Is there a better way to kick off the weekend than with a new batch of ear candy? If so, it's probably not legal and quite possibly a little seedy. Stick with this wholesome good fun.
Among the talking points:
- What to make of Thursday's loss to the Spurs? On one hand, the steady display of energy, purpose, focus, patience and intelligence was a welcome sight, much less against an elite team. On the other hand, they played a pretty good game and still lost, even with Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli suffering through miserable games from the field. Shouldn't that scenario include a win, especially for the two-time defending champions?
Are you glass half-full or half-empty on the outcome?
Both of us chose the former. We're not labeling it a "moral victory" or some other cliche. The Lakers lost. Period. And that's not a good thing. But in a vacuum, there were a lot of positives potentially reapplied toward the remaining 32 games, should the Lakers make that commitment. Honestly, if the norm was the way the Lakers played Thursday, many troubling issues would work themselves out.
- Between critical comments from Jerry West and Magic Johnson, Mitch Kupchak saying he'd be open for a trade, and rumors Ron Artest wants out, there's been a lot of talk about making a move. In particular, getting into the Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes, with Andrew "always on the block" Bynum as the primary bait. Could the Lakers make that move? Should the Lakers make that move? Can a three-peat realistically happen while making such a big change so late in the season? These and other questions are debated.
- With Kevin Love the official replacement for Yao Ming, Lamar Odom will not be an All-Star without another injury taking place. While neither of us believe he was truly "snubbed," we're both pretty disappointed for him. Then again, as I wrote on Thursday, Odom not making the All-Star team just when many feel he's finally playing like one is appropriately ironic.