No concerns, Lakers fierce villains of NBA

If there’s an appealing fairy tale in the making, or a myth, it’s the purple and gold fascinating pursuit to another championship banner. The romantic tale emerges into the most uttermost enthrallment, not only in the league, but a city where the entertainment capital turns all eyes to the Lakers, a wicked team scarier than most villains. If there’s any team to blemish Cleveland’s or Boston’s fairy tale, it’s the Lakers.

The spring strictly heralds the Lakers, and of course, the variety of local sports team’s remains in the background until Lakers’ season is officially over. It doesn’t seem as if it will occur anytime soon, so sport the purple and gold apparel and believe in Lakers’ season. Meanwhile, they pose as NBA’s villain and the most powerful menace, and evidently they’re the most dynamic team in the playoffs. Cleveland, Celtics, Denver, Portland or Houston should all be nervous as the Lakers illustrate a championship threat. Only their dominance presents a scare and a possible early vacation for those they’ll meet. Sure, a fairy tale normally ends with sunny skies, but if the Lakers continues to overpower anyone stepping in their way, it's coherent teams might be in for a rule of waken as skies may darken.

Meanwhile, the forecast in Los Angeles predicts sunny skies and hot temperatures, perfect weather considering the Lakers hot streak in the threshold of the postseason. Once again, as they have done so well in dominating the postseason, mastering playoff games in their quest to a championship, their fiercer than ever, their exciting than ever and their mightier than ever. After a wakeup call a year ago, it brought on a sense of urgency. Since then, the Lakers are playing with a greedy and callous perspective, so now it’s fine to refer to them as the 0.9 version Lakers. As they left behind the 0.8 version, they took a few positive things away from their letdown in the Finals, ending results that left a bitter taste and ending results that have them seeking redemption.

The hard-nosed method cures mental lapses of a year ago and good health status upgrades their toughness, en route to a best-of-seven series defeat. So far its good indications that the Lakers aren’t someone to face, villains that could hinder LeBron James, the league’s impending MVP, chances on winning his first championship or offset the ailing Celtics chances of a dynasty.

For now, they’re categorized or at least should be tagged as the root of all evil, not only for their mean stare, but for their toughness. The word “nasty” suits the Lakers well, and it’s a good way to describe their effectiveness against Utah. It’s a bad choice of words that were used by the Jazz coach Jerry Slogan, harsh language that applied to the Lakers. But perhaps he was right, as they were nastier than most NBA teams. By standards, they’re on the verge of capturing a championship, a well-known trademark to the coveted Lakers, who’s entertaining and dramatic shooting has led to success.

The Lakers continue to post high scoring numbers above the scoreboards, but there’s a problem if people can’t pick up their free tacos. True, but the admiring game doesn’t revolve around tacos, it revolves around winning. As the Lakers secured a 119-109 victory in Game 2 to take a commanding 2-0 lead, people saw their tacos squander, but saw the Lakers walk off in good position traveling off to Utah for Games 3 and 4, where in the past they haven’t handled the noise factor too brilliantly. But with the Lakers unbelievable shooting, a hostile crowd isn’t as intimidating if the Lakers could convert their shooting abundance on the road in the next two games.

Still, it shouldn’t matter if the Lakers plays in an Octagon or in a steam room, wherever they play and whoever they play, things will become hostile at this course of the season. No matter where the game is played, they could play any where and match the intensity level. Yes, I’ll say everywhere they played this year generated friendly confines. For one, Kobe Bryant is embraced almost at every venue and the Lakers are admired nationwide, obviously seeing purple and gold everywhere isn't unforeseen. As the amazing story is the flawless shooting display, it only indicates furious sensibility.

Getting off to a fast start set the tone early, as they amassed 41 points on 86 percent shooting in the first half. There’s no team currently in the playoffs with numbers that staggering, and there’s no team as lethal as the Lakers. Sure, there’s the Cavs, who are having a breakout year and arguably its greatest season after winning 64 games to set a franchise record. As the Lakers are led by the energetic finisher Bryant, the Cavs have an explosive superstar in James, including a confident supporting cast. None of that matters, as the Lakers are still the dominant team. The supporting cast is stronger, the defensive competence is remotely potent, though it could use an upswing, but the shooting plenitude is sizzling hotter than the latest heat droughts on the West Coast.

