Phil just wants everyone to shut up and play

Opponent File
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers play in the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. Their 2006 - 2007 record was 42 - 40 (second in the Pacific). Here's the Los Angeles Lakers Roster.

Local Paper:
Los Angeles Times | Lakers
Team Pages:
CNNSI.com | Lakers
ESPN.com | Lakers
NBA.com | Lakers
The Sporting News | Lakers
Sportsline.com | Lakers

Head Coach:Phil Jackson
2007 Draft: G Javaris Crittenton (#19), Georgia Tech; G Sun Yue (#40), China; C Marc Gasol (#48), Spain);
New Players: G Derek Fisher (Free agent); G Coby Karl (Free agent); F Trevor Ariza (Trade).
Season Goal: If you can't keep 'em...if you can't say anything nice...any of these work? A title would be the only acceptable thing, frankly.
Record vs. Nets: 0 - 0

Other Opponent Files

Los Angeles Lakers (7 - 5) - Sunday, November 25, 2007, 7:30PM EST - Staples Center
Reunion Of Lost Souls
Kobe and Kidd, together again? The Nets end their first West Coast swing with a visit to the Staples Center, home of the infamous unhappiness named Kobe Bryant. Remember - Jason Kidd almost became a member of the Lakers last year, but LA wouldn't part with Andrew Bynum. Well, Kidd and Kobe played together at the Olympic qualifier, and boy was their love on both sides. The Lakers would kill for Kidd, but the Nets have (hopefully) straightened out their issues that caused Kidd to pop off about NJ and are back on the straight and narrow of the '07 - '08 season, meaning Kidd ain't going anywhere. But who knows in this wacky world? The Lakers started off 7 - 3 but have dropped 2 straight on the road, just as the Nets have won two straight, so perhaps the Nets can catch the weary (3 games in four nights) Lakers napping.

Why Should You Watch? Watch the genius that is Kobe Bryant, and root fiercely against him. Phil Jackson vs. Lawrence Frank could be a mis-match on paper, but our boy has a few tricks up his sleeve. Is this the night that Vince Carter, in front of the sellout LA crowd, finally gets it going? It's always fun to watch Kidd in LA - seems to bring out the best in him. And he's going up against Derek Fisher, for crying out loud. Give us more Sean Williams. especially against Lamar Odom. We'd love to see that.
- Joe

Los Angeles Lakers Cheat Sheet
The Story From Hollywoodt: From the Los Angeles Times:
"Kobe Bryant has averaged 18.5 points the last two games while making 12 of 34 shots (35.3%).

"He's not shot the ball well recently," Jackson said. "It has to do with legs. He's talking about some knee things probably going on."

Bryant has been bothered by knee tendinitis since training camp.

New acquisition Trevor Ariza still hasn't played for the Lakers, although Jackson doesn't necessarily blame a lack of knowledge of the triangle offense.

"You don't have to be a genius to play basketball," Jackson said. "This isn't rocket science."

Just the same, Ariza hasn't had a chance to practice with the team. He arrived Wednesday on a game day, there was no practice on Thanksgiving, there was another game Friday, and the team did not practice Saturday because of a lengthy flight home from Boston."

Pain Game: C Kwame Brown (knee) is out for LA. G Marcus Williams (foot) and G Darrell Armstrong (thigh) are out for the Nets.

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