Lakers @ Hornets - 5:00 pm - New Orleans

[tkb]

We have 3 games now against weak teams we have to win before the schedule turns really ugly.

[semi-sentient]

Yep. Great time to build some solid momentum for that stretch though.

The only thing we need to do is stay healthy.

[Kobay]

Kwame's looked really good recently: moving well, his offensive game has been much better, defense is still solid, His stroke, both on those mid-range J's he's been shooting and from the stripe, has looked better also.

I gotta agree, he finally can hit the free throws which will be a boost at the back up.

[iamworthy]

Now we can't get over excited, we need to stay humble.

[Slava]

Very impressive!

I'd give Lamar a A+ on D tonight. He just kept David West in check today when he was in an all star form.

[Kobe_for_3]

lo did a great job on west in the second half. He didnt let him get where he wanted to go.

[SpaceJam]

This was a tough team, and Lakers did their job. Looking in at the next 3 games, i expect them to all be wins and treated the same way as today.

[Leonidas]

Lakers playing TEAM basketball.... Sounds so fresh...

[Sedale Threatt]

We won this game on the defensive end, specifically by keeping Paul from getting into the paint and creating for his teammates.

Last game -- franchise record 21 dimes, Hornets win by 14. Tonight -- five assists, Lakers win by 29. Without help, players like Stojakovic (nine points) and Peterson (zero) wither on the vine and die.

Great job trapping Paul and forcing him to be a scorer, not a passer. Excellent game plan, excellent execution...just well done all around learning from our many mistakes in the last meeting.

I also thought Lamar battled very hard against West in the paint. That's a tough matchup, and Lamar hung right in there. And what more can you say about B-17? Seventeen points on 80 percent shooting and nine rebounds against one of the better defensive centers in the league. Outstanding.

[TommyTheCat]

also it's pretty big that these last two wins were back to back nights on the road......................second night against the better team.

[TylersLakers]

Well, missed the game because of basketball practise, but what a thing to come home to.

Looks like Kobe played near flawless. Just keep that shooting at 50%. I don't care if you score 70 or 15.. keep it at 50%, and that's what he did tonight. 7 rebounds, 7 assists.. If he played 40 mins, he probably would have had a triple double.

Bynum, again, 8-10. You just keep on waiting and thinking it's time for him to slow down, but it's not happening. Keep it up, big man.

[TylersLakers]

Also, who guarded Chris Paul all night? Who ever did, must have done an excellent job. Made him a scorer, and that's what you want to do with a player like him. I was thinking before the game they should have put Ariza or Kobe on him.

[DEEP3CL]

The growth continues................

[EHL]

Man, this season is really turning out perfectly. I said 55 the first week of November, but they might even be better than that if they can just stay healthy. Loving it.

[CITYOFANGELSX3]

We're playing great right now, looking at this team i dont know how we lost to The celtics. We should of been the ones to give them their 4th loss not The bobcats.

I cant remember our last loss before Boston. We have to be atleast 8-2 in our last 10 games.

[semi-sentient]

We're on pace to win 55 right now, so we'll have to sustain a very high level or play to reach that. I predicted around 53, so anything above that would be stellar.

[Mindflayer]

A+ game from everyone. Another few weeks playing like this and we may be challenging for the Western conference lead.

[ChocolateThundr]

I dont really care about individual stats like Kobe's recent funk as long as we are playing together, hard, and defense. Which we are doing right now and I hope it stays this way

[J Rob]

I dont really care about individual stats like Kobe's recent funk as long as we are playing together, hard, and defense. Which we are doing right now and I hope it stays this way

I've felt the same way all season. I could care less what happens stat-wise.

I'm just enjoying 14 wins in 17 games.

[Dexmor]

I am starting to really like Ariza. What the doctors said about his foot I really hope isn't true. I could see him becoming that third star if Kwame doesn't get us one. 10 points and 7 boards in 24 minutes. He is freaking great.
I am telling you I am not afraid of any team in the league besides the boston Celtics and if one of the big 3 go down I think we got a real chance to take it this year. Dallas, Suns, don't scare me and the Spurs are the "perfect team" but they don't seem hungry. I think we got a shot.
If the triple M (Mitch) pulls off a star for Kwame,Luke,pg for a legit star or Odom for JO or anything like that I think that puts us above the Celtics. I know I get ahead of myself but I think this team can do it.
The only roadblock I see is a nontrade plus a Luke starting and the big C's 3 staying healthy. I think we would destroy the Pistons as well.
I can't believe this is happening this year.
Also when Isiah gets fired we should hire him because if you combine Mitch's drafts with Isiah's draft you get every steal every year.