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Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Lakers should wait 'til next year - ESPN

Updated: January 24, 2012, 10:00 PM ET

Keep the current group intact, and look to add an unlikely free-agent piece this summer

Smith By Stephen A. Smith
ESPNLA.com
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We knew the Los Angeles Lakers were old before they began this truncated 2011-12 season. We knew they were a bit slow and devoid of athleticism, as well. But as the season continues to progress, with thoughts of a championship evaporating as rapidly as Pau Gasol's game, there's no need to embrace the wait-and-see approach with this bunch any longer.

It's obvious what the Lakers need to do now, right?

Finding a point guard should be at the top of their list.

Getting another athlete to play alongside Kobe Bryant wouldn't hurt, either.

But contrary to popular belief, decimating the front line of Gasol and Andrew Bynum may not be the way to do it.

In fact, they probably need to keep that front line intact.

And here's why: That way they can bow out of the 2012 postseason gracefully and make a run at Kevin Garnett via free agency in the summer, positioning themselves to spend the last two years of the Black Mamba's contract by once again contending for a title.

The Lakers are not championship contenders right now. Can we be honest, please?

Their offense is 20th in the league, averaging 92.3 points per game, after finishing ninth (averaging 101.5) last season. They are down in field goal percentage, and are utterly atrocious -- as in dead last -- in shooting (25.6 percent) from beyond the 3-point arc.

Gasol looks lost. Kobe looks frustrated. Bynum looks more interested in racing his sport cars than playing the game. And the rest of this team looks virtually … irrelevant!

"We definitely have our challenges this year and we're addressing them," Lakers coach Mike Brown told me before the team's recent three-game slide. "We've got to get more from our bigs [Gasol and Bynum]. We've got to get better offensively. But you don't get anywhere in this league without playing defense, and we're good enough with the pieces we have."

Brown is not totally off his rocker. The Lakers are sixth in the league in points allowed (90.5) per game. They're third in the league in opponent field goal percentage, yielding just 41.4 percent shooting from the field. Everyone knows Brown is far from an offensive guru, but if he's going to remain the coach and be the one who returns the Lakers to prominence, defense is going to be a key ingredient in what he does.

And defense is part of what would make KG (even though he'd be coming from the dreaded Boston Celtics) a good fit. But that's only part of it.

The former T-Wolves star known as the Big Ticket, who helped deliver an 18th world championship to the Celtics in 2008, is in the last year of a contract paying him $21.2 million. Although the Celtics are looking to make moves to get younger, they're less interested in trading him and taking money back than they are in holding on to Garnett's salary so it can come off their salary cap at the end of the season -- barring a blockbuster trade possibility, of course.

That means Garnett would be a free agent in July. And he'll probably be nearby, too, since he spends a lot of his time in L.A. in the offseason.

Everyone knows Garnett isn't what he used to be. That spring in his step is gone. But his youthful enthusiasm hasn't gone anywhere. Neither has his 7-foot frame, his octopus-style arms, his commitment to defense, nor certainly his leadership in the locker room.

At this stage of Kobe's career, he needs help in all those categories.

He needs someone to hit 12- to 15-footers, too -- something Garnett can still do effectively (78 percent of his shots are jumpers and his overall field goal percentage is .483).

And most of all, Kobe needs to play alongside someone just as hungry as he is to finish on top.

Garnett's hunger makes him an ideal, if unexpected, fit for Los Angeles.

KG is friends with Kobe Bryant. There's no doubt he'll be looking to finish the twilight of his career in a place where he's competing for a title. And the prospect of a front line that includes Garnett with Gasol and Bynum, with Kobe as his teammate, would leave the Lakers in need of nothing but a decent floor general.

Bryant is quick to say, "I'm happy with our guys. We're tried and tested. We've been together and we know what it takes." But the truth is Bryant's proclamations are not supported by the facts.

Bryant has been unhappy with the leadership of Lakers executive vice president Jim Buss. He was insulted when he wasn't consulted about Brown's hiring (in favor of Bryant's preferred choice, Brian Shaw), and he was angry when Lamar Odom was traded for virtually nothing before the season began -- with Buss knowing the weakness of the Lakers' bench.

Now Bryant, knowing how ineffective his current team is collectively, has engaged in overcompensation, jacking up 24.8 shots per game, his highest output since launching 27.2 shots per game in 2005-06, when he led the league in scoring at 35.4.

Bynum may not be feeling the collateral effects of it all, since he's averaging more points (15.9), rebounds (13.2) and shots (12.2) this season than last, but Gasol certainly is. The decline in Gasol's points, rebounds and shot attempts speaks for itself, which explains why Gasol has indicated he needs to talk to Brown, and that "I'd like to get a little more inside [closer to the basket]."

None of this bodes well for the Lakers right now.

They are 1-6 on the road this season. They just lost a home game to the Indiana Pacers. They keep complaining about lack of practice time, having played more games than every team in the league but the Chicago Bulls. But they are not that attractive and, worse, their next opponent (the Clippers) are growing in popularity more and more each passing day.

Barring a blockbuster trade for Dwight Howard or Deron Williams, this Lakers season won't live up to championship expectations.

Accept it!

Move on!

And get ready for next season.

Kobe's owed $58 million over the next two years. Gasol is owed $38 million. And Bynum's too young and big, with an upside, to give away.

So, basically, you are what you are. Stuck with what you have.

So somebody needs to pick up the phone after the season, call his brother-in-law and music mogul, Jimmy Jam, and convince KG to come to L.A.

Kobe Bryant Teaches Aziz Ansari A Thing Or Two About Success - The Smoking Section

With his soon-to-be ex-wife reportedly set to take her talents to the infamous Basketball Wives series and his Lakers squad still in the infant stages of figuring out a digestible offense to go along with Mike Brown’s defense, Kobe Bryant continues to have one of the country’s most popular brands. And thanks to this recent #KobeSystem campaign, the NBA legend pumps more life into a campaign which already has superstars Serena Williams, Larry Fitzgerald, Kanye West and more climb aboard. In this commercial, Bean teaches comedian Aziz Ansari about the meaning of success and why pizza has not a damn thing to do with achieving it.

Also…

1. Shoes and all things Nike are more Gotty and MZ’s expertise, but I’m finding myself getting more and more engulfed in the culture. I’ve been mighty impressed with the marketing plan behind the #KobeSystem. It’s a great way to combine star power and already extremely high consumer confidence in Nike’s product.

2. Lowkey, Aziz Ansari has been having one of the better runs in Hollywood for awhile now. From his appearance in The Throne’s “Otis” video to landing the lead role in Nike’s K.S. Level 1 Success commercial, his agent deserves a pat on the back.

