Tonight is an opportunity for the Lakers to continue their winning streak. The Lakers play Milwaukee tonight at home with a record of 16-21 (11th in the West). The Bucks are 19-17 (8th in the East). Since the Bucks fired Scott Skiles as head coach, they have won 3 of 4 games under interim coach Jim Boylan. The Lakers have an all-time record of 77-45 against the Bucks and a 48-12 at home record.
Although much better Sunday night, the Lakers still need to improve defensively as a team (a nnumber of individual players have strong defensive numbers). Kobe’s leadership can be a tremendous factor in the Lakers’ defense tonight. If he performs and is more attentive, others will follow. The Lakers also need to watch out for their turnovers, as they gave up 22 possessions on Sunday night. Hopefully everything clicks, as a win will allow the team to build some momentum.
Pau Gasol will be out for tonight’s game, making it the fifth game he has missed with a concussion. In total, he has missed 12 of the Lakers’ past 37 games. Dwight Howard didn’t give fans and reporters much to talk about concerning his shoulder after Monday’s practice. He is expected to play tonight which is a good sign. Steve Blake has not been given a date on his return. The back-up PG has been participating in shooting drills, though. And then there is Jordan Hill, who will require surgery on his hip and be out for the rest of the season. With Hill out, Earl Clark should be seeing a lot more playing time off the bench.
The Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation partnered with a resource center in Hollywood called My Friend’s Place last summer, and has remained committed to ending homelessness. The couple joined former President Bill Clinton in celebrating the inception of Step Up on Vine–which is a housing project in Hollywood–on Monday evening. For more information, or to donate clothes, you can visit the Bryants’ website for their foundation at kvbff.org, “like” it on Facebook, or follow on Twitter @KVBFF.
For the rest on the pregame report, click here.
Milwaukee Bucks (19-17) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (16-21)
7:30 PM PST, January 15, 2013
Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
TV: TWC Sports Network
Radio: 710 ESPN (English) 1330 KWKW (Spanish)
Bucks Projected Starting Line-up
PG: Brandon Jennings
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Ersan Ilyasova
PF: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
C: Larry Sanders
Key Reserves: F Mike Dunleavy, G Beno Udrih, G Marquis Daniels
Lakers Nation News
Antawn Jamison: “Nobody is Going to Feel Sorry For This Team”
D’Antoni’s Silver Linings Playbook Is The Right Strategy For The Lakers
With Jordan Hill Out, Earl Clark Must Replace His Spark for the Lakers
Lakers vs. Bucks Pre-Game Report: LA Looks to Gain Momentum
Lakers News: Pau Gasol Ruled Out Tuesday With Concussion
Lakers Practice Report: Injury Update For Pau, Steve Blake & More
VIDEO: “Eazy” Earl Clark And His Emergence In The Rotation
Kobe, Vanessa Bryant Join Former President Bill Clinton In Fight To End Youth Homelessness
Lakers News
Comparing Dwight Howard’s Defense While with the Orlando Magic to His Defense as a Los Angeles Laker [Silver Screen and Roll]
Milwaukee Bucks at Los Angeles Lakers [Silver Screen and Roll]
Writer’s Roundtable: Has D’Antoni been a failure? [Silver Screen and Roll]
Playbook: Dwight Howard vs. Dwight Howard [Silver Screen and Roll]
Preview and Chat: The Milwaukee Bucks [Forum Blue and Gold]
Lakers Still Have Plenty to Prove [ESPN LA]
Clark is Welcome Discovery for Lakers [OC Register]
Earl Clark Soaking in the Added Attention [Inside the Lakers]
Lakers are Asking Kobe Bryant to Take a Bigger Role on Defense [Lakers Now]
Nash: Lakers Goal is the Postseason [Lakers Index]
Bigger Defensive Goal for Kobe Bryant [ESPN]
Monday Practice Roundup [Lakers Blog]
Lakers FYI: Kobe Bryant’s ‘D’ is Topic A After Win [LA Times]
Lakers’ Gasol to Miss 5th Game With Concussion [Yahoo Sports]
Lakers Coach Mike D’Antoni Says His Team’s Season Just Started. Is it Too late? [Ball Don’t Lie]
Mitch Kupchak, Lakers Considering Disabled Player Exception [LA Times]
Dwight Howard Describes Right Shoulder as “Fine” [Inside the Lakers]
Injury Update: Gasol (Concussion) Out; Blake (Abdomen) Improving [Lakers Index]
Bucks- Lakers Preview [Yahoo Sports]
The Lakers Put New Mantra To Work [Lakers Now]
Bryant’s On-Ball Defense Helps End Losing Streak [OC Register]
Small Picture Yes, Big Picture Maybe [Forum Blue and Gold]
Ten Things to Know About Earl Clark [Lakers Index]
Pau Gasol to be Re-Evaluated Wednesday [Inside the Lakers]
Lakers Week 12 Predictions [Lakers Now]
Pau Gasol Will Not Play Against Milwaukee Bucks [SB Nation]
NBA News
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Memphis Grizzlies – Recap [ESPN]
Atlanta Hawks vs. Chicago Bulls – Recap [ESPN]
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks – Recap [ESPN]
Orlando Magic vs. Washington Wizards – Recap [ESPN]
Charlotte Bobcats vs. Boston Celtics – Recap [ESPN]
Raptors out of Rudy Gay Sweepstakes Because of Steep Price [ProBasketballTalk]
Damian Lillard Aims to Become First Rookie Guard Since Michael Jordan to Make NBA All-Star Team [Yahoo Sports]
Working Bodies: NBA Head Injuries [TrueHoop Blog]
NBA Relocation Committee Call Reveals ‘Deal Points’ of Kings’ Proposed Sale to Seattle Group [Yahoo! Sports]
Kings Staring Down ‘Clear Path’ to Move from Sacramento [NBA]
Doc Rivers Says Austin Rivers Thinks Too Much About Basketball [Dime Magazine]
Kevin Love’s Hand Surgery Set for Tuesday [Yahoo! Sports]
Anthony Davis Quietly Exceeding Immense Expectations for Hornets [The Point Forward]
Heckling Courtside Fan Ejected During Jazz/Heat; Wade, Bosh Benched in 4th as Heat Lose (VIDEO) [Ball Don’t Lie]
Andrew Bynum of Philadelphia 76ers Eyes Return Near All-Star break [ESPN]
Report: Memphis Not “Likely” to Trade Rudy Gay at Deadline [ProBasketballTalk]
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns – Recap [SI.com]