Lakers redemption win brings forth Celtics' questions and answers

No victory cigars.

It’s just redemption.

Had the Lakers lost to the Celtics, the likelihood of beating the Celtics would have transpired feedbacks and answers about their chances of winning. Had they lost, the Celtics would have extended their winning streak to 20 straight, and it could have defined the Lakers chances of a championship come June.

With the win, the Lakers made a statement. In the final minutes of the game, the Los Angeles crowd stood and cheered. For the Celtics, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, all seemed a bit forlorn, seeing a 19 game winning streak fade away.

The victory wasn’t an overstatement. The victory was a preview of potentially the finals next summer and it was potentially a chance of hope that the Lakers can beat the Celtics, proving they are contenders, and coveted winning a championship. Still, the Lakers entered with a numb feeling, upset after last season, seeking redemption and revenge over their hated rivals.

Last season, the Celtics embarrassed and demolished the Lakers in the finals to win the championship. Of course, nobody anticipated the Lakers to make it to the finals, but having a surprising season, lead to greater casuals. A victory over the league’s hottest team, attentively beating the Celtics, everyone had to contribute, having to play with consistency and physicality.

For some time, the Lakers have had problems defensively and physically, having insufficiency struggled, disappointing everyone, and losing games they probably could have won if they would have played physically and defensively. After the victory over Boston, the Lakers can kindly put their embarrassing loss behind them, and build confidence moving throughout the season.

When the Lakers get contributions and aggressiveness out of all their players, they look like a team nobody in the league can beat. It seemed the Lakers wanted it more than the Celtics, after outhustling and outplaying their hated rivals. After losing last season, the Lakers were still bitter about their crushing defeat, waiting six-months to restore their probability, ending a joyful run for their long-time rivals.

The Lakers-Celtics rivalry can change our perceptions. If you pick the Celtics to repeat as champions, then you might want to change your picks. After the Lakers dominated the Celtics mentally and physically, they are the team to pick possibly to win the championship this year. It was the first time the Lakers had their entire team at full health, losing Andrew Bynum and Trevor Ariza had a negative impact on their performance last season during the finals.

With the hustle play of Ariza, and the size of Bynum, the Celtics seem to have some trouble matching against the Lakers. In the game, Ariza hustling and defensive strength made an impact on the Lakers meaningful victory. A couple times, Ariza made incredible highlight plays, running down loose balls, and keeping possession by saving the ball inbounds.

With Bynum, it was difficult for Pierce, who destroyed the Lakers last season driving the line, but unable to get his way inside with Bynum standing around. He scored nine points and had two blocks. For the first time, Bynum got a feel playing against the Celtics since returning from knee surgery, an injury that kept him out of action for the second half of last season and the playoffs. The Lakers are taller with his presence, and they are tougher with Ariza, who rundown a lose ball saving it inbounds to give Sasha Vujacic an easy layup in the third.

The problems with the Lakers were their insufficient defensive softness. I think they got the message after beating the Celtics, now grasping a sense of awareness on what it takes to beat the 17 time NBA championships. The Lakers fought hard to a 92-83 victory over the Celtics, a victory they have long-awaited.

The league’s reigning Most Valuable Player Kobe Bryant scored 27 points, but we’re accustom to his strong performance and capabilities to score when ever necessary.

But, the performance of Pau Gasol was impressive. He has been criticize for his softness, but rebounding, hustling and getting a hand in the face of opponents, draws reliance and promise. After scoring seven of his 20 points in the final three minutes, he deserves praise. For once, Gasol performance was physical at a time when it mattered.

Most importantly the Lakers won at a moment, giving everyone respectable answers.

They aren’t as deficient as you think, and now probably adoring the moment after the biggest victory this season. It’s a huge statement, answering everyone, giving a perception on the rest of the season and the Lakers are the answer to everyone’s questions at the moment. Not the Celtics, unless they beat them when it really counts, in the finals.