3. Given all the other things in Kobe’s life that appear to be going through the ringer, at least there’s this.

Kobe Bryant's wife gets 3 mansion, more likely coming

In her divorce from Kobe Bryant, wife Vanessa will get 3 mansions

The shifting of three Orange County properties worth an estimated $18.8 million to Kobe Bryant's wife, Vanessa, is probably one part of a larger division of assets underway as the couple finalizes their divorce.

The couple, who were married for about 10 years before announcing their separation in December, did not have a prenuptial agreement, Vanessa Bryant's mother told The Times. If true, she would be entitled to half of their community property.

Some estimates put Kobe Bryant's net worth at $150 million. Legal experts said Vanessa Bryant will probably receive at least $75 million in addition to ongoing spousal and child support.

PHOTOS: Kobe and Vanessa Bryant through the years

According to property records review by The Times, three mansions in Newport Beach's upscale Newport Coast community have recently been placed in Vanessa Bryant's name. They are:

--An estate in the Resort at Pelican Hill was recently under construction. Property records peg its worth at $11.2 million. Bryant's agent, Rob Pelinka, was the listed owner until he signed transfer papers Dec. 15.

--A home worth $2.9 million was owned jointly by the couple since 2003. Vanessa Bryant signed documents to transfer it into her name Dec. 14.

--A home valued at $4.7 million was transferred to Vanessa on Dec. 30 from the Kobe Bryant trust.

Neither of the attorneys representing the couple was available for comment Friday.

Vanessa Bryant filed a divorce petition in Orange County Superior Court in December, citing "irreconcilable differences." The couple released a joint statement then saying that they had "resolved all issues incident to their divorce privately."

RELATED:

Vanessa Bryant stands to gain windfall in divorce

Kobe Bryant divorce: Couple will share custody of daughters

Kobe Bryant divorce: Vanessa cites "irreconcilable differences"

-- Michael Reicher, Times Community News

Photo: Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, attend the skills competition at the NBA basketball All-Star Saturday Night in Dallas in February 2010. Credit: LM Otero / Associated Press

Kobe Bryant: No Such Thing as Distractions - Lakers Nation

Kobe Bryant is no stranger to distractions off the court. He has battled through the Shaquille O’Neal conflict, hatred by fans, and now his second stint of marital problem.

Shortly after the start of the 2011-12 season, word quickly spread that Kobe Bryant’s wife Vanessa had filed for divorce after 10 years of marriage. This is the second time Kobe has had major trouble in his marriage. Back in the summer of 2003, the NBA superstar was arrested in Eagle County, Colorado accused of sexually assaulting a woman in his hotel room. The hearings lasted eight months before the case was ultimately dropped.

While the hearings for the sexual assault against Kobe Bryant got underway, so did the ‘03-‘04 NBA season, and since the alleged crime took place in Colorado, Kobe was forced to fly to Eagle County, CO to appear in court regardless if he had a game that same day. He often flew to Colorado for his court obligations and then would immediately fly to wherever the Lakers were playing that same day. Sometimes that meant showing up only minutes before tip-off, or while the game was already in progress.

Despite all the media hassling, legal problems, marital problems, losing endorsements, and his image/reputation declining, Kobe Bryant’s mindset is too strong to let anything off the court affect his performance on the court. It was almost as if Kobe used the game of basketball to escape all the problems of his life.

Kobe played 65 games during the ‘03-‘04 season only missing 17 games due to injuries, the most for receiving stitches in his hand after breaking a window, not court dates. The Lakers were 48-17 when Kobe suited up. His scoring was his lowest since the 1999-2000 season averaging 24 points, while having 10 double-doubles, one triple-double, and three games of 40 points or more.

This season Kobe has not lost a step despite the distractions off the court. The pre-season concern from the media was about Kobe’s age catching up to him. Having turned 33 in November, and going in for knee surgery, talks sky rocketed that Kobe would not be able to physically compete against the rest of the young NBA stars. Then news broke about he and his wife of 10 years, Vanessa, getting a divorce, and the spotlight was once again on Kobe Bryant in a negative way. If it is one-thing Laker fans should know about their star player, it is the brighter the light and the bigger the stage, the better Kobe performs.

Kobe Bryant has shaken off the criticism from fans and the media by playing at the top of his game once again. His knee surgery during the off-season and the latest bump in his personal life have not altered his game one bit. Oh yeah, he also suffered a torn ligament in his wrist on his shooting hand during the first pre-season game of the year versus the Los Angeles Clippers. He is a man amongst boys when it comes to blocking out the drama outside of basketball and focusing solely on the game.

Kobe is averaging 27.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game this season, and is leading the team offensively.

Kobe Bryant is tough enough mentally that he does not allow himself to buy into anything the media says. Instead, he continues to work on the tasks that he can control like studying game tape, practicing, and focusing on the goal. Winning another championship.

Robert Horry: Feud Between Kobe Bryant And Shaquille O'Neal Started By Phil ... - SI.com

Former NBA star Robert Horry told a Russian sports website that the imfamous feud between former teammates Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal was started by the team’s head coach, Phil Jackson.

USA Today has the translation of Horry’s words on the feud:

“I think Phil Jackson started that feud. It happened many times that after team practice he would say, “Kobe said this about Shaq, and Shaq said that about Kobe… We couldn’t believe how could that happen, because just the day before we saw them together, jumping on one another. Phil liked it when there was conflict of some sort.

I always tell people; if you look at those championships, you’ll see who were the closest players on the team. Normally those are the guys who are the first to hug each other. And when we were winning, it was always Shaq and Kobe who hugged. I think this will answer your question. Later it was blown out of proportion by the media and both players started doing something that didn’t make sense.”

Together Bryant and O’Neal helped the Lakers win three consecutive NBA titles from 2000-2002. The rift between the two forced Los Angeles to choose between the two superstars, and the Lakers sent the 32-year-old O’Neal to the Miami Heat before the 2004-05 season.

The Kobe System stresses adaptation - Los Angeles Times (blog)

Kobe Bryant has suffered injury after injury. He's logged a high odometer rating. And nearly all the other NBA teams have loaded their rosters to bring him down.

Oh it's worked at times. The Lakers' sweep at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference semifinals during the 2011 NBA playoffs illustrated that. It may continue as the Lakers (10-8) now struggle to remain on top with a coaching change and new personnel. Heck, when the Lakers host the Clippers on Wednesday, some will view the latter as the better team when in previous years they've often been nothing more than a punch line.

But Bryant has adapted. In his new Kobe System Nike ad, he explains to a confused Serena Williams how his adaptation somehow compares to why dinosaurs became extinct.

"Adaptation is not about reaction," Bryant said. "The dinosaurs reacted. The meteor adapted. The meteor won."

Of course, some could throw the punch line back at Bryant that he's a dinosaur too, and that it's only a matter of time before everyone else adapts too. Fair enough, but give credit to Bryant for continuing the fight. He sought out innovative procedures on his surgically repaired right knee and sprained left ankle. Bryant receives pregame injections for the torn ligament in his right wrist. And he's carried the Lakers with a league-leading 30.5 points per game.

