LATEST LAKER RUMORS

If you live in Los Angeles you can't escape the on-going Laker rumors. I hate and love sport talk radio at the same time. Out of every 10 statements or opinions there is one or two that makes some kind of sense. 


Lakers want Triangle back?


Could Lakers still get Dwight Howard?


Lakers want Ramon Sessions

NBA HOPE

If you are like me all you really care about is the players and the owners get together and let common sense take over. I know there is a lot of stake but if they don't play then there is 0 at stake.

http://tinyurl.com/84m2wcx 

NO MORE SPRAINED ANKLES - BROOKLYN HOOPS - DIRECTED BY CHRIS BAVELLES

Play Anywhere

Who needs  a real court. All you need is a ball, some guys, some gravel, weeds, tall ladder, 

milk crate and Ektios Directed by Chris Bavelles: For info on how to protect and defend your ankles go to:

http://www.ektio.com & for more Videos and Reels go to www.cbreels.com by: Chris Bavelles

Spraining Your Ankle is F'd Up

PLAY ANYWHERE NO MORE PAIN

If you play hoops you know what it is like to sprain your ankle - PAIN - lots of pain, lots of ICE...most likely you can't go to work, can't put on your shoes. Most people think that taping your ankles and or wearing ankle braces will prevent you from spraining your ankle but that is just not true.

I played basketball in high school, college and a little bit of pro ball in Europe, then I played for years in the Y leagues and at the parks. I would tape my own ankles, wear braces and it really didn't prevent a thing.



JOHN STARKS AND NEW BASKETBALL SHOE EKTIO

Recently I got a chance to help create and direct 6 different videos and a commercial for a new basketball shoe called EKTIO in Brooklyn NY. Former Knick Superstar John Starks is in a couple of them and is currently recruiting NBA players to wear them.

It was created Dr. Barry Katz who happens to be a former ballplayer. I tried them and played a few games during the shoot. They really make you feel safe. Your foot feels like it is always moving with the shoe. I never felt like I could sprain my ankle. I wish I had them when I played for real.

Check out a couple of the videos at my Youtube channel at: http://www.youtube.com/user/CBTWEAK 
Click on "Play Anywhere" and then check out "Spraining your ankle is F'd UP"

You can learn more about the shoes at their new website: www.ektio.com

Here is an press story with John about the shoes:

Ex-Knick superstar John Starks has unveiled a new basketball sneaker he says he wishes he had during his heyday playing against Michael Jordan and Reggie Miller.

The shoe is billed as the first kind of sneaker to prevent ankle injuries, Starks told the Daily News recently.

"It's 99.9% effective against ankle sprains," Starks said.

The shoe is tightly secured to the foot with a strap, and the side features a protruding bumper designed to keep players from rolling their ankles.

"Once I put the shoe on, and strapped it in, immediately you feel secure in the shoe, and you feel like this is the shoe that's going to protect your foot," said Starks, who now works in the New York Knicks front office.

"I had many ankle injuries, some that put me out a day, some that put me out a week or two," said the 6-foot-2 former shooting guard. "I wish this shoe was out on the market at the time that I was playing."

The sneaker, made by a new company, Ektio, is the brainchild of New Jersey radiologist Dr. Barry Katz. He knows first firsthand what it's like to suffer an ankle injury while playing ball.

Katz played college basketball for the State University at Binghamton, and suffered three serious ankle sprains. His son also sustained a serious ankle injury on the court.

"We're very confident we are going to protect people," Katz said, noting 25,000 ankle sprains occur every day. "It keeps the foot and the shoe together, kind of like a ski boot."

Starks and Katz are working to push the sneaker to high school ball players, with hopes of picking up interest from colleges and the NBA.

"We want to grassroot it through the high school system, and bring it up through college," Starks said.

The $199 sneaker, which comes in high top and three-quarter styles, will be available for purchase online in time for the start of the NBA season on Nov. 1. Sizes will initially range from 8 to 14. A women's version will be available next year.

Katz and Starks are confident the sneaker can compete with the Jordan brand, or sneakers named after LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.

"People are going to want to wear our shoe, not necessarily because of the name, but because of what it does," Katz said. "It's the real deal."

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2010/10/06/2010-10-06_exknick_superstar_john_starks_his_new_basketball_sneaker_is_999_affective_agains.html#ixzz15zCyVgxK

LAKERS GET 2010 RINGS AND THEN WIN

Reality Basketball - Chris Bavelles

LOS ANGELES -- After opening the evening by receiving their championship rings and raising banner No. 16 to the rafters, the Lakers finished things in exciting fashion, coming from 13 down in the third and then hanging on for a 112-110 victory to open the 2010-11 season.

While Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant led L.A. in scoring with 29 and 27 points apiece, it was the 3-point shooting of Steve Blake and Shannon Brown that really sparked the team, and allowed them to overcome big nights from Kevin Martin and Aaron Brooks, who finished with 26 and 24 points respectively for the Rockets.

FIRST QUARTER: Rockets 33, Lakers 26

The Lakers overcame the emotion of their ring ceremony fairly quickly and settled into some effective basketball with the team's first unit. But it was the Rockets' guards who were the story, with Aaron Brooks and Kevin martin combing to score 27 of their team's 33 in the period.

Pau Gasol had 12 for L.A., and Ron Artest hit a couple of threes to keep the Lakers close, despite the team's 36.4 percent shooting.

Phil Jackson was asked before the game if he expected his rookies to get any minutes tonight, and he joked, "I hope not." But he inserted Derrick Caracter into the lineup just over three minutes in, once Lamar Odom was forced to the bench with two personal fouls.

SECOND QUARTER: Rockets 62, Lakers 51

It was the Chase Budinger show early, and the Kevin Martin show late. Budinger had nine points in the first 3:35 of the period, helping to extend the Rockets lead quickly to 10. Martin then poured in seven of his own after L.A had trimmed the lead to three, but also managed to pick up the first "Respect the Game" technical foul of the season. Martin was whistled for a personal foul after hitting Kobe Bryant from behind on a jumper that Bryant ended up banking in anyway, and gave an "air punch" as a reaction that the referees promised would be an automatic during the preseason.
THIRD QUARTER: Rockets 82, Lakers 77

After a largely lackluster period from both squads, one of the Lakers' newest additions gave his team a spark to make it a game heeding into the fourth. Steve Blake went on a personal 6-0 run to end the third, connecting on a couple of corner 3-pointers to cut an 11-point Houston lead to just five.

FOURTH QUARTER: Lakers 112, Rockets 110

Blake's two threes to end the third were the beginning of a 28-9 Lakers run that put the champs up eight, one that was capped by a pair of back-to-back 3-pointers from Shannon Brown.

The Rockets battled back, though, and took a 110-109 lead with under 30 seconds to play after a layup from Luis Scola that he scooped up and in around the outstretched arms of Pau Gasol.

But Blake once again came through, and drained a long 3-pointer -- his third of the night -- to put the Lakers up for good.

Houston had two final chances at tying it in the final seconds, but Scola missed a contested layup inside, and after instant replay gave the ball back to the Rockets on an overturned out-of-bounds call, Brooks couldn't finish on a drive to the rim.

YOU HAD TO BE THERE PART 2
Overall, both teams did a good job controlling their emotions with the officials, and only Houston's Kevin Martin received a "Respect the Game" technical foul. But after taking a hard hit on a shot from Budinger on a shot attempt in the second, Kobe Bryant gave a glare to the official that was "respectful" enough to get him a late whistle in his favor.

YOU HAD TO BE THERE
The scoreboard that hangs over center court at Staples Center was replaced since last season, and while it might not be anything near the size of the one that spans more than half the length of the field at Cowboys Stadium, make no mistake -- it's huge by NBA arena standards. For someone like me who's been coming here for the past 11 seasons since the arena opened in 1999, it was more than a little disorienting, and definitely took some time to get used to.

Overall, both teams did a good job controlling their emotions with the officials, and only Houston's Kevin Martin received a "Respect the Game" technical foul. But after taking a hard hit on a shot from Budinger on a shot attempt in the second, Kobe Bryant gave a glare to the official that was "respectful" enough to get him a late whistle in his favor.

YOU HAD TO BE THERE PART 3

Fans rose to their feet with 9:30 to play, looking to explode for the first time all night. But as the Lakers came down trailing by two with the chance to tie, Lamar Odom missed a 20-footer from straight away and Matt Barnes missed a put-back attempt before grabbing his own rebound and being fouled on a second try, temporarily denying the fans their chance to cheer.

Barnes tied it anyway after the timeout at 86-all by connecting on both free throws, and after a stop, a Shannon Brown layup in transition gave the Lakers the lead, and gave the fans their first opportunity of the game to truly celebrate. Brown continued to inspire the crowd, connecting on three 3-pointers that extended the Lakers lead to eight with five and a half minutes to play.

