The defending champs had taken their first blow from the 8th seeded Oklahoma City Thunder (1-2) to make this a 2-1 affair for the Lakers (2-1) heading to tonight's key Game 4. There's no doubt this is a HUGE game for both teams that has the gravity to change the tide of this series.

If the Lakers win, they take a commanding lead of the series and an overwhelming momentum back to Los Angeles. They lose then the Thunder will have the confidence in the world of taking this series from the purple and gold regardless if the Lakers have homecourt advantage or not.

I'm not saying they'll win the series for sure, but OKC does not doubt itself even when they're behind 10-0 in the opening quarter. This team is remarkably mature for being the youngest team in the NBA.

All the pressure of winning this series have always been on the Lakers because not only are they the defending champs but they're supposed to have thousands of playoff game experience advantage over the Thunder. So far, the youth and athleticism of the Thunder are giving them fits.

Some may argue that OKC have one of the best defense in the league. But the Lakers are more than capable of playing championship-level defense AND offense when they put forth the effort and focus. However, that hasn't been the case when things turn ugly for them. So far, they've been allowing the Thunder take control of the game a little too much and shooting themselves in the foot with turnovers and defensive breakdowns aren't making things easier for them.

This is the playoffs. Every team is playing for all the marbles. Of course, the Thunder will do their best to make a name for themselves and leave a mark in these playoffs.

The Lakers must come out in Game 4 proving that the championship still goes through Los Angeles.

All year long we've been talking about Kobe Bryant's leadership role in this team. Well, it's time for him to take full responsibility of that role by talking to his teammates in practice and during the course of the game. He has to understand that he isn't 100% and needs his teammates more than ever to help them win ballgames. He also has to make his teammates understand what's needed to be done in situations when the Thunder is playing super-aggressive defense.

But this is not all on #24. Phil Jackson has to be a little more creative with his substitution pattern. He has to try to give Shannon Brown more minutes in defending Russell Westbrook. You don't need to be blind to see that Derek Fisher is way over-matched against him. Fish doesn't have the speed nor the athleticism to do much of anything against Westbrook. I thought that he'll be able to use his strength and experience over him, but even that doesn't seem to be enough.

PJ should also substitute fresher bodies more often but be mindful of when the current 5 on the floor is starting to lose control of the game to put his starters back out there. I also don't understand why he doesn't put DJ Mbenga in and push Lamar at the 3 against Kevin Durant instead of Kobe. Maybe that will help wake him up. Who knows? Maybe Lamar's length will bother Durant.

Bryant is too concerned about re-injuring his finger. That's why he hasn't been giving his all on D.

But the most important things for the Lakers to do in Game 4 and the rest of the series is to limit turnovers, trust the offense more, and keep that focus and energy for 48 minutes. Being more physical and giving hard fouls to Westbrook or anybody driving in the paint should also help control things for the Lakers. I'm getting tired of seeing Westbrook swoop down the lane without so much as a scratch on him when he comes out. A couple of hard landings should make him think twice about coming in.

The Thunder kept themselves in the game and won Game 3 because the Lakers could not handle the ball and could not defend other guys like James Harden and Jeff Green.

Yes, Kobe needs to defend better. Much of his focus is making adjustments on offense. Well what about defense? He doesn't really try to cover anyone that doesn't have #35 on their jerseys. A few key times he allowed Thabo Sefolosha and Harden an open three-pointer that found the bottom of the net. He has to start respecting those guys.

A spark can come from anywhere and has caused a major wildfire for the Thunder as we saw the past 3 games.

It's time for the Lakers to start their own inferno!

GO LAKERS!!!

Other Notes: Kobe surpassed Jerry West (4,457 points) to become the Lakers' all-time leading scorer in the playoffs as well as the NBA's 5th leading scorer NBA playoff history. Bryant averages 25.1 points per game in the post-season. Karl Malone (4,761) is up next for Kobe.

Kobe just keeps breaking records isn't he? Hopefully, he breaks Shaq's record of 4 NBA titles this coming June.

OKC's Ford Center set a new NBA record for the noisiest arena ever by hitting 109 decibels in Game 3. Sacramento's Arco Arena held the previous record of 102 decibels.

Impressive but not surprising. I mean what else is there to do in Oklahoma City (or Sacramento)?

