Last night the Lakers reached a milestone; they have now had the longest win streak over an opponent in the NBA with 21 straight wins over the Minnesota Timberwolves. With the win last night (116-94), the Lakers creep closer and closer to the 8th seed in the West. Especially with the Rockets and Jazz slipping, L.A.’s chances look brighter.
With the good comes the bad, and it looks like Bryant is the only one getting too many technical fouls this season. On the other hand, Dwight Howard already has five flagrant foul points, and Metta World Peace picked up his fifth flagrant point on Thursday before the game against Minnesota. Metta World Peace’s elbow to the Denver Nuggets’ Kenneth Faried in the game on Monday was upgraded to a flagrant 2 foul right before the Lakers were set to play the Wolves. World Peace and Faried were each going for a rebound in the third quarter of Monday’s game, and it seems as if Metta’s elbow made contact with Faried’s head. When a player reaches six flagrant foul points, they get a one-game suspension. Dwight and Metta better watch out.
Last night marked another milestone for Kobe Bryant as he became the 15th player in NBA history to reach 1,800 career steals. Bryant averages 1.5 steals a game and has been selected to the NBA All-Defensive Team nine times. Kobe passed Magic Johnson last year for the most steals in Lakers history with 1,724.
Injury Update: After the Lakers win against the Portland Trail Blazers last week, Steve Nash told media that he tweaked his back in the first quarter of the game. But Nash says the injury shouldn’t slow him down; in fact, the Lakers PG has been feeling better. Dwight Howard is still dealing with a torn labrum in his right shoulder for some time now and plans to play with the pain all season long. Some great news for Lakers fans; Pau Gasol, who was initially expected to miss a minimum of 6-8 weeks with a torn plantar fascia in his right foot is not only off crutches, but also training on the elliptical.
Missed the game last night? Check out Lakers Nation’s video highlights. Also check out the dunk of the night by Kobe Bryant.
Lakers Nation News
VIDEO: Lakers Dunk Of The Week – Kobe Baseline Over Pekovic
SportsCity: Andrew Bynum Not Sure About Playing This Season
Mitch Kupchak Says Dwight Howard “Should Get More Credit”
Lakers News: Antawn Jamison Says D’Antoni Relationship Improved
Kobe Bryant Becomes 15th Player in NBA History to Reach 1,800 Steals
Lakers vs. Timberwolves NBA Highlights: February 28th, 2013
Lakers News: Metta World Peace Receives a Flagrant 2 Foul For Elbow
Lakers Beat Timberwolves Behind Strong Effort At Staples
Dwight Howard Wants To Play For Olympic Basketball Team For 2016
Shootaround Report: Nash’s Back Spasms and Dwight’s Pain Subsiding
Lakers News
Dwight Howard is Setting Strong Screens and It’s Paying Off [Silver Screen and Roll]
Lakers Rumor: Raja Bell Contract Decision Could Be Soon [Silver Screen and Roll]
Lakers Take a Bite Out of the Timberwolves, 116-94 [Silver Screen and Roll]
Does Antawn Jamison Deserve a Starting Role? [Silver Screen and Roll]
Kobe’s New Nickname, Antawn the Cockroach, D’Antoni Pleased With the Bench [Silver Screen and Roll]
Lakers GM Still Defends Dwight Howard: NBA A-Z [USA Today]
World Peace Gets Hit With Retro Flagarant-2 [OC Register]
Kobe Bryant Finds Balance as Scorer, Distributor [Lakers Index]
The Lakers Have a Good Chance to Catch the Jazz and Rockets [LA Times]
Kobe Bryant Sent Signed Sneakers For Alimoe’s Funeral [SLAM Online]
Lakers GM still defends Dwight Howard: NBA A-Z [USA Today]
Once again Lakers GM Kupchak defends Dwight Howard [ProBasketballTalk]
Like the Sundance Kid, Antawn Jamison is Better When He Moves [Land O’ Lakers]
Why Kobe Shouldn’t Retire Anytime Soon [OC Register]
Pau Gasol Making Progress in Recovery from Torn Plantar Fascia [Eye On Basketball]
Dr. Jerry Buss’ Failing Health Was Factor in Mike Brown’s Firing, Los Angeles Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak Said [ESPN LA]
Pau Gasol Cleared for Elliptical Machine Workouts [ESPN LA]
Lakers Extend Win Streak Over T’wolves to 21 Games [USA Today]
Rudy Garciduenas: Equipment Manager Turned Food Truck Owner [LA Times]
Steve Nash Reinventing Himself for Lakers [USA Today]
The Poetry of Metta World Peace [Land O’Lakers]
Lakers Finally Find Some Stress Relief [OC Register]
Dwight Howard Wants to Play in the 2016 Olympics [SLAM Online]
NBA News
Michael Jordan Target of Paternity Lawsuit [ProBasketballTalk]
Tobias Harris Learning Quickly with Magic [Orlando Pinstriped Post]
US Government Slams North Korea for Wining and Dining Dennis Rodman [SLAM Online]
New NBA Flopping Rule is Working [USA Today]
Suns’ Goran Dragic Dominating Opening Quarters, Tailing Off Later in Games [Bright Side Of The Sun]
Greg Monroe Not Expecting Pistons Contract Extension, Thinking 2014 Free Agency [ProBasketballTalk]
Remember Alimoe: A Tribute to Harlem’s Own Streetball Legend Crispy Alimoe aka The Black Widow [SLAM Online]
Knicks’ Great Larry Johnson Understands the Benefits of the NBA D-League [Ridiculous Upside]
In Praise of Mediocrity [Mavs Moneyball]
Klay Thompson’s dad will cut his allowance after league fine. I’m not kidding. [ProBasketballTalk]
Boston Celtics Signed Terrence Williams to Two-Year Deal [SLAM Online]
Group Hopes to Keep Kings in Sacramento [USA Today]
Bulls Slump Brings Out Varying Media Rationalizations [Blog a Bull]
Where Has and Hasn’t Kemba Walker Improved? [Rufus on Fire]
Gregg Popovich Interested in Team USA Basketball Job [SBNation.com]
Joakim Noah Has 11 Blocks in Triple-Double as Bulls Sink 76ers [ESPN]
How the Grizzlies Shut Down the Mavericks Offense [Grizzly Bear Blues]
Sacramento’s Arena Push for Kings is Without Precedent [SBNation]
Andrew Bynum Has Swelling in His Knee, Says He May Not Play This Season [ProBasketballTalk]
Kyrie Irving’s Cool Bobblehead Night in Cleveland [USA Today]