Lakers Coach Mike Brown should adopt the adaptation part of the Kobe System too. That involves Brown playing Bryant fewer minutes than the 38.2 minutes per game he's averaging at this point. Simply put, that strategy has proven to be reactive toward the Lakers' current struggles instead of being adaptive toward the big picture. The consequences appear obvious. Just like the dinosaurs soon became extinct, so too could Bryant's current dominance once the postseason starts.

Assuming the Lakers get there, of course.

â€" Mark Medina

Email the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Horry says Shaq-Kobe feud all Phil Jackson's doing - USA TODAY

Can you be both a Zen master and be Machiavellian?

It would appear so if you were Phil Jackson. And 11 title rings means the combination worked.

Former NBA star Robert Horry (who has seven rings himself) was asked by Sports.ru in Russia if the Shaquille O'Neal-Kobe Bryant feud could have been avoided.

His answer (thanks to Alexander Chernykh of Rush 'N Hoops for the translation)

I think Phil Jackson started that feud. It happened many times that after team practice he would say, "Kobe said this about Shaq, and Shaq said that about Kobe… We couldn't believe how could that happen, because just the day before we saw them together, jumping on one another. Phil liked it when there was conflict of some sort.

I always tell people; if you look at those championships, you'll see who were the closest players on the team. Normally those are the guys who are the first to hug each other. And when we were winning, it was always Shaq and Kobe who hugged. I think this will answer your question. Later it was blown out of proportion by the media and both players started doing something that didn't make sense.

Now we know the sound of one hand clapping.

Pacers get road win over Lakers - CBSSports.com

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Isaiah still long on smiles - TheNewsTribune.com

PORTLAND â€" Isaiah Thomas recalls the exact moment the coach sent him in with his first assignment in an NBA game: Go in and guard Kobe Bryant.

Oh, he’d heard such things before: In his sleep, or in those pretend games every kid plays in the driveway when he’s alone and nobody can hear his fictional play-by-play.

Thomas, the rookie guard for the Sacramento Kings, admits that it was such a stunning request that he didn’t exactly respond with as much cool as he would have liked.

“Me?” he asked, turning to look behind him to be certain the coach wasn’t talking to somebody else.

So, after you picked your jaw off the court and your heart stopped beating, how’d you do?

“I did pretty good,” he said. “He was backing me down and I just kept smiling.”

Thomas has played with a disarming smile since back in his days at Curtis High and the University of Washington, and perhaps it disrupted Bryant’s rhythm.

“He was 1-for-4 against me, and shot all fadeaways,” Thomas said. “That was the first game of the season and I thought … ah … I’m really here.”

Monday night Thomas was in Portland, where the Kings lost to the Trail Blazers, 101-89. Thomas scored 11 points with eight assists and three rebounds in 28 minutes.

As the last player taken in the draft, and standing just 5-foot-9, Thomas continues to be considered a long shot. But he’s winning over his coaches and his teammates, and has had some impressive performances (20 points and six assists against Toronto, for instance).

“He has a lot of poise on the floor,” Kings coach Keith Smart said, adding that Thomas has earned so much trust that “… I have had him in closing the game out and helping us win games.”

Smart laughed when he talked of Thomas’ work ethic and competitiveness. “He walks by me during timeouts saying, ‘I’m ready, Coach. I’m ready, Coach’. ”

And to a surprising extent, he has been ready.

He’s shooting only 31 percent from the field, and he’s had to learn that NBA players are athletic enough that he can’t just sprint to the basket on quickness alone. He’s learned to watch film and correct the inevitable rookie mistakes.

Portland coach Nate McMillan, the former Sonics player and coach, said he’s watched Thomas “almost since he was a toddler.” Thomas, he said, is fueled by that rare inner drive that characterizes those few small players who manage to make it and stick in the NBA. “Guys like that … it’s a different confidence, a different toughness they need in order to get to this level,” he said.

Don’t expect Thomas to lose that competitive edge any time soon.

“I always know that nothing’s ever been given to me,” he said. “So when I came to training camp, I had that same chip on my shoulder. I think every day, ‘OK, here’s another stepping stone in life I’ve got to overcome.’ People say I can’t stay, or I can’t compete. Fine, I’m going to try to prove you wrong.”

He already has, to some degree. The Kings drafted a higher-profile guard, BYU’s Jimmer Fredette, last year’s national player of the year. But Thomas has been getting playing time comparable to Fredette’s.

“He’s a great competitor who works hard and wants to do whatever it takes to win,” Fredette said of Thomas. “That’s a great quality to have, especially in a point guard, so the guys like him and he’s a great teammate.”

Thomas left Washington after his junior season, which made the unease of waiting for the NBA lockout to end particularly vexing. But he’s had wise counsel on life in the NBA from some of the elders in the Seattle-area basketball community, particularly Nate Robinson, Jamal Crawford and Jason Terry.

For a while Monday night, Thomas was tasked with guarding Crawford, now a guard for the Blazers.

Thomas, of course, plays close attention to the Huskies, and said he sees enough talent on that team to compete with anybody, but suspects they’re still looking to develop the necessary leadership.

His affiliation with UW goes beyond the usual alumni rooting interest: He’s still taking classes.

“I’ve got a quarter and a half to go, so I’m taking on-line classes,” he said.

His major is American ethnic studies. So, after a game guarding Kobe Bryant, you might have to hit the books?

“I’ll have homework,” he said. “OK, I might not do it right after the game, but I’ll get to it.”

Eighteen games into his NBA career, Thomas said he has those disorienting, pinch-me moments nearly every night.

“It’s such a blessing,” he said. “I wake up every day with a big smile on my face.”

He was reminded that it seems as if he wears a smile just about every day anyway.

“Yeah, that’s true, but this is different; this is a living-the-dream smile.”

Dave Boling: 253-597-8440 dave.boling@thenewstribune.com

Monday, January 23, 2012

Can the Lakers Be Fixed?: A Fan's Take - Yahoo! Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers are playing some great defense. Unfortunately, that strength is not translating into wins. Kobe Bryant is leading the league in scoring, but the team is not finding an offensive flow and the team has lost three straight games as of January 22. Can this team figure it out, or is this losing streak a sign of things to come?

Team strength?

It is hard to pinpoint the strength of the Lakers right now. Obviously, Kobe Bryant is able to score at will and he seems all the more determined to lead this team. However, the Lakers also have a tremendous inside presence that does not seem to be maximizing their ability. Andrew Bynum is having a great season, and he is staying healthy. However, Paul Gasol seems to losing his role in the offense. Obviously, Pau is not going to be the focus with this team, but should the Lakers get him more touches? Pau seems to think so. Of course, after the big three there is little offensive production from the rest of the team.

