The Lakers beat the Pistons yesterday in a hair pulling ending that put them ahead only by one. This was the second game in row now without Dwight Howard. Both games resulted in a win, with Gasol putting his big boy pants on and playing like the Pau the Lakers have seen before. If you weren’t able to see the game, Lakers Nation compiled all the highlights here.
Metta may have found the Ron inside him again last night as Brandon Knight on the Pistons claims his Metta threw a punch in their scuffle. Although it wasn’t clear whether World Please played dirty or not, the Pistons Knight is saying otherwise. Regardless, Metta received a flagrant foul from the altercation, and it was his first of the season.
Dwight isn’t enjoying sitting on the sidelines, and Elizabeth Benson of Lakers Nation explains why it may be best for him to just play injured. Benson quotes one aspect of Howard’s game as to why; his defense:
Defense is and will continue to be the side of the floor that Howard has the ability to change the outcome of the game.
Dominant defensively, Howard has the potential to bring something the other Lakers center can’t. Which is why the team needs Howard to play through his injuries. According to Benson, it is “time for Dwight to adjust to playing through the pain, just as his teammate wearing the number 24 has done so well throughout his career.” For more on her article, click here.
If you missed it, or want to relive the moment, don’t forget to check out Kobe’s awesome alley-oop to Earl Clark at the end of the first half. Talk about making the most of each minute, especially with a beautiful play like this.
Lakers Nation News
Metta World Peace Calls Lakers “Greatest Team Ever Assembled”
Lakers News: Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak Unlikely To Make A Trade
Lakers Need Dwight Howard To Play On Despite Multiple Injuries
Lakers News: Brandon Knight Claims Metta World Peace Threw Elbow
VIDEO: Kobe Dunks Turns Back The Clock On Brandon Knight
Lakers News
A Win is a Win for the Lakers at This Point in Their Season [Silver Screen and Roll]
From Behind the Pistons Bench: My Views on the Game [Silver Screen and Roll]
Earl Clark Really Wants to Stay with Lakers [Silver Screen and Roll]
Mitch Kupchak says Lakers have “no intention” of trading Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard [Silver Screen and Roll]
Lakers letting big leads slip away [Lakers Index]
Is Pau Starting to Figure it Out? [Forum Blue and Gold]
Metta World Peace is Better in Detroit Than Ron Artest Was [LA Times]
Brandon Knight on Metta: I was Punches [ESPN]
For Howard, There’s Much to Gain by Playing in Pain [OC Register]
Howard: Playing With Pain And Purpose [Hang Time Blog]
Lakers’ Dwight Howard Says Sitting Out is Painful for Him Too [LA Times]
Kobe Bryant Hints at Early Retirement [Dime Magazine]
Rapid Reaction: Lakers 98, Pistons 97 [ESPN]
Howard Sits Again; Lakers Still Win [OC Register]
Gasol Proves His Worth as Lakers Win [Yahoo Sports]
Earl Clark earns spot and, potentially, a lot of money [LA Times]
Pistons’ Knight: World Peace Threw Punch [ESPN LA]
Metta World Peace Receives a Flagrant Foul for His Subtle Uppercut to Brandon Knight (VIDEO) [ProBasketballTalk]
NBA News
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Boston Celtics – Recap [ESPN]
Jonas Jerebko finds himself in Lawrence Frank’s doghouse – CBSSports.com
When Is Enough Ever Enough? [Hang Time Blog]
Miami Heat vs. Toronto Raptors – Recap [ESPN]
Celts now 4-0 Without Rondo, Top Clippers 106-104 [Yahoo! Sports]
Spurs’ Gregg Popovich, Heat’s Erik Spoelstra to Coach 2013 All-Star Teams [The Point Forward]
Memphis Coach On Rudy Gay Trade: “When You Have Champagne Taste, You Can’t Be On A Beer Budget.” [Dime Magazine]
Bogut, Warriors Managing With Limits [Hang Time Blog]
Hunter’s Lawyer Responds to Union’s Move [NY Times.com]
Kyrie Irving Scores 35 Points, Hits Huge Shots Down the Stretch to Beat Thunder (VIDEO) [ProBasketballTalk]
Spurs Breathe Easy As MRI Clears Duncan [Hang Time Blog]
Los Angeles Clippers Interested in Deal for Boston Celtics’ Kevin Garnett [ESPN]
Warriors Wear Twitter Handles on Warm-Up Shirts for ‘Social Media Night’ [The Point Forward]
Deron Williams’ New $15.8M Manhattan Penthouse (PHOTOS) [SLAM]
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VIDEO: Lakers Weekend in Review – Lakers 2-0, Metta Drama, Dwight Still Out