Here's a video of Laker assistant coach Jim Cleamons (who is in charge of scouting the Thunder) detailing what type of adjustments the Lakers will have for Game 4:

A thunderstorm fell over Laker Land on Thursday, and the Lakers (2-1) could not muster enough lightning of their own to dispell the Oklahoma City Thunder (1-2) from winning their first playoff game in "Loud City" against our defending champs 101-96. Yup, that's what they are now calling Ford Center. It's a fitting name considering the deafening noise they made for their Thunder when the team took over the game in the 4th quarter and never looked back.

Much of the blame is focused on Kobe Bryant (24 points, 8 assists, 2 steals) because of his unshakeable competitiveness to challenge the young, rising star Kevin Durant (29 points, 19 rebounds) rather than play team-ball in the final quarter. "Coach of the Year" Scott Brooks put Durant on Bryant and paid dividends for his team. Durant's length clearly bothered Kobe, but Bryant became way too comfortable striking from a distance, which echoed Phil Jackson's recent message to Bryant of "shoot better or shoot less." Kobe eventually started looking for his teammates, but it was too late. All of the momentum has shifted to OKC's favor and for good.

But basketball is a team sport. Bryant didn't do anything that he hasn't done before that we've always berated him for when the Lakers win. Durant started the game shooting a woeful 1-9 but realized he could help his team in other areas. He did by rebounding the ball (led the game with 19) and playing good defense.

So why couldn't the rest of the Lakers do the same to help themselves win?

Taking over games is Kobe's instinct more than a conscious decision. His teammates know this. Bryant will facilitate if his teammates convince him to do so by telling him during timeouts and by simply demanding for the ball on the inside. But no one was eager enough to ask for the ball or willing to help out on defense or on the boards.

Lamar Odom sure is enjoying himself as a spectator in all 3 games of this first round. 8 points and 6 rebounds will not do it in the playoffs, let alone against a team that attacks the rim and the boards as often and as hard as this Thunder team. He was the X factor last season and that role still hasn't changed one bit.

Ron Artest and Bryant should have a good talk with him to somehow fire him up. No, wake him up.

Speaking of someone who needed to step up. James Harden, I thought, was the real key to this Thunder victory. He was absent in the first two games, but surprised everyone with his 18 points in Game 3. Harden was the one who carried OKC when both Durant and Westbrook were firing blanks in the first half.

My keys for the Lakers to win this game was energy and defense. They started with both en route to a 10-0 lead to start the 1st quarter, but the Thunder is too resilient of a team to just go out quietly. Fighting back was expected of them, but I didn't think the Lakers will allow them to get the lead back and for good.

Not running enough of the Triangle, a few breakdowns on defense, and turnovers are still the usual suspects for the Lakers. Yet, they still had a good chance of winning Game 3 down the stretch but simply just could not get the job done. Give credit to the Thunder defense for that.

This is certainly not the first time the Lakers lose a Game 3 when they've taken the first two. But a few things need to be cleared up heading up to Game 4 on Saturday. I've no doubt they'll bounce back with a different mindset and with a few tune-ups.

They should because the Thunder has their attention now.

GO LAKERS!!!

Game 3 highlights:

Chick interviews Kobe after his first NBA start

I meant to write this post before his tribute but could not get the right video clip to headline it until now:

He may have left us 8 years ago, but Francis Dayle "Chick" Hearn will be forever in our hearts. Earvin "Magic" Johnson may have made me a follower since the early 80s, but Chick is the one who turned me into the die-hard Laker fan I am today. The man is a rare gem in sports and truly is a legend.

Chick spent his childhood in Aurora, Illinois where he went to college at Bradley University. As an amateur basketball player, this is where he got his nickname when his teammates played a prank on him by putting a dead chicken in a shoebox he was given. His TV/broadcasting career spanned from hosting "Bowling for Dollars" on KTLA to calling games for UNLV's Runnin' Rebels from 1986 to 1990 on top of being the voice of the Lakers, of course.

In 1986, Chick got his star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and he became just the third announcer to be inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991. West 11th St. (between Figueroa and Georgia) and the Metrolink Blueline station near Staples Center were renamed Chick Hearn Court and Pico-Chick Hearn Station in his honor.

But on Aug. 2, 2002, Chick suffered a serious head injury from a fall and died three days later. He was buried next to his son Gary and daughter Samantha at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California. He left behind his beloved wife Marge, whom he married in 1938.

Chick called 3,338 straight Laker games before a cardiac bypass surgery ended that streak in the 2001-02 season. Fittingly, he called his last Laker game in Game 4 of the 2002 NBA Finals when the Lakers swept the New Jersey Nets to capture their third straight NBA championship.