But, the Lakers beating Boston draws a new suggestion, meanwhile, the Lakers have the advantage over the Celtics.

For Lakers, decisive victory could indicate good things

This is a good way to prepare for Boston, win big to end a dreadful road trip. For the Lakers, there four game road trip turned out shoddy. First losing, at Miami, following Orlando, then barely escaping Memphis with a late run to snap a two game losing streak.

But, the biggest win and the best win came against the New Orleans Hornets on Tuesday night. The Lakers didn’t need a buzzard beater attempt by Kobe Bryant, nor a comeback, in a comfortable 101-87 victory.

It’s a win the Lakers needed traveling back home for the Christmas showdown. It’s a road victory that should have the Lakers feeling good, beating a top-tier team in the West. With, the win they improve to 16-1 against West opponents. But, beating East opponents still remains a problem. A record of 6-4 against East opponents have shot the Lakers down, and if they’re having trouble beating inferior East opponents, then it’s difficult to figure they’re ready to beat their biggest test this season, the Boston Celtics.

On a positive note, rhythmic and momentum influenced the Lakers dominance over the Hornets. With rhythm and momentum making notoriety in the final game of a four-game road trip, it might have indicated signs of good things to come throughout the season. It’s a performance the Lakers need if they strongly anticipate beating the Celtics.

The Lakers could send a statement with a win over the Celtics, and at the same time, they’re seeking redemption, after last year’s demolition in the finals. This game couldn’t have come at a better time. The Celtics are riding a 19th game winning streak, while the Lakers appeared to have broken out of a potential slump.

This game was definitely one of their greatest performances this season. Their defensive futility no longer lingered and their high-intensity offense still remained intact, after there was no sunshine for the Lakers in the sunshine state, getting swept by both Florida teams, and barely cruised their way out of Memphis with a victory.

It wasn’t a vacation. Instead it was hard labor. The league’s reigning Most Valuable Player became the league’s Most Thriving Player, scoring a season-high 41 points at Orlando, missing a game-tying shot both times in Florida as time expired.

Most impressively, the Lakers held the Hornets to 37 first-half points, a team that won their last 11 of its 13 games entering the contest on Tuesday night, crushing the Hornets just as bad as the Celtics last year in the sixth game of the finals. The Lakers held them to just 37.5 percent shooting in the first half. The Lakers dominating the Hornets was overwhelming and uplifting, seeing them perform up to their capabilities.

It’s the kind of performance expected each night by the Lakers, if they expect to win Boston or the championship this year. This confidence booster is a way the Lakers can build upon beating Boston on Christmas. It’s a way to gain conception on what it takes to beat the defending champs, and propels earnestness for their biggest game marked on their calendar one day from now.

For a difference, Bryant was able to play with ease late in the game when the Lakers had the game locked in the suitcase, and ready to depart to the airport. Bryant scored 26 points, six rebounds, along with four assist. Last night, homecoming wasn’t too friendly to Pau Gasol, returning to Memphis for the first time since the trade. Usually home welcomes back beloved individuals, but in this case, staying far distance from home works for Gasol. He scored a highly effective 20 points on eight-for-10 shooting.

It looks as if the Lakers are in good position, entering a big showdown against Boston. Uh! The Lakers-Celtics rivalry is next, and the Lakers seem as if they are ready for the test after a night of consistency.

Lakers good team, but not as great as projected

If anything a four-game road test should be a preparation test for the Lakers, starting off dicey doesn’t prepare them for their upcoming test on Christmas Day, when they meet the Boston Celtics in a rematch after last season’s failures. What we’re experiencing is another potential letdown and potentially an unpredictable season of concerns.

Though, the Lakers weren’t expected to make a run to the NBA finals last season, where they were crushed and humiliated by the Celtics, they were much more exciting to watch unlike this season, entering with lots of expectations.

The Lakers didn’t have expectations last season, shocking the world to make a final's appearance, after everyone assumed that they were still young and rebuilding into a contender.