Although the Lakers generates problems, the Jazz cut it within three points in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter, but with early struggles and offensive spurts, the Lakers are laborious to contain or beat. And even more so, the Jazz is without their center Mehmet Okur, whose presence could limit the Lakers from making a grand entrance inside so often. Most of the damage was done inside the paint to outplay the Jazz for at least three quarters, before they cut into a 20-point lead. It's a problem that has hurt the Lakers, and it's blowing leads by falling asleep before a long night’s work and a long 48 minutes of play is completed. To keep from blowing leads, they clearly must stay awake for the entire contest or else. The Jazz are undersized in which the Lakers punished them inside, with their towering seven-footers. Andrew Bynum avenged a seven-point, five-rebound effort in Game 1, and scored 10 points in the first seven minutes.

It’s nothing wrong with their efficacy until late in the game when they ease up, when the Lakers start to become lackadaisical and believe a win is already chilling in the refrigerator. But usually they find out the hard way that a victory isn’t chilling like those villains. And as they get into a comfort zone, lapses occur while maintaining a comfortable margin. The Jazz refuse to let up, led by the two superstars Carlos Boozer, who scored a driving layup to cut the score to within three and to make things tense. Deron Williams contributed by pouring in 35 points and nine assists. And yes, the Jazz will likely win one or maybe two games in the best-of-seven series, if the Lakers surrender comfortable leads. It’s too many weapons on Utah, and if the Lakers squander large margin leads, they could easily find themselves tied or even trailing by a game. But there’s a slight chance that will not happen, when the Lakers comprise of Kobe and an alerting Lamar Odom, who’s finally starting to play a role after finishing on some sensational plays in an entertaining first quarter.

Good.

But it’s meaningless, if the Lakers fail to sizzle with a flawless finish. It was all Bynum and Pau Gasol in the first quarter, dominating Utah’s size and the paint. Both made nine shots combined, to complete the quarter with 19 points. You already know what Bryant brought, another wonderful high-scoring finish with 26 points. But the Lakers must realize relaying on late heroics could cost them a much-critical game and a championship. Though, there’s no team out there that could beat them and match their fundamentally sound formula, the Lakers still have to install attentiveness and energy, which is made up of excellent shooting and inside force. Yet there's still unfinished business, they’ll the evildoers and will likely smudge NBA’s amazing stories. It’s the Cavs and Celtics of course, as the Lakers should hoist the hardware.

Believe it or not: Lakers this year's team to beat

Believe in the glamorous lifestyle, the beautiful scenery. Most will tell you they love L.A., and the purple and gold, a characteristic that describes the atmosphere in April which usually last until June. Now, it’s when you can be a witness of the Los Angeles Lakers, the most lethal team in the playoffs. Only you can be a witness to the Lakers dominance, and only you can be a witness to a new rivalry most likely hitting the Staples Center in early June. Yes, the Lakers-Cavs rivalry.

The good people in Cleveland are witnessing NBA’s preeminent superstar LeBron James, an impending MVP award winner in the next few weeks. It’s understandable after leading the Cavs to a franchise-best 64 wins and preserving home court advantage through out the playoffs. So if there’s a Lakers-Cavs matchup, the first two games are played in Cleveland where the Cavs have defended their home floor as if it was their last time ever playing in the loud and energized venue. As those towel-swinging fans are witnesses of LeBron, the same goes for Los Angeles where the once deadbeat crowd has maximized the noise factor, and witnessed the Lakers take Game 1 of the best-of-seven series in a 113-100 win of Utah.

No, there aren’t any free tacos to go around.

But importantly, the Lakers have redeemed themselves a bit from last year’s humiliating Finals lost to Boston. By cruising pass the Jazz, a team that seemingly could’ve posed a threat in the first round. Now the smartest precautionary actions to take, requires boarding off the damaging scenes with yellow caution tape and caution signs outside of Staples Center. It's obvious the Lakers are the team to beat. It’s the most dangerous team, the most powerful team in the postseason and their tenacity and sense of urgency delivers problems for any team that faces them in the up coming games. Doubting them is an understatement, and if convince they’ll choke in the Finals, well think again.

By envisioning the Lakers controlling fate decisively, it’s too amplifying to image a letdown against Boston or Cleveland. Removed from the bitter lost a year ago, the Lakers have matured and grasped a clear sense of awareness on what it takes to win on the grand stage. They now know it takes cohesiveness, team contributions and defensive aggressiveness. Having all those components enhanced their dynamic and charismatic tough-driven promise. And their unyielding philosophy gives them an advantage over the Cavs. With much experience and a fiercer culture, it's a primary agenda of nothing less than a championship. The Lakers undoubtedly aren't a team to be reckon with in the playoffs amid craving a title, and remains unsatisfied until seizing its fourth championship this decade.