Most of the phrases used by broadcasters even today originated from a very long list of "Chick-isms". Come to think of it, many have imitated him but could never duplicate the way he called games with such picturesque quality. You don't need a television to know what's going on everywhere on the court when you listen to Chick. Watching Laker games will never, ever be the same without him.

One thing I don't understand (and still bothers me to this day is): How did Oscar De La Hoya get a bronze statue in front of Staples Center BEFORE Chick? (He fought there once and LOST!)

Rest in peace, Chick!

(Courtesy: L.A. Times)

Game 3 will be the Lakers' (2-0) first true test. They did their job protecting homecourt advantage the first two games. But can they win a playoff game on the road? We'll find out today.

Kevin Durant learned in Game 2 that close is far from getting the job done in the playoffs. But he and his Oklahoma City Thunder (0-2) have two chances of bringing this series back to square one. They're hoping that Ford Center will bring the much-needed pick-me-up energy they need to get their first scratch against the defending champs.

One problem though: the Lakers have been there so many times before inside more hostile arenas.

But the Lakers almost gave away Game 2 because of turnovers and key poor shot selections on offense. Ron Artest had most of the share. I just don't understand why he preferred on taking his shots from behind the three-point line regardless if he was making them or not. He needs to operate closer to the basket and try to get Durant (or any other defender) bite on pump fakes. Three of his deep layup attempts were rejected because he probably didn't think the Thunder defenders will get to the ball.

However if I had to pick one guy who needs to step up more, I'd say none other than Lamar Odom. What ever happened to the guy who kept saying what the team needs and needs to do more of? Well Lamar, you're part of the problem now. I know he hasn't been getting the calls in his favor whenever he attacks the rim, but he has to understand that his effort and production is far more vital than the number of times he can get himself to the line.

Don't get me wrong. Free-throws win games as well. But the Lakers need his rebounding and ability to take the ball from one hoop to the other. About the only guy who can really stay with him speed-wise is Jeff Green, but Lamar is longer than he is.

Andrew Bynum needs to do a lot more on the road. Yes, he only has two games under his belt since returning from missing 13. But this is the playoffs. This is when he earns that fat paycheck of his.

The keys for the Lakers are: ENERGY and DEFENSE. Rebounding, sharing the ball, and limiting turnovers are important too. But I just don't think they can dominate or keep up with the Thunder if they come out flat and don't defend at least as much as they did in Games 1 & 2. Actually, they have to be more physical and be more adamant about challenging shots. And I don't mean just putting their hands up right when they're right under the rim.

They have to expect that OKC will come out swinging from the get-go and will use every bit of their speed and youth to take control of the game. But if the Thunder fail to hold down the Lakers, then they might as well book that fishing boat now.

GO LAKERS!!!

Three hours before tip-off, a tribute to Laker legend announcer Chick Hearn was held. Then the day ended marveling at a future Laker legend leading his team to a nail-biter of a second game of their first round matchup with the upstart Oklahoma City Thunder (0-2) — a team you can't help but admire for their maturity and grit going up against our defending champs.

As a basketball fan, the young Thunder is impressing more each time I see them play. Who knows, if they had anywhere close to a playoff experience as the Lakers maybe they'll be the ones up 2-0. This team truly plays for one another and has the heart that even some veteran teams could never muster on their best days.

But the Lakers, a team still suffering from some of their issues, showed why championship teams should never ever be counted out. They may look old at times and seems like they're about to have a meltdown. But they certainly exhausted the Thunder both physically and mentally. Did you see the look on Durant's face as the 4th quarter buzzer sounded?

Much has been paid attention to Lebron James and Kevin Durant this season. But Kobe Bryant reminded everybody why he is STILL the baddest of them all. The guy is playing on his last wheel but could still deliver when his team need him most. It isn't exactly experience that's allowing him to do all of this. Kobe is just more hungry than anyone out there on the floor.

That is how he's going to lead the Lakers through the road to a repeat this post-season — push not only himself but his teammates to pour in everything they have in the tank no matter what.

The Thunder may play more pumped for Game 3, but I don't think they can play any better than they did in Game 2. As long as the Lakers give a steady diet of solid defense and attack them from the inside-out. There's no way OKC can maintain the energy and mental fortitude to overcome the Lakers to win.

That said, Games 3 & 4 will be a heck of a dogfight!

GO LAKERS!!!