Well, the Lakers are expected to contend for the West and potentially for the championship in June. But, watching the Lakers deficiencies in their performance, rewrites the script. The Lakers are good, but not as great as we projected.

The Lakers won four straight games, but that streak was snapped at Miami. The NBA’s Most Valuable Players nominee Dwyane Wade outplayed the Lakers, posting 35 points in a shootout against Kobe Bryant, who scored 28 points, missing a shot that could have tied the game and extended a dramatic contest to overtime in an 89-87 loss on Friday.

As the final seconds dwindled down, Bryant attempted a 12-foot jumper that rattled out, giving the Lakers their third road loss in five road games. It’s bad enough they couldn’t beat Sacramento before running into another obstacle course at Miami.

The Lakers lost to a team that has a lower winning percentage than them and if they expect to contend against powerhouse teams such as the Celtics, they will have to improve a lot of blemishes in their discontent play of late. It’s hard to believe the Lakers own the best record in the West at 21-4 and it’s hard to credit them for such a winning record, after barely winning against inferior opponents or escaping with a decisive rally.

The absurdity and lackadaisicalness continues to ravage the Lakers performance, after committing 21 turnovers and missing nine-of-19 free throws. When the Lakers play Boston for a Holiday showdown, they can’t make errant turnovers or miss at the charity strike. What ever the Celtics give, the Lakers will have to take advantage of their freebies, that’s if any are giving out.

However, the Lakers aren’t physically or mentally prepared to play Boston, watching Kevin Garnett the other night against Atlanta was a prime example of how devoted the Celtics are as a unit to win a back-to-back. And watching the Lakers lose to Miami was a prime example that the Lakers can’t match the intensity level of Boston’s Big Three.

Garnett scored 10 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter against the Hawks on Wednesday night, leading the Celtics to their 16th straight victory, a streak that extended to 17 after the Celtics dismantled Chicago at home on Friday.

If the Lakers have trouble stopping everyone else driving the lines, it will not be an easy assignment stopping KG and Paul Pierce driving into the line. The Lakers are unbalance defensively and no player has played consistent or physical. The Lakers ranked first in the league offensively but on the opposite end of the floor their percentage is overwhelming ranking 15th defensively.

Sure, the Lakers aren’t the team everybody projected. Everyone figured they were going to enter the season as the toughest defensively, after having a season of experience. Everyone figured they would have what it takes to win a championship. And everyone figured that Jerry Buss and Mitch Kupchack have put together the best version of the Lakers this season.

After losing to opponents they should have pulverized with no problem, their opponents have pulverized them. Losing to the Kings was the biggest upset of the season, but losing to the Heat was even larger.

Wade leads the NBA in averaging 30-point games, averaging his 11th 30-point game of the season. His performance was desperately needed if the Heat wanted any shot at beating the Lakers. And Wade came through helping the Heat snap their three-game losing streak.

The Lakers didn’t want to start off their most pivotal road trip losing. Instead it would have been nice winning over the Heat to build confidence and momentum for the rest of the road trip before taking on the Celtics. The road trip is a good way for the Lakers to prepare for the biggest game.

Certainly, the Lakers needs lots of improvement before winning the championship. But dust far, Boston is the team to stop in the NBA as the Lakers are still stopable, despite one of their best runs in many yeaars.

Lakers could set record for best-worst team ever

Correct me if wrong.

Are the Lakers 3-19 or 19-3? No you skeptics are correct the Lakers are 19-3 this season.

It’s very difficult to notice the Lakers 19-3 record. For a month now, the Lakers haven’t been able to find consistency, but still have found ways to salvage a victory, barely. Not winning by a large margin, but winning just enough to elude more criticism.

Currently, the Lakers are being criticized for their inconsistency. It’s been quite sometime now since the Lakers played with a sense of urgency, or even intensity, which have caused a few collapses and uninspiring losses that should have been automatic victories.

