Coach K again says he won't be back as US coach

More Info: http://www.nba.com/2013/news/02/26/coach-k-team-usa.ap/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpts

Lebron James Warms Up'

Fisher is BACK!!

http://www.nba.com/2013/news/02/26/thunder-fisher-practice.ap/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpts

Rankings

 Nba Tops Teams

http://www.nba.com/2013/news/powerrankings/02/25/week17/index.html?ls=nbahpsplit1

In Power Rankings, Nets Still Behind Reeling Knicks

http://www.netsdaily.com/2013/2/26/4033728/all-around-10

Kobe & Lebron Jugadores de la semana

http://www.nba.com/enebea/news/kobe_y_lebron_jugadores_estrella.html

Lebron In Cleveland 2014?

http://heatnation.com/player-analysis/cavs-pursue-lebron-2014/

Lakers News: Kobe Bryant Says 14th Technical Will Be Rescinded

By Elizabeth Benson | February 26, 2013 | 

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Kobe Bryant is never afraid to speak his mind on the court, especially to the referees. Bryant had tallied 13 technical fouls on the season before entering last night’s game against the Nuggets in Denver. During the game Kobe was whistled for his fourteenth technical, just two shy of a one game suspension.

---- Test your black mamba knowledge by taking this Kobe Bryant quiz! ----

However, Bryant feels completely confident that his 14th technical will be called back by the league. After the game, Bryant told reporters:

Lakers News: Dirk Nowitzki Praises Kobe Following Sunday Matchup

By Daniel Buerge | February 24, 2013

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Following the Lakers’ victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday afternoon, Dirk Nowitzki praised Bryant’s 38-point performance. Nowitzki, who scored 30 points of his own, applauded Bryant, calling him the player of the decade, according to ESPN Los Angeles.“He’s been the best player in my decade,” said Nowitzki, who also had his season high with 13 rebounds after missing the first 27 games following knee surgery. “I’ve in the NBA a long time and he’s the one player I love to watch.”There’s no question that Sunday’s game was one of the more exciting matchups of the season. The back and forth battle between Bryant and Dirk was quite impressive, and certainly made for one of the more entertaining games of the season.Even Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni praised Bryant’s performance following the game.“That’s why he’s Kobe Bryant,” Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni said. “He’s not John Smith. No disrespect to John Smith, whoever he is. That’s what he does. That’s what he loves. That’s what he trains for.”With their third straight win, Los Angeles is 28-29, and has a chance to crawl back to .500 on Monday night when they take on the Nuggets in Denver.

Nash Passes johnson

Lakers News: Steve Nash Passes Magic Johnson On Assists List

By Ross Gasmer | February 20, 2013

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With his 5th assist tonight, Steve Nash passed Magic Johnson on the NBA all-time career assist list with 10,142 assists. For his career, Nash is averaging 8.6 assists, but averaging a career low 7.4 assists this season. Nash now only trails John Stockton, Mark Jackson, and Jason Kidd on the career assists list.

This has been an especially tough year for Nash, who decided to join the hated Lakers after his many years in Phoenix. He has played mostly off the ball and hasn’t been able to dazzle everyone with his playmaking ability. Still, he’s averaging 11.8 points along with 7.4 assists and is on pace to shoot 50% from the field, along with 40% from 3 point range, while shooting 90% from the line. Nash is a two-time MVP and is still seeking his first NBA championship.

Here’s assist number 10,142, passing Magic Johnson

Here’s a compilation of Nash’s top 10 assists

Lakers

TNT’s Kenny Smith Discuss Lakers’ “Lack Of Trust” With Each Other

By Elizabeth Benson | February 18, 2013

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There has been non-stop media coverage regarding the soap opera of a season that is the Los Angeles Lakers this year. While the constant media circus around Laker Land only adds fuel to the fire, there are some issues that are deeply rooted in Lakers’ camp.

TNT’s Kenny Smith recently gave an interview, although reluctant to keep discussing the team that has filled the airways for the wrong reasons, offering his take on the drama filled Lakers this season. Smith brought up a topic that has been a popular reason why the Lakers are struggling this season despite the talent on the team; talent.---- Commemorate Kobe Bryant's 30,000th point with this wallpaper! ----When asked why haven’t the Lakers been able to mesh together all that talent, Smith replied:“There’s a lack of trust, obviously. They don’t trust their first coach and they don’t play well. Boom, now he’s gone. They don’t trust the new coach and the system. Basketball isn’t about the talent. It’s about trusting each other. Do I trust the game plan? Do I trust my teammates? Do I trust their reactions? That’s what it’s about. When I watch a team, it’s easy to know if they trust each other. As a basketball player, it’s easy to see it. It’s not very difficult at all.”When asked what has contributed to that lack of trust, Smith added:“That’s the difference that separates championship teams. It’s a collection of things that happen throughout practice and games that abandon trust. It’s as simple as we’re supposed to send everyone baseline. They send a guy baseline and the opponent dunks it. Do I trust the next time that my teammate is going to be there? No, so I’m going to stand in the middle and play my guy straight up. Then that time the guy actually goes over. You basically have 12 guys doing that. That’s how you lose close games.”Steve Nash has talked about identity and the lack of holding one repeatedly throughout the season. Kenny Smith similarly shared how the Lakers don’t play with an identity during crucial points of the game.“No one is totally abandoning the game plan. They’re just not sticking to it in key moments. It could be late in the game or when the team is making a run in the second quarter. Those are the times that it shows. It doesn’t show when you’re up 15 or points. That’s when they follow the game plan. When the game is close or getting away, that’s where the lack of trust shows.”The Lakers are currently four games below .500, with time running out. Kobe Bryant has stressed that the team must regroup, refocus and play with absolute urgency. However, the Lakers must trust each other first for the Lakers to make a serious run for the playoffs.

Dight Howard New's

Chris Broussard of ESPN talked about Dwight Howard on the Mike And Mike In The Morning at ESPN Radio. Check out what he had to say about the Lakers big man.

“All indications are no. But Dwight is not happy. He’s basically miserable. He doesn’t like the way he’s being used in Mike D’Antoni’s system. He and Kobe doesn’t have any personal beef but it’s hard for him to play with Kobe. Is Kobe gonna shoot? Is Kobe gonna pass? Dwight would certainly welcome a trade to Brooklyn. But I think the Lakers will call his bluff, even though Dwight hasn’t requested a trade and he will not. He doesn’t want to hurt his image anymore and request a trade. The Lakers can offer 30 more million dollars than anyone and one more year of security. They’re all in to make sure that he will re-sign there. If he doesn’t, there still is the sign-and-trade option at the end of next season.”

And then there’s Alex Kennedy from Hoopsworld with this piece about Dwight Howard.

For the second year in a row, Howard’s future is up in the air at the deadline and everyone around the league is curious to see what happens next with the superstar center. This time, Howard is in a large market with a star-studded supporting cast, just as he wanted. However, he’s just as unhappy in Los Angeles as he was when he was the big fish in a small pond in Orlando.

Even though Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has assured Howard that he won’t be traded before the Feb. 21 deadline, rival executives believe the 27-year-old may still be moved. The Lakers have fielded calls for Howard and are keeping their options open.

So basically, Broussard and Kennedy are saying is that Dwight Howard is not happy in Los Angeles.

It’s an adjustment for everybody. Mike D’Antoni is still trying to get used to the players and the players are still trying to get used to D’Antoni. But honestly, it seemed so simple. You have one of the best pick-and-roll point guards in NBA history in Steve Nash and you have the best roll man in the league today in Dwight Howard. But yet, he doesn’t want to do that, preferring to post up instead. He’s not exactly the best post-up player in the league; sometimes, it gets frustrating seeing him lose the ball when he’s posting up.

—- See Dwight Howard through the years in photos! —-

I understand where Dwight is coming from when it comes to holding off the deal until the offseason; the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) has made it that players can make the most money after their deals expire. But he keeps talking and complaining, which has turned off a lot of the Lakers fans. The Lakers are in a bit of a conundrum here as he hasn’t played as well as he did in Orlando and yet they’re trying their best to please him.

I’ll personally still be surprised if the Lakers do deal him but I’m definitely not surprised that he’s not happy in Los Angeles. He hasn’t really sounded happy much of this season (some former players think he needs tochange his attitude) and it just sounds discouraging that he seems to put himself ahead of the team.

Jerry Buss Passed Away

On Monday, Feb. 18, longtime Los Angeles Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss passed away at the age of 80 following an 18-month battle with cancer.

Buss’ memorial service will be held at the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 3 p.m. to honor arguably the greatest owner in American team sports and one of Los Angeles’ biggest icons.

Buss is survived by his six children Jim, Jeanie, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse.

The Lakers’ front office out the following press release about the service set to be held this Thursday in Los Angeles.