After playing their first game of seven on the road, and coming off a three game winning streak, the Lakers lost to the Suns 92-86. Kobe and the rest of the team have been jelling and making moves for the most part in the past two weeks, except for last night.
The most frustrating part about the game against the Suns was how great the Lakers ball movement was up until the fourth quarter. It appeared like the Lakers were playing as they had done recently. Unfortunately, in the fourth, the game unraveled. It started with a series of ball turnovers, much like the Lakers have done this season. With under seven minutes to go, Dwight hit the deck clutching his shoulder, and didn’t play another minute. At the end of the fourth, the Suns caught fire as the Lakers offense dwindled. Ultimately, LA blew a 13-point fourth quarter lead and lost.
Bad news for the Lakers; Dwight could be out for some time with a re-aggravated shoulder injury. Howard suffered the injury when he got the ball stripped by Shannon Brown. The big man sat out the rest of the game after being re-injured and will be re-evaluated on Thursday. When discussing his shoulder, Howard said:
“It’s real sore. Everything on (the right) side (of my body) is hurting pretty bad right now.”
Ouch. Howard remains adamant about avoiding surgery, but that option may only be avoidable forlong.
Pau Gasol wasn’t happy with his benching in the fourth quarter of the Lakers 111-106 win over the New Orleans Hornets. D’Antoni decided to go with Earl Clark in the starting rotation instead of Pau, which ticked off the Lakers vet. This was the fourth time that Gasol had been benched in the fourth quarter. Yesterday, the Lakers head coach fired back at Pau. D’Antoni explained his frustration, stating that Pau needs to learn to stop complaining and be a team player.
Do you think Pau is being bratty or should D’Antoni give him a chance?
Lakers Nation News
Lakers News: Mike D’Antoni Unhappy With Pau Gasol’s Complaints
Lakers News: Dwight Howard’s Shoulder Injury To Be Re-Evaluated
Lakers News: Steve Nash Receives Warm Welcome in Phoenix Return
The Impact of Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard’s “Common Goal”
Lakers Nation Reacts: Who Does Earl Clark Remind You Of?
Lakers Road Struggles Continue, Fall to Suns
Lakers vs. Suns NBA Highlights: January 30, 2013
Lakers Rumors & News Recap: Pau Gasol Unhappy In LA?
Lakers News
Final Score: Suns Eulogize Lakers 92-86 [Silver Screen and Roll]
This is Who the Lakers Are [Silver Screen and Roll]
Antawn Jamison should not be part of any Los Angeles Lakers closing lineup [Silver Screen and Roll]
Tweetbag: Dwight’s Shoulder, Kobe Not Concerned [Silver Screen and Roll]
Howard Re-Aggravates Shoulder, Again [Silver Screen and Roll]
Nash’s Warm Welcome in Phoenix [LA Times]
Dwight Howard of Los Angeles Lakers to Have Shoulder Injury Re-Evaluated [ESPN Los Angeles]
Bryant Adds Twist to Lakers Attack [OC Register]
Lakers Winless on the Road in January [LA Times]
Steve Nash Returns to Phoenix … Again [Ball Don’t Lie]
Blogtable: The Lakers’ Answer [Hang Time Blog]
Lakers Receive Disabled Player Exception for Injured Jordan Hill [LA Times]
Paul Pierce, Kobe Bryant Proving Old Dogs Can Learn New Tricks [SI.com]
Dwight Howard: Should is Sore [ESPN]
Lakers/Suns: A Dark Night in the Land of the Sun [Forum Blue and Gold]
Pau Gasol Frustrated and Challenged by Benching [LA Times]
Lakers Blow Lead, Then Game to Suns [OC Register]
Dwight Howard — Should Los Angeles Lakers Trade Star Center? [The Point Forward]
Lakers Hit an Early Bump on Road in Phoenix [LA Times]
Mike D’Antoni Explains Decision to Bench Pau Gasol of Los Angeles Lakers [ESPN Los Angeles]
Lakers’ Earl Clark Gaining Kobe Bryant’s Trust [LA Times.com]
NBA News
Grizzlies Shipping Rudy Gay to Toronto [SI.com]
NBA Admits Referee Errors at End of Recent Mavericks, Pacers Losses [ProBasketballTalk]
Matt Barnes Ejected for Flagrant Foul 2 on Greg Stiemsma [The Point Forward]
Derrick Rose of Chicago Bulls Taking Full Contact in Practice [ESPN Chicago]
Gerald Wallace of Brooklyn Nets Rips Team After Performance Against Miami Heat [ESPN New York]
Duncan Still Out, Popovich Back for Spurs Wednesday [ProBasketballTalk]
Magic’s Glen Davis Breaks Foot [The Point Forward]
Gregg Popovich of San Antonio Spurs to Coach West All-Stars [ESPN]
Mavericks’ Kaman Suffers Concussion, Out Indefinitely [ProBasketballTalk]
Chris Bosh Among 18 Active Players Likely to Make Hall [SI.com]
Paul Pierce: “I want to retire a Celtic” [ProBasketballTalk]
Rudy Gay Trade Shows LeBron James the Future: Super Team Era Ending [Yahoo! Sports]
Gay’s Gone, But Hollins Should Stay [Hang Time Blog]
Brook Lopez to Replace Injured Rajon Rondo on East All-Star Team [The Point Forward]