Unlike their trip to the Finals a year ago, the Lakers are fundamentally sound. Of late health hasn’t been a problem in which it hindered their championship chances a year ago. By derailing in the series, the Lakers have a better perception and the robust presence of Andrew Bynum, who's finally getting a feel for his first postseason appearance, and the forcible Trevor Ariza, who missed much of the postseason last time with a foot injury. Now, they’re twice the go-getter building block to the much-malignant team. And everyone is involved in the Lakers almighty offense as Kobe Bryant, who scored 24 points, isn’t just a superlative scorer, but an outstanding distributor to whereas he ensures his teammates feels the ball before those self-centered days when he would shoot first.

Now, it’s a different approach as he finds teammates. Of course in a few weeks, the Most Valuable Player will be named, and Lakers fans have already started their campaign when Bryant added the finishing touches to secure the first win of the series. He drove to the basket and finished on a dramatic dunk in the face of Utah’s Paul Millsap, which established a three-point play and while attempting the free throw that he converted moments later, the crowd chanted “MVP! MVP! MVP”!

What’s up now LeBron? Um! I wonder if he has a legitimate answer. Well, if everything goes as plan I’m sure he’ll attempt to be the Lakers unstoppable irritator.

Aside from the Kobe-LeBron hype, as usual Bryant put the icing on the cake and then the party erupted under the bright lights of Hollywood, when the Lakers managed a 110-98 lead. Following Kobe’s spectacular dunk, Ariza wanted to add to the firework display when he buried a three-pointer off of Bryant’s assist. It signifies a team with enough ingredients to attain the hardware, and it’s enough to be crowned champs when it’s all done. As well, it symbolized home-court dominance, a trait that has followed the Lakers for quite some time. On their home floor, in the first round of a series, they’re 31-2. Maybe it isn’t the hardwood, but it’s definitely the role players having a large influence on their unbeaten and unstoppable capacity.

In this matinee on Sunday afternoon, the Lakers were led by the explosive scorer and defensive-minded Ariza, who scored a career-playoff high 21 points, missing two of his 10 shots, Pau Gasol tallied 20 points and collected nine rebounds as they took advantage of Utah’s unmatchable size. This time, the Jazz met coach Jerry Slogan’s standards by standing up to the Lakers in a much competitive battle, unlike Tuesday night when Slogan presented his unpleasant comments to reporters after the Jazz yielded against them.

Despite trailing by 22 points at halftime and allowing the Lakers to shot a dazzling percentage, explosive point guard and floor leader Deron Williams posted 16 points and spoiled the free tacos for everyone. Then, counterpart, Carlos Boozer was effective inside, scoring a mere 27 points. A large number of those points came off of Williams’ playoff career-high 17 assist. But by now, the Jazz realize that’s not enough to overpower the dominant Lakers, arguably the best in the business and a team that comprises dimension.

Of course without defensive center Mehmet Okur, the Jazz misses his presence inside. He sat out in street clothes, nursing a minor right hamstring injury which offered the Lakers seven-footers, Gasol and Bynum advantages to attack inside. In the meantime, Bynum wasn’t given the chance to take advantage of the absentee as he was limited to just seven points and three rebounds, spending most of the game on the bench in foul trouble, which meant positive indications when there are contributors and the league’s most dominate closer in Kobe.

Any team will have a tough assignment playing the Lakers. And their tough days might not come this year as they just might hoist another trophy, including another victory parade. This was a bold statement to teams in the playoffs.

Dear teams, the Lakers aren’t a team to be reckoned with. They’re extremely dangerous and this is their year to win it all. Yes, Lakers-Cavs is bound to happen.

But a celebration in L.A. is more likely to happen. Sorry LeBron, but the Lakers are clearly the better team. After Sunday’s game, they unveiled their true characteristic. That’s toughness, tenacity and a bitter taste of bad experience. After learning the hard way, the Lakers will finally reach the pinnacle of becoming this year’s legitimate champs, at least from my perspective. It’s just difficult to image any one beating them.

Even though Shaq presumably lobbies, Lakers seem uninterested

We can assume a coveted Shaquille O’Neal is lobbying a return to the Los Angeles Lakers, after scoring a mere 45 points and seven rebounds, even knocking down seven free throws. That’s abnormal for the big man who set the record for 5000 miss shots from the line. When protesting for a return, Shaq's intent is trying everything to earn reengagement after a damaging divorce, which sabotaged a dynasty after winning a three-peat, dominating the earlier part of a new century.

