ESPN

This being the first chat since the Lakers' season ended, there were predictably lot of questions in play. Who stays? Who goes? Is Mike Brown the right coach? Will Kobe Bryant restructure his deal to allow the Lakers more flexibility while retooling the roster?

The answer to question #4 is "no," because that's not legal for NBA contracts. This is worth separate clarification even before directing folks to the chat room link, because we're constantly asked this question. Can't happen. Won't happen. Dead issue. And as long as we're killing this approach, Kobe also can't be amnestied, then quickly resigned to the veteran's minimum while still getting his original money. Any amnestied player cannot rejoin his former team until the duration of the original contract ends. In other words, Kobe could wouldn't be a Laker again until the 2014-2015 season. Probably not what those making the suggestion had in mind.

As for questions 1-3 (and more), click on the aforementioned link.

Lots of talk about the debacle in Game 1 (has "The World Naked Gardening Day Pruning" caught on, yet? I didn't think so.), and looking ahead to tonight's Game 2.

And while there is still a lot of hoops left to play against OKC, more than a few fans are looking forward to the offseason. We take a look at what might be coming, as well.

Here's the link to the transcript.

Really, Sunday's game couldn't have gone any better for the Lakers. A triple-double for Andrew Bynum keying a dominant defensive performance for the team. A near trip-dub from the ever-productive Pau Gasol, and 31 points from Kobe Bryant following a huge second half.

But the day wouldn't have been nearly the success without the supporting cast. Steve Blake, Jordan Hill, and Devin Ebanks all played significant roles, and the Lakers now have a 1-0 lead after a 103-88 win. The Lakers played great defense, controlled the tempo, moved the ball, and generally speaking showed impeccable discipline on the floor.

We talk about all that and more on Sunday's edition of Lakers Late Night. In show postgame video from Mike Brown and Bynum.



Click below for more video, from Brown, Bynum, Devin Ebanks, Jordan Hill, Ramon Sessions, and Pau Gasol.

(Read full post)

It was a lively morning on the chat in the wake of Metta World Peace's suspension. Plenty of conversation about the implications going forward, and they are significant. Plus questions about resting starters for Thursday's game, whether Kobe Bryant ought to go for the scoring title, and more.

Here's the link to the transcript.

It wasn't always pretty -- actually, it rarely was -- but the Lakers nonetheless pulled out a 112-108 overtime win over the Dallas Mavericks Sunday afternoon at Staples. The team hunkered down and ragained control of the contest after a sluggish start, and consistent with their victorious ways short Kobe Bryant, a group effort ruled the day. Andrew Bynum (playing with an upper-respiratory illness), Pau Gasol, Matt Barnes, Metta World Peace and Ramon Sessions all reached double figures. Defensively, everyone who stepped on the floor chipped in his two cents. As a team, they clamped down in the second half (44 points allowed in Q's three and four) and kept the Mavs off the line.

We hit on their strong games, and more, including how the Lakers managed to win when three big cogs (Gasol, Bynum, and MWP) weren't models of efficiency, what happens when Bryant returns, and whether the Lakers are actually peaking heading into the postseason. If so, who gets the credit?



Good clips in the show from Mike Brown and Gasol. Click below for more from the head coach, Gasol, and Ramon Sessions.

(Read full post)

Can the Lakers compete tonight against the Spurs without Kobe Bryant? If the answer is no, (a) should Mike Brown consider resting Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum and (b) does this mean The Mamba should merit more consideration for MVP honors?

These and other questions were tackled in today's chat. Here's the link to the room.

Once again, the Lakers and Clippers put on a show, and for the second time in three tries the Lakers came out on top, winning 113-108 Wednesday night at Staples Center. With the victory, the Lakers take the season series, and put themselves in very strong position to take the Pacific Division and the third seed in the Western Conference.

A pair of Blake Griffin dunks will dominate the highlights, but there was a lot more to cover, starting with a huge night from Andrew Bynum. 36 points, most of them coming at the expense of DeAndre Jordan, and 31 from that Kobe guy. We hit on all that, and insert a little vintage Bill Bixby for good measure on Wednesday's edition (Thursday morning, technically) of Lakers Late Night.



Click below for a boatload of postgame video, from Kobe Bryant, Mike Brown, Pau Gasol, Ramon Sessions, and more...

(Read full post)