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From the moment the Lakers traded Derek Fisher to the Rockets, a buyout was heavily anticipated. The odds of Fisher remaining with an 8-ish seed for the remainder of a career in its severe twilight felt low. And even with Kyle Lowry sidelined, third-stringer Jonny Flynn traded to Portland, and the Rockets looking to make a playoff push, one never got the impression the front office was as interested in Fisher as the incoming first round pick. Thus, it was expected Fisher would eventually join a contender, and a decision didn't take long to materialize. ESPN.com's Marc Stein is reporting that Fisher and the Thunder have agreed to terms and the veteran will be paid with a portion of the team's mid-level exception. Royce Young from Daily Thunder is reporting the old man (cheekily wearing "37") will be in uniform tonight against the Clippers), and Sam Amick from SI has a copy of Fish's statement about joining a new club.

From minute one, the Thunder felt to me like the most logical destination. For starters, there's a need for his services. Eric Maynor's season-long absence has created a void at backup point guard yet to be productively filled by rookie Reggie Jackson or Royal Ivey. 10-15 minutes from Fisher could provide some utility and remove a ball-handling burden from James Harden in the second unit. The Thunder are a supremely talented team with a legitimate chance at a championship, but low on legitimate championship experience. Beyond Kendrick Perkins and Nazr Mohammed, both of whom have rings, nobody else has even been to the Finals. Fisher brings a serious helping of "been there, done that" to the table. And latching on with a Western Conference squad allows him a potential crack at the Lakers during the playoffs, and I'll go out on a limb and predict that prospect is mighty tantalizing to him.

Plus, unlike my brother, I'm aware of Oklahoma's proximity to Arkansas, where Fisher's from and his family resides.

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Via ESPN.com's Marc Stein:

"The Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder have emerged as the early leaders in the race to sign veteran guard Derek Fisher after he clears waivers on Wednesday, according to sources close to the situation.

With the Chicago Bulls needing another big man more than another guard and the San Antonio Spurs still hopeful that they can complete the signing of guard Patrick Mills by week's end, sources told ESPN.com that Miami and Oklahoma City are the current frontrunners to land Fisher, who was formally waived Monday night by the Houston Rockets."

To help facilitate his buyout, Fisher reportedly dropped a $3.4 million player option for next season, kissing goodbye a significant amount of money -- no level of performance the rest of the way earns him anywhere near that next season -- to play for a contender now. The trade may have been a necessary second step following the acquisition of Ramon Sessions, but nonetheless instantly created the possibility of Fisher joining a high-end team the Lakers could meet down the stretch and into the playoffs.

Bad as he's been on the floor (and he's been bad), if some of the Tweets and emails we've received are any indication, the idea of getting down to crunch time and seeing Fisher in the other team's uni makes a lot of fans nervous. Particularly given how motivated he'd be to stick it to Lakers management.

So with that in mind, I ask: Are you scared at all of Derek Fisher?

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Similar to how it wasn't prudent to get overly cocky after the win over Miami, panicking over Tuesday's loss in Detroit doesn't necessarily make a ton of sense. However, if that L is compounded by another against the 8-29 Wizards, I won't even bother trying to talk you good people off the ledge. There are much more enjoyable, productive ways to waste my own time.

For the inside track on the Wizards, we tracked down Kyle Weidie, who runs Truth About It for the True Hoop Network. Here are his responses to four question about D.C.'s squad.

Land O' Lakers: The Wizards roster isn't lacking entirely for talent, but the parts feel poorly matched. What primarily prevents the central players from jelling even moderately well?

Kyle Weidie: Building around a guy like John Wall requires long distance shot makers, and seeing as the Wizards have an NBA-5th worst eFG% of 46.1, team management hasn't provided their franchise face what he needs. This area hasn't been addressed through the draft in years, and veterans like Rashard Lewis, Roger Mason and Mo Evans aren't cutting it. Nick Young, who leads the Wizards with 38.2 percent three-point shooting, hijacks too many possessions for an ideal spot-up partner.