He’s craving a comeback and reconciliation with Kobe Bryant, who earned his fair share, scoring 49 points in a 118-111 lost against Shaq’s Phoenix Suns on Sunday, manifesting an spectacle for a statement to Jerry Buss and Mitch Kupchak. But, reuniting seems out of the question for Bryant, in which his promising glare hasn’t indicated interest or compassion in O’Neal’s return, a presence that’s obsolete as Kobe has clearly moved on, meshing with his coveted rising teammates and centralizing in pursuing a championship, alongside a matured Andrew Bynum, who’s currently injured, but expected to be robust for the start of the postseason.

It is apparent Buss and Kupchak admires the brilliant play of Bynum, vowing the starting position for their young center, continually developing into a dominate force. Although, Bynum has spent a bulk of time nursing injuries, he’s still aiming for postseason experience and his prime in the later stages as O’Neal has long past his prime, and inches closer to departure.

If Kobe, Shaq, and a distort Phil Jackson could have resolved their relationship on Oprah’s couch or Dr. Phil’s stage instead of turning their dispute into a Springer show brawl, the Lakers could have presumably won more titles. Now it doesn’t matter as the Lakers evidently have enough to contend against any team they face in the playoffs or even Boston, after beating them twice this season, finally showing they can match their intensity.

Although, we’re missing out on what could have been the most powerful and dominate dynasty of this decade. Over the years, the Kobe-Shaq dynamic duo was overwhelming and delighting, witnessing the highly overexposed tandem in NBA history. Shaq is lusting to restore a dynamic duo that was jaw-dropping and eyebrow-rising among the league, and has dismissed the bitterness, referring it as a marketing ploy, and has forgotten about the rap song at a New York nightclub, where he insulted Kobe by rapping “tell me how my a—taste.”

Whenever Kobe and Shaq is on the same court it turns into a high marketed event. And it turns into a publicity contest, containing the “brick wall” and the “corvette”. I think most of you can recall Shaq describing Kobe as a “corvette” and himself as the “brick wall” right before the overhyped Christmas Day Game in the first meeting since their divorce. That same “brick wall” wishes for a return, and that same “brick wall” wants to retired as a Laker, hoping to end career with a championship.

Shaq putting on a front against the Lakers, resulted in another win for the Suns, who has struggled this season, before firing an ill-hiring Terry Porter, a defensive-oriented coach who didn’t install the up-tempo offensive game after Mike D’Antoni, who emphasized a running offensive system, left for New York to coach the Knicks, which opened coaching job for Alvin Gentry, who has had a successful run since taken over, despite being without dishearten two-time MVP Steve Nash, who's suffering from a sprained right ankle and Amare Stoudemire, who suffered a detached eye.

Meanwhile, Shaq and Kobe are the two-greatest performers on the court together, along with their supporting cast. Kobe got contribution from Pau Gasol, who scored 30 points, has stepped up his intensity level after securitized last season for his unsuccessful and powerless accountability inside, filling in for an injured Bynum. As for Shaq, he wasn’t by himself either, Matt Barnes tossed in 26 points, 10 rebounds and seven assist. Off the bench, the speedy utility guard Leandro Barbosa posted 22 points and veteran Grant Hill scored in double digits with 17 points.

Still, it was the Shaq-Kobe fest, which brought center attention, and has inspirited fans. We can only image what it would be like if they were still playing together, without unraveling a successful dynasty, which could have became one of the greatest dynasties in sports. Even though, their differences have been settled, Shaq isn’t returning to Los Angeles. So it was a great experience when it came about, now it’s Kobe and company, rebuilding a potential dynasty and it’s not similar to the original.

But it’s good enough to bring endless indulgence, surrounding Kobe and his fellow squad.

Lakers' toughness proves it can stand up to Boston

Indeed, the greatest thing about a rivalry is watching a tense, hard fought infomercial of last year’s NBA finals match up, consisting of the Lakers versus the Celtics. We look forward to watching duels, such as the New York Yankees against the Boston Red Sox or Duke against North Carolina. But there’s none as intriguing as the Lakers-Celtics collocating much buzz, as mostly everyone's television were all tuned in to the Lakers-Celtics on Thursday night.

