Start anew. This is the thing to do after Christmas. Funny thing is: It’s so hard to do at times. Every year brings its own angels and demons into one’s life, yet sometimes one outweighs the other—giving one an advantage. (Or, a distinct disadvantage.)
My gain from Santa was a new laptop. The last one I had was from 2008, and that bad boy was still running strong up until December 25; I could not decline, however, my latest element of destruction.
The thing’s got Wi-Fi that works, a bigger screen, a larger keyboard, and it comes with quite a battery, compared to what I became accustomed to using.
Why am I telling you this?—Because life’s about options. You have the option to pregame for the blind spots and other surprises you could never see coming, yet gifts are something that’ll bite you hard and often on this side of the grass. So you better get used to being grateful—or karma will get you, and that thing doesn’t play nice.
LAL the Day After X-Mas
First, Josh Smith posted a ridiculous line of 31-10-6, played the whole game and led the page in my stenobook with which I take notes on the National Basketball Association. That needed to be said in print. You’re welcome.
But the Lakers had problems of their own, so we need discuss.
Kobe Bryant laid 40 pts and 6 dimes on the Nuggets—Steve Nash added 15 & 8 helpers—yet when Dwight Howard was ejected, all hope was lost for the team trailing in a Pacific Division they’d own if they were healthy the entire season.
The 126-114 L in Denver came down to more than DH, however, even though it certainly didn’t help.
Corey Brewer had 27 in 23 minutes; Ty Lawson 17 & 14 assists; Kenneth Faried 21 & 15—these things and more (like playing in Colorado the day after playing the Knicks on Christmas day) didn’t bode well on top of Howard fouling himself out of a game in one measly play.
New York, on the other hand, had a harder task at hand, yet NYK emerged from their second road contest in as many days victorious. No Melo, no Felton: The team from New York leaned heavily on Jason Kidd, and he gave them 23-6-8 like the Kidd of old.
But the real story was the man possessed known to us as JR Smith, for he had 27-6-5. And JR tied the game at 97—and then he won the thing with a spin move that no matter how many times they showed it, over and over, over and over, he maintained his composure and didn’t travel (even though most NBA players do walk when they spin around, or in front of, a defender).
My favorite Fleetwood Mac jingle (it opened this run-on piece) goes like this:
“Don’t stop/Drinking until tomorrow
Don’t stop/Until it is here.”
Isn’t that how it goes?
Durant’s Answer to Kobe…And However You’d like to Label Certain Occurrences
Bryant dropped 40 points and lost, so Kevin Durant answered the bell by doing just that, only OKC beat Dallas in overtime. KD added 8 boards, 5 assists and 3 blocks just to round out his stat line, but the song remains the same. Kobe sets the bar and few players—no matter how talented—can only match it, as they hope for the best from their supporting cast, like Kobe does night in and night out.
Other things came down the wire as this funny thing happened:
Felton, Raymond out 4-6 weeks
Dwight Howard fined for ejection
(to which I responded in my notes:
BASKET CASE
HEAD CASE
ET AL)
Then, the devil known as SportsCenter came up after the Baylor-bowl-game blowout, and the left column read, “Clippers Can’t Lose.”
Furthermore, the Nets fired Avery Johnson, and they’ll call Phil Jackson. Okay. Will he answer is the question? Does anyone on this planet not know that if Phil wants to coach, he’ll call you?
More Lake Show; MVP Ladder; and The Clippers
Howard followed his fine by helping the Lakers beat the crap out of the Trailblazers in LA. DH posted 21-14-3 blocks; Pau Gasol had 15-9-5-3 blocked shots. Kobe and Nash did their thing—27 points from Mr. Bryant and 10 assists from Mr. Nash—as the Lakers continued on after their biggest potential investment blew his cool yet again.
This MVP Ladder thingy came to my attention reading NBA.com. Sekou Smith wrote the piece on 12/28, and it is old news, yet I can’t shake this thing. I’m too angry.
Smith titled it “Only the best, on the best teams, need apply.” We’re not even half-way through the 82-game season, yet we need an MVP Ladder?
“They’re bored,” I said.
“No; they’re immature,” said mi madre.
Good point, I thought to myself.
You don’t need a list. If you’ve watched the NBA this year, Carmelo Anthony is the obvious choice for Most Valuable Anything. The guy could make first team offense and defense, and if that doesn’t give him the trophy, remember that he’ll finish top-5—maybe even second or third—in scoring this 2012-13 NBA season.
The Clippers are on a bit of a tear right now, and unlike the skid on which the Bobcats found themselves (thank God that ended recently, for it was getting bad), LAC is on a 17-game W-run.
Their home-and-home with Utah was their last two contests; they were both scary for the Clippers, however. LAC snuck out of Utah with a 115-114 victory. Then, Al Jefferson netted 30 and gathered 8 off the glass, yet the Clippers had their way with the Jazz again, to the tune of 107-96.
CP3 is playing quite well, but finding him on the MVP Ladder was infuriating, for he was placed ahead of Melo. Sorry for beating a dead horse, but that award won’t come down to a winning streak like that silly list they put on NBA.com. They really need to tear that thing down, because I’m about to smash my brand-new PC.
2013’s Big Opener
The Lakers host the Sixers; the Clippers are going to the Nuggets up there in the thin air.
Philly had trouble with LAL in the City of Brotherly Love, so more of that; the Clips streak ends at 17 games tonight. Yeah, it’s wishful thinking, but upon further contemplation, this hot flash needs to end eventually.
Enjoy 2013 as much as you did 2012—or even more, the choice is yours.
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