There were tons of reactions from both teams, Laker fans, and the media regarding the outcome of Game 1 and how the series will eventually conclude after just a few hours of the Lakers (1-0) taking the first game of the opening round. One interesting story (or an interview in this case) was that of Kevin Durant after the game. He sounded like Ron Artest has gotten to him but denies the reason for missing some wide open shots as a product of seeing the ball miss the mark time and time again because of Artest's defense. But Ron was gracious enough to say that he didn't entriely shut down Durant.

While it's true Durant managed to score 24 points, he needed 24 shots to get those points as well. In any case, that is good defense by Ron in my book. We'll see how Durant plays in Game 2.

But the one guy that did damage to the Lakers was Russell Westbrook. He's too quick and too athletic for Derek Fisher (and a host of Laker defenders) to contain. However, that doesn't mean the Lakers can't do anything about him. The Lakers will have to put bigger bodies in front of him when he attacks and challenge his shots. Each time he got to the rack in Game 1 not one defender even attempted to even change his shots. Raised arms simply will not do the job.

One thing the Thunder did well in the fourth quarter was prevent the Laker offense from getting the ball to their post players. That was one of the reason why they kept the game in single digits in that quarter. The Lakers will have to expect that kind of defense from the get-go. So they have to be a little more creative with their dish inside in Game 2.

Andrew Bynum had a monster of a game in his first game back after his ankle injury. But he has to continue to provide the inside presence on both baskets and rebounding for the Lakers to maintain their dominance in the paint.

The Laker bench had a solid outing in Game 1 providing good minutes for Phil Jackson. I liked the patience on offense and the energy on defense they showed. They have to keep at it and should never be satisfied with their work.

Game 2 is a must-win for the Lakers because not only will they take command of the series, they'll also bring a huge momentum heading over to Oklahoma City for Games 3 & 4. If they do, then they'll put more doubts and frustrations in this young Thunder team. But expect OKC to play with a sense of urgency on Tuesday. So the Lakers must work even harder.

GO LAKERS!!!

Injury Update: DJ Mbenga joined the team in practice to shoot some free-throws in street clothes. Mbenga had his eye elbowed during last Thursday's practice and suffered a retinal hole. He had laser surgery on Saturday but could not play in Game 1. He'll be re-evaulated on Tuesday to see if he can play that night for Game 2. Here is Mbenga's quick interview in practice:

Player interviews after Monday's practice:

The first game of the first round has the Lakers (1-0) drawing first blood against the young but impressive Oklahoma City Thunder (0-1) that showed a lot of poise against the defending champs. As expected, Ron Artest (7 points, 1 steal) made life miserable for Kevin Durant (24 points, 7-24 shooting), and Russell Westbrook (23 points, 8 assists) did his damage against Derek Fisher (11 points, 3-6 three-pointers). Actually without at least half of Westbrook's 23 points, this may have been a laugher for the Lakers. But Westbrook made it clear something has to be done about him from here on in.

I would like to see Phil Jackson give Westbrook a lot of different looks defensively by utilizing Shannon Brown (5 points) more to matchup with his strength and athleticism. Brown certainly provides both and is the bulkier of the two, but he doesn't have the defensive awareness that Fish has. Still, allowing Fish to chase down Westbrook full-time may not bode well for the Lakers down the road.

Andrew Bynum (13 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks) showed us Laker fans what the team has been missing for 13 games in the first quarter alone. His inside presence at both sides of the court just gives the purple and gold a HUGE part of the puzzle. Aside from a little fatigue, Bynum looked good!

As for Kobe Bryant (21 points, 6-19 shooting, 2 blocks), he looked rested but is still having a little trouble with his shots and free-throws. The Lakers and us fans will have to accept that Kobe will probably won't shoot a percentage that he wants to or needs to for the rest of the playoffs. All we can hope is he never re-injures his finger or his knees.

But the gameball goes to Artest. His stifling defense on Durant probably was the difference. Much of the mindgames between Phil and Kevin has been well documented by both the media and Laker fans. But I didn't really see any of it affecting Durant at all. Ron pretty much took away all of his comfort zone, which is mainly the perimeter game. Durant may be 6' 9", but he has no real post-up game. The way Artest just positions himself on his shooting hand and forces him to go around his wide body to even get a decent look at the rim are simply brilliant.

In fact, the way the Lakers played defense the entire game was something to behold. They were active, smart, supportive, and crisp in their rotation. They will have to continue with this kind of effort for every single game, but especially when they head on over to OKC for Games 3 & 4.

