The Los Angeles Lakers finish 7th in the West, and are playing the Spurs! Would you have believed it at the beginning of this season?
Steve Blake has been on fire the last couple games, really filling the void that Kobe left when he tore his Achilles. Blake is averaging 7.7 points and 3.9 assists since his return in late January after suffering an abdominal injury. But, in the current month of April, Blake increased his level of play even more and averaged 12.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. On Sunday against the San Antonio Spurs, Blake scored 23 points, had five rebounds, four assists and two steals. This guy needs a huge pat on the back. Blake really rose to the occasion when asked.
Fans have been waiting to see what would happen with Steve Nash during this playoff season. Good news; he could be back for the start of the playoffs. Nash has missed eight games due to a strained hamstring and hip soreness, but there is a chance he will be in the lineup for the team’s first playoff game against the San Antonio Spurs. The first game is this coming Sunday.
Injury Update: Kobe Bryant is out at least for the remainder of this season and could miss significant time next season due to an Achilles injury. Kobe’s trainer says that he still believes Bryant can come out and have a big impact once he’s fully recovered from his Achilles injury, despite critics that think his playing ability will take a hit.
Trying to break down the coming weeks in the Lakers vs Spurs season? Daniel Buerge offers a playoff preview today on the positional breakdown. Check out who the PG vs PG match-up is, as well as the other on court placements. Both teams will be hungry, and potential matchups can be a great indicator of how the series will go.
Congratulations to head coach Mike D’Antoni, who has been named Western Conference Coach of the Month for April! D’Antoni has been given the award after leading the Lakers to a 7-1 record in April, which is a huge confidence boost going into the playoffs. Mike Woodson of the New York Knicks won for the Eastern Conference.
Lakers Nation News
Lakers News: Mike D’Antoni Named Western Conference Coach of the Month
Kobe Bryant’s Trainer Says Kobe Can Come Back Better Than Ever
NBA News: Cleveland Cavaliers Fire Head Coach Byron Scott
Lakers’ Showtime Dreams Return, But This Time in Shape of the Spurs
VIDEO: Mike D’Antoni Reacts To Utah’s Loss, Talks Spurs Match-Up
Lakers News: Dwight Howard Says “We’re Not Done Yet”
Dwight Howard Not Thinking About D’Antoni’s Future in Los Angeles
Lakers vs. Spurs NBA Playoffs Preview: Positional Breakdown
Lakers News: Steve Nash May Return For Lakers’ Playoff Opener
Lakers In The Seventh Seed And Still Keeping It Interesting
When Nash Returns, Both Steves Should Start
Steve Blake Deserves Praise From Lakers Fans
Lakers News
Final Score: Lakers Shove Rockets Aside, 99-95 [Silver Screen and Roll]
Finally, the Los Angeles Lakers are Back in Familiar Territory [Silver Screen and Roll]
Lakers vs. Spurs Season Series Recap [Silver Screen and Roll]
Kupchak: D’Antoni Will be Back Next Season [Silver Screen and Roll]
Win or Lose Tonight, D’Antoni Should Keep His Job [Silver Screen and Roll]
Lakers Playoff Schedule: First Round – Lakers vs. Spurs [Silver Screen and Roll]
Lakers Believe in New Formula for Success [Lakers Index]
Lakers get in, earn seven seed with overtime win over Rockets [ProBasketballTalk]
The Lakers Made the Playoffs [LA Times]
Kobe’s Trainer Charts the Road to Recovery [ESPN LA]
Rapid Reaction: Lakers 99, Rockets 95 (OT) [Lakers Index]
Give L.A. It’s Due Starting With Dwight [Hang Time Blog]
In the List of Great Lakers Accomplishments, This Isn’t One of Them [latimes.com]
Report: Phil Jackson is Ready To Go Back To Work [CBSSports.com]
Lakers Hold Off Rockets, Take West’s 7th Seed [Yahoo Sports]
Lakers Starting to Believe [Lakers Index]
Lakers GM Kupchak makes it clear: D’Antoni will be back next season [ProBasketballTalk]
Lakers Redefine Themselves as a Stingy, Defensive Unit [latimes.com]
The Lakers Are Ready for Anything [ESPN]
Lakers Claim Seventh Seed in Fantastic Fashion [Forum Blue and Gold]
Dwight Howard Youngest Player in History to Collect 9,000 Rebounds [latimes.com]
Well, the Lakers Made the Playoffs, Now What? [CBSSports.com]
Playoff-Bound Lakers, Dwight Howard Live to See Another Day [SI.com]
Pau Gasol is Front and Center in Lakers’ Victory [latimes.com]
Lakers Believe in New Formula for Success [Los Angeles Lakers Blog]
Steve Nash Could Return as Lakers Secure First-Round Playoff Matchup With Spurs [Yahoo Sports]
D’Antoni named West Coach of the Month [Lakers Index]
As Time Goes By, Lakers Pass a Test Against Rockets [latimes.com]
NBA News
2012-2013 Top Dunks [Yahoo Sports]
Hardaway Jr. Joins Michigan Teammate Burke in NBA Draft [CBSSports.com]
Nerlens Noel to Dan Patrick: “‘With my hair, I’m seven feet tall” [ProBasketballTalk]
Lawrence Frank Doesn’t Want to Return as Pistons Coach Unless Team Guarantees Contract Option [Yahoo! Sports]
A Look at Tracy McGrady and His Place on the Spurs [Pounding the Rock]
Coach Of The Year: George Karl [Hang Time Blog]
Joakim Noah’s Still Hurting Foot Could be Key to Bulls/Nets [ProBasketballTalk]
2013 NBA playoff Schedule [Yahoo Sports]
No Improvement = No More Scott For Cavs [Hang Time Blog]
2012-13 Playoffs Schedule [NBA.com]
Hail To ‘Melo, The New Scoring Champ [NBA]
Rasheed Wallace Announces Second Retirement [CBSSports.com]
Pistons Coach Lawrence Frank Wants Fourth-Year Guarantee From Team [SI Tracking Blog]
Chandler Parsons’ Deep Buzzer-Beating 3 Forces OT, but Lakers Beat Rockets, Finish 7th (Video) [Ball Don’t Lie]
It’s official: The New Orleans Pelicans live. So long Hornets. [ProBasketballTalk]
Nuggets Secure 3rd Seed With 118-98 Win Over Suns [Yahoo Sports]
The End (Of 2012-13) For The Kings [Hang Time Blog]
Celtics Back on Court, Offer Tribute to Victims [NBA.com]
Dennis Rodman Has an Invite to Return to North Korea, Spoke to FBI [CBSSports.com]
Phil Jackson ‘itching’ to Return to NBA as Either Coach or Executive, Sources Say [ESPN Los Angeles]
NBA Announces Anti-Flopping Rules for the Playoffs [ProBasketballTalk]
The 2013 NBA Draft [NBA.com]
Warriors’ Stephen Curry Sets New NBA Record for Most 3-Pointers Made in a Single Season (Video) [Ball Don’t Lie]