Last week, the Lakers split their games 2-2 and had an exciting win against the Thunder, one of the best teams in the league. L.A. is still a few games behind the 8th seed in the West, but many are predicting a more powerful Lakers team after the slew of positives that stemmed from the game against Oklahoma City. The Lakers (19-25 season) also moved up to 12th in the power rankings today, mainly after their two impressive wins the last two games. The Spurs came out on top as number one.
This winning streak, although a positive benchmark, is not a turning point. The past two games cannot be enough to tell if a decisive change in this Lakers team has occurred. Exciting? Yes. A benchmark for future success? Absolutely. If anything, the win against the Thunder showed the potential the Lakers can have for the second half of this season. In order to consider these game wins something to cheer about, the Lakers need to take hold of last week’s momentum and keep winning.
Bryant still believes the Lakers can figure out what has been holding them back, while remaining faithful in their ability to win an NBA championship. Metta World Peace also believes this team has a chance to make a historic comeback in the second-half of the season. He said the Lakers have the “chance to make world history“. The Lakers are 10th in the Western Conference right now, only behind the Trail Blazers and Rockets. Hard work, consistent play, and faith and leadership from guys like Metta and Kobe will be key factors in getting to that 8th seed, or beyond. 38 games remain in the regular season, still giving the Lakers a shot to make it to playoffs.
In case you missed it, Lakers owner Jerry Buss celebrated his birthday yesterday. I hope he wished for a Lakers championship this season when he blew out his 79 candles.
Lakers Nation News
Nike Has Debuted Its ‘Count On Kobe’ Campaign
Jeff Van Gundy Eviscerates Dwight Howard During Broadcast
Kobe Bryant Believes He Can Still Win Ring With Dwight Howard
Lakers News: Steve Nash Impressed By Kobe Bryant’s Play, Mentality
Lakers News: Thunder Coach Scott Brooks: ‘Kobe Picked Us Apart’
NBA Power Rankings Week 14: Spurs Take Top Spot, Lakers Turn Corner
Lakers News: Metta World Peace Says Lakers Can Make ‘World History’
2012-13 Los Angeles Lakers Midseason Report Card
Lakers Defeat Thunder Behind Strong Team Effort
Lakers Nation Wishes Happy Birthday to Owner Dr. Jerry Buss
Lakers News
Los Angeles Lakers defeat Oklahoma City Thunder, 105-96 [Silver Screen and Roll]
Have the Lakers Discovered How to Win Games? [Silver Screen and Roll]
Mike D’Antoni Praises Kobe Bryant [ESPN]
Fast Break Thoughts [Forum Blue and Gold]
Injured Lakers G Blake Expects to Return Tuesday [Yahoo Sports]
Steve Blake Set to Return Tuesday [ESPN]
Kobe Bryant ‘Happy as Hell’ in Role as Lakers’ Playmaker [USA Today]
Kobe Sharing is Caring [Forum Blue and Gold]
Lakers Pull Away in Fourth Quarter for Victory Over Thunder [LA Times]
Lakers 105, Thunder 96: Jan. 27 Running Diary [Lakers Blog]
Mike D’Antoni: I am Trying to Do My Job [USA Today]
Kobe’s 14 Assists Facilitate Lakers’ Win Over Thunder [ProBasketballTalk]
Lakers Find New Identity as They Cruise Past the Thunder [OC Register]
Metta Relishes the Moment [LA Times]
Kobe Now Serving it Up Hot and Fresh [ESPN]
Dwight Howard: ‘Don’t Have Time to Focus’ on Free Agency [USA Today]
Lakers Rise as D’Antoni’s Offense Ditched [Lakers Index]
Dwight Howard Goes 2 for 10 on Free Throws [OC Register]
Lakers’ Dwight Howard trying to Play Through Pain – [LA Times]
NBA News
NBA 25 Under 25 Rankings [ESPN Insider]
Obama Honors NBA Champion Heat at the White House [USA Today]
Half Court Shot Cost Fan 22k in Taxes [ESPN]
Kevin Durant Isn’t Looking at Lakers’ Perspective [OC Register]
After Shannon Brown’s Flagrant on Ginobili, Stephen Jackson Says He Would Have Knocked Out Anyone Else [ProBasketballTalk]
James Harden, Kyrie Irving Among Six First-Time All-Stars Picked as Reserves [The Point Forward]
Clips’ Mounting Losses Are Less Worrisome Than CP3′s Knee [Hang Time Blog]
What Scouts Are Saying Now [ESPN]
And That Was That: Rajon Rondo [Sports on Earth]
Why Durant is First Half MVP [Coast to Coast]
NBA A-Z: Why All-Star Reserve Picks Included Surprises [USA Today]
Power Rankings: Spurs #1 Again [ESPN]
Celtics Face Harsh New Reality After Rajon Rondo’s Season-Ending Knee Injury [Yahoo! Sports]
Celtics Win Over Heat Silver Lining on Dark, Cloudy Day [ProBasketballTalk]
Impact of Rajon Rondo’s ACL Injury: Will Celtics Blow It Up? [CBSSports.com]
New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers – Recap [SI.com]
The Best and Worst Surprises of the NBA First Half [Sports on Earth]
Allen Iverson to D-League? [ESPN]
