With Steve Nash healthy and back running the point guard position, the Los Angeles Lakers are starting to hit their stride and may be on the verge of reaching the potential intended after pulling the trigger on two blockbuster trades in the off-season. The win over the New York Knicks on Christmas Day was impressive to say the least and might be a sign of things to come.
Heading into Wednesday night’s matchup against the Denver Nuggets, the Lakers have won five straight and remain undefeated with Nash back in the fold. The team appears to be firing on all cylinders with the two-time NBA MVP leading the way and the sky may be the limit if the new-look Lakers can continue to build on their improved team chemistry.
Along with the longest winning streak under head coach Mike D’Antoni, the Lakers’ front office appears to be softening on pursuing free agents to help improve the backcourt with backup Steve Blake on the shelf recovering from surgery.
With GM Mitch Kupchak no longer looking for outside options in terms of free agents or via trade, the team appears to be content with the direction the team is going with Nash back on the floor. It remains to be seen if Kupchak and company keep this mindset if the squad starts to struggle once again, but moving forward this team is back on track as a legitimate force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference.
Lakers Nation News
Kobe Bryant Takes Over Nike Basketball’s Twitter Account
Lakers News: Team No Longer Pursuing Free Agents
Steve Nash Says Lakers Need To ‘Embrace’ Challenge Of Improving
Mike D’Antoni Believes Nash Can Help Extend Bryant’s Career
Dwight Howard Briefly Believed NBA Career Was Over With Back Injury
Kobe Bryant Becomes All-Time Leading Scorer On Christmas Day
Video: Kobe Bryant Reverse Layup Vs. Knicks On Christmas
Steve Nash: ‘We Should Be A Desperate Team Right Now’
Lakers Win Over The Warriors Finally Showed Team’s Will To Win
Lakers News
Metta World Peace Launches Metta World Therapy [LA Times]
Rediscovering Pau Gasol [LA Times]
Lakers Snap Christmas Day Streak With Win Over Knicks [LA Times]
Pau Gasol Says Lakers ‘On The Right Path’ [LA Times]
Steve Nash Makes His Presence Felt Again [LA Times]
Lakers’ Metta World Peace Is A Thorn In Knicks’ Side [LA Times]
Lakers Beat Knicks, Back In Black [OC Register]
With Nash In, Lakers “Getting Closer” [OC Register]
Whicker: Lakers’ Mighty Dunk [OC Register]
Ding: Lakers Still Await Howard’s Inspiration [OC Register]
Tweetbag: Kobe On Twitter, Nash And D Get Credit [Silver Screen & Roll]
Kyler: Jordan Hill, Lakers Bench, For Sale [Silver Screen & Roll]
Steve Nash Takes The Lakers To Neverland [Silver Screen & Roll]
LAKERS NOTEBOOK: World Peace Puts On A Christmas Display [LA Daily News]
LAKERS NOTEBOOK: Point Guard Steve Nash Says Pain In Leg ‘Manageable’ [LA Daily News]
Three-Pointers: Howard And The Lakers Contain Knicks’ High-Powered Offense [The Point Forward]
NBA News
The Year Of LeBron [SB Nation]
Thunder Breakdown [SB Nation]
Cousins Won’t Join Kings In Portland [SB Nation]
Why Shaun Livingston Makes Sense For The Cavs [SB Nation]
Deron Williams Out For Nets Wednesday With Sore Wrist [Pro Basketball Talk]
NBA Postpones Chicago At Indiana Wednesday Due To Weather [Pro Basketball Talk]
League Fines Denver’s Jordan Hamilton $25,000 For Cursing At Fans [Pro Basketball Talk]
Not Surprisingly, Nowitzki To Come Off The Bench Again Wednesday [Pro Basketball Talk]
Ryan Anderson Says Magic Did Not Try To Keep Him Last Summer [Pro Basketball Talk]
The Charity Stripe: The Year Of LeBron, Linsanity; Boxing Day [Sports City]
Jazz’s Mo Williams Out Indefinitely With Sprained Right Thumb [Sports City]
NBA Play Of The Day: Jamal Crawford Brought Shakes For Christmas [Sports City]
Report: Knicks’ Stoudemire Looking to Make Return On January 1st [Sports City]