The Lakers Suck

Grizzlies 102 Lakers 82

Last night, I saw the empty shell of what used to be the Los Angeles Lakers. Their front office incompetence, coaching inexperience, and superstar egomania were all on display in a loss that made the Lakers look like "one part expansion team, and one part train wreck." They mailed in a half-ass performance--in fact, I'm not even sure it was a half-ass performance. It could well have only been quarter-assed.

The Lakers were outscored 32-14 in the first quarter, never lead, and never looked like competing. Kobe Bryant left with a bruised leg in the second quarter and did not return, though he probably would have if his team was worth a damn. They're not, so he didn't.

One of the better quotes of the year came from Lakers "coach" Frank Hamblen after this game when a reporter asked him about the CBA (meaning the Collective Bargaining Agreement), and Hamblen said, "That's probably where I'll be next year." Yup.

The Grizzlies desperately needed a comfortable win at this stage of the season, one where they could kick back and relax a little in the 4th quarter. The Lakers fit that role nicely. Dahntay Jones came in off the bench after being activated from the IL to have 3 big blocks and score 10 points on 4-5 shooting--it was nice to see him contribute, and he may well be needed as the season draws to a close.

Stromile Swift was placed on the IL with an irregular heartbeat--Stro said he felt weird on Friday, and it got worse over the weekend. I hope he's going to be all right. An irregular heartbeat is not something to mess around with at all. I wonder it he got it from Eddy Curry, since the Bulls played the Grizzlies last Monday...I didn't realize irregular heartbeat was contagious.