Tonight is a great chance for the Lakers to come away with a win, as the Bulls will still be without Derrick Rose. Despite Sunday’s loss to the Raptors, the Lakers players need to get focused and compete on the highest level. As of right now, there is barely wiggle room in the playoff race, with each loss narrowing the Lakers’ chances. The Lakers have lost five consecutive games on the road, which is their longest streak in six years.
The power rankings for this week have surfaced, and the Lakers move up a few spots to number 16. However, this looks to only be because of some extremely poor play from teams in the same vicinity. The Bulls are ranked 9th after three consecutive victories last week. L.A’s nearest rivalry, the Clippers, have won four in a row and are ranked at number one.
Fans have been unhappy with the D’Antoni hire and it seems the Lakers head coach may not know how to fix this team. Not good. The head coach spoke about how action needs to be taken, and fast. Complaining about what is lacking won’t fix this Lakers team in time enough for playoffs, if they make it:
“There’s no words of, ‘OK, we just change it around’. It’s not words. It’s action.”
True D’Antoni, but you should also be the one acting. One thing is for sure; that Princeton Offense is killing us.
Has anyone noticed Steve Blake is missing? I didn’t, for a while, but reports today have been claiming there isn’t a clear timetable for his return. Blake had corrective surgery in early December for his abdominal tear, but his rehab process has become complicated as he is dealing with pain in his groin. Whether he comes back in time or not for playoffs, I don’t think he will do much of a difference. Maybe the Lakers can trade him out in a packaged deal with Gasol. They do spend $130 million dollars on a failing roster. I say it’s time to save some dough and go for lesser known, scrappy players. At least they have heart.
For more on the pregame report, click here.
Los Angeles Lakers (17-23) vs. Chicago Bulls (23-16)
6:30 PM PST, January 21, 2013
United Center, Chicago, IL
TV: TWC Sports Network, TNT
Radio: 710 ESPN (English) 1330 KWKW (Spanish)
Bulls Projected Starting Line-up
PG: Kirk Hinrich
SG: Richard Hamilton
SF: Jimmy Butler
PF: Carlos Boozer
C: Joakim Noah
Key Reserves: G Nate Robinson, F Taj Gibson, G Marco Belinelli
Lakers Nation News
Kobe Bryant Hints at Lakers Roster Change After Toronto Loss
Lakers News: Mike D’Antoni Says Lakers Need Actions, Not Words
Dwight Howard Disappointed After Ejection Against Raptors
Power Rankings Week 13: Clippers Reign, Lakers Remain Stagnant
Lakers News: Kobe Bryant Blames Lakers’ Loss to Raptors on Himself
Lakers vs. Bulls Pre-Game Report: LA Looks to Bounce Back in Chicago
VIDEO: Lakers Locker Room Talk – Pau Gasol Off the Bench?
Lakers News: No Clear Timetable on Steve Blake’s Return
Lakers News
Lakers and Bulls: Beginning of the End? [Silver Screen and Roll]
To Play or Not to Play Gasol [Silver Screen and Roll]
Kobe’s New Defensive Role is Ingenious [Silver Screen and Roll]
Preview and Chat: The Chicago Bulls [Forum Blue and Gold]
Lakers Week 13 Predictions [Lakers Now]
Lifeless LA Lakers Proving They Have No Championship Desire [LA Times]
Dwight Howard Ejected at Toronto [ESPN]
Sunday Afternoon Blues Continue [Forum Blue and Gold]
Lakers Paying Almost $130 Million for 12th Place Team [L.A. Times]
Kobe Says He’ll Have to Push Through Tired Legs Unless Lakers ‘are going to do something roster-wise’ [ProBasketballTalk]
LA Lakers vs Chicago Bulls [LA Times]
Different Country, Same Problem For Lakers [Daily Dime]
5 Keys to Watch as Lakers Make Playoff Push in Season’s 2nd Half [LA Times]
Destination LA Lakers: Are We There Yet? [With Malice]
Lakers Fans Around the World [LA Blog]
Are Kobe Bryant’s Roster Demands Too Little, Too Late for Sinking LA Lakers? [LA Times]
Rapid Reaction: Raptors 108, Lakers 103 [Lakers Index]
Kobe Wants All the Blame. Not So Fast [ESPN]
When is It Finally Time to Declare the Lakers a Bust? [LA Times]
NBA News
Noah’s Benching Just An Example ThibsBall, Man. [Blog a Bull]
Phoenix Suns Name Lindsey Hunter as Interim Coach [ESPN] Hawks’ Williams Suffer Season-Ending Knee Injury [Yahoo! Sports]
Thunder Player Power Rankings: Superduo [Daily Thunder]
Carmelo Anthony’s Reinvention Leads to Career Year for New York Knicks [The Point Forward]
Lou Williams of Atlanta Hawks Has Torn ACL, Out for Season [ESPN]
Duncan-less Spurs Take Down the Hawks [48 Minutes of Hell]
Maloofs Reach Deal with Seattle [Sactown Royalty]
Rockets’ Estranged Rookie Makes His Case In ‘Real Sports’ Interview [Hang Time Blog]
The Book on Andrei Kirilenko [A Wolf Among Wolves]
Mavericks 111, Orlando 105 [Magic Basketball]
Vinny Del Negro Sees Trade Rumors Surrounding Eric Bledsoe as a Positive [ProBasketballTalk]
San Antonio Spurs 98, Atlanta Hawks 93: Matt Bonner Time [48 Minutes of Hell]
Oklahoma City Thunder Coach Scott Brooks Back Day After Mother’s Death [ESPN]
Marc Gasol On Pace For Rare Combo [Hang Time Blog]
3 on 3 Clippers at Warriors [Clipper Blog]
Thibodeau Benches Noah for Fourth, Overtime, and Nobody’s Talking [ProBasketballTalk]
Denver Picks off the Thunder in Overtime [Daily Thunder]
Miami Heat Sign Veteran Chris Andersen to 10-Day Contract [ESPN]
