Despite a disappointing game last night against the Clippers, the weekend is looking up as the best NBA players on the West square off against those on the East. The Lakers have Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard participating this year.
Unfortunately, the Lakers are 0-3 against the Clippers this year. An early Clippers lead yesterday set the purple and gold back, until the team started banding together and picking up the pace. In the end, the Clippers pulled away with an eventual 125-101 victory. It always seems to be that fourth quarter that does the Lakers in. The Lakers will have a tough challenge in front of them when they return to action on Wednesday against the Boston Celtics.
Kobe Bryant will make his record fifteenth consecutive start in the All-Star game in Houston on Sunday. Dwight Howard will make his first start as a Western All-Star along side his teammate. But the All-Star break means much more to Kobe, who made a plea to his teammates:
“Just focus on how bad you want it and how important this is.”
Howard says he will play through his injuries this weekend despite heated discussion on whether or not he should. After previous reports where Howard claimed the labrum wasn’t torn but just strained, he admitted on Friday in Houston that his shoulder is indeed torn. Not good. Even with his injuries, Dwight believes he is the best center in the league.
The Lakers’ owner Dr. Jerry Buss is still in the hospital, battling cancer. Kobe Bryant shared his thoughts on Dr. Buss and the news of his latest health issue after last night’s game. Dr. Buss bought the Lakers back in 1979, along with the Forum, the LA Kings and a 13,000-acre ranch in Kern County, from Jack Kent Cooke for $67 million. The Lakers have seen 10 championships under his ownership.
To catch more on what is happening this All-Star Weekend, check out Daniel Buerge and Serena Winters breaking it down.
Lakers Nation News
Lakers Nation All-Star Houston Hangout: Kobe, Dwight & More
Kobe Bryant Says Dr. Buss’ Impact “Is Felt Worldwide”
NBA News: Dwyane Wade Says Kobe Is Greatest Player In His Era
Dwight Howard Says Shoulder Torn, Talks Playing Through Injury
Lakers News: Dwight Howard Claims He’s Still League’s Best Center
Kobe Bryant’s Message For Fans And Teammates For The All-Star Break
NBA News: Klay Thompson Enjoying Lakers’ Struggles This Season
Video: Lakers Nation Hangout From All-Star Weekend in Houston
Lakers News: Kobe Bryant Calls The Lakers’ Defense “Nonexistent”
Lakers News: Steve Nash Says “We’ve Got Work To Do”
Clippers Catch Fire From Outside, Bury Lakers at Staples
Lakers vs. Clippers Game Highlights: February 14th, 2013
Jerry Buss: Lakers Owner’s Health Issues Over the Years
Lakers News
Dr. Jerry Buss is in Intensive Care Due to Cancer Complications [Silver Screen and Roll]
Final Score: Clippers Drub Lakers 125-101 [Silver Screen and Roll]
Kobe “Not Very Happy Right Now” and Trying to Remain Positive About Dr. Jerry Buss [Silver Screen and Roll]
Blake Griffin, Kobe Bryant Exchange Dunks (VIDEO) [ProBasketballTalk]
Jerry Buss’ Showtime Lakers Inspired a Young Kobe Bryant [Lakers Now]
2013 All-Star Profiles: Dwight Howard [Hardwood Paroxysm]
Dwight Howard Says GM Kupchak Has Told Him He Won’t be Traded [Eye on Basketball]
Final: Clippers 125, Lakers 101 [Lakers Blog]
Kobe, Dwight Headed to Houston Together [OC Register]
Kobe is Frustrated, Not Sure Teammates Feel the Same Way [ProBasketballTalk]
Kobe Bryant Questions Teammates’ Commitment [Lakers Now]
Lakers Owner Dr. Jerry Buss is in the Hospital for Cancer Treatment [Ball Don’t Lie]
Lakers Owner Buss in Hospital With Cancer [Lakers Blog]
Kobe Upset With Laughing and Joking After Loss [SB Nation]
Drive and Dish: Making a Mess of the West [Hardwood Paroxysm]
Miller: Jerry Buss Nothing Less Than Foundation of Lakers [OC Register]
Clippers Use Fast Start, Hot Three-Point Shooting to Get Blowout Win Over Lakers [ProBasketballTalk]
Clippers Make it Three Wins in a Row Over Lakers This Season [Lakers Now]
2013 All-Star Profiles: Kobe Bryant [Hardwood Paroxysm]
NBA News
Intriguing Trade Deadline Teams [ESPN Insider]
Barnes is the Player You Love to Hate [Yahoo Sports]
2013 All-Star Profiles: Jrue Holiday [Hardwood Paroxysm]
Gary Payton, Two-Thirds of Run TMC Lead Hall of Fame Finalists [ProBasketballTalk]
Michael Jordan Has Not Left the Building [Outside the Lines]
LeBron James Might Be Too Big for Even Michael Jordan’s Shadow [Yahoo Sports]
Durant Stays in Game After Hard Foul [CBS Sports]
Rook-Soph Game: Future All-Stars? [ESPN]
Chris Bosh to Start in Place of Rajon Rondo in All-Star Game [ProBasketballTalk]
The Top 50 Michael Jordan Moments: 10-1 [Ball Don’t Lie]
LeBron Defends Derrick Rose’s Right to Decide on Timetable for Return [Eye on Basketball]
Tomorrow’s Stars Battle in Rising Stars Challenge [SB Nation]
Stern Expects Sacramento Plan Within 2 Weeks [Yahoo Sports]
RTOE: IT’S ALL-STAR WEEKEND, Y’ALL [Hardwood Paroxysm]
LeBron James, With No Regard For Hoopla [Daily Dime]
Top NBA Free Agents of 2013 [Per Diem]
Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries Divorce Trial Slated for Early May [ESPN LA]
Dallas Mavericks Point Guard Darren Collison Wants to Stick Around Long Term [ProBasketballTalk]
Envisioning a Point Guard of the Year Award [CBS Sports]
Celebrity Game, Where Legends Are Made [SB Nation]
Michael Jordan Takes Kobe Bryant Over LeBron James [Eye on Basketball]
2013 All-Star Profiles: Russell Westbrook [Hardwood Paroxysm]
It’s Gotta Be The Shoes: How Nike bet on Jordan, Jordan Bet on Nike and Both Won. Big. [ESPN]
Heat Top the Thunder Again, Tightening Their Mental Headlock [CBS Sports]