Finally, the Lakers got rid of the poisonous humilating 39 point loss in the finals last year. They weren't merely humilated, nor were they startled facing Boston, who as a team, overpowered them, making them so inferior, after their surreal hard-driven playoff run, to elicit the renaissance of the Lakers-Celtics rivalry, for one of the greatest rivalries in pro sports. Again, displaying the new generation of the Lakers-Celtics rivalry, which wasn't nearly an equaliser to the Magic Johnson and Larry Bird era, but comprises an high-quality of zealous drama.

Still, judging from the competitiveness and intense moments, even the close skirmishes, which dwendled down to the final seconds in their second meeting, is interesting for the Lakers-Celtics rivarly. Which continues to entice the beauty of the game, not just the game, but all sports in general. It was enticing to watch the Lakers, make things, in this tough-minded rivalry more interesting.

The Celtics were trying to avenge a 92-83 Christmas Day loss. They weren't able to procure redemption, but the Lakers were able to avenge their humiliating demolition loss in last year’s finals, erasing a bitter crisis to metamorphose a tense and physical 110-109 overtime thrilling win at Boston. They escaped Boston high spirited, settling for a statement, without their big man Andrew Bynum, who elevated as Lakers inside presence, before falling to the ground last week with a banged up knee, likely out for 8 to 12 weeks, after MRI revealed a knee sprain.

Truly, it didn’t matter, if it took just one point. Or if Bynum wasn’t present, all that mattered was the Lakers defensive firmness and excellence from other players surrounding Kobe Bryant, undoubtedly the best player in the league. Considering last season’s finals' sketchiness, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom, both were scapegoats for the Lakers inadequacies last year, failing to follow an agenda of significance. Instead, their blunders and softness on defense refuse to quell principles of committing to winning a championship.

Now confident and tougher, as chemistry continues to make a positive jolt on the Lakers, even larger, they’re eager and physical enough to probably defeat Boston if they redo their championship letdown. If anything, it’s a return Kobe is eager to have a shot at, hopefully winning a championship to endlessly embrace his fourth title, all with the Lakers. By snapping Boston’s latest winning streak of 12 straight wins, it’s a prelude to greatness. In their impressive win on Christmas, they snapped Boston's 19 game winning streak. So, the Lakers have matured, adapting as teammates, Kobe has grown up to realize there’s no I in team, but realizes the second letter in team, stands for effort as a unit, not individually.

Two day’s removed from scoring a record-breaking 61 points at the Madison Square Garden against the tumult New York Knicks, Kobe didn’t have to nearly tally the point total against the Celtics, getting lifts by Gasol, having a worthy physical tense night, after they pushed around the lanky seven-footer in the finals. Once again, Gasol presented his malign-toughness, similar to his Christmas Day fourth quarter heroics, coming to life again in the second-half, settling for 24 points, accompanied with 14 rebounds. His inside presence is definitely needed without Bynum's inside toughness, now it’s his chance to produce a well-rounded endowment, until Bynum gets healthy probably in time for the playoffs, which are looming.

Ray Allen could have had the Lakers walk away pitifully, if he would’ve converted on a game-winning three-pointer. A few day’s ago, Allen buried the game-winning three-point shot from the corner at Philadelphia. Meanwhile, the Lakers denied the Celtics on dropping any game-winning shots, protecting the perimeter as if it was life-threaten, perhaps it was sudden death. But, Allen missed an off-balanced three-point attempt. Game over.

With pressure on Boston, after the Lakers claimed possession of a one-point lead in overtime, the best thing for them was to hope for a prayerful game-winning shot. But, the high defensive intensity halted any last minute buzzard-beaters. Kevin Garnett, who had 16 points, missed the previous two games because of flu-like symptoms. He was effective, but fouled out in a physical battled against their hated rivals. Intense moments flared up, when Garnett exchanged words within Odom's face. Even an incident happened between Kobe and Rajon Rondo, who apparently provoked Bryant to trade a few words. This is a rivalry, both teams has bitterness, both teams have fierce emotions and both teams hate each presence.

And Odom came through, unveiling toughness against Boston, most importantly, knocking down a pair of free throws with 16 seconds remaining. On the year, he’s a mere 60 percent free throw shooter, continuingly faltering. Still, he made the shots when they mattered, followed by their aggressive defense, which accomplished the rest, to improve their uttermost record to 40-9, avenging that 136-92 loss.

