RealGM Basketball

Los Angeles Lakers Wiretap

Kobe Increases 'Fiendish' Obsession With Game Film

Few players in the NBA watch as much game film as Kobe Bryant.

"Hands down, he's the biggest video fiend we've ever had," said Chris Bodaken, the Lakers' director of video services. "I didn't know if it was possible to be more competitive than Magic was, but I think he might be. It carries over into his preparation, and this is part of that."

Bryant has increased his requests for tape since last season.

Bryant used to primarily study clips from entire games, watching them at his home or on the way to home games in his car while one of his bodyguards drove. Now his pregame routine also includes clips of individual players he will guard.

"It's a blueprint," said Bryant. "So if something goes down, it's not something you haven't seen before. Everybody's got tendencies. If he scores 40 on Monday, he's going to try to do it on Tuesday. You've got to take him out of his spots. That's the key."

Via Los Angeles Times


James, Bryant Named Players Of Week

The Cavaliers' LeBron James and the Lakers' Kobe Bryant Monday were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Dec. 22, through Sunday, Dec. 28.

James guided the Cavaliers to a 3-0 mark, with home wins over the Rockets, Wizards and Heat, improving Cleveland's mark at Quicken Loans Arena to 16-0, tops in the NBA. He averaged 26.0 points on 53 percent shooting, while adding 6.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists, as Cleveland improved to 26-4, the best start in franchise history.

Bryant led the Lakers to a 4-0 week, averaging 30.0 points on 54 percent shooting, to go with 5.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists. He tallied a game-high 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists, as the Lakers defeated Boston on Christmas Day, 92-83, snapping the Celtics' 19-game winning streak.

Via NBA.com


Nellie Predicts Lakers To Dethrone Celtics

Warriors' coach Don Nelson believes that the Lakers will dethrone the defending-champion Celtics this season.

"The other team that I saw that was really good was Orlando. I know what Boston is doing and what they did, but they still have two players missing from their last team that are really important to them," Nelson said.

"They either have to get those guys back or replace them with someone because I just think that the Lakers, after a year of going to the (NBA) Finals, are just ready. They know what it takes, and they are so well-coached and disciplined."

Via Orange County Register


Lakers Dec 2008 Archive

  • Mihm Wants To Remain A Laker

    Chris Mihm has heard all the trade rumors involving him leaving the Lakers, but he hopes they are false.

  • RealGM Recaps For Games On Sunday, Dec. 28th

    David West hit a jumper with two seconds left on the clock to give the Hornets a 105-103 win over the Pacers in Indiana on Sunday night.

  • Fisher 'Perfect Guy' For Triangle

    Derek Fisher bring a mature presence to the Lakers, and he is also a perfect fit for their triangle offense.

  • Bucks Could Deal Lue To Thunder Or Lakers?

    It is believed that the Bucks have an offer on the table that would send guard Tyronn Lue to the Lakers for center Chris Mihm.

  • Lakers Could Look To Deal Luke Walton

    Marc Stein of ESPN.com is reporting that he has heard rumblings out of Los Angeles that the Lakers could trade forward Luke Walton.

  • Lakers-Celtics Draws Highest Rating In 4 Years

    The Christmas Day game between the Lakers and Celtics was the highest rated regular-season NBA game in four years.

  • Pierce: You Never Want To Lose To Lakers

    Boston's Paul Pierce admitted that as a member of the Celtics, you never want to lose to the rival Lakers.

  • RealGM Recaps For Games On Thursday, Dec. 25th

    The Lakers got exactly what they wanted from Santa Claus on Christmas, some revenge over the Celtics with a holiday win that ended the defending-champion's 19-game win streak.

  • Lakers Get Revenge, End Celtics' Streak

    The Lakers did something on Christmas that no team has been able to do since early November, beat the defending-champion Celtics.

  • Farmar Has Surgery, Will Miss 8 Weeks

    Lakers' point guard Jordan Farmar underwent successful surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee on Wednesday and will miss approximately eight weeks of action.

  • Rivers: Celtics Should Be Home On Christmas

    Celtics' coach Doc Rivers was surprised earlier this season to learn that the team's Christmas Day battle with the Lakers was in Los Angeles.

  • Boston Fans Send Celtics Off To X-Mas With 'Beat LA' Chant

    Before the Celtics flew to Los Angeles to meet the Lakers on Christmas Day, they beat the Sixers 110-91 and were serenaded by their home crowd.

  • Farmar To Have Surgery Wednesday

    Jordan Farmar will undergo surgery Wednesday on his left knee.

  • Jackson Asked If Shaq Trade Was 'Donation'

    Phil Jackson sees little difference between the Lakers' trade in 2004 of Shaq and the one last season that netted Pau Gasol.

  • Lakers Could Sign Pargo Or Lue

    With rumors swirling that Jordan Farmar could need surgery, veteran possibilities for the Lakers include Tyronn Lue and even Jannero Pargo.

  • Doctors Recommend Surgery For Farmar

    Two L.A. based doctors have recommended that Jordan Farmar undergo surgery on his left knee.

  • RealGM Recaps For Games On Monday, Dec. 15th

    The Lakers narrowly escaped their trip to Memphis with a victory on Monday night. They needed some late game heroics from Kobe Bryant and tough defense to avoid an upset.

  • Pierce: Knee Injury In Game One Of Finals Wasn't Fake

    Paul Pierce sat down with the Boston Globe for a lengthy interview recently and commented on a number of things, including his dramatic comeback from a knee injury in Game One of the 2008 NBA Finals against the Lakers.

  • Lakers' Farmar Has Torn Meniscus In Left Knee

    The Lakers will be without guard Jordan Farmar for at least two more games after he tore the meniscus in his left knee against the Heat on Friday night.