Washington's other glaring need is an offensive block player. The Wizards are desperate for an intelligent, space-eating player to run the half-court offense from the post. I'm not sure who thought JaVale McGee and Andray Blatche could form a united frontcourt tandem. The two mix as well as a cottage cheese, jellybean and raw herring taco.

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Ever since getting swept from the 2011 playoffs, the Lakers have been in search of a championship identity. That quest has looked largely fruitless this season, but recently, reasons for optimism have surfaced. Increasing point totals. Road games turning less treacherous. A quiet string of wins fueling a quiet rise toward the top of the Pacific Division. Still, the Lakers haven't quite looked the part of champions. They've been in need of a signature win, a seminal moment.

Sunday's contest against the Miami Heat theoretically placed such an opportunity in their laps. LeBron James & Co. were predicted by many (including yours truly) to win the whole shebang. They've also spanked the Lakers in the three previous "Big Three"-era games. Another loss, and envisioning the 2012 Larry O'Brien trophy in El Segundo would have required the combined imaginations of Lewis Carroll, Salvador Dali and Tim Burton. Damning evidence can only be viewed so long before being treated as fact.

This importance openly acknowledged, the court on Sunday was taken with a focus, energy and defensive intensity unmatched all season. The Lakers drew first blood, then withstood Miami's second-half charge. But the ensuing 93-83 win came with a caveat. The Heat played without Chris Bosh, which can't be ignored. He's probably the most ridiculed seven-time-running All-Star in NBA history, but Bosh is a highly skilled big man who drastically enhances the effectiveness of Miami's attack.

Thus, the W felt a bit like champagne sitting too long in an uncorked bottle. It still provides a buzz, but nonetheless tastes a little flat. That's not to say it wasn't a quality win. Beating LeBron and D-Wade always matters. But the fine print matters, and in many ways, mirrors how the Lakers' recent success still leaves lingering doubts. Take, for example, their eight wins over the past 10 games ...

1. 94-92 win at Toronto: No Andrea Bargnani, the Raptors are terrible, the Lakers barely won. A long trip only excuses so much.
2. 87-78 win against Atlanta: A solid win.
3. 111-99 win against Phoenix: The Suns aren't very good.
4. 102-90 loss at Phoenix: See above.
5. 103-92 win against Portland: A win that perhaps looked more impressive before reports of a Rip City meltdown.
6. 96-91 win at Dallas: A commendable road victory, but it's worth noting the Mavs went winless in Lamar Odom's absence (irony alert!).
7. 100-85 loss at Oklahoma City: In a vacuum, these things happen. For the purposes of gauging the Lakers' ability to hang with elite teams, it doesn't bolster confidence.
8. 104-85 win against Minnesota: The Wolves were down Kevin Love, arguably enjoying the best season of any power forward in the league.
9. 115-107 win against Sacramento: The Kings are bad.
10. 93-83 win against Miami: Again, no Bosh.

Even taking into account NBA wins are rarely easy, the "yeah, but" factor becomes more glaring with those details piled on top of each other. Peel one layer of the proverbial onion, and you realize just how many skins remain. Peeling that onion raises the bigger question of buying into the Lakers as a contender.

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For those who enjoy the full postgame press conference experience, see the clips below. Kobe Bryant and Mike Brown meeting the media following Sunday's win over Miami.

(NOTE: Tonight's Lakers Late Night replay won't be available. Unfortunately, we ran into a technical glitch after the show, and the file was lost. Apologies.)

The Lakers did yeoman's work defensively Sunday afternoon against the Heat, and came away with a big 93-83 win. Kobe Bryant led the way with 33 points, including 18 in the first quarter and nine in the fourth, and was supported not just by Andrew Bynum (16 points, 13 rebounds) but Metta World Peace (17/7/3, plus four steals).