Not a simple solution

At least one writer thinks the Lakers should bring back the famous Triangle offense and cut back on Kobe's minutes. First of all, if the Lakers brought back the Triangle, Mike Brown might as well admit that his offensive strategy has failed. In addition, can anyone cut back on Bryant's minutes except #24 himself? Given the offensive struggles of the team, would it make sense to cut the minutes of the leading scorer? Or, should the Lakers be getting others involved and resting Kobe anyway?

Have a little patience

Obviously things are not going particularly well for the Lakers, but it is a bit early to panic. The season is shorter, and Los Angeles does need to figure out their offensive woes. However, it is very normal for a team with a new coach to go through a period of adjustment. Kobe and Pau are veterans, and I suspect that they will figure out a way to balance their scoring. Laker fans may just need to have a little more patience.

Sources:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-lakers-pacers-20120123,0,4700201.story

http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-lakers-20120124,0,3081428.story

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=7492652

http://www.nba.com/statistics/

The author grew up in Seattle and now lives in Los Angeles, where he waits patiently for the Sonics to return to the Pacific Northwest. In the meantime, he roots for the Clippers to become a winning franchise, and perhaps even the most popular team in their own city. You can follow him on Twitter @tpheifer.

More from this contributor:

The Top Five Worst Logos in the NFL

Worst #1 NBA Draft Picks of All Time

The Best Baseball Catch I Ever Saw In Person

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Risers and fallers: Banged-up Bulls plug along; Knicks, Lakers fading - SportingNews.com

We kick off each week in the NBA by letting you know what’s been going well around the leagueâ€"and what’s been falling apart:

RISING

1. Kevin McHale. No one wants to go home a loser, especially not an NBA coach and executive who is facing a team that he once ran into the ground. For new Rockets coach Kevin McHale, the prospect of going back to Minnesota with a sad-sack bunch was looking very real when his team was off to a 2-5 start, but McHale juggled his lineupâ€"he inserted second-round rookie Chandler Parsons and free-agent signee Samuel Dalembert into the starting fiveâ€"and the Rockets went 7-2 in the next nine games. Make that 8-2 in the next 10, as McHale and his charges came up with a win against the Timberwolves in his return to Minnesota. McHale smiled as he was booed lustily by the home crowd, but more important, he was still smiling when the Rockets walked off the floor. Houston is now 10-7 and in the thick of the West playoff race.

2. The banged-up Bulls. You could put together a pretty good team of players who were hurt before or during Chicago’s game against Charlotte on Saturday. Derrick Rose still has a toe injury, Joakim Noah was out with a sprained ankle, Taj Gibson has a high ankle sprain and Luol Deng played 39 minutes despite hurting his wrist. Only four Bulls players have appeared in all 19 of their games, and Rose has been out five times as the toe problem persists. But credit coach Tom Thibodeau for keeping his troops focused and his backups readyâ€"Chicago is 16-3, best in the league.

3. The Pistons' future. It’s been another rough year in Detroit, where the Pistons are off to a 4-14 start. But, at long last, the franchise seems to be recovering from the disastrous Ben Gordon-Charlie Villanueva signings, thanks to a pair of lottery picks that are panning out. First, there is Greg Monroe, who, at 21, is quietly developing into one of the league’s top big menâ€"he is averaging 15.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 51.0 percent shooting. A pretty good case can be made for Monroe as an All-Star this year.

And while the Pistons still have Rodney Stuckey and Ben Gordon on hand, the future of the backcourt appears to be rookie Brandon Knight, the No. 8 pick in last year’s draft. Knight needs to find some consistency and hone his playmaking, but he is averaging 12.6 points this year.

FALLING

1. Knicks point guards. It could be argued that the Knicks' point guards can’t really be “falling” because they were never up to begin with. But the Knicks are on a six-game losing streak that has dropped their record to 6-10, and they have looked utterly rudderless on the floor. Whatever benefit the Knicks are getting defensively by acquiring Tyson Chandler in the offseason has been undermined by having to cut Chauncey Billups in order to do so.

The hope is that Baron Davis will return sometime in the next seven to 10 days, and though Davis figures to be behind in his conditioning and has not played in eight months, he will certainly be an upgrade over Iman Shumpert or Toney Douglas, who have both started at point guard this season. Knicks starting point guards have averaged 11.9 points, 3.8 assists and 2.5 turnovers while shooting just 36.3 percent this year.

2. The Kobe Show. Of course, it is fun to watch Kobe Bryant score 40-something points with a bad wrist at age 33â€"when the Lakers win. But when they start losing, as they’ve done in three straight games, the inevitable questions arise: Is Bryant doing too much? Is he hogging the ball or are his teammates being too passive? Is it possible for Bryant to help the Lakers win when his team is making just 25.6 percent of its 3-pointers? They’re all fair questions, but the inevitable truth is that the Lakers aren’t championship caliber with Bryant taking 31.3 percent of his team’s shots, as he has done this year.

3. Cap’n Jack. When the Bucks traded for Stephen Jackson on draft day, there was some concern about Jackson’s enthusiasm for playing in Milwaukee and his ability to get along with hard-nosed coach Scott Skiles. Well, problems have begun to bubble to the surface. Jackson is unhappy that he has not gotten a contract extension from the Bucks, but he has not given them much reason to make that move.

Jackson was benched for an unexcused absence on Saturday, a game in New York in which the Bucks came up with their first road win of the year. He returned on Sunday in Miami (another Milwaukee win), but came off the bench and scored just 10 points with four turnovers in 26 minutes.

Jackson is 33 and having his worst season in a decade, averaging just 13.4 points and 36.4 percent shooting, one of the lowest shooting percentages in the league this year. Not exactly deserving of an extension, it seems.

Rank 'emâ€"NBA power rankings

(last week’s rankings in parentheses)

1. Chicago (1).

2. Oklahoma City (2).

3. Orlando (8).

4. Denver (12).

5. Miami (6).

6. Atlanta (7).

7. L.A. Clippers (5).

Lakers star Kobe Bryant is taking nearly 27 shots per game. (AP Photo)

8. Indiana (10).

9. Philadelphia (3).

10. Memphis (17).

11. San Antonio (4).

12. Dallas (9).

13. Utah (13).

14. L.A. Lakers (11).

15. Portland (14).

16. Houston (18).

17. Minnesota (19).

18. Phoenix (20).

19. Milwaukee (22).

20. Boston (21).

21. Cleveland (15).

22. New York (16).

23. Golden State (23).

24. Sacramento (27).

25. New Jersey (28).

26. Detroit (26).

27. Toronto (25).

28. New Orleans (24).

29. Charlotte (29).

30. Washington (30).

Pau Gasol wants more work in the low post - Los Angeles Times (blog)

The timely behind-the-head pass that earned Andrew Bynum a trip to the free-throw line epitomized Pau Gasol's strong chemistry with his fellow 7-footer. His constant passes to Kobe Bryant as he cut toward the elbow epitomized Gasol recognizing Bryant's sweet spots. Finding Matt Barnes penetrating across the lane for a one-handed slam showcased Gasol's strong court awareness.