But, this time the Lakers were able to avoid another royal agonizing defeat at home against the Sacramento Kings. To refresh your mind, the Kings nicked the Lakers in a 113-101 loss at Sacramento on Tuesday night, embarrassing them.

Lately, the Lakers consistency has being dissatisfying, and painful to watch. Sure, fans might sit at home or come out to watch them in action, but it’s being a nail-bitter of late to watch the Lakers grind out a victory. And there has probably being a multitude of fans closing their eyes in the fourth quarter.

However, the Lakers were able to prevent royal damage. But the Lakers will not always find it easy to get away without raising their consistency level, particularly on Christmas Day. That’s when the Lakers will host their final rivals the Boston Celtics.

Meanwhile, the Lakers scratched out another win, after the Kings surrendered in the second half on Friday night, giving the Lakers a 112-103 win. Still, the Lakers have a lot of things to stabilize, needing to find a way to defend the pick and roll and slow down the transition game.

It’s simple, just play with intensity.

With the Lakers, notching their second straight victory, and still having sole possession of first-place in the West, it’s difficult to rip them. No it’s not, having yet faced the Celtics or Cleveland.

Both, the Celtics and the Cavs marked history on Friday night, with a victory over their opponents. Boston came away with a victory against New Orleans, to extend their active winning streak to 14 straight victories. It’s the first time in franchise history that the Celtics have won 14 consecutive games. And Cleveland won their 11th straight over Philadelphia, matching a franchise record.

On the other hand, the Lakers could probably set a record for winning 19 games without a consistent performance. Clearly, the Lakers are the best worst franchise in the league. With them playing inconsistent, they are very fortunate to have amassed 19 wins.

The Kings’ guard John Salmons has received egregious treatment in Los Angeles, after humiliating Lakers at Sacramento. He received boos after finishing a layup, tying the game at 44-44 with 3:02 left in the second quarter.

In Salmons last game against the Lakers, he took advantage of their indolence and inconsistency. The Lakers allowed enough time for Salmons to organize his shot, giving him a good look at a two-point jumper. Then the Lakers failed to keep Salmons out of the line, penetrating for a sure layup.

The Lakers have difficulty stopping penetration. And their backcourt defense has struggled. Derek Fisher and Jordan Farmer has trouble stopping opponents from blowing pass them.

However, Kobe Bryant ensured that his Lakers didn’t suffer another knock out against the Kings. With 5:02 left in the third quarter, Bryant hit a three-pointer to give the Lakers a 72-59 lead. It was a must needed shot, but Bryant was needed for the entire game.

Bryant finished with 32 points on 11-for-21 shooting, finally breaking out of a shooting struggle. Thank goodness that Kobe broke out of his slump. If he didn’t, the Lakers could have witness the improbable once again, a Kings beatdown. The Kings, winning without their star guard, Kevin Martin, who’s sidelined with an injury, is anything but cohesive.

I can just image what it would have been like with Martin in the lineup.

But, the Kings continued to scare the Lakers. The Kings wasn’t intimidated playing against the Lakers. Instead they were very optimistic about beating the Lakers. The Kings aren’t playing for anything, so upsetting the Lakers is a big fulfillment.

On the Lakers home floor, the Kings was hindered. The Lakers ensured that another demoralizing defeat wouldn’t occur, at least on their home floor. With just three minutes remaining in the game, the Lakers’ escalation marked an explanation point.

The Lakers started sizzling at the right time. Crunch time is the most vital time in the game. Fisher started their spurt, after making a 14-foot jumpshot. Then Kobe, perhaps the greatest finisher in this era, banked a nine-foot jumper and then elevated for a two-handed dunk.

Surely, the Lakers’ victories are great, but the inconsistency will hurt them at one point or another. But, the Lakers are good enough to win the West, though, they play inconsistent.

After all, the Lakers are the best-worst team ever.


This can also be read @ www-sportsnation.blogspot.com

Without defensive effort, Lakers aren't virtually a threat

Lately, things haven’t being very pleasant for the Lakers, and losing to Sacramento didn’t fit too well with the Lakers. But, they managed to secure a lead, after losing it a 11-point third quarter lead. Lately, the Lakers are struggling on holding on to leads, but still are managing to win games.