Without blowing it out of proportion, the Lakers were clearly satisfied by the quality of the win. It continues a quiet-but-clear upward trend -- L.A. has now won eight of ten -- aided by their continued growth in understanding and comfort in Mike Brown's system, but also Brown's willingness to loosen up on the reins a little.

Here, Kobe talks about why that's happened, and how it has impacted the team:



Fair to say after his performance Sunday, Metta was rightly feeling confident. Bryant spoke of his increased fitness, as did Mike Brown, and MWP agreed his body is as good as it's been in a long time, dating back to last season when he dealt with a variety of physical issues.

His response to the question of how he managed to make a guy like LeBron James work hard for his numbers was vintage.

"I've been playing defense [since] before I met LeBron."

From there, World Peace explained why he was, relatively speaking, able to contain James. "I'm going to answer this as honest as I can, but I'm one of the best defensive players ever... on the wing," Metta said. "I think that's the answer."

No question MWP has been a truly dominant defender, but the accuracy of his statement, whether historically or as a reflection of his current skill level is beyond the point. We've heard moments of swagger from Metta at different points this season, and last as well. Now, though, he's backing it up with much better play on the floor. MWP has long used interviews with the media almost as affirmations, reminding himself of one thing or another and reinforcing messages important for his overall well being.

If his Twitter account means anything, his inner monologue (which never stays inner for long) is heading in a positive direction, as it relates to the quality of his play. The Lakers have to hope this sort of talk is self-fulfilling. Good games lead to more confident proclamations which lead to more good games, because nobody in L.A.'s supporting cast can change the team's complexion in a positive direction like a productive World Peace.



Click below for more video, from Bryant, Andrew Bynum, World Peace, and Andrew Goudelock.

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The Lakers have played well of late, winning seven-of-nine entering Sunday's game at Staples. Still, they lacked what might be considered a signature win.

Fair to say they solved that problem, knocking off the Miami Heat by 10.

Here are five takeaways...

1. The Lakers brought serious energy early.

This was the rare regular-season game at Staples with a true postseason atmosphere. The building was full well before tip, and fans were on their feet long before the starting lineups were announced. Whether motivated by circumstances or pushed on by the crowd, the Lakers translated that energy into serious activity, particularly on their end. Nothing came easy for Miami, as the Lakers forced four first-quarter turnovers generating six points on the break. Andrew Bynum blocked three shots. The Heat shot only 39.1 percent over the first 12 minutes, and only 35.3 in the second.

At the other end, the Lakers moved the ball effectively, earning assists on nine of their 13 first-quarter field goals. Add in a red-hot Kobe Bryant, who scored a whopping 18 points out of the gate, and it was one of the best starts the Lakers have had all year, if not the best.

2. Metta World Peace was a positive force.

Quietly, MWP has really picked things up. Over the five games leading into Sunday afternoon's tilt, he'd averaged 8.3 points, 4.2 boards and 3.8 assists while shooting 43 percent from beyond the arc. Relatively modest numbers, but a major boost over what he'd been doing for most of the season. Sunday, the positive trend continued, and then some. While it wasn't always pretty -- some of his scoring possessions included more dribbling than a toddler learning to drink from a glass -- in the end Metta was a credible option offensively for the Lakers, hitting 6 of 10 shots for 17 points, moving the ball well (three assists), grabbing seven boards and doing some of that MWP stuff that can make him valuable. Tipping loose balls and keeping plays alive under the rack, and so on.

Defensively, Metta was a force as well, doing what he could to put a body on LeBron James and make his life difficult, clogging up passing lanes and generally making himself a nuisance. The defense is what people expect. If he can bring it while being a positive on the other end, the Lakers become a very different team.

