WINNING: THE DFENDERS WIN THEIR OPENER AND THE LAKERS START

BOTH THE LAKERS AND DFENDERS WON THEIR OPENERS THIS SEASON

THEY SAY IT CHANGES EVERYTHING. 

WITH KOBE BRYANT NOW GONE FROM LAKER LAND AS A PLAYER, A LEGACY BOTH PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY IS NOW LEFT BEHIND.  A NEW IDENTITY IS BEGINNING TO EMERGE AS WE SEE PLAYERS LIKE LAKER FORWARD JULIUS RANDLE STEP INTO THE SHOES THAT KOBE LEFT BEHIND.  WE MAY HAVE ALL LOST THE BLACK MAMBA BUT PERHAPS THERE ARE BITS AND PIECES OF HIM INTERWOVEN AMONGST THE YOUNG LAKER SQUAD.

TEAM.

YOU NEED TO BE ONE.

YOU NEED TO PLAY AS ONE.

IN ORDER TO WIN.

THE NEW "KOBE" IN LA, DFENDERS HEAD COACH COBY KARL, HAD HIS TEAM PLAYING AS "ONE" FRIDAY NIGHT AS THE DFENDERS GOT THE VICTORY IN THE SEASON OPENER AGAINST THE IOWA ENERGY.

THE FINAL SCORE WAS 127-98

NICE TO SEE FAMILIAR FACES IN THE RETURN PLAYERS AND SOME NEW BLOOD WHO INFUSED SOME GREAT ENERGY AND ATHLETICISM IN THE WIN.

GRANTED IT WAS OPENING NIGHT WHICH BRINGS A UNIQUE ENERGY UNTO ITSELF, IT JUST SEEMS THAT THE MOOD "AROUND CAMPUS" IS MUCH DIFFERENT.

IT HELPS THAT THE LAKERS ARE 5-4 GOING INTO THIS AFTERNOON'S MATCHUP AGAINST NEW ORLEANS.

IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO SLOW DOWN TRAVIS WEAR AND THESE D-FENDERS THIS SEASON

THE FANS WERE EXCITED, THE PLAYERS WERE PUMPED UP, AND THE LAKER GIRLS ARE, AS ALWAYS, WINNING!

SQUAD

LAKER LORE: There were LEGENDS of ALL kinds present Friday Night versus the Memphis Grizzlies

It was nice seeing Kobe even though he did NOT play.

KOBE BRYANT: young and old

There were some other familiar faces of Laker Lore present and fans in attendance received one too ( a present that is).

With his arm outstretched, a young boy greeted me upon entering Staples Center and was preparing to hand me a gift DVD from Kareem Abdul Jabbar,

"On the Shoulders of Giants"

I quickly lit up with a smile.  

Mostly because of this young kid.  I asked him what it was (I have already seen it but wanted this young lad to explain it to me anyway).

"It's this movie about this really good basketball player.." he says to me emphatically

"It IS?" I say..."Well, do you know who HE is," I say as I point to the image of Kareem on the DVD.

Fans, young and old should REALLY watch this HISTORY

"No."  Honesty.  You must respect that.  I cannot say the same for the way the Lakers ended up playing against Memphis in LA this Friday evening on February 26, 2016.

As I walked away I asked this boy, who was probably 9 or 10, to please watch the movie.  It is history and lore unto itself and a remarkable production.  

It was about HIS (the kid's age) that I did one of my first current events in school.  As fate would have it, Kareem Abdul Jabbar had just broken the all-time scoring record.

THIS was a no-brainer.  It had to be done!  Sports was my life and I was going to report on one of the greatest sports records of ALL-TIME on one of the greatest players to have ever strapped up dem laces and graced the hardwood or the playgrounds.

Thank you Kareem AND Lakers.

Mychal Thompson was around as well.  Kareem's teammate from 1986 to 1989.  Earlier in the day I had seen a tweet that Mr. Thompson had just become a US Citizen.  I approached him, asked him if that was true, he said it was and I proceeded to shake his hand congratulating him.

Mr. Thompson is from the Bahamas originally.  Younger NBA fans might know him as "Klay Thompson's father," and I am sure he is alright with that.  I know him as a World Champion and a class act.




When I first walked into the arena I asked if Charlie Sheen was present.  She looked at me and nodded with what appeared to be a "no" and that was satisfactory enough for me to say aloud, "Winning!"  We had some fun with it as Matt Barnes was straight tushing threes in warm-up.

Winning games for the Lakers have been FEW and FAR so thus have been FREE TACOS and some "We Love LA" at the end of what used to be regular dubs for the purple and gold.




