Kareem Abdul-Jabbar–born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Jr. on April 16, 1947–grew up in Manhattan, New York. He then played basketball under the late, great, John Wooden at UCLA during his college years; where he helped lead the team to three championships. In the NBA, Kareem had the MVP awards, he had the championships. Kareem had the amazing career with the Lakers. And now he will forever be a statement in front of the Staples Center.
Not to be overshadowed, tonight is also the first time the Lakers and Suns will show down during this season. Many had hoped for D’Antoni to be ready to coach tonight against his former team, but unfortunately the Lakers new head coach will not make his debut till Sunday. Bernie Bickerstaff has filled in admirably as interim coach, and this will likely be his last game in a head-coaching role with the Lakers new hire. Also out is Steve Nash, who has not fully recovered from his leg fracture. He is expected to also start this Sunday.
For the rest of the Lakers, hard work is ahead. The Phoenix Suns enter the game with a record of 4-5 and the Lakers come off a two point loss at home to the Spurs. Key tonight will be limiting turnovers and taking more accurate shots. For more on the Lakers pre-game report, check out Max Piner’s piece on tonight’s game.
Phoenix Suns (4-5) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (3-5)
7:30 PM PST, November 16, 2012
Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
CA
TV: TWCSN
Suns Projected Starting Line-up
PG: Goran Dragic SG: Jared Dudley SF: Michael Beasley PF: Luis Scola C: Marcin Gortat
Key Reserves: G Shannon Brown, F Markieff Morris, G Sebastian Telfair
Lakers Nation News
A Regression to the Mean: Kobe Bryant Steps Up the Efficiency
A Basketball Legacy Cemented: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Gets His Due
Lakers Photographer Bernstein Reflects on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Forward Lamar Odom Says Clippers, Lakers Can’t Be Compared
Lakers vs. Suns Pre-Game Report: LA Looks For Final With With Bernie
Lakers News: Steve Blake Will Be Game-Time Decision Against Suns
Video: Lakers Coach Mike D’Antoni Press Conference Highlights
Lakers News
Suns-Lakers Preview: Holding Pattern Til D’Antoni [Silver Screen and Roll]
How Mike Brown Shot Himself in the Foot [Silver Screen and Roll]
Beast or Burden: Game of Inches [Silver Screen and Roll]
Dwight Howard and the Defense the Lakers Need [Forum Blue and Gold]
Magic Johnson Not on the (Jim) Buss [ESPN]
D’Antoni Arrives Hobbling but Ready to Invigorate the Lakers’ Offense [The New York Times]
Fun & Gun in L.A. [Lakers]
Mike D’Antoni, on Crutches, Leads First Lakers Practice [ESPN]
Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers Game Preview: Familiar Faces [Bright Side of the Sun]
Lets Take a Break From the Drama…LA SONGS! [Lakeshow Nation]
Kobe Bryant Comes to Defense of Jim Buss [ProBasketballTalk]
Defense Shouldn’t Be a Problem with Mike D’Antoni [Lakers Blog]
Lakers Hosts Suns, but No D’Antoni or Nash [SB Nation]
A Confident D’Antoni Lays Out His Vision for the Lakers [OC Register]
D’Antoni Expected to Make Lakers Debut on Sunday [ProBasketballTalk]
D’Antoni Says He Will Reach Out to a ‘Mourning’ Magic [OC Register]
Magic Rips Jim Buss for ‘Mistakes’ [Daily News]
NBA Players’ Pop Star Alter Egos: Kobe is Kanye (and More) [ProBasketballTalk]
DirecTV Launches Time Warner Cable Sportsnet and Time Warner Cable Deportes [Lakers.com]
Kobe Bryant: Jim Buss Has Been ‘Phenomenal’ [LA Times]
NBA News
Raptors’ Lowry Out 1-2 Weeks with Foot Bone Bruise [NBA]
Tiago Splitter Isn’t Pretty [Pounding the Rock]
After Disappointing Breakup with Knicks, Jeremy Lin Building a Better Relationship with Rockets [Yahoo Sports]
Dwyane Wade of Miami Heat Out Against Denver Nuggets with Sprained Ankle [ESPN]
Wizards Sign Free Agent Livingston, Waive Pargo [NBA.com]
Warriors Hovering in 2nd in Pacific [SB Nation Bay Area]
Zach Randolph and Kendrick Perkins Confrontation Being Looked Into by NBA [ESPN]
Celtics’ Rondo out vs. Nets in Brooklyn [NBA]
Rajon Rondo Out for Celtics vs. Nets Thursday, Barbosa Starts [ProBasketballTalk]
Dwyane Wade Slowed by Injuries [Yahoo Sports]
Royce White to Be Fined Every Day He Remains Away From Team [ESPN]
Raptors’ Landry Fields Out After Elbow Surgery; Alan Anderson Out with Foot Injury [ProBasketballTalk]
James Harden Regresses to the Mean [20 Second Timeout]