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It's not often we do game specific podcasts, given how this truncated schedules affords them so little shelf life. However, certain games are big enough to make an exception, and a date with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh would qualify as such. We break down the implications of Sunday's marquee matchup, whether on the court or moving forward this season. Clock on the module to hear the entire show, and below is a breakdown of talking points:

- (3:01): After paying tribute to our wives' mutual love of "The Golden Girls" (those sassy blue hairs lived in Miami, after all), we talk about break down the implications with Sunday's game against the Heat. For starters, Broken-Nose-And-Concussion-Gate. Wade has insisted his foul on Kobe Bryant during the All-Star Game wasn't delivered with an intent to injure. Kobe himself has insisted it wasn't delivered with an intent to injure. But Laker fans certainly don't believe Flash and more importantly, Matt Barnes views the incident as another example of why he and Metta World Peace may have to adopt the role of enforcer and enforcer sidekick. (MWP would be the head honcho, which I only imagine is a source of comfort for everyone involved.)

Will the incident in Orlando lead to excessive chippiness in L.A. come Sunday? And if so, does that play into the Lakers' favor?

- (10:45): How are the Lakers gonna put up points against the Heat? Last season, the Lakers couldn't score against them while Miami was still in the "getting to know each other" stages. This season, the Lakers are the ones lacking continuity, and the Heat have only gotten better defensively.

- (12:00): How would a win on Sunday affect our perception of the Lakers? At the very least, I could maintain a more open mind towards the potential for this team moving forward. Wholeheartedly buying in, no questions asked, as the result of one victory feels like a premature reaction, but there's no question this would represent a very strong win. A loss, however, would mark the fourth in as many tries in Miami's James-Wade-Bosh era, and naturally prompts skepticism about how much they're really improving against legitimate competition.

- (17:30): More important than how Brian or I will react to the results against the Heat, how will the front office?

- (19:40): How much will money be a factor for the Lakers moving forward? And even if they are willing to pony up whatever it takes to secure a young superstar, the opportunities may be few and far between? We go through the list of the league elites under 30, and the overwhelming majority are locked up.

Kobe Bryant did what he could following Wednesday's win over Minnesota to diffuse any talk of bad blood between himself and Miami's Dwyane Wade -- at this point, do I need to explain what I'm referring to? -- ahead of Sunday's game. Clearly his words of moderation never reached Matt Barnes.

The Lakers forward said last night he saw the foul Wade put on Kobe in the All-Star Game as part of a pattern in which opposing teams are allowed to push the Lakers around without fear of consequences, in part because "me and [Metta World Peace] act like we're going to do stuff, and get flagrant fouls called on us. Hopefully they'll let us play. If they're going to let the league play physical, they need to start letting our team play physical."

Barnes, who said he views Metta as the team's true enforcer (not unreasonably) and himself as the enforcer's "sidekick" later reiterated his point. "If they're gonna let our star players continue to get beat up," he said, referencing not just the Wade foul but the one delivered by Brendan Haywood to Pau Gasol Feb. 22 in Dallas, "we're going to have to step up."

Barnes' comments reflect the sort of "us against the world" language coming out of the locker room meeting the players had 10 or so days ago, and it's anyone's guess how this sort of talk might play out on the floor, whether in Sunday's game against the Heat or any of the other 30 left on the slate. The Lakers don't have much margin for error against the league's best teams and can't afford to do anything stupid during games -- something Mike Brown would be wise to emphasize -- but given the style of play they've adopted (by virtue of coaching style and necessity) whatever adds even the slightest sense of hesitation in the minds of opposing players could help.

Not sure the talk qualifies, but a couple clean-but-hard fouls for people to watch on tape might.

The Lakers are about to kick off the second half, which means plenty of action in the room. Among the talking points were Kobe Bryant's concussion, trade scenarios and Andrew Bynum's knee.

Here is the link to the chat.

Not to impugn the importance of ears, noses, and throats, for a handy trio they make, but brain trumps all three. So when Kobe Bryant was sent Tuesday from an ear, nose, and throat specialist to a neurologist for an MRI, it seemed a little worrisome. Following practice in El Segundo this afternoon, the Lakers said in a statement the 16-year veteran had in fact suffered not just a nasal fracture in Sunday's All-Star Game, but a concussion as well following a hard third-quarter foul from Miami's Dwyane Wade.