Gasol was happy with his season-high 10 assists and zero turnovers Sunday against Indiana. The only problem: Gasol isn't happy for reasons beyond the Lakers' 98-96 loss Sunday to the Pacers, current three-game losing streak and 10-8 record.

Gasol's stat line of eight points on four for 12 shooting against Indiana represented an ongoing trend where he's struggling with his midrange jumper and establishing post position. It also reflect the Lakers' tendency of making him more of a facilitator and less of a post threat.

"I would like to get a little more inside myself," Gasol said. "I always like to get different looks and be able to attack from different angles."

Instead, the majority of Gasol's offense has centered around working outside of the post. According to NBA Statscube, 44% of his shots have come this season on midrange jumpers, while only 22% have happened in the post. That's a sharp decrease from last season's numbers where Gasol provided a perfect balance between shooting in the paint (29.3%) and off midrange shots (30.3%). 

The shifting dynamic hardly proved to be a problem earlier this season when Bynum dominated inside without much resistance and Gasol knocked down open shots with consistency. But that's evolved. Bynum has struggled handling double teams, while Gasol has shot 40.8% from the field in the past five games. 

Lakers Coach Mike Brown conceded that Gasol "needs to score a little bit more," but then immediately praised his facilitating. Lakers guard Derek Fisher provided the perfect analysis. Though he acknowledged that "we could definitely find ways to utilize his skills better than we do at times," Fisher explained how Gasol operating in the low post could bring complications to the team's front-line dynamic.

"Based on the skill set of our two bigs, it's more natural for Pau to be away from the basket and for Drew to be lower," Fisher said. "It balances out."

In other words, it's easier for Gasol to adapt to the Lakers' offense than Bynum. Of course, Gasol commanded more touches than Bynum in recent seasons. But that happened partly because of Bynum still developing and his willingness to assume more defensive responsibilities. Gasol also played mostly with the reserves in the second quarter, but it turned out that Metta World Peace operated more out of the post than Gasol.

With Brown's system emphasizing defensive balance and the Lakers currently struggling on offense, it would remain harder for Bynum to fall back to his original position. Still, the Lakers' offense will largely hinge on how well Kobe Bryant, Gasol and Bynum thrive offensively. And lately, it's clear that Gasol's facilitating and midrange shot hasn't proven dependable enough. 

"A little too many jumpers for my taste," Gasol said. "I'd like to get a couple more looks inside the paint. That will increase the percentage of my shots."  

RELATED:

Kobe Bryant senses change in pecking order for Gasol, Bynum

Lakers lament late-game breakdowns against Indiana Pacers

Five things to take away from Lakers' 98-96 loss to Indiana Pacers

â€" Mark Medina

Email the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Kobe Bryant's Latina Wife Gets His Three Mansions, Report Says - Fox News

Kobe Bryant’s soon-to-be ex wife is winning big these days.

The Mexican basketball wife, who filed for divorce from the L.A. Lakers star last month after he reportedly stepped out of the marriage, just got all three of Bryant’s mansions worth close to $18.8 million, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Celebrities Who Had Affairs With Employees

And this is only the beginning of what Mrs. Bryant is expected to get, as the divorce with Kobe Bryant is finalized.

The Los Angeles Times says experts believe Vanessa Bryant will get around $75 million and additional funds in child support.

The properties that Mrs. Bryant has transferred to her name include the mansion inside the Pelican Hill Resort which is still under construction worth $ 11.2 million, their other Newport Beach home which was co-owned, worth $2.9 million, and the home which was under Kobe Bryant’s trust worth $4.7 million.

Celebrities Who Once Were Undocumented

Vanessa Bryant claims she caught her husband with "multiple women" over the years, but she felt the latest incident was the final straw, prompting her to file for divorce.

Vanessa, whose parents are both Mexican, was not believed to have been a favorite of Kobe's parents. Joe Bryant, Kobe's dad, had reportedly turned his back on the relationship because the family did not approve of Vanessa. It's been widely reported that his parents weren't crazy about him marrying a Latina.

Bryant, meanwhile, was being linked to one of socialite Kim Kardashian's best friends, according to RadarOnline.

Latinas Spice Up Maxim's Hot 100 List

The website cited unconfirmed reports that the 33-year-old has been on very friendly terms with 27-year-old Carla DiBello for the past two years.

DiBello, a producer on the reality TV series "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" and "Kourtney and Kim Take New York," has been close friends with Kardashian for a while, traveling around the world with her on work trips.

Prior to becoming a producer, DiBello worked as Steve Wynn's assistant at his hotel casino in Las Vegas, as well as in other posts in the hotel industry.

How Celebrities Stay in Shape

Kobe Bryant has already moved out of the couple's mansion in Newport Coast, Calif.

Vanessa Bryant stuck by her husband in the infamous press conference, pictured above, when he was accused of sexually assaulting an employee at a Colorado hotel in 2003. The NBA star admitted to having sex with 19-year-old Katelyn Faber but denied assault. The criminal case was dropped, and a civil suit filed by the woman was later settled out of court.

The fate of her $4 million diamond ring, an apology gift given to her in 2003 from her soon-to-be ex-husband, is to be determined.

Fox News Latino contributed to this story.

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DeJon Gomes did not like Kobe Bryant's divorce settlement - Washington Post (blog)

Posted at 12:40 PM ET, 01/23/2012


Well, I guess we know what Redskins safety DeJon Gomes thinks about Kobe Bryant’s divorce settlement. He was not amused.

This is all from his Twitter account last week.




By  |  12:40 PM ET, 01/23/2012

Categories:  Redskins

Kobe Bryant's wife, Vanessa, eyed for VH1's 'Basketball Wives': report - New York Daily News

LOS ANGELES, CA - FILE: Vanessa Bryant and NBA player Kobe Bryant arrive at the Los Angeles Laker's official championship victory party at Club Nokia on June 18, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. According to reports, Vanessa Bryant has filed for divorce from her husband of over 10 years, Kobe Bryant on December 16, 2011. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Vanessa and Kobe Bryant in 2009. She filed for divorce in December and is being considered for VH1's reality show.

The producers of "Basketball Wives" are reportedly eying a major free agent.

Now in the midst of divorcing Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, Vanessa Bryant is being considered for a spot on the VH1 show, TMZ.com reported.

“Vanessa has more than enough story line and would bring the show to another level,” a source close to the reality show told the gossip site.

Vanessa, 29, filed for divorce from Kobe Bryant, 31, in December, ending her 101/2 year marriage to the five-time NBA champion over “irreconcilable differences.” The couple has two children, Natalia, 8, and Giana, 5.

