76 Lakers @ Hornets

Oh boy! Every game someone says it, but this is honestly the first real test of the Lakers depth. Can they be the catalyst necessary for the second night of a back to back on the road? Only 4 quarters will tell, but we bet all our chips on yes.

A word before the game
It really has been Trevor Ariza kicking everyone's asses this season so far. He's young and spry. We like him. The recipe this season has been to come out of the gate and let the other team get their confidence up (pretty sure the Mavs thought they had the game last night), then when they think they know the Lakers, the second unit comes in and it's like they walked into another game somehow. Run 'em, gun 'em. Oh snap! Just when they get worn down from the second unit, the first unit comes in in full on attack mode! Bam! Just like that the game is out of control. Lost!

Starting Lineup
Not looking to change. We'll let you know if and when it does. Or really, if and when we think it will. Yes Trevor has made his case for deserving to be in the starting lineup, but in case you missed it, that'd only inhibit his skills. There is no shame in coming off of the bench in L.A. - uhhhh, unless it's with the stepsister team.

Also, not having a tape delay is 100% amazing, yet totally confusing. It's odd watching the game this early.

1st Quarter
Ok, one thing we didn't mention last night (we saw it, but we left it out for various reasons) was after Trevor's monster slam home and the ensuing party during the time out, Machine tried to chest bump with him and got knocked to the ground. We love him because he's on our team but we also love his floppiness and wanted to point out that it's obviously just something he can't control. Touch him and he'll fall to the ground. Anyway, they just replayed it (on purpose?) during the intros and S choked on her cupcake. Home made. Red Velvet.

12:00 Bahahahaha, they can't get the lights to come on in the arena. There are talks of having the game start in the relative dark. It doesn't get much better than this. Congratulations New Orleans Arena that apparently doesn't even have a name other than that, I don't know we just googled it.

3 jump balls to begin the game. Jesus.

10:55 Is it really necessary for Pau to touch Kobe's butt? We understand the significance of being a homeboy but it just seems unnecessary most of the time. Like did he mean "good game"? It's only been a minute.

9:30 We voted and we agree we really like the Hornets' warm up unis.

9:17 Kobe wishes he was Peter Pan... wishes he were Peter Pan? Not sure but he went pointlessly flying across the court in front of the shooter. Touched nothing.

8:27 The refs are getting booed already.

6:02 Derek Fisher looks like he might have gotten lit on fire sometime between last night and tonight. Maybe they just had a good old fashioned southern dinner before this game. Mmmm, etouffee - we're making that the next time they play there. ::checks schedule:: Dec 23 - potluck!

5:34 Did Andrew just have 2 blocks on consecutive chance agains? Just asking because we were checking the schedule and making an eVite.

We're just informed that during the commercial Posey (in his warmups still) "escorted" Fish to the bench? and the refs issued a double T. I wouldn't pay that shit if I were D. Fish.

3:36 Tec-fest!

2:34 Oh snap! The refs have laid the smack down on the players. In other words they instructed them to shut the hell up with all of the whining and just play the goddamn game.

2:04 Jordan does a damn good job working two Hornets on the far side of the court and then Kobe gets a steal but Pau does a counter-active job by grabbing a defensive 3 over in the paint. He whines his way back to the bench.

47.6 Oh no... they done gone and did it now. Someone let Trevor wake up with that most of the court pass from LO after a steal.

0.2 Jordan takes it all the way to the end before making his signature "buzzer beater" shot. We've missed that in the offseason, welcome back.

30 -17 Lakers


2nd Quarter
Stuff is going on but we can't see it because someone is standing in front of the TV because it's apparently not rude where they're from.

9:37 Andrew takes some prisoners on his way to the rim after that steal by Jordan. Delicious.

7:48 Kobe Bryant what was that?

5:30ish Coming back from the commercial break they give James Posey a hamburger head. You just can't write stuff like this.

4:20 Tec! Ball don't lie though. The league is getting paid off of this game, is the economy so bad that we have to hand out T's for everything?

Now seems like as good a time as any to point out how making the center of the fleur de lis the body of the hornet bug is not cute, it's ridiculous.

27.1 We love how Derek Fisher's shots arc to the ceiling before coming down to the rim, eliminating most of the chance it being blocked.

A lot - 30 Lakers


Halftime
We're off to make more icing for the cupcakes.


3rd Quarter
Damn that frosting was time consuming. But it's good so it was worth missing the entire quarter. We watched from the kitchen. A few turnovers, a few 3's from Derek Fisher. A few... oh wait, a lot of points still for the Lakers and a few still for the Hornets. Let's rock and roll.


4th Quarter
11:16 Jordan looks good every time he takes off with the ball. Even when it doesn't go in. We can't say the same for his frees.

10:20 Score update since we haven't posted it in a while: 73-56 Lakeshow. Oops.

News from around the 'net is that when the Lakers mopped the floor at this very same arena with actual players from the Hornets team last year, it was the biggest loss they've ever had since moving to that building. Shall we give them an encore?

7:45 In a rare occurrence Trevor gets blocked by the rim. We'll let that slide seeing as how he's been pretty amazing all season.

6:35 Those Hornets are generous. They give balls to whomever asks for them.

5:56 Andrew drops it in as nonchalantly as possible.

4:21 Lets say we let Posey drops 3's on us and then turn around and miss our opportunity to match or semi-match and then foul on the next trip down for the Hornets... where does that put us?

3:54 In a position where, instead of throwing the Garbage Pail Kids out there, we have to take the best 5 off the bench and run it to the end. That's where.

2:41 We smell some home cookin... ok, maybe not after seeing the replay. Fine!

It looks so painful watching PB&J walk =(

3:16 Making the easy shots would be helpful, defending the easy shots on the other end would also be helpful.

2:10 Pau was wide open on the last shot but didn't bother putting it in.

While getting the results in the races Kobe snks a 3 at the buzzer.

54.6 OH GOOD LORD. Pau from Kobe but Peja Stojodkfdjalkjfd smacks him in the face and he hits the deck hard.

We can't talk about how the lead is down to like 5 or something. Nope, can't.

37.8 Derek making one of those Farmar steals to try to swing Mr. Mo back down the court.

It still feels a bit early to start celebrating.

93-86 Laaaaaaaaaakers

Final Comments
The Lakers like to toy with our emotions. Build the lead - lose the lead - steal the lead back. Whatever, be still my heart. Sometimes it's like a Maroon 5 song in here "it's getting harder and harder to breathe".

Player of the Night - Kobe Bryant for hitting the dagger shot at the shot clock buzzer. Struck through the hearts of every fan in Nola. Oh my nola. And Derek Fisher for finding his shot on the second of a back to back roadie.

7-0!!!!!

Oooooooooh snaaaaaaaaaap, the Hawks lost tonight. Lakers remain the only undefeated team in the league. ::party dance::