The only good thing I really have to say about Game 1 against the New Orleans Hornets today was the fact that I was at the game itself. Barring any season-ending losses, it is never as terrible when you’ve been there in person. The crowd and the atmosphere permeate our being and just make you feel like you are a part of something special. It does for me anyway. I had an incredible time at the game as I always do, and while I would have 
To be honest, I was pretty excited to see Chris Paul play in person as well; he was on my list of people I wanted to see and hadn’t, which is slowly dwindling. Right now it consists of Derrick Rose, Dwayne Wade and the Celtics. It was also good to see Trevor Ariza, though he was being a bit aggravating towards Kobe. I do miss him.
I really thought the Lakers would come out with energy and focus, now that the “real season” they always allude to was finally upon us. They did their job to get into the Western Conference Playoffs and now the title defense was meant to begin in earnest. I guess they decided otherwise tonight….
Next: The Scariest Moment Ever
Kobe had a good shooting game, although there were a few too many turnovers for my liking. He had some absolutely insane baskets, and some big Mamba ones when they tried to stage a comeback. At the end of the second quarter though, when he made that fallaway jumper and fell out of bounds, I almost had a heart attack.
Ron Artest had an amazing game, amassing 16 points and 11 rebounds; he definitely stepped up when his teammates were floundering. Pau was absolutely dismal, and Lamar was nonexistent until the last couple minutes of the 4th quarter when it was already too late.
We cannot win with Pau and LO playing like that, plain and simple. I’m thankful that Andrew’s injury was not serious and that he was ready to go today. I’m thankful for Kobe and just everything that he does for the Lakers. I’m thankful for Matt Barnes’ hustle and Derek Fisher’s leadership and tenacity….. I’m thankful for all of my Lakers. But there will be no three-peat without the Black Swan and without the presumptive Sixth Man of the Year.
Next: A Whole Series, and Season, Left to Play
To be fair, the Hornets only had three turnovers the entire game and had almost double the Lakers’ points in the paint. They hit shots and ours bounced out. They were able to maximize possessions and we were not.
If the Lakers have a switch, which I believe they do, now is the time to switch it ON. They can’t afford to mess 
On one hand, Lakers Nation can take solace in the fact that they went on a losing streak to end the 2010 season and faced problems with the Thunder in the first round, and still managed to win their second consecutive championship. So far, the pattern is basically the same so one can infer that the outcome will be just as positive this time around.
On the other hand, the Lakers could be relying too heavily on past experiences to get them through their current malaise and lack of focus. We could be assuming that the 2011 season will end just as magically when the problems could be much more deeply rooted. Honestly though, I don’t think that is the case. I think this incarnation of the Lakers is the same as all their other recent teams and will treat us to a rocky and tumultuous ride on the way to another sublime championship celebrations. I’m not worried. Not yet.
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