The Lakers were the talk of the town this summer after the whirlwind of a roster reboot. However, after losing the first two season games, people are still buzzing about L.A. in a different way.
Tonight there is a chance for redemption. The Lakers play against the Los Angeles Clippers at 7:30 pm, a much anticipated game where Lakers rejects sit on the Clippers bench and the title of The Los Angeles Team is at stake. Unfortunately, the Lakers will likely be without Steve Nash come game time. And with Chris Paul coming to the Clippers last season, leading the team to their best winning percentage in team history, the Laker-Clipper rivalry has begun to take shape.
Everyone wants to see the new look Los Angeles Lakers. In fact the game against Portland was the most-watched telecast in NBA TV history. The game drew 868,000 viewers. NBA TV has reported increased viewing in the past couple of seasons and that speaks to the growing popularity of the sport.
With the fan base growing, and Lakers fans mumbling, Mike Brown sure feels the pressure; he is right back to being public enemy number one after the last two games. Mike Brown is in the second year of a four-year, $18 million deal that contains a team option for the fourth year. Which means for Lakers fans, he may not be going anywhere anytime soon. But look at this; including preseason games, and last year’s playoffs, the Lakers have lost 16 of their last 18 games. If the pattern continues, things may not bode well for Brown.
For more pre-game info, scope out Max Piner’s breakdown of the keys to success for this evening.
Los Angeles Clippers (1-0) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (0-2)
7:30 PM PST, November 2, 2012
Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
CA
TV: ESPN
Clippers Projected Starting Line-up
PG: Chris Paul
SG: Willie Green
SF: Caron Butler
PF: Blake Griffin
C: DeAndre Jordan
Key Reserves: G Jamal Crawford, G Eric Bledsoe, F Lamar Odom
Lakers Nation News
Lakers Need To Utilize Steve Nash While Their Offense Evolves
Mike Brown Watch 2012: Is the Head Coach Already on the Hot Seat?
Lakers Shootaround: Dwight Howard Denies Clippers Rivalry
Lakers News: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Chimes in on Princeton Offense
Lakers, Blazers Game Most Watched Telecast in NBA TV History
Lakers vs. Clippers Pre-Game Report: Battle LA Begins Anew
Lakers News
Discussing the Lakers, Mike Brown, the Princeton Offense, and the Panic That Has Ensued [Silver Screen and Roll]
Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers Preview (11/2/12) [Silver Screen and Roll]
Ziller: Patience is a Virtue [Silver Screen and Roll]
Lakers Vets’ Sense of Urgency Kicking In [ESPN]
Fans Should Give Bryant Silence He Wants [OC Register]
Lakers vs. Clippers, 7:30 p.m. Friday [Lakers Blog]
The Princeton, Patience and The Lakers’ Peril [SB Nation]
Kobe Bryant Has a Smart and Succinct Reaction to Los Angeles Laker Critics: ‘Shut Up’ [Ball Don’t Lie]
Looking Ahead for the Lakers [With Malice]
Clippers-Lakers Game Coverage: Kick Them While They’re Down [Clips Nation]
Hollywood-Sized Drama [ESPN]
The Rebranding of Dwight Howard [Harwood Paroxysm]
Clippers, Lakers Set for Weekend Matchup [SB Nation]
Player Capsules 2012, #250-252: Alan Anderson, Metta World Peace, Chris Singleton [Gothic Ginobli]
Player Capsules 2012, #247-249: Amare Stoudemire, Eduardo Najera, Ryan Gomes [Gothic Ginobli]
Even with Lakers at 0-2, Dwight Howard’s World Remains Rainbows [OC Register]
Now Is Not the Time to Get Rid of Mike Brown [LA Times]
Bench Rotation Still in Flux [LA Times]
Lakers Should be Themselves [ESPN]
Nash (Leg) Doubtful for Friday’s Game vs. Clippers [Lakers Blog]
NBA News
Dwyane Wade Thinks Heat/Knicks Should’ve Been Postponed Due to Hurricane Sandy [Ball Don’t Lie]
Arron Afflalo Downplays Going Against Old Team [Tampa Bay]
Deron Williams Has Bone Spurs [ESPN]
Rockets Happy with Harden, But are They a Playoff Team? [ProBasketballTalk]
Pepsi MAX & Kyrie Irving Present: “Uncle Drew: Chapter 2” [Youtube]
NBA, NBPA Pledge $1 Million for Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts [NBA]
Is Eric Gordon Done for the Season [Hang Time Blog]
Jalen Rose Steals Patrick Ewing’s TV [Grantland]
Rondo, Rivers Fire Back Wade for “Punk Play” Comment [ProBasketballTalk]
Noted Motivational Guru Lamar Odom to Give Clippers Teammates Books on Setting Goals Before Lakers game [Ball Don’t Lie]
Knicks Ready to Host Heat in Home Opener [NBA]