The former backup dancer stuck by the hoop star after he admitted to a 2003 sexual encounter with a concierge in a Colorado hotel who accused him of rape. There were other rumors of infidelity, however, that reportedly played a role in the divorce.

Kobe Bryant Video: Los Angeles Lakers Star Shows Soft Side on Extreme Makeover

Kobe Bryant is known for his fiery competitiveness and standoffish attitude, but the Los Angeles Lakers superstar recently showed he has a softer side too. He started a clothing drive with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to help the families affected by a massive tornado in Joplin, Mo.

A video of his segment on the show is embedded above.

In reality, any high-profile athlete can open up his checkbook and send money to a good cause. But the fact that Bryant took time out of his own busy schedule to appear at the clothing drive to send a message to the families shows how much he really wanted to help.

He also allowed anybody who donated something to the drive to play him in a game of one-on-one hoops. That's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that, judging by the size of the crowd, took up most of his day, but certainly helped boost donation numbers.

Bryant's upbeat outlook throughout the piece is a refreshing change of pace from his usual serious demeanor.

Sometimes it takes an appearance like this to show the human side of a person, instead of just the persona they represent during a basketball game.

Bryant is no stranger to philanthropy. He's been involved with After-School All-Stars and the Kobe Bryant China Fund, among other programs, since his professional career began.

It's efforts like those that have allowed him to maintain his icon status despite some other off-court problems, including his wife Vanessa's recent divorce filing.

As long as Bryant keeps dominating on the court and giving to needy causes off it, there's no reason anybody should worry about his personal life. Just ask the people of Joplin, who now have a batch of new clothes to help on the road to recovery.

It's a nice reminder that people aren't always the characters they seemingly portray on television.

Kobe Bryant divorce: Three homes to Vanessa probably just a start

In her divorce from Kobe Bryant, wife Vanessa will get 3 mansions

The shifting of three Orange County properties worth an estimated $18.8 million to Kobe Bryant's wife, Vanessa, is probably one part of a larger division of assets underway as the couple finalizes their divorce.

The couple, who were married for about 10 years before announcing their separation in December, did not have a prenuptial agreement, Vanessa Bryant's mother told The Times. If true, she would be entitled to half of their community property.

Some estimates put Kobe Bryant's net worth at $150 million. Legal experts said Vanessa Bryant will probably receive at least $75 million in addition to ongoing spousal and child support.

PHOTOS: Kobe and Vanessa Bryant through the years

According to property records review by The Times, three mansions in Newport Beach's upscale Newport Coast community have recently been placed in Vanessa Bryant's name. They are:

--An estate in the Resort at Pelican Hill was recently under construction. Property records peg its worth at $11.2 million. Bryant's agent, Rob Pelinka, was the listed owner until he signed transfer papers Dec. 15.

--A home worth $2.9 million was owned jointly by the couple since 2003. Vanessa Bryant signed documents to transfer it into her name Dec. 14.

--A home valued at $4.7 million was transferred to Vanessa on Dec. 30 from the Kobe Bryant trust.

Neither of the attorneys representing the couple was available for comment Friday.

Vanessa Bryant filed a divorce petition in Orange County Superior Court in December, citing "irreconcilable differences." The couple released a joint statement then saying that they had "resolved all issues incident to their divorce privately."

RELATED:

Vanessa Bryant stands to gain windfall in divorce

Kobe Bryant divorce: Couple will share custody of daughters

Kobe Bryant divorce: Vanessa cites "irreconcilable differences"

-- Michael Reicher, Times Community News

Photo: Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, attend the skills competition at the NBA basketball All-Star Saturday Night in Dallas in February 2010. Credit: LM Otero / Associated Press

Kobe Bryant hands wife three mansions

In her divorce from Kobe Bryant, wife Vanessa will get 3 mansions

The shifting of three Orange County properties worth an estimated $18.8 million to Kobe Bryant's wife, Vanessa, is probably one part of a larger division of assets underway as the couple finalizes their divorce.

The couple, who were married for about 10 years before announcing their separation in December, did not have a prenuptial agreement, Vanessa Bryant's mother told The Times. If true, she would be entitled to half of their community property.

Some estimates put Kobe Bryant's net worth at $150 million. Legal experts said Vanessa Bryant will probably receive at least $75 million in addition to ongoing spousal and child support.

PHOTOS: Kobe and Vanessa Bryant through the years

According to property records review by The Times, three mansions in Newport Beach's upscale Newport Coast community have recently been placed in Vanessa Bryant's name. They are:

--An estate in the Resort at Pelican Hill was recently under construction. Property records peg its worth at $11.2 million. Bryant's agent, Rob Pelinka, was the listed owner until he signed transfer papers Dec. 15.

--A home worth $2.9 million was owned jointly by the couple since 2003. Vanessa Bryant signed documents to transfer it into her name Dec. 14.

--A home valued at $4.7 million was transferred to Vanessa on Dec. 30 from the Kobe Bryant trust.

Neither of the attorneys representing the couple was available for comment Friday.

Vanessa Bryant filed a divorce petition in Orange County Superior Court in December, citing "irreconcilable differences." The couple released a joint statement then saying that they had "resolved all issues incident to their divorce privately."

RELATED:

Vanessa Bryant stands to gain windfall in divorce

Kobe Bryant divorce: Couple will share custody of daughters

Kobe Bryant divorce: Vanessa cites "irreconcilable differences"

-- Michael Reicher, Times Community News

Photo: Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, attend the skills competition at the NBA basketball All-Star Saturday Night in Dallas in February 2010. Credit: LM Otero / Associated Press

When the Laker offense is beautiful - ESPN (blog)

Pay special attention to the highlight above with about 2:36 left in the game. That's when Pacers David West and Paul George trap the most celebrated Laker, Kobe Bryant, against the left wing. Bryant finds his wide open teammate, Pau Gasol, in the corner, who draws yet another Pacer, Roy Hibbert, out of the lane.

This is where the genius of the Lakers' roster is on full display. Gasol is open on the catch, but so is everybody! It's a feast. Derek Fisher is, as always these days, all by himself on the far side. Andrew Bynum is being single-covered by the now particularly tiny-looking Darren Collison directly under the hoop. The Laker center is so sure he's going to get the ball that he leaps at Gasol's pass, which is headed nowhere near him. Gasol's target, instead, was the other uncovered Laker, Matt Barnes, who is only too happy to finish with a dunk over the spot Hibbert had vacated seconds earlier.

If the Pacers are going to double Bryant, the Lakers have a thousand ways to make them pay.

On the game's final play the Lakers needed a 3 to tie. The defense knows exactly what's happening, which makes the play calling tricky. Bryant deserves credit for being willing to work off the ball -- a lot of Laker crunch time possessions begin with an inbound pass to Bryant, which makes it especially easy for the defense to know where the action is. This time, though, Gasol makes the catch and the two engage in a little two-man game.