YOU HAD TO BE THERE PART 4

The Rockets swore that Yao Ming was going to have a hard cap of 24 minutes a game, easing him back into the regular- season grind after missing so much time due to injury. But With his team trailing by 1 with 6:30 to play, Yao was approaching his limit, and was still out on the court. Press row was buzzing about it, looking down at the Rockets bench to see if there was any activity to send another player to the scorer's table to report as a sub.

But Yao took the decision of whether or not to extend his minutes out of his team's hands, picking up his sixth foul just as he crossed the 24-minute plateau.

Read More: Lakers Rockets Aaron+Brooks, Chase+Budinger, Kevin+Martin, Kobe+Bryant, lakers+opening+game+2010, lakers+opening+night+2010, lakers+vs+rockets, lakers+vs+rockets+2010, Lamar+Odom, Luis+Scola, Pau+Gasol, rockets+vs+lakers, rockets+vs+lakers+2010, Ron+Artest, Shannon+Brown, Steve+Blake, Yao+Ming

LAKERS NOW IN A REAL WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL

REALITY BASKETBALL with Johnny Ludden - Chris Bavelles.

The Lakers can now forget about Denver. Or Houston. Or Oklahoma City. Last year, last month, whatever. It’s all in the past, Kobe Bryant(notes) snarled. None of it matters now. And don’t dare mention the Boston Celtics. They’re a subject for a more pleasant time.

If the Los Angeles Lakers got caught looking too far ahead, they’d now be wise not to peer too deep into their past. This is about living in the moment. This is about how the Lakers lost something between Hollywood and here, and how these Western Conference finals have suddenly turned stone serious.

Eyes aflame, jaw locked, Kobe stared into the cameras late Tuesday and narrowed his gaze to a Game 5 some 44 hours away in Los Angeles.

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“We have to play with a sense of urgency,” he said, “and understand this team can beat us.”

Kobe’s words were terse and his eyes simmered behind them. His message was clear: No longer should the Lakers expect a smooth road to the NBA Finals. No more. They arrived here up 2-0 and jetted home with the series reduced to a best-of-three. The Phoenix Sunshave their attention.

“I think people were overlooking them after the first two games, and just thinking ahead already,”Pau Gasol(notes) said. “And so, obviously, that’s a big mistake.”No one knows that better than Bryant. Four years ago, he and the Lakers carried a 3-1 first-round lead into Game 5 against the Suns. They lost and went on to drop the series. The Suns ran over the Lakers again the following year, spurring Bryant to issue an edict to the franchise: Get me help or trade me.

At the time, the two losses to Phoenix stained Bryant’s résumé. He won three championships with Shaquille O’Neal(notes), but Shaq had been traded. Everyone wanted to know: Can Kobe lead his own team to a title?

Bryant won’t admit he came into this series seeking payback, but he’s clearly able to turn those memories into fuel – and that’s what made Tuesday all the harder to stomach. The Suns ran free and loose once again, burying 3-pointer after 3-pointer, using their self-described “girly” zone defense to lull the Lakers into too many jump shots of their own. Even more embarrassing: It was the Suns’ reserves who overwhelmed the Lakers’ stars in the fourth quarter.

Kobe totaled 38 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds – following his 36-point near-triple-double in the Game 3 loss – but didn’t get much assistance from his supporting cast.

“Kobe had a great game,” Lamar Odom(notes) said. “Too bad we weren’t able to come along with him.”

The Suns’ gimmicky zone continued to cause some trouble. The Lakers shot well enough, but the Suns choked off the passing lanes and kept them from getting the ball inside to their big men. In the two losses, the Lakers have attempted 60 3-pointers to 33 free throws, a staggering differential that points to the difficulty the Lakers have had getting the ball to the rim – or getting calls.

More than anything, the Suns’ zone has scrambled the Lakers’ priorities. The Lakers have spent the past couple days looking at ways to attack the Suns’ defense while neglecting their own. When the Lakers needed a stop in the fourth quarter, they couldn’t deliver.

“We lost the game,” Bryant said, “because our defense sucked.

“Our focus was on the other side of the floor, which doesn’t win championships. So we need to get back to ground zero when it comes to that.”

The Lakers can say they’ve been in this position before. Within the past two seasons, they reached three Game 5s with the series tied 2-2. They won each – beating Houston, Denver and Oklahoma City – and have won eight straight Game 5s overall dating to the 2007 loss to the Suns.

“Experience,” Odom said, “is the best teacher of all.”