Still, we can't beat up on the Lakers much. After all, they're 18-3, leading the West with the most wins this season, but barely.

Mainly, the Lakers can’t control big cushions, because of their inconsistency defensively. For a few games now, the Lakers haven’t looked firm on defense, and with their rematch against the Boston Celtics looming ever larger on Christmas Day, the Lakers need to make adjustments promptly.

Fine, I get the perception that the Lakers secured a 115-110 victory over the Phoenix Suns, but barely. I get the perception, the Lakers offensively dominate their opponents, but defense is a significant fragment to winning a title.

If the Lakers are going to have any sensation in early June, then they’ll have to elevate their intensity defensively. The Lakers offensively are flawless, and their performance offensively against the Suns, aided their advantage to eluded short-handed Phoenix.

In a five-player deal, the Suns traded guard Raja Bell and forward Boris Diaw to Charlotte for Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley. And was even without their center Shaquille O’Neal, who reportedly attended funeral service for his grandmother, in this contest there was less hype regarding Shaq versus Kobe, for a Lakers/Suns rivalry that’s continuing to become thinner and thinner.

No longer does a Lakers/Suns rivalry exist, for one the cocky guy who clotheslined

Kobe Bryant during the first round of a playoff series a few years ago. Yes, I’m talking about Raja Bell. And Coach Mike D’Antoni abandoned the desert for Broadway, so now Phil Jackson doesn’t have a coach on the opposite side who he can jaw back and forth with during timeouts. And lastly, the Suns aren’t nearly as good as they once were.

Since the arrival of Shaq, the entire complexion changed for the Suns. With D’Antoni’s up-tempo offense, Shaq’s inability to run at full strength up and down the floor hurt the Suns transition game and fastbreak points. The Lakers barely won without Shaq, who has yet to face his old team at Staples Center this season.

Perhaps, issues among Shaq, Kobe and Jackson are resolved. That’s not a rivalry. Instead it’s just the Lakers playing against a West opponent, in which they should easily beat.

Though, the Lakers beat the Suns for the second time this season, it wasn’t in a pretty fashion. Seemingly, the Lakers were unsteady and off balance midway in the third, losing rhythm and allowing Steve Nash to find his rhythm.

With Phoenix, controlling the tempo for most of the game, a three-pointer nailed by Nash gave the Suns their first lead of the night, 75-74. He just scored seven points and had two assist on two-for-12 shooting in the entire game.

This game consisted of high-scoring, and no defensive effort, in which the Lakers were very fortunate to leave with a victory. If the Lakers offensively wouldn’t have had produced, particularly late in the fourth, they could’ve possibly lost their second straight game for the first time this season.

Skeptics normally perceive Pau Gasol as a soft individual who doesn’t play as effective as he’s capable of playing. Well, offensively Gasol didn’t have a soft outing, with a team-leading 28 points scored on 11-for-14 shooting and five rebounds.

For the Lakers, they used their advantages inside the paint. Andrew Bynum posted 17 on seven-for-11 shooting, and scored 12 in the first-half. He rebounded strongly after Tuesday night’s performance against the Kings, entering halftime four points above his total average on Tuesday.

Once again, Kobe Bryant started off sluggish with just four points in the first-half on a ragged two-for-seven shooting, but finished with 18 points on six-for-16 shooting.

Suddenly, Sasha Vujacic’s resurgence favored the Lakers. In the first quarter, Vujacic buried a three-point shot, for his first made shot in three games.

Undoubtedly, the Lakers are consistent offensively, but defensively they need cultivation and if the Lakers plan to hoist that trophy in June, then their eagerness and assertiveness will have to come into playing a role.

Obviously, their offense played a role. Bryant lobbed a pass inside to Bynum for a two-handed slam with 3:58 left, giving the Lakers a 100-92 advantage. Kobe yelled, “Yah”! Then pumped his fist and gave Bynum praise for his effort.

But, the Lakers defensively didn’t have too much to praise about. Phoenix's Matt Barnes knocked down some big shots in the second-half, to finish with 25 points on 10-for-20 shooting, and nailed five three-pointers, threaten the Lakers. Grant Hill scored 23 on nine-for-11 shooting, and had a huge second-half as well.

Still, the Lakers are strong enough to repeat as West champs this year, but still uncertain about their strength against East teams, such as the Celtics and Cleveland, teams that both play defense exceptionally well. The Lakers will have to match their intensity.

If the Lakers become more assertive defensively, then they’ll automatically be the most alarming NBA team that will strike fear in each opponent they encounter. But currently, no opponent is intimated.

Asked Sacramento or Indiana, it’s obvious they weren’t intimated. With greater teams looming, the biggest one on Christmas, the Lakers could start preparing to rise defensively. There’s no better time than now, before the playoffs arrive.

However, the Lakers are the NBA champions of the West, with defense or no defense. But, the legitimate champions requires potent defense. And now, that’s missing.

But in a matter of moments, the Lakers won’t be missing on defense. Now they understand what it takes to win a championship, if they find themselves defensively, after the Celtics embarrassingly beat the Lakers to win the championship.

For that championship victory, the Celtics understood things defensively.

Now, it’s the Lakers turn to understand things defensively, and when they understand they’ll be crown champs. And that's not an overstatement.

Lakers problems overconfidence

In Sacramento, stand the Capital of California and the Sacramento Kings stands close by as well. And now, there’s a greater perception on why the Capital is located in Sacramento, and not Los Angeles. The Kings capitalized beyond all cylinders and the Los Angeles Lakers loss on Wednesday night at Arco Arena.

For the third time this season, the Lakers faltered in a loss, either from their lack of intensity on defense or overconfidence. But playing against the Kings, it was both the lack of intensity and overconfidence. Entering the contest, the Lakers took the Northern California rivals for granted and didn’t attack the Kings with a sense of urgency.

The Lakers coaching staff, for most of this season, have emphasized defense. But in all three of the games they have loss, came from playing inconsistent defense, and blowing late-quarter leads. In the game against the Kings, the Lakers couldn’t prevent anyone from penetrating the lane, and their gigantic big man in-the-middle, Andrew Bynum posted just eight points and four rebounds in 21 minutes of playing time.

For most of the night, Bynum couldn’t avoid foul trouble. Kobe Bryant scored 28 points on a shaky nine-for-25 shooting. And Pau Gasol contributed, scoring 25 points on nine-for-15 shooting, but a bulk of his points came from the charity strike, where he made seven-of-nine shots.

The Lakers by far, played their worst game this season. The Kings outhustled and outplayed the Lakers, fighting to a 113-101 victory. If you thought a one-point loss to Indiana was the Lakers worst game this season, then you might want to reconsider.

Now, it’s a perfect time for Phil Jackson to insist that no win is promising. Surely, the Lakers thought to highly of themselves, and thought they could roll over the Kings. But, they had the Lakers fooled. Instead, the Kings rolled over the Lakers and came away with a victory, which improved their lowly record to 6-16 on the season.

The Lakers problem is overconfidence, and lack of intensity. Losing to the Kings wasn’t a fluke, but it was a demoralizing oddity. The Lakers enabled the Kings to avoid further damage, with the victory they snapped their eight-game and franchise-tying losing skid against the Lakers at home.

At one point the Lakers were superior leaders of the state, but losing ended that powerful authority. Five starters scored in double-digits for the Kings, while the Lakers just had three starters scoring in double-digits, on a night the Kings shot 49.4 percent.

Another essential part to the Lakers success is the bench mob. The Lakers bench was outscored, off the bench Bobby Jackson led the way for the Kings. In 18 minutes of play, Jackson recorded 15 points on four-for-seven shooting. He shot well from beyond the arch, knocking down three huge three-pointers.

