Back to basics for PJ's squad.

El Segundo, Ca

Phil Jackson as well as Kurt Rambis, Brian Shaw, Jim Cleamons, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Craig Hodges and Frank Hamblen are going back to the drawing boards. The focus lies sharply on defense. After allowing the Kings guards to score 60 of 108 points and shoot an outstanding 57.7% from the floor, timing couldn't be better. Los Angeles has allowed their opponents to net an average of 101 points the last five games after only 88 points per game in the first seven. With their 92.7 pt opponent average, the Lakers rank fifth in the NBA. Los Angeles, however, ranks first in scoring at 105.9 per contest. No team has ever lead the league in both categories since the NBA moved to the four division format preceding the 1970-71 season, and then expanded again to a six division format prior to the 2004-2005 campaign. Twelve times a team has finished the season in the top five in both, and only twice have teams finished in the top three in both areas of the floor. The 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks did it(1st in Off. 3rd in Def.). Then Phil Jackson's 1995-96 Chicago Bulls team(1st Off. 3rd Def.) did it following a loss to the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals the year before. PJ might be trying to duplicate a successful season following tragedy as his Bulls did in 1996, going an NBA record 72-10, and then beating the Seattle Supersonics 4-2 to win the NBA Championship. 

The Lakers now get a good test of that extra days practice when they host the New Jersey Nets at home tonight. The Nets bring in a high flying backcourt duo of  Vince Carter and Devin Harris who are both in the top ten in scoring with 24 and 23 points a game respectively. Kobe Bryant will be tasked with guarding Carter most of the night. These two athletes love facing each other and lead to some entertaining games for the fans. Last season in two games Kobe averaged 18.5 and Carter averaged 23, Bryant had the season high with 31. 

Anaheim, yes, Anaheim, Ca

The Anaheim Angels, who are preparing for a possible loss of 1B Mark Teixeira to the free agent market are setting their sights elsewhere to be safe. The  Angels team website and the LA Times are now reporting that C.C. Sabathia has surfaced on the radar of the team big time. They are reported to possibly be offering C.C. a contract of $137 million over 6 years, somewhat like the Mets gave Cy Young winner, Johan Santana last year. Sabathia went 19-7 and 17-10 over the past two seasons. He is just 28 years old and projects to be a dominant pitcher for years to come. The Dodgers have had no further talks with C.C.'s agent Greg Genske.