These Lakers don’t worry about much. They will play Game 5 at home and, if necessary, also Game 7. The officiating could slide the other way with the change of locale. So could Channing Frye’s(notes) shooting. History is on the Lakers’ side.

Bryant, however, didn’t want to hear about the past, and that’s why he started to set the tone for Game 5 before the Lakers even reached the loading dock. He had spent part of the game barking at teammates, and now his anger was continuing to rise as he sat at the dais. Each question about the Suns’ zone was swatted away with a criticism of his own team’s defense. Asked how he was feeling, Bryant deadpanned: “Jovial.”

Bryant marched off the dais and made the long walk down a pair of hallways to the team’s bus. He was surrounded by security. He wasn’t smiling. This was the look of a man who had seen enough. The Lakers were losing their grip on the series, and Kobe needed to take charge.

Forget the past. Don’t worry about the Finals. All that matters is now. The Lakers aren’t cruising through the playoffs anymore. They’ve found a fight.

 -

THE JELLO IS JIGGLING, THIS GAME IS IN THE REFRIGERATOR...

ALL TIME LAKER GREAT "CHICK HEARN" GETS A VERY UNIQUE STATUE AT STAPLES CENTER.

Lakers Blog

Prior to L.A.’s Game 2 contest against Oklahoma City on Tuesday afternoon outside of STAPLES Center, a touching ceremony took place to unveil a 16′, 5,000 lb. bronze and steel sculpture of Hall of Fame Broadcaster Chick Hearn, the legendary voice of the Lakers from 1961-2002.

Before the statue, created by renowned sculptor and artist Omri Amrany, was revealed, Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak was among those who addressed the assembled crowd.

“People who listened to Chick can walk by, touch the statue and remember Chick and his contributions to the Los Angeles Lakers,” said Kupchak. “It’s also fitting that generations to come can walk by and although they might not know who Chick is, hopefully they’re with somebody - it could be a mother or a father - and they touch the statue and they say, ‘Dad, who was this,’ and the father says, ‘Son sit down, let me tell you about the greatest broadcaster ever.”

Kicking off and closing the ceremony was Hearn’s longtime partner and current Lakers’ analyst Stu Lantz, who shared memories of his time with Chick and honored Hearn’s wife, Marge. And while Marge Hearn was the guest of honor, several Laker legends were in attendance, including Elgin Baylor, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Byron Scott, Rick Fox and Norm Nixon.

When the drape was dropped, a touching moment occurred as Marge Hearn was the first to sit alongside her husband’s likeness. She then expressed her pleasure at how great the statue looked, while making sure to point out the impact of Lakers Executive Vice President of Business Operations Jeanie Buss.

“She’s not getting enough credit, but Jeanie Buss - at least six or seven years ago when we were having lunch - said, ‘You know we should have a statue of Chick.’,” explained Hearn. “She’s the one who started it, she’s the one who did it with Linda Rambis’s help. They’re a great team.”

While on the podium, Big Game James detailed how much Chick Hearn helped create cohesivness within Los Angeles with his distinct call; now L.A. can collectively celebrate alongside Hearn’s likeness just by heading down to STAPLES Center.

Another Buzzer Beater for Kobe

Kobe Bryant hits another game winner!

Found video of all of Kobe Bryant's game winning shots this year. Kobe has hit 5 game winners this year alone. What is interesting to me is that Kobe does it different ways. At times he hits a straight up jumper just as time runs out the way Jerry West used to do. Other times he hits a spectacular buzzer beater the way Michael Jordan used to do. Kobe is so mentally strong and so well prepared that these last second shots are routine for him.

Enjoy these KOBE BRYANT MOMENTS

KOBE BUZZER BEATERS 2010: 

The White House turns "Purple & Gold" as Lakers visit Obama.

Lakers visit the White House and meet President Obama.
Clips from NBA TV of Lakers at White House

Today, the World Champion Los Angeles Lakers visit the White House to meet the President of the United States. Renowned as a huge basketball fan, you have to be sure that this one visit that the President has been looking forward to in quite a while. President Obama must have been even more elated to be presented a Lakers jersey by the player he considers the best in the NBA - Kobe Bryant.

Here's the transcript from today's visit courtesy of the SunTimes.com:

President Obama: Hello, hello! How are you? Thank you, everybody. Thank you very much. (Applause.) Thank you so much, everybody. Please have a seat. Welcome to the White House. And congratulations, a little belatedly, to the Los Angeles Lakers for winning your 15th -- 15th -- NBA title, and fourth in the past 10 years.

