The Lakers continue their Grammy road trip tonight against the Nets without Dwight Howard or Metta World Peace. So far, the team is 2-1 on the road and can continue strong if they work hard. Dwight is still recovering from the re-aggravation to his shoulder that occurred late in the game in Phoenix last Wednesday. World Peace is suspended for tonight’s game over his scuffle with Brandon Knight against Detroit.
Howard was re-evaluated for his injury and was listed as day-to-day. Unfortunately, he won’t be playing tonight, even though it was expected he would play. This news is even more difficult now that Metta isn’t playing either; World Peace has been complimenting Gasol in the center position on games in which Howard has been out. Metta’s argument with Knight was under replay the past two days, and officials have decided he threw a sneaky punch to the side of Knight’s head, resulting in the suspension.
After I polled a number of Lakers Nation Twitter followers today on whether or not Metta should have been suspended, a majority of you said “no way!” Even when citing past behavior as a reason why the NBA considered the suspension, many of you still said Metta didn’t deserve it. It seemed to be a general consensus that aggressive behavior can be evident in basketball, and Knight acted out just as much as Metta. About 1/3 of you agreed that Knight should have also been suspended. Almost everyone who responded believed that the only reason World Peace got the call was because of his behavior against Harden last year and his NBA history of bad behavior. Although this could be the case, Metta should know better than to try something sneaky, especially when his reputation supersedes him from time to time. Tonight’s game will feel the loss of the Lakers vet greatly.
Another injury update. Kobe Bryant is said to have elbow tendonitis tonight, and will play through the pain. He was wearing a medicine patch to help with inflammation.
The Lakers have announced their 14th annual youth basketball camp, most commonly know as “Camp Lakers.” Camp Lakers is designed not only to fine tune a broad range of basketball skills, but also to promote the values of hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship for kids age 9-18. Click here for more information including the camp dates.
In fashion news, Lakers Nation has come out with a “I Bleed Purple and Gold” hoodie that is really sick. Cheaper than the team store, and oh so styling, I ordered myself one of these puppies today. Will you be next?
Lakers Nation News
Shootaround Report: Dwight and Metta Out, Kobe Has Elbow Tendinitis
Fittingly, Lakers, Dwight Howard Face Brooklyn At A Crossroads
Lakers News: Dwight Howard Out Tuesday Night Vs. Nets
Lakers News: Metta World Peace Out Vs. Nets Due To Suspension
Lakers News: Camp Lakers 2013 Dates Announced
Lakers vs. Nets Pre-Game Report: Lakers Continue Road Trip in Brooklyn
Lakers News
Game Preview: Los Angeles Lakers at Brooklyn Nets [Silver Screen and Roll]
Gasol Tells All: A Revealing Interview with T.J. Simers [Silver Screen and Roll]
Kobe Bryant Has Sprained Right Elbow, Will Play Through It [Silver Screen and Roll]
Dwight Howard Sits Down with Stephen A. Smith [Silver Screen and Roll]
Preview and Chat: The Brooklyn Nets [Forum Blue and Gold]
Lakers, Tell D12 to Commit or Split! [ESPN]
Pau Gasol Still Not Happy With Role [ProBasketball Talk]
Not Seeing Eye to Eye, Lakers’ Pau Gasol Takes Long View of Coach [LA Times]
Dwight Howard, Metta World Peace Out vs. Nets [Forum Blue and Gold]
Dwight Howard Trying to Avoid ‘Circus’ [ESPN]
Nash Loses All-Time Free-Throw Lead [OC Register]
Camp Lakers 2013 is Set For July [LA Times]
Lakers World Peace, Kobe make least-liked athletes list [ProBasketball Talk]
Lakers Won’t Trade Howard [Hang Time Blog]
January Top 10 Plays [Los Angeles Lakers]
Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak: ‘We will not trade Dwight Howard’ [The Point Forward]
Metta World Peace maintains Lakers are the best in the NBA [LA Times]
‘It’s a possibility’ I’ll Ask For Trade if D’Antoni, Dwight Back with Lakers Next Year [Ball Don’t Lie]
Dwight Howard Injury Spurs Lakers Complaint About Fouls [USA Today]
Metta World Peace Banned One Game [ESPN]
Kobe Has Soreness in Shooting Arm [OC Register]
Dwight Howard Stays Mum on Future. Which is What He Should Do. [ProBasketball Talk]
NBA News
Charlotte Bobcats vs. Miami Heat – Recap [ESPN]
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Washington Wizards – Recap [ESPN]
Detroit Pistons vs. New York Knicks – Recap [ESPN]
Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder – Recap [ESPN]
Chicago Bulls vs. Indiana Pacers – Recap [ESPN]
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves – Recap [ESPN]
Orlando Magic vs. Philadelphia 76ers – Recap [ESPN]
Sixers Nick Young With Breakaway 360 Slam (VIDEO) [ProBasketball Talk]
Can Any East Squad Cool Off Heat? [ESPN]
Andrew Bynum Says Knee Injections Didn’t Work [USA Today]
Timberwolves faked power outage… just like Super Bowl. Get it? (VIDEO) [ProBasketball Talk]
How Much is LeBron James Worth? [ESPN Insider]
Beasley Cited for Multiple Traffic Violations [USA Today]
Ohio Rejecting Some LeBron James Hater License Plates [ProBasketball Talk]
Five Most Cost-Effective Players [ESPN Insider]
Cap Fears Force Grizz to Tear Down Promising Core Too Soon [NBA]
Trade Season Round-Up, Featuring Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard, Rip Hamilton, and Danny Granger [Ball Don’t Lie]
J.J. Redick, Nate Robinson Other Under-the-Radar NBA Contributors [The Point Forward]
Celts Fare Better Without Rondo than Clips Minus Paul [SI.com]
Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra mum on East All-Star Starters [ESPN]
Young Out Three Weeks for Philadelphia 76ers [USA Today]
The NBA’s Dress Code Police Ask Joakim Noah to Leave the Bench During a Game, and Change Out of His Sweater [Ball Don’t Lie]
Doc Rivers: Trade Talk Media-Driven [ESPN]
Chris Paul Could Be Back this Weekend [ProBasketball Talk]
DeMarcus Cousins Ejected After Calling Ref ‘effing female’ in Kings Loss to Jazz (VIDEO) [Ball Don’t Lie]
Clippers Depth is Being Tested Now [ESPN]
Who will be traded next? NBA A-Z [USA Today]