Offensively, the Lakers went to their bigs until the Thunder adjusted. From there, it was screen-and-rolls for Kobe and Pau Gasol (19 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks)/Lamar Odom (7 points, 6 rebounds) with Bryant either taking it himself to the rack or throwing it back out to their shooters. Unfortunately, some of the big ones went to Ron who continue to struggle with his shots. I would like to see him dive to the basket when the ball is in the post to make Durant spend a little more energy on defense. Artest is just too strong for Durant to keep him from scoring deep in the post.

Expect a more aggressive Durant for Game 2 and don't be surprised if he operates in the post more just to get him closer to the hoop. Westbrook will still attack the basket until the Lakers put a damper or a stop to it. But the guy to keep an eye out for is Jeff Green (10 points, 4-12 shooting). He didn't do much in Game 1, but I don't expect that to happen again for Game 2. He can shoot anywhere and isn't too shabby in the paint. The Thunder will try to get him going early, so Pau will have to be willing to work on defense on Tuesday.

GO LAKERS!!!

Game 1 Highlights:

With Malice's Don and yours truly had a chat about the Lakers' matchup with the Thunder in the first round of the WC Playoffs...

TP&G Blog's "Cross-Court" section will take a closer look at every matchup of every round for Lakers in the playoffs by examining the opponent and the state of the purple and gold.

The moment of truth is finally here, Laker fans. The start of defending the title is set this Sunday at high-noon against the young but confident Oklahoma City Thunder (finished with a record of 50-32 for 8th spot). Interestingly enough, most Laker fans and some areas of the media are saying that the Lakers' experience will prove to be the deciding factor in this matchup rather than the combined talent of the Laker starters versus that of the Thunder. Some have gone even as far as calling this series a sweep for the defending champs.

But is that plain arrogance or is that a realistic estimation?

Historically, the Lakers play their best basketball in the post-season. But I don't remember a team that is as black and blue entering the playoffs as this year's squad. Right now, that is a major concern and should not be overlooked given the kind of team they're facing in the first round.

The Thunder is one of, if not the youngest team in the league. Their superstar might be a lanky 6' 9" small forward, but this team can run. Most importantly, they have one of the two guys in the entire association who has defended Kobe Bryant best this season.

The question is: Will that matter in the playoffs against a more focused Bryant?

Hard to tell. Kobe may very well come into these playoffs with his scowl on. But how well will his body react to everything his mind wants it to do? This is the first time we've seen him this hurt even before the playoffs had started. Obviously, Bryant will have a trial run where he'll be adjusting to his adjustments on both offense and defense. His first change for the post-season is ditching the splint he's been wearing since his injury.

What does that mean exactly? Nothing really. Bryant can't hurt his finger anymore than how it is now. Just like any basketball player, Kobe needs a natural feel for the ball to shoot it better. But don't expect his shooting percentage to go up dramatically right away. On top of the pain, he will now have to get used to handling and shooting the ball before his injury.

The big question is: How long will it take for him to adjust and will it be good enough to help carry the team to victories?

This is where all the adjustments to his game come into play. Bryant has been spending tons of hours working on his shooting stroke from the free-throw line all the way to the three-point line. But don't be surprised to see Kobe utilizing the pick heavily in the playoffs with (most likely) Pau Gasol or Lamar Odom to help him score attacking the hoop or get enough separation from his defender for a pull-up jumper.

Also, it may be hard for a lot of Laker fans to admit it, but Kobe is now showing signs of aging. He may only be 31 but this is his 14th year in the league. Plus, his preparation for and participation in the Olympics in Beijing pushed his body to its limit. So there's no doubt he has plenty of basketball mileage in those tired legs.

Speaking of Gasol, he may be putting in double-double work lately, but he'll need to do even more in the playoffs. In fact, he will have to challenge shots a lot more on the defensive end since teams are going to gear up to expose their backcourt defense. Well okay, the point guard position. Pau will also need to prepare to get shoved and pushed in the paint since teams will try to test his toughness again.

This makes Andrew Bynum's return a very welcome sight for him because now Andrew will take over dealing with bigger and bulkier centers. It's no secret that the Laker offense is more dynamic when Pau attacks from the outside-in and allow Andrew to do his work on the inside.

But the first round is the time for Ron Artest to let loose. After all, isn't having the best chance at winning an NBA championship the reason why he signed with the Lakers? He slimmed down so that he has a better chance at defending quicker or more athletic players like Kevin Durant. However, his great defensive effort had been sporadic since then.

Much of Artest's poor offense has been used to judge his role with the Lakers. But defense is his game. There's too many offensive-minded players in this team already, so Ron should not worry about scoring too much.

But how effective will he be against Durant?

