Laker Nation

Last week, Lamar announced the filming of his new E! Reality TV show alongside his celebrity wife, Khloe Kardashian... this week, we learned that Kobe has filmed a movie (yes, a real movie) promoting his latest Kobe VI shoe and coming apparel line, "True Colors". Per details first reported by Kevin Ding, the 'movie' was directed by Robert Rodriguez and Nike plans to build a viral campaign around it during the All-Star break.

While we were busy wondering what was wrong with the Lakers, the rest of the league was busy fearing them. One of our favorite tweeters, Kevin Ding (O.C. Register), wrote this morning that according to an S.I. poll conducted during December, 69% of NBA players polled picked the Lakers to celebrate a third consecutive title in June.

According to sources (e.g. Stephen A. Smith on the Dan Patrick Show), Rasheed Wallace is planning to come out of retirement and return to the C's because (and we quote) "He wants another shot at the Lakers in the Finals."

Kobe followed through on a post-game promise: "I'm going to kick some ass in practice." Per multiple Lakers' media sources, Kobe was "feisty" and "aggressive" with his teammates during today's practice. He, once again, left without speaking to the media. Let's hope that intensity boils over into Tuesday's match-up with the West leading Spurs.

It happens just about every Christmas. The Lakers suck the cheer out of the day like a Jon Benet Ramsey documentary. In ’03, Steve Francis (remember him?) carved the Lakers up like Freddy Krueger. In ’04, Shaq ate Chris Mihm in his first visit to L.A. after the Kupchak fire sale. In ’05, Gary Payton – at 87 years old – demoralized the Lakers D. In ’06, Wade (40/11/4) made Kobe (16/4/2) look slower than Eddy Curry after a Chinese buffet.

Per Tony Gaffney (an ex-NBA'er and former Laker), Carmelo Anthony wants to be a Laker, and a rumored deal revolving around Lamar Odom and draft picks is being discussed. On Gaffney's Facebook page, he also claims to have 'plenty of sources' to back this up.

The Jersey shore seems to be a popular destination for Jackson cast-off's, where Sasha Vujacic will join another ex-Lakers guard, Jordan Farmar, on a 6-19 Nets squad. According to several ESPN resources, the Lakers will receive veteran forward Joe Smith - who just celebrated his 91st birthday and will be playing for his 43rd NBA team - and the draft rights to Houston's Sergei Lishchuk (or, as our own Kam Pashai suggests, just 'Lish'). The champs will give New Jersey their 2011, lottery protected, first-rounder.

So, the Lakers beat the Clippers last night for the 874,593rd time in franchise history. Add Charlie Sheen + Hooker in there somewhere and we'll have the least surprising story of the decade. In a game of familiar headlines (Kobe hitting big shots, the Clippers playing the Lakers tough, Artest shooting sub-25% from the floor), none were more customary than the final one:

Join Jason Riley & TLN for a Live chat during tonight's Wizards vs. Lakers game, 7:30pm PT, only on The Lakers Nation!

This is great news, especially for a Lakers' team that has had a hard time defending at the rim. So, TLN: How does the Lakers rotation change when Bynum re-enters the lineup!?

It’s not hard to get lost in the hype. Let’s be honest: We all spent way too much time talking, texting and tweeting about LeBron’s homecoming dance at the Q last night. I could only liken his return to Cleveland to what it would be like if O.J. showed up at a Brown Holiday party wearing nothing but a smile and a pair of supermodel sidekicks.

Congrats to Adrian, who provided us with this awesome video of his game 7 experience, and Tisha, who represented in a hostile Celtics’ bar in Boston. You have each won a pair of L.A. Galaxy playoff tickets for Sunday’s game vs. Seattle, 6:30pm at the Home Depot Center. You will be hearing from us soon! Thanks to everyone who participated, [...]

I want to make one thing very clear: In basketball, I am wrong more than I am right. (Pausing for dramatic effect.) Last season, before the Miami Heat started building emergency bandwagons to hold their bandwagons, I had Wade + eleven stuffed coffins slipping by the Celtics in Round 1 (0 for 1). I followed that blooper with a comment on Fox Sports Radio decisively picking the Cavaliers to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals (0 for 2).

I honestly thought this column would be easy – like cracking a joke about Glen Davis, who unashamedly tried to eat his own face during Game 4. I foolishly believed the right words would effortlessly splash on the page, perfectly illustrating the magnitude of an NBA Finals victory over the detestable Celtics.