Peace Corps

If the Lakers are to contend for a title this
season, they will need the same type of
 performance from World Peace moving
forward.

The Los Angeles Laker have ended their mini three-game losing streak, beating their intercity rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers, 96-91.

It was the Lakers 12th consecutive game without breaking the 100-point threshold, tying a franchise record in the shot-clock era set during the 2003-04 season .

In their second meeting is less than two weeks, both teams came out with something to prove.

Former Laker Caron Butler got his new team off to a fast start, scoring the Clippers first 11 points, nine of them from beyond the arch. For the Lakers, forward Pau Gasol, who has made it known publicly he wants more scoring opportunities, came out determined and aggressive, scoring nine of the team's 25 first quarter points.

Gasol finished the game with 23 points and 10 rebounds, putting together his 10th double-double of the season in just 19 games. But it was unusually strong contributions from the Laker bench that secured them their 11th win of the season.

The Lakers' bench ranks as the second worst production-wise in the NBA, averaging 16.8 points per game. Compare that to the most productive bench in the league, the Dallas Mavericks, who are averaging an astonishing 44.0 points from their reserves.

Leading that Laker bench Wednesday night was rookie guard Andrew Goundelock. Goudelock added a career-high 14 points in 20 minutes, also a career-high. Despite Metta World Peace recording only three points, his emotional energy fueled this struggling Laker team.

World Peace came away with two steals, five rebounds and a seven assists in a season-high 38 minutes.

The Lakers trailed at the end of every quarter except for the one that matters, giving way to Kobe Bryant in the fourth. The five-time NBA champion scored 12 of his team-high 24 points in the final quarter, including a three-point basket that gave his team a 79-78 advantage and their first lead of the game.

Clipper forward Blake Griffin recorded a game-high 26 points and narrowly missed his own double-double with nine boards.

Chris Paul was limited to just 27 minutes in his first game back after a six-game absence due to a hamstring injury. He and fellow backcourt running mate Chauncey Billups combined for just 13 points, but Paul did add 12 assists. Mo Williams' 16 points continued to provide be a spark off the bench for the Clippers, scoring in double-digits for the fourth consecutive game.

The game was chippy, gritty and hard-fought to say the least, as there were six technical fouls assessed, a flagrant foul and an ejection of the Lakers' Josh McRoberts.

Chris Paul didn't have the
same type of explosiveness
returning from his injury.

Both teams are now tied atop the Pacific Division standings. It was the Lakers 10th win at home this season and the Clippers fourth loss on the road. Although, it really isn't a road game for Clippers other than the fact the floor boards read "Los Angeles Lakers" in their traditional purple and gold. The two teams have shared the Staples Center since it opened in October of 1999.

The Lakers are just 1-6 on the road this season and embark on a lengthy road trip this weekend. The team will play eight of their next nine games away from Staples, starting Saturday in Milwaukee and includes stops in Utah, Boston and New York, all hostile environments.

It was revealed Thursday that Bucks' center Andrew Bogut suffered a broken ankle Wednesday night in Houston, leaving him out indefinitely and on the sidelines for their upcoming matchup with Los Angeles.

Looks like the Lakers caught a break, something this team needs.

Going Fishing

Fisher's leadership as made him
a winner over the years.

Monday night marked let another disappointing loss for the Los Angeles Lakers in what has been a roller coaster season for the two-time defending champions.

Los Angeles blew a 16-point lead late in the third quarter and were upset in Game 1 of the conference semifinals at Staples Center by the Dallas Mavericks.

The good news for Los Angeles, it's only Game 1 and were able to overcome a Game 1 loss at the hands of the New Orleans Hornets in the first-round, but by no means is it a recipe for success.

Along the way, Derek Fisher is showing why the aging veteran was brought back to Los Angeles in the offseason with a new three-year contract.

Fisher has been heavily criticized this season for his shaky defense and inconsistent shooting. The fact is the Lakers brought Fisher back for his leadership ability and clutch performances in the postseason. This postseason has been much of the same for the 15-year veteran averaging 9.1 points per game and shooting 52 percent from the field in the team's first seven playoff games.

Those numbers are well above his regular season averages this season, where he only averaged 6.8 points per and shot 38 percent from the field.

Fisher has also shot well from beyond the arch to start the postseason at 54 percent compared to the 39 percent he shot in the regular season.

Even though Fisher, 36, has lost a step on defensive side of the ball, he had some extremely good sequences in the first-round series against the much younger 25-year-old Chris Paul. There is not too many point guards Fisher is going to run into at more of an advanced then him, but that is what he has exactly done.

Mavericks point guard Jason Kidd is still very productive at age 38 and finds himself in the middle of dog fight of two talented veterans. Fisher has the hardware, while Kidd has the Hall of Fame resume, it should be a relatively even matchup between the two point guards, who are no longer going to impress anyone with their speed and athleticism .

Fisher has been known as a gamer and always been willing to give up his body for his teammates.

Some consider Fisher one of the best in the NBA at selling offensive fouls, which is why he is always among the league leaders in charges drawn.