Kobe will be re-evaluated ahead of Wednesday's game against the Timberwolves at Staples, at which point his availability can be determined. In a move that may or may not be related, the Lakers recalled Devin Ebanks from the D-League. He was at practice this afternoon, and could be active tomorrow.

Interestingly, the NBA adopted a new policy this year regarding concussions, creating a protocol determining when a player can return to action after suffering a head injury. Players now must be symptom free, then successfully complete a series of physical tests of increasing difficulty (stationary bike, jogging, agility work, non-contact team drills) while avoiding the return of symptoms. From there, the NBA's neurologist leading the program must be consulted before the player can return to the floor.

How all this impacts Kobe's timeline is something I don't yet know, though missing Wednesday's game certainly is a possibility. The protocol for clearance takes time.

Nobody doubts Bryant would play with a broken nose, but obviously concussions are an entirely different issue requiring far more caution. Hopefully his is mild and the doctor declares him good to go tomorrow, but the Lakers and Bryant would be wise to play this one very, very safe. Beyond the big picture issues of Bryant's overall well being, the last thing they need is for symptoms to linger.

Meanwhile, this will certainly add another layer of intrigue to Sunday's game against the Heat.

There was much to dislike in Thursday's loss to the Heat in Miami Thursday night, and we talk about all of them!

Among the big topics of conversation:

• After scoring 73 points Monday against Dallas, the Lakers managed to post 87 tonight... but needed a garbage time, 31-point fourth quarter to get there. L.A. had 39 points at the half, which ain't gonna cut it. Pau Gasol had a nice game, but everyone else struggled.
• Things have slowed down over the last two games for Kobe Bryant. We talk about why.
• The lack of bench production, or more specifically the lack of specific parts that might make the guys they have more effective. The whole Metta World Peace-as-sixth-man experiment appears to have stalled.
• Friday vs. Orlando: We try to put all the Bynum-for-Howard talk in context.

All that, plus a jaunty tune to lighten the mood. Hope you enjoy it.

The Lakers dropped to 10-6 Thursday night, with an increasingly disturbing 1-5 record on the road tucked inside, as the Miami Heat dominated almost from the start.

Little went right for the Lakers, save what was arguably Pau Gasol's best game of the season. Twenty-six points on 11-for-19 shooting, eight rebounds, two dimes, one block and much more decisive decision-making.

Here are five takeaways …

1. Monday's problems with the offense carried into Thursday.

It took a 27-point fourth quarter to push the Lakers to 73 points Monday night against Dallas. That they managed to win that game was something of a minor miracle. Against a better Heat team, even one missing Dwyane Wade, the shenanigans of a couple days ago just wouldn't work, as demonstrated by their 37 points at the break. Some of it was bad luck -- the Lakers missed a few shots around the bucket they normally make. Guys were cold, too. Together, Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, and Metta World Peace scored 17 points on 5-for-19 shooting. Only Gasol (13 points) was in double figures, or at 50 percent from the floor among Lakers taking more than one shot.

It didn't get much better in the third (19 points) but by the middle of the quarter, it was basically academic. Overall, the Lakers weren't able to exploit any advantages inside, or create enough off-ball movement to generate better looks around the perimeter. And, once again, they couldn't hit a 3-pointer (6-20, or 30 percent, some of the "explosion" coming in a meaningless fourth quarter), a trend plaguing the Lakers throughout the season, even in games they've won.