Fortunately, Artest is one of those defenders who can make someone miss or take someone out of their element without blocking shot or stealing. He's just so good at taking away open lanes and the comfort zone of his man with the way he positions himself next to the guy he's guarding and how he uses his brawn to keep guys working a lot on just one shot.

He cannot allow Durant dictate their matchup. Artest will have to get into his head early and make him look to pass before shooting. Ron does that by pressuring him each time he has the ball and deny him the ball while protecting a backdoor play. Hopefully, he'll also look to make Durant play defense and get him in foul trouble by aggressively posting him up. But that depends if Phil will allow his team to look for Ron in the post often.

However, the biggest matchup of this series is that of Derek Fisher and Russell Westbrook.

Oklahoma City has the upper-hand on this and is a concern for Phil and assistant coach Jim Cleamons, the one in charge of studying and manufacturing a defensive plan for the Thunder. The Lakers may have the advantage in the power forward and center positions, but the Thunder can prove to be a serious migraine anywhere else.

Westbrook is a quick, athletic guard that can score with either a jumpshot or with a driving layup almost at will. Need I mention his ability at the defensive end? The guy is strong and has the ability to take away the ball or swat it. About the only thing going against him is he isn't a very good perimeter player and tends to be a little streaky when it comes to sinking his jumpshot. He is also not very creative when attacking the hoop. He relies on his ups more than his skill in shooting over or around the bigs.

Fish will have to be aware early of seeing how Westbrook wants to attack on offense. Then, plan his defense based on what Westbrook is most comfortable in doing without sacraficing his role as a point guard for the Thunder. Then again, I won't be surprised if Phil elects to have Russell most of the look on offense while clamping down on both Durant and Jeff Green on the other end.

But how is Derek's chances against Westbrook?

Better than what most people think. But that all depends upon how much Fish is willing to work on the defensive end. He cannot go under screens at all but cannot allow Westbrook to get to the rim time and time again also. He has to outsmart and outhustle Russell out on the floor if he is to stand any chance in this matchup. He must also challenge shots and make Westbrook work for every pass he wants to make. It's all about mental fatigue and comfort for Fish against Westbrook.

As for the bench?

Well, Phil will shorten the rotation as he always does in the playoffs. So whoever gets the minutes will have to answer the bell each and every time. They have to be efficient on offense and aggressive but smart on defense. Guys like Shannon Brown and Jordan Farmar will need to be patient with their shot selection and use the Triangle to get their points. But they all have to be ready to change things on the fly wherever Phil wants them to contribute more or start doing things differently. As long as they put in the effort on both baskets and make their counterparts work for everything, the second unit should be fine.

The Thunder can say they're confident heading into this opening round with the Lakers all they want to. One win in 12 tries does not change momentum against any team. But let's be honest here. If the Lakers show up to play every game, does Oklahoma City really have a chance to beat them 4 times?

Lakers in 5.

(Courtesy: NBA.com)

For the first time in 18 years, the Los Angeles Clippers (29-53) won their season series with the Lakers (57-25) by beating the defending champs 107-91 in the final game of the 2009-2010 season. As always, die-hard Clipper fans are first to chime in on their oh-so creative ways to try to put a damper on the purple and gold and their fans.

But it's all good. I mean what else are they going to do this summer? Watch the Clippers in the playoffs?

However, for the second game in as many nights the Lakers lost a reserve guard to injury. This time, it's Sasha Vujacic going down with a severe left ankle sprain that happened when he landed on the foot of Mardy Collins on a three-point attempt. Thankfully, X-rays were negative but just how long he'll be out of action is still unknown. He will be re-evaluated on Thursday.

If his injury is as bad as they say it is, I think Sasha's disappointing season is over.

Jordan Farmar, meanwhile, is feeling good and will play the first game of the playoffs this Sunday against the Thunder. Phil Jackson was gracious enough to put him in the game for 1 second in order for Jordan to register a full 82-game season under his belt. Very nice of Phil indeed. It's the little things like this that help makes Phil one of the greatest coaches in NBA history.

Lamar Odom led the Lakers with 21 points. He also grabbed 8 rebounds. Pau Gasol had a double-double of 18 points and 17 boards, and Shannon Brown was a force on offense again with his own 18 points plus 5 rebounds.

It's important for Shannon to be aggressive yet patient on offense in the playoffs. The more he can contribute, the better the Lakers will be. But I have a feeling Phil will be asking him to defend both guard positions a little more in order to keep Kobe Bryant as fresh as possible in the playoffs.

Now let the real season begin!

Highlights: