The Lakers are winning tonight. I can feel it. Mainly because the entire team agreed they didn’t want to break my heart on Valentine’s Day. How sweet of them. If you are like me, you will be spending the night watching what I predict to be a rather exciting game between the Lakers and Clippers. What a perfect way for Los Angelians to celebrate this day of love.
The game this past Tuesday against the Suns was not pretty; Kobe only scored four points and had eight turnovers. The Lakers barely won at home against a team that has seemed to be a thorn in their side all season long. The final score was 91-85. But tonight should be different, as the Lakers have, in general, been grooving lately. Dwight’s performance on Tuesday was one of his best, so just imagine what the team can do if Kobe also excels.
Steve Nash had some shining moments the other night, which gave hope to the Lakers team as Nash has struggled this season to find where he fits in. If Kobe and Nash can find a workable rhythm, the Lakers could be on the up and up. Even former Lakers head coach Mike Brown believes this team will be able to turn things around, stating:
“I think it can be done…Mike [D’Antoni] has a different philosophy, and it’s worked for him the many years he’s been coaching in the NBA. And I’m sure he’ll figure it out, which he’s been doing.”
In upsetting news, Lakers owner Jerry Buss is in critical condition at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He is said to be dying of cancer. Buss bought the Lakers franchise in 1979 and won 10 championships during this time. If anything, the Lakers need to take this news and motivate themselves tonight to win.
For more on the pregame report, click here.
Los Angeles Clippers (38-17) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (25-28)
7:30 PM PST, February 14, 2013
Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
CA
TV: ESPN
Clippers Projected Starting Line-up
PG: Chris Paul
SG: Chauncey Billups
SF: Caron Butler
PF: Blake Griffin
C: DeAndre Jordan
Key Reserves: G Jamal Crawford, G Eric Bledsoe, F Lamar Odom
Lakers Nation News
Lakers News: Owner Jerry Buss Dying Of Cancer
Dwight Howard Not Promising Commitment To Staying With Lakers
Lakers’ Assistant Dan D’Antoni Explains Pick-and-Roll Issue
Kobe Bryant Joins Chinese Social Media Site
Should Dwight Howard Sit Out The NBA All-Star Game?
Former Lakers’ Coach Mike Brown Discusses the Lakers on “The Herd”
VIDEO: Kobe Says He’ll Drop Facilitator Role for All-Star Game
Lakers vs. Clippers Pre-Game Report: Hallway Rivalry Renewed
Steve Nash Beginning To Find Role With 2013 Los Angeles Lakers
Lakers News
How Nash and Howard Run the Pick and Roll [Silver Screen and Roll]
Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers [Silver Screen and Roll]
The Lakers need to clean up their execution. Badly. [Silver Screen and Roll]
Kobe Bryant has Come Closer to Mastering the Craft of Basketball Than Anybody [Silver Screen and Roll]
Lakers Find Even Winning Can’t Silence Critics [OC Register]
Dwight Howard Still Won’t Promise Tomorrow [LA Times]
Preview and Chat: The Los Angeles Clippers [Forum Blue and Gold]
Lakers are Even With Portland Trail Blazers in the Standings [Lakers Now]
Mike Brown Says Los Angeles Lakers’ Turnaround ‘a matter of time’ [ESPN Los Angeles]
Kobe Bryant Says it’s All Good with Shaq Now, the Feud is Over [ProBasketballTalk]
Kobe’s 4 Points In Eye-Popping Perspective [Hang Time Blog]
Kobe Bryant joins Chinese social media site [Inside the Lakers]
Will Ferrell Escorts Shaq Out of Staples! [YouTube]
Clippers Look to Replicate Their Victory Over Lakers Last Month [Daily News]
Lakers’ Dwight Howard Has ‘Got to Get Going,’ Jeff Van Gundy Says [LA Times]
Michael Jordan Would Pick Kobe Bryant Over LeBron James [SLAM Online]
Howard Says His Focus is on The Present, Not The Future [OC Register]
Dwight Howard to work on conditioning during All-Star weekend [Inside the Lakers]
Lakers, Clippers Set to Meet Again [ESPN]
Will Ferrell plays a security guard at a Laker game, ejects Shaquille O’Neal (VIDEO) [Ball Don’t Lie]
Michael Jordan Still Picks Kobe Bryant Over LeBron James [LA Times]
Kobe Bryant Wishes LeBron James Responded to His Trash Talk [SLAM Online]
Lakers Owner Jerry Buss Hospitalized with Undisclosed Illness [Lakers Now]
NBA News
What Happens When You Get a Chance to Ask MJ Whatever You Want? This. [SLAM Online]
On LeBron James and His Stretch of Flawless Greatness [Yahoo Sports]
Carmelo Anthony’s Top Ten Plays of His Career [YouTube]
Who is Your All- Star MVP? [SLAM Online]
Hedo Turkoglu Suspended 20 Games for Failing a Steroids Test [Ball Don’t Lie]
Eat Like an NBA Player [ACTIVE]
Average NBA Ticket Passes $50, Up 3.5% From Year Before [ProBasketballTalk]
NBA – The Chances Top Trade Targets Get Moved [ESPN]
Nets Shift Focus, Target Paul Millsap [SI Tracking Blog]
J.J. Redick Should Be in Demand at NBA Trade Deadline [SI.com]
LeBron James Responds to Michael Jordan’s Pick of Kobe Over Him [Ball Don’t Lie]
Like Magic: Shaun Livingston [Grantland]
Kevin Garnett Says This Will Be His Last All-Star Game [SLAM Online]
LeBron James’ Hot Stretch an Inspiration to Kevin Durant [ESPN]
Carmelo Anthony of New York Knicks Suffers Arm Contusion, May Miss 2013 NBA All-Star Game [ESPN New York]
Hawks Face Big Decision with Smith [NBA.com]
Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel Out for the Season with Torn Knee [SI.com]
Paul Pierce is Playing With a Pinched Nerve in His Neck [ProBasketballTalk]
James White Favored to Win NBA Slam Dunk Contest [The Point Forward]
A Leg Rebuilt, a Life Renewed for Jay Williams [LA Times]
David Falk, Former Superagent, Absolutely Destroys Washington Wizards Guard John Wall in an Interview [Ball Don’t Lie]
Why Derrick Rose Shouldn’t Play for the Bulls This Season [Grantland]