For the Celtics, there weren’t any benchwarmers. Eddie House scored 16 points off the bench, when defensively the Lakers were a bit sluggish. In fact, they seemed doomed when House and Rondo, who had 16 points and 12 assist, constantly drove through lanes to get an array of easy layups, which was a problem for the Lakers, still they were solid defensively. It’s a factor to beating the defending champs and it’s a factor to getting crowned as champs. Defense is the factor to great championship teams, and Boston is a perfect model to winning last year's championship base on potent defense.

It’s a statement that’s being heard loud and clearly. Each year, we tend to grow. Certainly, the Lakers have matured into an intimidating pest for the Celtics. Absolutely, they earned the respect after overthrowing Boston twice sweeping them, in the regular-season series. Sure, the Big Three are still favorites, after all, they’re the defending champs. And if the Lakers want to earn praise, they’ll have to beat their hated nemesis.

Of course, this loss didn’t go to well for an undelightled Boston crowd. No frenzies, or “Beat L.A.” chants, just loud disgruntled boos, after Allen shot fell well-short, to drop another loss facing the purple and gold. It doesn’t state that the Lakers can beat Boston when it matters, but it states that anything can occur, in just a matter of seconds. For the Lakers, they’d to suffer a demolition and a year of patience to answer the Celtics, dust far, they’ve answered at home and in a hostile environment, where Kobe doesn’t get a warm reception, unlike in New York, an environment where everyone embraces Kobe and enjoys chanting “MVP”! “MVP”! As for Boston, they scream at the league’s reigning Most Valuable Player, insulting and booing. Still, it never stops Kobe executing offensively or even the ongoing aggressiveness of Gasol.

Feverishly, Lakers’ fans strongly believe they're worthy of a championship. They had to beat Boston, and they have met their challenged. Still, there’s a long season ahead, so they have to continue to play with poise and high intensity. Which were the tactics to beating Boston, working in their favor. If they can beat their rivals, then they can probably beat any team at this point. We’ll find out, of course, winning the Celtics is a great start to earning respect. Not only was it an exciting game, but it was an exciting Lakers team everybody accepts.

It was a win against the Celtics, redeeming themselves to reach a crescendo of championship worthiness. So the key winning Boston is playing resilient and tough defensively, even getting the inside resistance by Gasol, seemingly attacking the paint, making hook shots, grabbing rebounds and blocking shots, all a huge aspect retrieving last season’s struggles against the Celtics, who the Lakers are no longer intimidating by because of their size or physicality.

Currently, the Lakers are the favorites to win it all. Statistically, the Celtics have the league’s best record, but the Lakers are absolutely the best legitimately.

Kobe: 61 good, but sometimes bad

Déjà vu all over again for the Lakers, seemingly after Andrew Bynum started finding a groove offensively, averaging over 20 points in the last five games, before Saturday night’s shot to his right knee.

So, where will the Lakers go from here, after the results came back from an MRI exam, which wasn’t very cordial, learning they have lost Bynum for 8 to 12 weeks because of a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee?

In the meantime, they have to recover from losing an inside force, still have yet to prove his worthiness through an entire season. In two seasons, Bynum haven’t showed his full season capabilities because of long-suffering injuries. Last season, he couldn’t show his playoff capabilities, but if everything goes well Bynum is expected back in time for the playoffs.

Perhaps, the biggest problem is returning from a injuring, once again trying to find a groove and get a feel of things. Aside from returning, it will mark the first time Bynum played during the postseason, if he makes it back in time, so it’s hard to predict if he’s able to perform at full strength after sitting out for a number of games.

Meanwhile, the Lakers have to find a solution for recovery. They have to find a solution to remain fixated and they have to adjust playing without their sudden rising star Bynum, who can again be a setback. Last year’s NBA finals wasn’t so friendly to the Lakers, who encountered a huge difference without that physical inside presence of Bynum, making times easier for the likes of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and the rest of Boston, enabling the Celtics to humiliate.

Currently, the Lakers recovery is Kobe Bryant, those days appear to have transcended into action. There have been plenty of moments where there have been unbelievable buzzard-beating three point shots or miraculous dunks or even that game where he posted 81 points.

On Tuesday night, Kobe was just 20 points away from tying his career-high and 21 points away from setting a new record. He’s the closest player to breaking the all-time record for points scored in a game, if not the greatest player to possibly come that close. Seemingly, it’s the Lakers who are granted with players who can shoot, piling up the scoreboards. Back in the day, Wilt Chamberlain, who set the all-time record for the most points scored in a single game, Kobe is the most logical player other than Chamberlain who can match Chamberlain’s 100-point score total.