To the extent that I complain about Bryant's ball-hogging, this is a big improvement. (For a counterexample, see the first clip in the highlight, where Bryant makes a jumper over a triple team. Nice shot, but dishing to the wide open and diving-to-the-hoop Gasol is the money play.) Picks! Passing! Bodies in motion! Things coaches do to get guys open!

Only this time it didn't matter. Both defenders were going to stay glued to Bryant no matter what. Stop the highlights with 5.5 seconds on the clock.

Bryant is so far from the hoop he's literally closer to the halfcourt logo than the 3-point line. That's because, of the two defenders he has drawn, the one elevating with him as he shoots is 21-year-old 6-8 Paul George. Bryant is 6-6, 33 years old, and playing on internationally suspect knees. Before the 2010 draft, the NBA measured George with a standing reach just one inch shy of nine feet. This man is nimble enough to stay with Bryant out here on the perimeter, but can reach higher than the likes of Josh Smith, Tyler Hansbrough, Kevin Love, Paul Millsap or Blake Griffin.

Meanwhile, if there's a defender within ten feet of Gasol, I can't see him.

Gasol hit a huge crunch time 3 last week against the Jazz, and this one would be a cakewalk compared to that. There's plenty of time left to make the pass and the shot, and Gasol has an acre all to himself.

But two things fail: Gasol, a step inside the 3-point line, isn't thinking about shooting. And Bryant never looks at him.

Bryant almost makes the long 3, which is impressive as hell given the conditions under which he shot it. And the Lakers lose.

All in all, though, it can't be totally discouraging for Laker fans. This team has the potential to score a ton, and is showing signs of playing that way.

Vanessa Bryant To Join Basketball Wives After Kobe Divorce - Contactmusic.com

Vanessa Bryant is looking likely to join the permanent cast of Vh1 show 'Basketball Wives', with producers ready to make her an offer "she can't refuse". Multiple sources tell TMZ.com that producers are putting together "an extremely lucrative pitch for Vanessa", though ironically, she will soon be a former-Basketball wife once her divorce from Kobe Bryant goes through.

As for the strange timing, insiders say the Basketball Wives team "never dreamed" of approaching Bryant to star on the show while she was happily married to Kobe and sources suggest Vanessa would not have been receptive had an offer come in. Budget restraints were also an issue for producers with the show still in its infancy. TMZ say, "Producers knew Vanessa would be very expensive -- but now that BW's one of the highest rated shows on the network, producers have lots more to spend on talent". If Vanessa accepts the offer, she would be instantly made a lead character in the Los Angeles edition of the show. She certainly has a story to tell, having recently secured a huge $75 million divorce settlement from Kobe. Vanessa will reportedly receive the huge lump sum as well as three properties the couple own in Newport Beach, California, according to the New York Post. The lump sum is exactly half of the couple's $150 million fortune and as for the reason behind the divorce, sources say Vanessa was "fed up with her husband's alleged philandering".

Speaking about a possible role on Basketball Wives, an insider close to Bryant said she "has more than enough storyline and would bring the show to another level".

Pacers Vs. Lakers: Kobe Bryant Comes Up Short Against Indiana - SB Nation

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, left, has his shot blocked by Indiana Pacers guard Paul George during the first half of their NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012, in Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

One day after the sixth-anniversary of his 81-point performance, Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers couldn't put away the Indiana Pacers at Staples Center.

Jan 23, 2012 - The Sunday night matchup between the Indiana Pacers and the Los Angeles Lakers came one day after the sixth anniversary of Kobe Bryant's 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors. Don't think for a second that Kobe Bryant didn't know that, too. He started the game in attack mode, dribbling past defenders when they bellied up, shooting silky mid-range jumpers when they sagged off and working hard off the ball to get premium looks at the rim. It looked so much different than the relentless performance he masterminded six years and one day ago against the Raptors at the Staples Center -- he only scored 33 points on 14-30 shooting and 0-3 on three-point attempts on this this night, as opposed to 81 points on 28-46 shooting and 7-13 from beyond the arc against Toronto -- and after pouring in 31 points during the first three quarters, Kobe couldn't quite close the deal when his team needed him most. After the Indiana defense forced Bryant to defer to teammates on two of the Lakers' final possessions down the stretch, he got the look he wanted on the second-to-last possession.

With the Lakers trailing 97-94 and just 8.7 seconds left, Kobe worked a pendulum-like route along the top of the key on the sideline inbounds play to create misdirection and open him up for a hand-off look from Pau Gasol that created a clean look at a three to tie the game. Once the execution of the play set the moment in motion, the Staples Center crowd collectively held their breath and expected something great, but this time it didn't come. The shot clanged off the back of the rim, but as the TV cameras lingered on Bryant after the shot, all he could do was smile. A missed opportunity. Two points on 1-6 shooting in the fourth quarter. Not every performance can be as perfect was the message. From there the Pacers executed at the line to seal the game, and a final layup by Gasol at the buzzer set the final score at 98-96 in favor of Indiana.

While the Lakers leaned heavily on Kobe, the Pacers continued their offense-by-committee approach. Entering the game, seven players on Indiana averaged more than 10 points per contest: Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert, David West, Darren Collison, Paul George, Tyler Hansbrough and George Hill. On the night, six of those seven players scored in double figures again (Hansbrough had zero points). In the first half they fed West off of the pick and roll for 15 points on 7-10 shooting and 6 rebounds, but he screeched to halt on offense after that and missed his last five shots to finish with 15 points and 9 rebounds. No problem. The Pacers simply moved on to their next options. First they rode a three-point barrage from Paul George, Danny Granger and George Hill in the third quarter, and then they turned to Roy Hibbert in post isolations down the stretch to take the lead and seal it.

Kobe shot more times than any two Pacers players combined on the night, but for Indiana that's the blueprint. They now sit at an impressive 11-4 overall and have managed to create an early cushion in the standings while playing one of the softest schedules in the league. Indiana did not look outclassed or intimidated at any point during the game, and managed to hand the Lakers just their second loss at Staples Center this season.

Outside of Kobe, the Lakers didn't have too many performances that stood out. Andrew Bynum experimented with his left-handed hook throughout the night, and the results were mixed, but he still managed to put up a respectable 16 points and 8 rebounds. Metta World Peace broke out of his funk a bit as he added 11 points and scored in double figures for the first time since a 10-point game against the Denver Nuggets on January 1. Finally, Pau Gasol struggled from the field (4-12 shooting), but helped out the offense by dishing out a season-high 10 assists. Nevertheless, the balance of the Pacers' attack, coupled with a 10-18 night from three-point range, proved too much for Kobe and the Lakers to handle.