Los Angeles was 18-1 this season when their point guard scored in double-digits. Fisher scored only eight points on three of six shooting Monday night and the end result was a loss. There is no question if the Lakers and Fisher want to capture their third straight NBA championship and second three-peat under Phil Jackson, they will need him to live up to his playoff reputation once again.

Who can forget Fisher's game-winning shot in San Antonio in Game 5 of the 2004 Western Conference semifinals with 0.4 left on the clock. How about Fisher's two clutch three-point baskets in Game 4 of the 2009 NBA Finals that sealed the Orlando Magic's fate. Fisher hit the game-tying three with just under five seconds left in regulation to force overtime. In the overtime, Fisher would hit the eventual game-winner with about 30 seconds left in the extra period.

Most recently, Fisher continued his postseason magic, while single-handedly taking over Game 3 of the NBA Finals in Boston a year ago with 16 points in a 91-84 victory. Fisher would return in Game 7 of that series with a game-tying three-point bucket in the closing minutes of the decisive series-clincher, setting a new record for most three-pointers for a career in the Finals.

It couldn't have come at a better time.

It's not a question of if, but when will Fisher hit his next big playoff shot in this year's postseason. When he does it will be nothing but the bottom of the net and we will be waiting to say, "Told you so".

The Bite of the Black Mamba

Bryant took home his 4th All-Star Game
MVP Sunday night.

Does anyone still think Kobe Bryant has nothing left in the tank?

In his 15th season in the NBA and now at the age of 32, Bryant started to hear the whispers he might have lost a step. That was not the case on Sunday night at Staples Center, when he went off for 37 points and 14 rebounds. Not to mention the amazing two-handed slam that electrified the Los Angeles crowd early.

Bryant came out on a mission, to steal the show and come away with his fourth All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award.

He did just that, tying Bob Pettit for the most all-time.

Bryant, who is coming his second knee surgery of his career, has played significantly less minutes this season compared to the last couple of years. It seems as it he is pacing himself for a deep playoff run and getting the Los Angeles Lakers to their fourth consecutive NBA Finals.

Bryant has always loved playing on the game's biggest stage and tends to elevate his game when need be. You can be sure that will be the case come playoff time in the City of Angels, Sunday night is living proof. Bryant's star was not to be out shined by anyone that night.

There is no questioning the thirteen-time All-Star's motivation and sometimes it's believed that is ego even has a work ethic. So for those who said the 2007-08 MVP has lost a step, go back and look at the film from Sunday's All-Star Game.

Bryant rose to another level when the spotlight was shining brightest on his city and showed why he is still the best player in the NBA. Expect that not change, even more so come June.

Panic Button in L.A.? Not Yet!

Los Angeles limbed into the break losing
three-in-a-row for the third time this year.

The two-time defending NBA champions have been a topic of conversation much of the first half, especially after their most recent three-game skid.

It seems as if the Los Angeles Lakers dropped to a new low Wednesday night, losing to the NBA's worst team, the 10-46 Cleveland Cavaliers. Los Angeles embarked on their longest road trip of the season back on Feb. 5 at New Orleans. They started off an impressive 4-0 beating legitimate playoff contenders including the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks in consecutive nights.

However, the trip went sour, losing the next three to Orlando and two sub .500 teams, the Bobcats and Cavaliers.

All that being said it is not time to push the panic button in the City of Angels, yet.

Kobe Bryant's minutes are significantly down from a year ago. Bryant averaged 38.8 minutes per game in 2010 compared to the 33.6 he is playing this season, which will all change come playoff time. Coming off his second career knee surgery, Bryant is being rested carefully by head coach Phil Jackson for a deep playoff run into June.

Bryant's 25.1 points per game this season are right at his career average of 25.3. At times the frustrating part this season is their continued losses to teams below .500, seven of their 19 have come at the hands of sub .500 teams.

It seems we can attribute those to Los Angeles being disinterested in their opponent most of the game or just lack of effort.

Back on Feb. 27 of last season Boston lost to the miserable New Jersey Nets at home in TD Garden, a team that finished with 12 wins all season. As we now know, the Celtics positioned themselves for a deep playoff run and came a win away from their second NBA championship in three years, but en route to that, they also lost to the worst team in the NBA a year ago.

Could the Lakers being doing the same?

The Cavaliers were embarrassed by the Lakers back in January at Staples Center, losing by a video game like number, 55 points. You knew if the Lakers did not come out ready to play on Wednesday night, they had a very good chance to lose even to the NBA's worst team. Byron Scott, being a former Laker in his playing days, was not going to let his team come out flat against the defending champions again.

Much has been written about the Lakers inability not to just beat sub .500 teams, but their inability to beat teams above .500. The Lakers have posted a 15-12 record against teams .500 or better and a 23-7 mark against sub .500 in the first half.

The Miami Heat are only 12-13 against the league's elite, but are taking care of business on the other side, beating 29 of the 31 teams they have faced under .500. Yes, the Lakers need to be more consistent and sometimes play with a little more urgency, but by no means is it time to panic in Los Angeles, YET!

Come June, Jackson and Bryant will silence the critics once more.