Lakers roll again...

Los Angeles, CA

At Staples center on Thursday night the Lakers had an easy time handling the 9-34 Washington Wizards. The 117-97 victory was the Lakers 8th wire-wire victory of the year. This is one of those games the Lakers are supposed to win easily and they did it fine fashion. Andrew Bynum led the way again scoring 23 points and 14 rebounds as the Lakers fed the bigs most of the night. Without their own big men, the Wizards were outmatched and over-powered by Pau Gasol and Bynum who combined for 41 points. Los Angeles also scored 58 points in the paint against this smaller opponent. After his 27 minute effort, Lakers big Andrew Bynum had this to say about the game; "We went out there and moved the ball. Everybody got shots. they were undermanned, and we were able to take advantage of them on the block." It was another kind of night for Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant. In 28 minutes on the third anniversary of his 81 point annihilation of the Toronto Raptors, Bryant had a quiet night, 11 points, five dimes, and 4 rebounds. This is the kind of game that is promising to the throngs of Laker fans. Kobe not being Kobe, and the team still rolling. With Andrew and Pau being so effective down low I think this Lakers team can become unstoppable. Apparently, Derek Fisher thinks along those same lines,

"I'm happy for him. (and my own legs at that) If Andrew can continue to have that type of presence in the middle - no matter who the other team is - we're going to be a much better team, says Fisher. "He seems to just be getting more comfortable on the court, physically. He came into the season off a serious knee surgery and hadn't really played basketball since last January."

That's a scary omen for what may come to teams that face Bynum and the Lakers in June. Andrew Bynum is our next big man, our next star. This could be the beginning of a new era in Los Angeles. Sit back and enjoy.

News on our other star, no, still our brightest star, Kobe is playing with a dislocated ring finger on his right hand. Still in the four games before tonight he has amassed two triple-doubles and was named to his 11th consecutive All-Star squad. Kobe Bryant led all western Conference players in voting and was third overall behind Orlando's Dwight Howard, and Lebron James of the Cavaliers. In his All-Star game career, Bryant is averaging 18 points in 26 minutes with an above average 50% shooting clip. He has been named the games Most Valuable Player twice, matching Magic Johnson and Shaquille O'neal as the only three Lakers to accomplish the feat. Phil Jackson will coach the West in the All-Star game played Sunday Feb. 15th in Phoenix, AZ.

The Lakers have a couple of days now to prepare for a revenge match with the Spurs. I'm sure Lakers coach Phil Jackson and most of the team wouldn't call it such. Let it be understood they all know the importance of this game. The Spurs, led by Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu 'flops' Ginobli are a likely competitor to Los Angeles in the Western conference Finals. Duncan was also recently named an All-Star for the 10th time. The game is Sunday at 12:30 local time, the Lakers are 17-0 on Sundays this season. Don't those white jerseys look sweet.