winning a second consecutive NBA championship; the Nets do not.
The Lakers also have a Hall of Fame coach with a league-record 10 championships on his resume sitting on their bench; the Nets do not.
The Nets don't have a coach, period, after they fired Lawrence Frank a few hours before they matched the record for the worst start in league history.
The Nets joined the Miami Heat in 1988-89 and the Clippers in the lockout-shortened 1999 season as the only teams to begin a season 0-17.
New Jersey named assistant coach Tom Barrise as Frank's temporary replacement, but he fared no better than his former boss.
"We were aware of that (the Nets' losing streak)," backup guard Jordan Farmar said. "It's got to be hard. You could see it on their faces. It's starting to take its toll.
"Now is when they've got to keep working hard. Every team they play has got to be nervous."
One night after taking a 33-point victory over the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, the Lakers returned to Staples Center and played with the same detached sense of determination.
Their average margin of victory during their six-game winning streak has been 17.7 points. They haven't scored fewer than 100 points in any of the six and haven't given up more than the 97 the Warriors scored Saturday.
"Our defense is getting better and better," Kobe Bryant said after the Lakers improved to 13-3. "We're working really, really hard at it. Our energy has been consistent.
"This is something we feel we can maintain."
The Lakers went about their business Sunday without a trace of emotion as they kicked the Nets from one end of the court to the other. Garbage time came as early as it has all season as the Lakers reserves played significant minutes.
Bryant led the Lakers' onslaught with 30 points on 11-for-17 shooting in just more than 28 minutes. He did not play in the fourth quarter, what with the Lakers leading by 87-60 heading into the final period.
Pau Gasol had 20 points on 8-for-13 shooting and a team-leading nine rebounds in 37:04. He took a seat with the Lakers ahead by 21 points with 5:59 remaining in the game. He was the only Lakers starter to play in the fourth quarter.
Farmar led the Bench Mob with a season-high 15 points. Everyone on the Lakers' 12-man roster played in the game and everyone scored except for Adam Morrison.
Brook Lopez led the Nets with 26 points and 12 rebounds.
The Lakers essentially won the game in the first quarter, when they built a 27-12 lead by shooting 47.4 percent (9-for-19) and limited the Nets to 27.3 percent shooting (6-for-22). Bryant scored 13 points in the quarter and set the tone for another lopsided win.
By halftime, the Lakers led by 59-34.
Their lead grew to as many as 34 points in the third quarter.
The teams played on, but only because the NBA doesn't have a mercy rule.
"They've got a lot of young kids trying to find an identity," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "They've got to find some sense of unity, and that's going to be difficult. They've got to find a coach who's going to drive them through the next 65 games.
"That's going to be tough."
The Nets will try to avoid their record-setting 18th consecutive loss when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.
The Lakers try for their seventh win in a row when they host New Orleans on Tuesday.
elliott.teaford@dailybreeze.com
---
Long Beach State men's basketball win? Check, against UCLA.
USC football win? Check.
Long Beach State women's basketball win? Check, against Rice.
AFC Wimbledon win? Check.
Melbourne Victory win? Check.
Long Beach State women's volleyball win? Check, times three to close season.
Los Angeles Kings win? Check.
Grambling State football win? Check.
Hawaii Warriors football win? Check.
Las Vegas Locomotives win? Check.
FC Tokyo win? Check.
Chelsea win? Check.
Santos FC ladies win? Check.
Lakewood High School football win? Check.
Los Angeles Lakers win? Check, times two.
Los Angeles Clippers win? Check.
Saskatchewan Roughriders win?
Choke.
In any case, here's an article I wanted to share with you, just for the l.u.l.z. factor. Enjoy.
---
Lakers roll past league's worst team
By Elliott Teaford, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/29/2009 11:16:34 PM PST
Someday, somewhere, the New Jersey Nets will win a game.
Sunday was not that day and Staples Center was not that place, however.