Before I say a few things about the Lakers, I just want to acknowledge some wonderful members of Congress and big Lakers fans who are here: Congresswoman Jane Harman, Congresswoman Laura Richardson, Congressman Adam Schiff, Congressman Brad Sherman, and Lucille Roybal-Allard. Please, everybody, give them a big round of applause. (Applause.)

Now, as folks here will tell you, the only thing that is better than playing basketball -- the only thing that's better than watching basketball is playing basketball -- but I'm 48, and soon to be 49, and it's a little harder these days to move around on the court, especially when you're playing against kids who are half your age. But I still get enormous, enormous pleasure from watching great athletes on the court. And nobody exemplifies excellence in basketball better than the Los Angeles Lakers last year. (Applause.)

I want to congratulate everybody who helped make this team what it is -- from the assistants to the front office staff, to the trainers and the ticket-takers, all the fans back in L.A. who bleed purple and gold. You all should be very proud. That's you. (Laughter.)

I want to congratulate Jeanie Buss and the rest of the Buss family for guiding this team so well for the last 30 years. (Applause.)

I'm especially excited to meet Coach Phil Jackson, the Zen Master. (Laughter.) I've been a fan of Coach Jackson's ever since his days running the triangle offense in Chicago. I want to congratulate him on his tenth NBA championship -- the most in history. I do want to point out that six of them came with the Bulls. (Laughter.) I just want to point that out.

President Obama: You remember that, Magic?

Magic Johnson: Yes, sir. (Laughter.)

President Obama: -- '90-'91? Remember when -- (applause.) You know, they won the first game and they were feeling cocky. (Laughter.) And Paxson was hitting all those shots. Anyway, we're not -- that's not why we're here. (Laughter.)

I was hoping that, Coach, you were going to bring some books for Republicans and Democrats in Congress maybe to get them to start playing like a team together. (Laughter.) Coach is famous for passing out books and helping people get the job done.

We are obviously honored to have one of the all-time greats in NBA history, Magic Johnson. (Applause.) Magic did pretty well during his time with the Lakers. He wasn't bad. (Laughter.) And now a new generation is continuing his legacy. But obviously part of what makes Magic special wasn't just how he played on the court, but also just the infectious enthusiasm about life and what he's now doing with businesses and minority communities. He's just been an outstanding leader in our country for a long time.

Of course, I've got to recognize Kobe Bryant -- one of the most competitive players I've ever seen -- (applause) -- for being named Finals MVP last year, obviously already MVPs under his belt, the youngest player ever to reach 25,000 points in his career. And he's playing with a broken finger. Now, if I was -- if I had a broken finger I would have trouble getting out of bed. (Laughter.) And he's still leading the team day in and day out.

This is a team that never lost its focus last season -- from the first tip-off to the final buzzer. I know that the Lakers have a tradition of ending each team gathering -- whether it's a practice, or a game, or a team meeting -- by with the chant, "1,2,3, Rings." As Lamar Odom said, "We kind of always saw that light." Everyone was willing to do what it took to get a little stronger, to play a little harder, and to bring home that title.

But I think it's important to note that this team also knows that being a champ is about more than trophies and rings. It's about being a winner off the court as well as on it -- and giving back to those who are less fortunate. The Lakers and the NBA have always been about serving others -- at home and around the world. And that tradition continued last week, when the NBA and the Players Association, led by Derek Fisher, pledged to donate $1 million to support relief efforts in Haiti. (Applause.) Jordan Farmar and Pau Gasol are also donating their money to the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund. Pau pledged $1,000 for every point he scored against the Knicks -- and I'm glad he dropped 20 -- (laughter) -- helping the Lakers to beat New York and changing the lives of Haitians thousands of miles away.

And earlier today, the team joined with our United We Serve initiative to hold a fitness clinic for kids from Stanton Elementary School right here in Washington, D.C. -- teaching them about a few moves, but also how to live healthy and active lives.

So I just want to again thank the entire Lakers organization for your service, for the great joy that you have given the city of Los Angeles, but also the incredible competition you're your organization has graced the basketball court with for decades now. If this season is anything like the last one -- I know that you guys have your sights on the NBA finals -- so we might see you here before long. But we are very grateful for your presence here today.

Give them a big round of applause. (Applause.)

Now, one last thing. I was also told that Mr. Brown here intends to win the dunk contest -- (laughter) -- so we'll see how that goes.

(From: Laker Nation)