For the Lakers, Lamar Odom had a bench-leading 11 points. And Trevor Ariza, who had a poor night, finished with four points on an awful two-for-10 shooting.

It was the best game the Kings encountered this season. They saved their best performance for the Lakers, and the Kings took advantage of their indolent frame of mind and their uninspiring intensity defensively.

For the Kings, their player of the night was clearly John Salmons, who scored 21 points on eight-for-13 shooting. He was able to penetrate to the lane for two easy points, and teammate Freddy Garcia brought his high intensity against the Lakers, scoring 21 on nine-for-18 shooting.

But clearly, the Lakers overconfidence and unawareness turned into a disadvantage. For the rest of the season, any team they face they’ll have to enter less confident and aware of their opponents capabilities, and most importantly play with lots of intensity.

Lakers lacks toughness on the Eastside

Troy Murphy plundered the Lakers. Danny Granger outplayed the Lakers. The Indiana Pacers stunned the Lakers.

This time, the Lakers didn’t have to rally their way to a victory, but this time they blow it. Usually, the Lakers have to play a game of catch up, finding themselves trailing, before increasing the intensity, to win at ease.

But at Indianapolis, it was a different panorama to a great Lakers’ championship tale. Before mentioning anything about a championship for the Lakers, there's one thing they improve, winning a game against an East opponent.

In the latest tale of the East Coast Strugglers, the story talks about the Lakers’ 118-117 loss to the Pacers on Tuesday night. It’s degrading for the Lakers to lose to a lower class opponent and it’s demoting when they lose another game against an East opponent.

By far this season, the Lakers have dominated the West without any barriers interfering, coming away with substantial victories, which have merely enhanced them to a record of 14 wins this season, only losing two games. Both losses came against East conference opponent.

When it seemed as if the Lakers would secure another victory, the Pacers refused to go away. Danny Granger, who’s having a sensational season, scored 32 points and led the Pacers to a 15-point comeback, the Lakers blow a huge lead, in a huge upset and in a huge way.

The Lakers were looking to extend their seventh game winning streak. And the league’s reigning MVP, Kobe Bryant, had a terrific night, scoring 28 points to go along with seven rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to run away from the irksome Pacers.

In the final seconds, Murphy tipped in a missed shot as time expired to powder a loss against the league’s hottest team, unloading the water cooler, to drench the Lakers, snapping the hot spurt.

But the Lakers had their fair share of chances, the biggest chance came when Bryant buried his 21-footer to give the Lakers a 117-116 lead with 58.4 seconds remaining, but his errant jumper on the final possession, opened the windows for Indiana’s final chance. On their final chance they prevailed, defeating the Lakers to become the second East conference opponent to defeat them.

The Lakers downcast funk against East opponents has foreboded them once again, searching for answers on their struggles against the East, now curious about their next two road games against East opponents.

Earlier this season, the Lakers disappointed a faithful crowd at Staples Center, lossing to Detroit, 106-95. Newly acquired guard, Allen Iverson, lighted up the scoreboards and pulverized the Lakers from every angle, handing them their first loss of the season.

Currently, the Lakers are 11-0 against West opponents, while they’re just 2-2 against East opponents, winning both New Jersey and Toronto. But the most dignifying scene from the Lakers this season is their resourceful fulfillment against the West.

On opening night they routed Portland, following the Clippers and they pulverized Denver, Houston and New Orleans, playoff bound teams that were expected to be a tough task for the Lakers, but they weren’t that tough to handle.

But, the Lakers still have a burden to clear, beating a legitimate opponent in the East, on Christmas Day they’ll meet their legitimate opponent, the Boston Celtics, a rematch from last seasons’ devastating loss, coming from the East.

Unfortunately, the Lakers can’t beat the East, but if they beat the Celtics, they might learn the formula to beating an East opponent, playing against defending champs is the best way to learn the concepts on beating the East.