Likely in this era, it’s uncommon to gaze at a shooting spectacle. But for a player like Kobe anything is characteristic. It wasn’t uncommon gazing at Kobe, who scored a record-setting 61 points at the Madison Square Garden, the world’s greatest venue, before a large crowd who mostly erupted every time Kobe would make a shot, drawing MVP chats and loud cheers from the New York crowd. LeBron James wasn’t even in town.

Absolutely, Kobe’s presence is needed for the Lakers to have fortune. Certainly without him the Lakers are doom. And scoring 61 points was brilliant, but anytime Kobe scores half of the team’s points, his teammates have the tendency of standing around gazing at him take over.

If Kobe has to continue to score more than 40 points a game to decide the outcome, it can become a problem. Before Bynum’s injury, everybody played as a team, and if they hope to win it all this year, they will need contributions from everyone other than just Kobe.

True, it’s fine if the Lakers win, but each game will play a different scenario, so scoring 61 is good at times, while other times it can hurt, such as the playoffs, particularly if they reach the finals, where they will likely play Boston. In fact, on Thursday the Lakers travel to their face their rivals in a hostile environment for a rematch against Boston.

Kobe having a big game against the Celtics probably will not be as smooth. He will probably get double team against Boston. Their defense executes the double team effectively, which will force his teammates to pick up slack, which they should be accustomed to playing as a team. So, it’s always nice to see Lamar Odom score double digit points, Trevor Ariza’s defensive urgency or Sasha Vujacic outside proficiency.

Still, the Lakers won the game, but sometimes players have a tendency of losing confidence or even their swagger once their star player has a productive night, an attitude seen before. In addition, the Lakers are a much-improved team than last year, showing maturity, most importantly playing as a unit. So, they shouldn’t have serious problems, with players slumping or displaying dullness. I expect Kobe to get his teammates involve on Wednesday at Toronto.

If skeptical about the Lakers, don’t be, they are the best team in the West. And I don’t expect another 60 point game, but I expect a total team effort, even more inside presence from Pau Gasol.

Scoring 61 points was jolting, but even more jolting is getting team contributions. Still the Lakers will increase the intensity, and will receive a team effort. All that matters is the win, even if it takes another Kobe 81 point performance or double digit scoring from teammates. They will get it done.

Of late, Bynum delivers dominance makes Lakers high-class

Maybe Andrew Bynum’s four-year deal, worth $58 million wasn’t premature after all. The Bynum-factor is starting to cause problems for opponents. The Bynum-factor is a huge difference in the latest modern version of the Los Angeles Lakers. The Bynum-factor is perilous.

He’s obviously the best young star elevating his game at the right time, when teams start to get a feel of things. The Lakers are certainly getting a feel of things, playing as a team, committing to defending opponents and additional supremacy from a gigantic 7-footer. In all likelihood, Bynum’s maturity and magnitude should have teams running away startled. Or even, preparing to answer Bynum’s latest dominance over Tim Duncan, which is bigger than the career-high 42 points against the Clippers.

Because the Clippers are an inferior bunch, Bynum’s 42 points sort of seemed a bit like an illusion. But a 99-85 rout over the San Antonio Spurs on a late Sunday afternoon at the Staples Center, might have brought out true flamboyancy of Bynum’s effectiveness. At this time, there’s no forestalling the virtuous strength of Bynum or the superlative hook shots, getting back to regular form, after last season’s knee injury hindered his second-half appearance and playoff appearance.

Now, he’s hungrier and fierce, facing no one other than probably Boston or it might even turn into Cleveland’s favor. Whichever team the Lakers face, Bynum tallness and potency to tease defenders can be quite intimidating, striving to forestall an oversize giant who isn’t an overstatement. When Bynum agreed to a richer deal, much was thought that he was becoming a bust, whether than an elite superstar center everybody had projected.

A number of teams in the league are undersized, struggling to match Bynum’s size. In previous games Bynum has being the story for the Lakers current four-game winning streak, after a coming out party game against the Clippers. Of course, the Clippers haven’t being persistent defensively. It still didn’t matter to Bynum, scoring the most points in his career against a lethargic team.

For critics, they were waiting to see Bynum’s dominance against the Spurs. And it was a dominant performance, now has us raving about the Lakers, who have won 14 of the last 17 games. In the two previous games, Bynum averaged 32.5 points and 14.5 rebounds against the Clippers and Washington Wizards.

