Has Anyone Noticed...

That Chris Mihm was traded yesterday? Well, if you're wondering, today is the trade deadline in the NBA, and that move obviously stirred some questions around Laker camp as to whether that was a precursor to another move today by GM Kobe (just kidding, Mitch!). I guess the main concern is the Lakers sudden lack of big men (Bynum's out until at least April, and Gasol is really now the only center on the team). Is Amare on his way in? Is Shaq coming back for one last hoorah? I highly doubt it. But Josh Powell sure seemed to like the move as his minutes suddenly skyrocketed to the point he played enough last night to score 12 points... by half-time!

Speaking of last night (and the night before), it looked like the Warriors were going to run the Lakers off the court much in the same way the Lakers did to Atlanta the night before at Staples. Instead, the Lakers held their own, and then Trevor Ariza - yes, Trevor, and not Kobe - took over the game. Ariza hit two huge three-pointers that would prove to be too much for Golden State to overcome. And what's with Lamar Odom suddenly becoming this force to be reckoned with? Oh, maybe it's just the fact he's playing for a contract next year! But who cares! He's actually playing his best basketball as a Laker right now, and the Lakers will gladly take it in the absence of Bynum.

By the way, anyone see new Laker Shannon Brown's block late in the game against Atlanta the night before last? Talk about being light on your feet. I don't ever remember seeing a block like that... ever! Enjoy!

Kobe, Shaq & P-Jax Reunited

Well, for nostalgia purposes anyway. The Big Three, as Shaq might have once called them, reunited on the same team for a one night only affair tonight, and it was apparently a rousing success! Of course, nothing could possibly top the pre-game Kazaam-like performance by Shaq as he danced, and razzled and dazzled a raucous Phoenix crowd. Shaq, the class clown of the NBA, did not disappoint in entertaining the fans, before, during, and after the game.

So could this all lead to one last hoorah for the Big Three as the Lakers make their run towards their possible 15th NBA title this June? Maybe, maybe not. There's no indication the Lakers are interested in Shaq's services with Andrew Bynum ahead of schedule in his recovery (and rehab?) from a torn MCL in his right knee. But one thing we do know, Kobe and Shaq, like they did for eight years together until five seasons ago, dominated tonight's All-Star Game in Phoenix, where Shaq calls his NBA home these days, and took home the co-MVP honors.

In the end, Kobe finished with a game-high 27 points on 12-23 shooting (very Kobe-like) along with four rebounds, assists and steals apiece. Shaq finished with 17 points and five boards and dominated the middle in his 15th All-Star Game appearance, second most in NBA history. The West All-Stars routed their East counterparts 146-119, blowing the game open in the third quarter. Amare Stoudemire added 19 points, while four others, including the Lakers' Pau Gasol, chimed in with 14 apiece for the West. The East was led by LeBron James' 20 points, with Paul Pierce and Dwayne Wade each adding 18 each.

And while Shaq said he missed the old times the two, or three if you include Phil Jackson, had together, Kobe was particularly ho-hum about it, saying it was fun for the one night while it lasted. It was quite obvious after hearing Kobe talk about it afterwards, even after Shaq had plenty of compliments to pass around about Kobe, labeling him as the best player in the league, that this was, indeed, just a one-night stand.

The Lakers will continue their title quest Tuesday at Staples against Atlanta. And with the trade deadline this Thursday, all eyes are on Phoenix as rumors have been swirling around the league that Shaq and/or Stoudemire could be on the move. Just don't expect Mitch Kupchak and the Lakers to be calling Steve Kerr.

New Lakers Sit

Just thought I'd pass that little piece of pretty useless information regarding tonight's game against Oklahoma City. Lakers have a 52-45 lead at the moment, very late in the first half.

As for Oklahoma City, I'm sure the Thunder have more on their minds tonight than basketball, as their city was blasted by a tornado this afternoon, and was still getting hit pretty hard by severe weather tonight.

Streak Busters!