As fate would have it, my friend and I end up sitting in seats owned by the gentleman who sings the National Anthem at the beginning of every Lakers Season for the past 30 years, "Jeffrey Osbourne."


During halftime, my friend ended up seeing a legend of another kind.

"that was Danny Carey.. the Greatest Drummer in the WORLD!"  He said this after catching back up with me

I looked over and saw a very tall man, wearing a gold Lakers hoodie, with his sandy blond hair tied back and looking like he could play small forward for L.A. (why NOT?)




This same friend introduced me to Tool's music in 2003 even though I had known of them, especially since he was following them from inception.

When I heard Tool for the first time I was out of my mind stoked and proceeded to share some of my Rush albums because of the similarities between Carey and Neil Peart (RUSH)



We didn't run into Neil...

BUT, there were a lot of LEGENDS in the house so although the Lakers might NOT have gotten the win, 

WE ARE "WINNING" 

_chauncey                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

WINNING: Kobe GOES OFF and so does the Lakers Losing Streak

On the heels of Byron Scott becoming the Worst Lakers Coach of ALL-TIME, the TEAM avoids further futility in snapping a ten-game losing streak and avoiding the LONGEST LOSING STREAK in LA LAKER HISTORY

Tonight's #24 jersey giveaway brought some luck! Lakers win and Kobe scores a season high! -Nicolette #LGLivin pic.twitter.com/c4HeiPXdfo

— Laker Girls (@LakerGirls) February 3, 2016

When Kobe Bryant scores 30 or MORE, the Lakers WIN Everytime (Lakers are 3-0 this season when Kobe scores 30+)

That Man is Cookin!!!! Looking just like old Kobe!! Love it

— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) February 3, 2016

Cookin INDEED!  He was LEAD chef on the evening in the NBA and a season high for the MAMBA

38 points / 5 Rebounds / 5 Assists /   7/11 3 PT / 2 Steals  / +5 

And the Laker Girls Never looked so GOOD...

Woo hoo!! #LakersWin pic.twitter.com/vo1lQ3R2Zj

— Laker Girls (@LakerGirls) February 3, 2016

Good ol number 24 went OFF but other players like D'Angelo Russell (18/3/3) and Julius Randle had nice games too.

Randle (15 pts/ 12 rebs) is 19th in "double-doubles" with 19 (over All-Star players like Draymond Green and Paul Millsap) and remains SNUBBED ... 

If @TarikBlack25 is 💣💣 then @J30_RANDLE is BAM BAM ? Damn #bambamJR30 🔨 IT https://t.co/U8Uz1SVIC2

— GonZo Sports news (@gonzosports1) February 3, 2016

Tarik Black saw 20 minutes of PT including the final 2:55 in the first quarter and extended into the second.



He tied D'Angelo with HIGHEST +/- of any Laker with +15 after the first half of play.



Tarik had injured his foot, which was x-rayed today (2-3-16)with negative results.

He left the game at the 2:12 mark in the first quarter.  The TEAM was up 57-45 at that moment. Tarik came into the game at the 2:55 mark in the first.  The Lakers were down 24-21.  Not ONLY did Tarik Black Play those consecutive minutes, but Roy Hibbert was out this entire stretch and only logged SEVEN first-half minutes.  

Hibbert ended the game with a -9.

                    Black? +3

And WHEN BLACK PLAYS his "plus/minus" is one of the highest on the TEAM!

Tarik Black's has TWO "INACTIVES" (street clothes) and about 20 minutes of play in total over the previous FIVE GAMES.  

Tarik played 20 in this one.  Most of his play was in the first half (when he then injured his foot).

THIS is a MAJOR CHANGE in Byron Scott's foxhole.

The numbers, for Tarik Black, will NOT always tell the story.  At one point Tarik had better than what Byron Scott Fan Boy Don MacLean calls 

"a triple couple" (a couple a points, a couple of boards and a couple of fouls..)

Black had a "quadruple couple" at one point: 2 pts, 2 boards, 2 blocks and 2 assists.  He added 2 more BOARDS to this tally, ending with 4 boards.

The greatest positive play took place during that first-through-second quarter play when Black was on the floor for the LAKERS.

Randle and Mamba helped out in quarter 1 with 6 and 5 points respectively.

@gonzosports1 @JeanieBuss @Lakers @Timberwolves @TarikBlack25 @JamesWorthy42 @RKHorry
My bad: 5 & 5. 2 were ties. pic.twitter.com/I0UokEBIPn

— Nick P M (@positivelypasha) February 3, 2016

The Lakers are 5-5 when leading at the end of the FIRST QUARTER.