2. Kobe's sweet spots are getting a little less sweet.

In the four games prior to Dallas, Bryant had scored 77 of his 172 points inside 10 feet or at the free throw line. Via ESPN Stats and Information, against the Mavs, Bryant had only one FTA, and it came on a technical foul. Three of his 22 shots came from 10 and in. Tonight, Bryant again had trouble getting to the bucket. Through three (meaning the parts when the game was even kind of in question) quarters, Bryant had 12 shots. One bucket from three feet, another from nine, and the rest of his hoists were in that 16-and-beyond range. This, plus four free throws. It's not that Kobe can't hit the midrange jumper -- no guard does it better -- but easier points have to be found in there somewhere.

A couple of things may be happening. Kobe could be tiring out just a little, or opposing teams could be doing better keeping him out of his ideal spots, knowing the Lakers don't have much by way of counters -- i.e., the offensive issues plaguing the Lakers as a group have finally filtered down to Bryant. Or both. In any combination, it's bad news for the Lakers.

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The first meeting between these teams last season was met with enough hype to make P.T. Barnum blush. (It was also met with enough purple and gold lethargy to make a Lakers fan lose his Christmas brunch.) One year -- and two similarly disappointing series against the Dallas Mavericks -- later, and the setting has changed. The Lakers are trying to prove that a championship pedigree still exists, while the Heat are trying to prove their pedigree is matched by a championship heart. A win in AmericanAirlines Arena would help re-establish the Lakers' credibility, and a win with Dwyane Wade possible in street clothes would be a meaningful one for the Heat.

For a look inside Thursday's extravaganza, we talked some shop with Tom Haberstroh, who covers the Big Three & Co. for the Heat Index.

Brian Kamenetzky: Is Wade going to play Thursday?

Tom Haberstroh: I'd bet my authentic Drazen Petrovic jersey that Wade is not going to play. All the players at Wednesday's practice spoke as if he was already ruled out. Erik Spoelstra called him "day-to-day," which has been his status for a couple weeks now.

BK: So what does that mean? They're like Tim Tebow without him. All they do is win. Or at least like pre-losing Tebow.

TH: This is a great point. Maybe we have to look into this a little more, because LeBron made some Tebow comments before the game that Wade got hurt in ... Conspiracy! Wade being out means that LeBron James and Chris Bosh get to go back to their Cleveland and Toronto days, respectively. You saw the free-wheeling attitude Tuesday against the Spurs.

But I should add -- 4-0 does NOT mean that they're better without Wade. Bosh and LeBron are better without Wade, but the Heat are not better. Need to put this meme to bed.

Andy Kamenetzky: Kinda like the meme people throw out whenever the Lakers happen to win a game without Kobe. Having said that, how much confusion still lingers between LeBron and Wade in terms of co-existence?

TH: They're worlds better than they were Jan. 19, 2011, but they still have a way to go. I'm still clamoring for more Wade/LeBron pick-and-rolls, but something tells me Spoelstra is keeping that trick up his sleeve for the playoffs. But I think it's no secret that they need to create more actions where each of the Big Three are moving together, not just LeBron and Wade.

Of course, it makes it tough when Wade is in street clothes with a canary-yellow diamond in his ear weighing him down.

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Generally speaking, any time Kobe Bryant and LeBron James walk on the same court it creates an enormous amount of hype and interest, meaning Thursday's game in Miami is prime time stuff. Add the first reunion (of sorts) between James and his former coach Mike Brown, and there's another level of intrigue.

Normally, this is Game of the Week type stuff.

Except less than 24 hours after Black Mamba vs. King James, the Lakers head to Orlando. There, all eyes will be aimed at the paint, with Andrew Bynum, Dwight Howard, and The Great Trade Speculation of '12. When next these teams meet, will the centers have swapped uniforms? I suspect many Lakers fans will be rooting for Bynum to outplay Howard, not because it could lead to a Lakers victory, but in the hope it might encourage Orlando to take Drew in a deal.

"Play well, so we can get someone better!" Kinda cold, but that's sports.

So I ask: If you could only pick one game to watch, which would it be?


Personally, I'll take Orlando (the likely lack of Dwyane Wade sucks some air from the Lakers/Heat balloon), but I can see the results of this one going either way.