The narrow 98-96 loss drops the Lakers to a disappointing 10-8 overall, while the Pacers now occupy the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference standings. Whether you are a Lakers fan, Pacers fan or just a general NBA enthusiast looking for entertainment, here is a three-minute compilation of that classic 81-point performance to check out. As Sunday's game proved, nothing else will ever be quite the same.

For more on the Indiana Pacers, check out Indy Cornrows. Los Angeles Lakers coverage is available at Silver Screen and Roll.

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Kobe Bryant: Kobe Bryant scores 33 points in Lakers' loss - Rotoworld.com

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Love etc.: Kobe Bryant’s ex gets three mansions

Posted at 05:00 PM ET, 01/22/2012


Kobe and Vanessa at the All-Star weekend in 2010. (LM Otero/AP)
• Divesting: Kobe Bryant, who gave his soon-to-be-ex Vanessa three California homes worth more than $18 million, reports the Los Angeles Times. According to property records, she’ll keep three Newport Coast mansions (their current residence, a newly built house, and one her mother lives in) as part of their divorce settlement. No word on the rest of the terms: The couple, married 10 years with two daughters, didn’t have a prenup, entitling her to half of his estimated $150 million fortune.

By  |  05:00 PM ET, 01/22/2012

Categories:  Love

Hibbert leads Pacers past Lakers, 98-96 - Houston Chronicle

LOS ANGELES (AP) â€" Roy Hibbert wasn't going to let a broken nose stop him, especially against the Los Angeles Lakers and twin towers Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol. The Indiana center just kept playing and ended up having a big finish to help the pull out a tough road win.

Hibbert, the Pacers' second-leading scorer, left the court with the broken nose after fouling Kobe Bryant with 6:46 left in the first quarter. But Hibbert persevered and scored eight of his 18 points in the fourth to help them beat the Lakers 98-96 on Sunday night.

"Kobe spun baseline, I jumped straight up and he inadvertently elbowed me in the face," said Hibbert, one of six Pacers to score in double figures. "It didn't hurt that much. I couldn't get it fixed up because they didn't have a doctor here to put it back in place, but I went back here and got an X-ray done."

Tyler Hansbrough replaced Hibbert and missed all five shots during Hibbert's brief absence, but grabbed seven rebounds. Hibbert reported back in with 5:12 left in the second quarter after a trainer stuffed cotton up his nose, but he had difficulty keeping it in at times. He also had eight rebounds in 27 minutes.

"They didn't want me to come back out, but I told them I'm going to no matter what," said Hibbert, who was still bleeding after coming out of the showers. "So if I got hit again, that's fine. I could always get cosmetic surgery at the end of the season to fix it. I'm a tough player, and I just wanted to play through it and make sure we got this win. This game was really important to us. I just wanted to make sure I found open shooters and cutters and score whenever I could."

Hibbert, more than willing to get his nose dirty, scored six consecutive points in the paint to cut the margin to one with 6:15 left, and former UCLA guard Darren Collison's 3-pointer tied it at 86 with 5:32 left.

Bryant, who scored 33 points, missed what would have been a tying 3-pointer from 30 feet from the top of the key with 3.5 seconds to play and Indiana clinched it at the free throw line.

"We knew we had to stop Kobe," Danny Granger said. "He's the key to their offense, so that was our main focus. We did our best to make his shots tough and to take the ball out of his hands at times. And it worked for us."

The Pacers (11-5) are off to their best start since 2003-04, when they won 14 of their first 16, finished the regular season 61-21 and came within two wins of getting to the NBA finals.

"We have a lot of guys that are experienced," Granger said. "David West is in his ninth year, Roy is in his fourth year now, I'm in my seventh and Collison is in his third. And we also have George Hill coming off the bench, and he's in his fourth year coming from the Spurs. So we have a deep team and it's tough to beat us."

The Lakers, coming off road losses to Miami and Orlando, failed to reach 100 points for the 11th straight game â€" their longest streak since a 12-game stretch in 2003-04.

"We're really not shooting the ball well. We have to start knocking down some of those shots," Bryant said. "The opposition is shooting the ball much better than we are, especially from 3. After the first quarter, we opened the floodgates and just let them score at will. Then you compound that with the fact that we're having a tough time scoring."

Bryant beat the third-quarter buzzer with a 16-footer from the right of the key to give the Lakers a 78-77 lead, and former Pacers forward Troy Murphy got his first points of the game on a 3 that made it 82-77.

West ended the first half with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from the top of the key, capping a 15-6 run and slicing the Lakers' 13-point lead to three at 52-49. He finished the half with 15 points, helping offset 17 by Bryant. Granger's 3-pointer 1:37 into the third quarter gave Indiana a 55-54 lead, its first since Paul George's game-opening dunk.

"We've got to give Indiana credit because they outworked us," coach Mike Brown said. "It's too bad, because we came out and played great defense. But then the last three quarters, we didn't play with a sense of urgency. We thought Indiana would fold to a certain degree, and we kind of went through the motions. This game was tough to swallow."

Notes: The National Anthem was sung by Kareem Rush, whose seven-year NBA career included stints with the Lakers and Pacers. ... Bryant is 180 points away from overtaking Shaquille O'Neal (28,596) for fifth place on the career scoring list. The two-time NBA scoring champ also is 20 field goals shy of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Lakers career record of 9,935 and needs to make 11 more free throws to eclipse Jerry West's Lakers career record of 7,160. ... Pacers associate coach Brian Shaw, who won three NBA championship rings playing for the Lakers and two more as an assistant coach under Phil Jackson, made his first trip to Staples Center since leaving Los Angeles. He and most of the Lakers players â€" particularly Bryant â€" were hoping he'd be hired to replace Jackson as head coach instead of Brown, and Shaw was upset that he had to learn about Brown's hiring from media reports instead of from general manager Mitch Kupchak. ... The last time the Pacers faced the Lakers at Staples Center, they won 95-92 to snap a 14-game road losing streak against them â€" including three losses in the 2000 NBA finals. ... The Lakers have a rematch with the Clippers on Wednesday night, trying to even the season series after a 102-94 loss Jan. 14. ... Lakers F Josh McRoberts, who spent the previous three seasons with the Pacers, played 20 scoreless minutes and took two shots in his first game against them.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Love etc.: Kobe Bryant's ex gets three mansions - Washington Post (blog)

Posted at 05:00 PM ET, 01/22/2012


Kobe and Vanessa at the All-Star weekend in 2010. (LM Otero/AP)
• Divesting: Kobe Bryant, who gave his soon-to-be-ex Vanessa three California homes worth more than $18 million, reports the Los Angeles Times. According to property records, she’ll keep three Newport Coast mansions (their current residence, a newly built house, and one her mother lives in) as part of their divorce settlement. No word on the rest of the terms: The couple, married 10 years with two daughters, didn’t have a prenup, entitling her to half of his estimated $150 million fortune.

By  |  05:00 PM ET, 01/22/2012

Categories:  Love