Although Duncan scored 15 points, Bynum consolidated, avenging a 112-111 loss to weeks ago. With contributions from him, Kobe Bryant, who's ailing with a dislocated finger, scored 22 points, doesn’t have to execute nearly as much like before. It’s unessential for Bryant to score 50 points or even embark another unforeseen 81 point extravaganza, having a guy like Bynum, a monopolized star, continuing to have a domino effect on the Lakers exalted season of longing promise.

Against the Spurs, who’s the second-best contenders in the West was held to 37.5 percent shooting as the Lakers led by 21 points. Bynum posted nine points, five rebounds and two blocked shots in the third, to dismantle the Spurs. Thought to be a showdown, turned into a lopsided showdown, a contest that turned into an uncontested avowal by the Lakers, courtesy of the big man.

If Bynum maintain poise and aptitude, the Lakers would be a team nobody hopes to bear with. I wouldn’t when there’s a powerful protagonist like the gigantic 21-year old 7-footer who can cause gigantic problems. After all, the Lakers seem to be getting their money worth.

Lakers-Spurs constroversial call could have gone either way

If there were any disagreeable calls by officials in the Lakers-Spurs game on Wednesday night, it didn’t matter, and sure didn’t change the outcome. Were there any disagreeable calls that didn’t favor the Lakers?

Absolutely, but it’s a loss, after barely escaping a loss to the Tracy McGrady-less Houston Rockets Tuesday night. The accountably of Kobe Bryant’s game-winning three-point shot was equivalent to the game-winning three-point play Wednesday, made by Roger Mason, with 10 seconds left. So, the Lakers couldn’t get a win against the renew rival San Antonio Spurs, after Trevor Ariza was whistled for traveling with 8 seconds left.

So, an 11-point fourth quarter rally wasn’t enough to rectify a triumph win, over the Spurs, in which the Lakers haven’t had much success. Derek Fisher, a 0.8 game-winning hero, making an unforgetable sensational game-winning floater, back in the 2004 playoffs, wasn’t robust at the most critical time of the game, tweaking a groin muscle midway in the fourth quarter.

At San Antonio, Fisher has had much success. Don’t forget last year’s defensive stop. Well, a call that was ruled a defensive stop. By looking at the last-second play repeatedly, it appeared that former Spur and outside threat Brent Barry was fouled, while attempting a last-second shot, he was bumped by Fisher on the final possession, deciding the outcome of the Conference Finals as the Lakers advanced to the NBA finals.

So, did Ariza really travel? Or was he fouled when Manu Ginobili got to him late? The call could have gone either way. It could have been a blocking foul or a travel, but apparently Kobe wanted to get a blocking foul. He yanked his jersey and walked off the court frustrated after the no-call.

It was another superb night for Bryant, scoring 29 points, and what appeared to be the game-winning shot, until Fisher foolishly fouled Mason, who scored 18 points, going 3-for-4 from behind the three-point line. On the baseline, Mason received the ball for the game-winning shot, fouled while attempting the shot, when Fisher attempted to strip Mason, which decided the outcome. It was the Spurs, receiving the final result, earning the final shot of the game, to send the Lakers home with a 1-1 tie during a two-game road trip.

The Lakers had a 111-109 lead with 12 seconds remaining, before Mason’s shot sabotaged a Lakers’ 14 point comeback. Yet, they needed another late rally, still coming up short because of mistakes or bad calls, which isn’t excusable, when you’re ahead by two with 12 seconds remaining. Just defending Mason probably would’ve displayed a different outlook, in which the Spurs probably wouldn’t have overtaken the Lakers in the final moment. Ginobili scored 27 points. He irked Kobe nearly on each possession and each time he received the ball, Ginobili and Mason would double team the reigning MVP.

Absolutely, the final play could’ve being a blocking foul. It was controversial. And the officials could’ve just let the game balance out between the Lakers and Spurs.

Now, it’s over, though, the Lakers got contributions from Pau Gasol, who had 21 points, Andrew Bynum had 18 and Fisher finished with 16. This type of cohesiveness is expected, if they covet winning a championship, even though bad officiating might have decided the game, not the Lakers or Spurs, but an indisputable officiating crew. Maybe they called it correctly or maybe it was wrong, either way it’s a game the Lakers lost as the Spurs won 10 of the last 12, as well as the Lakers.

So, both teams are still even after refs decided the game without letting both teams decide. Even though, the Lakers lost, at least they could still leave sort of grateful, getting even with the Spurs in the win column. That's winning 10 games in the last 12.