The Lakers ushered the Nets to a date with destiny by sending them reeling to a league record-tying 17th consecutive loss to start the season. The Lakers delivered a 106-87 beat down for their sixth consecutive win - each by double digits.
It hardly was a fair fight.
The Lakers, after all, have an embarrassment of riches at every position; the Nets do not. The Lakers have a deep, experienced and talented team many observers believe is capable of winning a second consecutive NBA championship; the Nets do not.
The Lakers also have a Hall of Fame coach with a league-record 10 championships on his resume sitting on their bench; the Nets do not.
The Nets don't have a coach, period, after they fired Lawrence Frank a few hours before they matched the record for the worst start in league history.
The Nets joined the Miami Heat in 1988-89 and the Clippers in the lockout-shortened 1999 season as the only teams to begin a season 0-17.
New Jersey named assistant coach Tom Barrise as Frank's temporary replacement, but he fared no better than his former boss.
"We were aware of that (the Nets' losing streak)," backup guard Jordan Farmar said. "It's got to be hard. You could see it on their faces. It's starting to take its toll.
"Now is when they've got to keep working hard. Every team they play has got to be nervous."
One night after taking a 33-point victory over the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, the Lakers returned to Staples Center and played with the same detached sense of determination.
Their average margin of victory during their six-game winning streak has been 17.7 points. They haven't scored fewer than 100 points in any of the six and haven't given up more than the 97 the Warriors scored Saturday.
"Our defense is getting better and better," Kobe Bryant said after the Lakers improved to 13-3. "We're working really, really hard at it. Our energy has been consistent.
"This is something we feel we can maintain."
The Lakers went about their business Sunday without a trace of emotion as they kicked the Nets from one end of the court to the other. Garbage time came as early as it has all season as the Lakers reserves played significant minutes.
Bryant led the Lakers' onslaught with 30 points on 11-for-17 shooting in just more than 28 minutes. He did not play in the fourth quarter, what with the Lakers leading by 87-60 heading into the final period.
Pau Gasol had 20 points on 8-for-13 shooting and a team-leading nine rebounds in 37:04. He took a seat with the Lakers ahead by 21 points with 5:59 remaining in the game. He was the only Lakers starter to play in the fourth quarter.
Farmar led the Bench Mob with a season-high 15 points. Everyone on the Lakers' 12-man roster played in the game and everyone scored except for Adam Morrison.
Brook Lopez led the Nets with 26 points and 12 rebounds.
The Lakers essentially won the game in the first quarter, when they built a 27-12 lead by shooting 47.4 percent (9-for-19) and limited the Nets to 27.3 percent shooting (6-for-22). Bryant scored 13 points in the quarter and set the tone for another lopsided win.
By halftime, the Lakers led by 59-34.
Their lead grew to as many as 34 points in the third quarter.
The teams played on, but only because the NBA doesn't have a mercy rule.
"They've got a lot of young kids trying to find an identity," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "They've got to find some sense of unity, and that's going to be difficult. They've got to find a coach who's going to drive them through the next 65 games.
"That's going to be tough."
The Nets will try to avoid their record-setting 18th consecutive loss when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.
The Lakers try for their seventh win in a row when they host New Orleans on Tuesday.
elliott.teaford@dailybreeze.com
---
Long Beach State men's basketball win? Check, against UCLA.
USC football win? Check.
Long Beach State women's basketball win? Check, against Rice.
AFC Wimbledon win? Check.
Melbourne Victory win? Check.
Long Beach State women's volleyball win? Check, times three to close season.
Los Angeles Kings win? Check.
Grambling State football win? Check.
Hawaii Warriors football win? Check.
Las Vegas Locomotives win? Check.
FC Tokyo win? Check.
Chelsea win? Check.
Santos FC ladies win? Check.
Lakewood High School football win? Check.
Los Angeles Lakers win? Check, times two.
Los Angeles Clippers win? Check.
Saskatchewan Roughriders win?
Choke.