  • Kobe: D'Antoni Is An Attraction For 2010 Free Agents

    Kobe Bryant says he expects the Knicks to play an important role in the 2010 free-agency, and it isn't just because they play in the middle of Manhattan.

  • Farmar Vents To Jackson About Role

    Jordan Farmar does not know what the Lakers want him to do on the court.

  • Phil Is A Fan Of D'Antoni's Offense

    Lakers' coach Phil Jackson is admittedly a fan of the offense Mike D'Antoni runs in New York.

  • RealGM Recaps For Games On Tuesday, Dec. 16th

    Tracy McGrady recorded a triple-double to lead the Rockets over the red-hot Nuggets, highlighting Tuesday night's NBA action.

  • Gasol Out With Strep Throat

    Lakers' forward Pau Gasol was sent home and won't play in Tuesday night's game against the New York Knicks because of strep throat, according to a Lakers spokesman.

  • Amid Trade Rumors, Vujacic Wants To Stay

    The Lakers are rumored to be willing to trade guard Sasha Vujacic, but that's news to him.

  • Marbury To Attend Knicks-Lakers Game As Fan?

    Despite being banned from the Knicks, Stephon Marbury is reportedly thinking about attending Tuesday night's game in Los Angeles against the Lakers as a fan.

  • Jackson: Radmanovic 'Would Like To Assassinate Me'

    Lakers' coach Phil Jackson started Luke Walton at small forward for the third consecutive game on Sunday night while sitting Vladimir Radmanovic.

  • RealGM Recaps For Games On Sunday, Dec. 14th

    The Hornets, Grizzlies, Spurs, and Lakers were all victorious on Sunday night. For details on how each team won, and who starred, scroll below.

  • Bynum Wants To Be In Games At The End

    Lakers center Andrew Bynum would like coach Phil Jackson to keep him on the floor at the end of games.

  • Kobe IV Is A Rare Low-Top Shoe

    Eighteen months ago when Kobe Bryant met with Nike officials to discuss his next shoe, he had one request: build the lowest basketball shoe ever.

  • RealGM Recaps For Games On Wednesday, Dec. 10th

    Carmelo Anthony starred on Wednesday night in Denver's win over Minnesota. The Syracuse alum scored 45 points, including an NBA-record 33 in the third quarter and grabbed 11 rebounds in the Nuggets’ victory.

  • Shaq Not Expected To Face Lakers

    Suns center Shaquille O'Neal is not expected to face the Lakers on Wednesday night because of a death in his family.

  • Shaq Not Expected To Face Lakers

    Suns' center Shaquille O'Neal is not expected to face his former team in Los Angeles on Wednesday night because he will be attending his grandmother's funeral in New Jersey.

  • Jackson: Lakers Can Improve

    Lakers coach Phil Jackson believes that his team still has some room left for improvement despite their 17-2 record.

  • How Many Players Does Each Team Have In The Top-100 For 08-09?

    The Celtics have four players in RealGM's top-36.

  • RealGM Recaps For Games On Sunday, Dec. 7th

    Eight teams played on Sunday, with six of those clubs coming from the Eastern Conference.

  • Lakers Keep An Eye On Boston

    On Sunday night the Lakers were more concerned with watching the Celtics play the Pacers than they were watching scouting footage of the Bucks.

  • Lakers Don't Regret Trading Butler

    The Lakers traded Caron Butler to the Wizards for Kwame Brown a few seasons ago, a deal that appears rather lopsided right now.

  • Kobe: I Still Want To Meet Bird

    Kobe Bryant has won several NBA championships, including one over Larry Bird and the Pacers in 2000, but he's never gotten a chance to truly meet Bird.

  • Corie Blount Faces Drug Charges

    Former NBA star Corie Blount has been charged with picking up eleven pounds of marijuana in southern Ohio.

  • NBA's Only Female Scout Poses Nude For PETA Ad

    Former Dallas Cowboys' cheerleader and current scout for the Lakers, Bonnie-Jill Laflin posed nude in a new PETA ad designed to help people avoid bankrupting their health.

  • Phil Doesn't Think Lakers Can Reach 70

    The Lakers are 15-2, but Phil Jackson doesn't see his team as being capable of winning 70 games.

  • RealGM Recaps For Games On Wednesday, Dec. 3rd

    Wednesday's NBA action was highlighted by the 36-point drubbing that LeBron James and the Cavaliers handed the Knicks.

  • O'Brien: We Could See A Repeat Of '08 Finals

    Pacers coach Jim O'Brien, who coached his team against the Lakers and Celtics on back-to-back nights, believes that we could see a repeat of the NBA Finals next June.

  • Knicks Still The Most Valuable Franchise In NBA

    Despite a lack of success on the floor and turmoil off the court, the New York Knicks are the NBA's most valuable team for the fourth consecutive year.

  • RealGM Recaps For Games On Tuesday, Dec. 2nd

    Tuesday's NBA action was highlighted by Troy Murphy's last-second tip that gave the Pacers a stunning win over the Lakers at Conseco Fieldhouse.

  • Pacers' Murphy Tips In Shot At Buzzer To Beat Lakers

    Troy Murphy gave the Pacers an improbable 117-116 win over the Lakers on Tuesday night.

  • Lakers' Jackson: A Reminder That Guns Aren't Good

    Lakers' coach Phil Jackson touched on the story of Giants' wide receiver Plaxico Burress shooting himself in the leg, hoping it would stress the importance of safety to the NBA's players.

  • RealGM Recaps For Games On Sunday, Nov. 30th

    Five NBA games were played on Sunday, with the Pistons hosting Greg Oden and the Blazers and the Lakers hosting Chris Bosh and the Raptors.