Tarik Black appears to be FRONT and CENTER 

and doing quite well..

FAITH: Do the Los Angeles Lakers have ANY?

THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS BIGGEST OPPONENT MIGHT BE STARING RIGHT BACK AT THEM IN THE MIRROR

    

 So Much has been made, this Season, of the Lakers defensive struggles.  This (defense) has been topic of conversation for three years running under several different head coaches and completely different personnel on the floor.  "Fire Byron" has not only surfaced but has become prominently featured on Twitter during and especially "post" Lakers games as they typically rack another "L."  Fans express themselves in a variety of ways.

DO we really NEED to know that Coach has had them on increased defensive and rebounding drills?  This has been discussed after recent Losses... Maybe EVERYONE: FANS, Coaches, Management AND Players have ALL had "ENOUGH."

The reality is that the team, in spite of losses, IS making progress.  

D'Angelo appears to be maturing on the floor in terms of his confidence and overall play.  The team has reduced the ridiculous amount of turnovers they were rolling out not to long ago.  And they have been consistently "in games" especially after a series of good "starts."

How is the left side of the floor?  

Loading... 

Try Loading the left with Randle, Russell, and... BROWN?  Are we going to see the sharp-shooter from Stanford actually get a handful of minutes when it counts?  [He just rolled out 18 points a game on decent efficiency for the D-Fenders]  I suggest it happen tonight.  Who in the hell is going to guard Steph?  If Brown can fill a much needed role, in terms of specialist off-the-bench, then roll him out there tonight and let the long, lean forward take a crack on tracking Curry.  Let's see if his athleticism and frame (length) CAN bother Curry a bit.  The reality is that NO ONE is slowing Curry down so there really isn't ANYTHING to lose.  Perhaps another game, but "we" are used to it by now.  And, although any team can beat anyone on any given day, Kobe Bryant is probably NOT going to see a pretty improbable feat happen tonight when the Warriors face the Lakers at 7:30 pm.  

Tarik Black has gotten buried on the bench and Nance has not been able to capture more PT in spite of his energy and positive attributes.  In limited PT and chances he (Nance) looks like a great pick up who could perform BETTER than MANY drafted ahead of him.  In fact, in the game against Orlando this year his play and numbers were BETTER than the previous year's number 4 pick (Aaron Gordon_ UofA).

The numbers between GSW and LAL do NOT compare.  One team is resting at the top in ALL categories, including wins at 15-0. and the Lakers are bottom-feeding once again.

There is one category, however, that might make a huge difference for the Lakers this season.

Faith is complete confidence or trust in a person or thing; or a belief not based on proof. It may also refer to a particular system of religious belief.

The Golden State Warriors have it.  They have FAITH in one another as teammates and many have a strong faith in God.

I am not suggesting that the Lakers all "find God" and that this IS the answer.  However, if one does not trust his teammate, or the Coach it will ONLY be an uphill battle regardless of whomever the opponent is.

The Lakers MUST beat their BIGGEST opponent FIRST:

THEMSELVES

BTW...

Did Kobe REALLY preach ball movement and THEN roll out a 6-22 FG and 0-5 on three point attempts?


With continued lack of efficiency and poor shot selection it will become more and more clear that Kobe's deficiencies as a player (currently) will continue to hurt the Lakers.

I can make the easy argument that Kobe IS the "GOAT" simply based on the fact that the guy is still playing at a relatively high level in spite of having two season ending injuries.  Most people would not be able to function/ walk the same let alone play in the NBA like he is.

That being said:

If the volume shots keep going up which then take shots from more efficient players in any given game, this will not ONLY produce more Losses but will breed a culture of negativity and animosity.

THIS is a dangerous game that "Old Kobe" is playing.

The Youth may only have patience for SO long....

And then you have a self-manifested "Culture" of ALL THINGS NEGATIVE which ONLY adds to why TOP FREE AGENTS are reluctant to come this way.

"I've had Enough..."  

DFender FAM

     The energy was a bit higher and there was more of a buzz around El Segundo on Saturday (April 12, 2014) as the NBA D-League playoff game between the visiting Santa Cruz Warriors and the home Los Angeles D-Fenders approached.

Britt's Barbecue was already set up.   Britt's had been a sponsor and supporter ALL season long for the D-Fenders and folks were lining up to enjoy their good food.


During the week, Mr. Steve Mason, of ESPN LA 710 had tweeted about singing the National Anthem and was able to speak to him briefly beforehand.  Thank you, Mr. Mason, for coming out and showing your support, along with others from ESPN:  Arash Markazi and Amanda Brown.