This is becoming very routine for this Laker team. On Christmas Day, the Lakers ended the Celtics' 19 game winning streak. Last Thursday, they ended Boston's 12-game win streak. Yesterday, the Lakers upended Cleveland 101-91 to snap the Cavs' home winning streak at 23, including handing them their first home loss of the season. But the story of the game was Lamar Odom stepping up and perhaps playing his best game in his Laker career, pouring in 28 points and grabbing 17 boards. An ailing Kobe Bryant added 19 points despite looking like hell and as if he were going to puke all afternoon. Kobe, suffering from flu-like symptoms all day, actually received an IV before the game and during halftime, and walked off the court with about 12 seconds left in the game to get a head start with treatment in the locker room. Pau Gasol added 18 points and 12 rebounds.

This might have been the Lakers best effort of the season despite being down by 10 points at halftime. The Lakers dominated the second half with tenacious defense and outscoring the Cavs by 20. Cleveland, who had 61 points at the half, had just 30 second half points. Lebron James finished with 16 very quiet points on just 5 of 20 shooting.

Next up for the Lakers, a home game tomorrow night against Oklahoma City, and then a quick stop in Utah for a date with the Jazz Wednesday night before the AS break his weekend.

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New Lakers Adam 'Mustache' Morrison and Shannon Brown practiced with the team today for the first time since being traded to the Lakers Saturday afternoon. Both are expected to be in uniform tomorrow night.

Radmanovic Traded

Purple & Gold have shipped out struggling forward Vladimir Radmanovic to the Charlotte Bobcats in exchange for forward Adam Morrison and reserve point guard Shannon Brown. Morrison's mustache is expected to provide some perimeter shooting depth for the Lakers and should slide into the starting lineup at the 3. More on this later.

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Also, rumors have surfaced that former Laker center Shaquille O'Neal, who is being shopped by Phoenix along with power forward Amare Stoudemire, has hinted that he'd like one last hoorah with the Lakeshow. With Andrew Bynum likely out for at least two months, maybe three with a torn MCL, this one does carry some weight. Stay tuned to this one, too...

Purple & Gold Roll Into Beantown

UPDATE (10:12 PM CT): Game over. What a finish!!! Lakers hold on for a 110-109 win in OT. They made the stop when they needed it most. Kobe finishes with 26-10-5 (yes, that's not a typo... he did not score in OT). L.O. contributed with 20 big points, and Pau Gasol added 24. Lakers now leapfrog Boston with best record in NBA at 40-9 (Cleveland is 39-9, Celtics are 41-10). Next up for the Purple & Gold: at Cleveland on Sunday.

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UPDATE (9:56 PM CT): On to OT. Much better defense in the quarter. KG has fouled out... advantage Lakers? We'll see. Score: 101-101. Kobe with 26-9-4 through regulation.

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UPDATE (9:14 PM CT): Another entertaining quarter... Lakers still trail... 81-77. Defense is starting to give up too many points... gotta tighten that up in the fourth... Kobe with 17-7-4 now.

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UPDATE (8:41PM CT): Start of third quarter, C's up 52-51. Exciting first half of hoops. Lotta bone-headed plays on both ends by both teams. Should be a better second half. Kobe with 13-5-3 halfway through the game.

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UPDATE (7:43PM CT): End of first quarter, Lakers up 23-20. Slow start for both teams. Kobe with 10-4-3, so far.

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Big game tonight in Boston as the Lakers and Celtics square up for the first time in Boston since Game 6 of last season's Finals, where the Lakers were embarassed by a 39-point humiliating loss to end their season and give the C's their first title since 1986.

The Lakers come in to the game tonight on a 4-game winning streak so far on the road trip, with one more in Cleveland on Sunday. The C's, who went spiraling out of control for a bit after the Lakers ended their 19-game streak on Christmas Day at Staples, have since rebounded with another streak: a 12-game winning streak. KG returns to the wars tonight for the C's, while the Lakers will be without Andrew Bynum, who tore his right MCL on Sunday, and is out 2-3 months.

Lakers are 39-9, 16-5 on the road this season, while the Celts are 41-9 overall, 24-2 at home. Should be an interesting game. Lakers must play better transition deense if they are to have any shot in this game, and they've got to get Lamar Odom more involved. We'll see if any of this holds true in about three hours. Tip-off is in 10 minutes on TNT.