Lakers Rally in OT vs. T'Wolves

Wow, a win during back-to-back sets. All sarcasm aside, Jordan Clarkson continues to impress in his rookie year and willing the Lakers to a clutch OT win is another stepping stone. Clarkson finished as the Lakers' top performer with 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, despite shooting 6-16 from the field and committing 6 turnovers to help the Lakers squeak one out against Minnesota 101-99, dueling against fellow rookie and top draftee Andrew Wiggins. Jeremy Lin added 19 points and Tarik Black and Wesley Johnson each scored 11 points to round out the starters. Ed Davis lead all scorers off the bench, recording a near double-double of 14 points and 9 rebounds.

Final Score: @ Minnesota 101-99 (OT) [W]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20150325/LALMIN/gameinfo.html?ls=slt

Highlights:

Next Game: @ Toronto (03/27)

Lakers Fall to Thunder

As the NBA season draws to a close and teams fighting for playoff spots in the West, the Lakers tried to mar the incumbent 8th seeded Thunder's playoff position without Kevin Durant or Serge Ibaka, but to no avail. Jordan Clarkson continues to shine, bouncing back after being nonexistent vs. the Sixers Sunday night, scoring 30 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists, but the Lakers had no answer for Westbrook and the Thunder as the lost 117-127. Jeremy Lin added 19 points, 10 points shy of equaling his season high as a Laker last game, and Ryan Kelly added 16 points to round out the starters. Wayne Ellington lead all scorers off the bench with 15 points and Ed Davis came in second, chipping in 12 points.

Final Score: @ Oklahoma City 117-127 [L]

Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20150324/LALOKC/gameinfo.html?ls=slt

Highlights:

Next Game: @ Minnesota (03/25)

Linsanity Erupts vs. Sixers

I could've sworn I had this posted up, then I re-checked and I didn't. Forgetfulness hurts people. Anyway, Jeremy Lin was the Lakers' top performer, scoring a season high 29 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists on 10-16 shooting off the bench, rekindling his Linsanity days to help the Lakers beat the 76ers 87-101. Luckily they did or they would've seriously been the worst team in the league. Jordan Hill added a near double-double of 12 points and 8 rebounds and three players each contributed 10 points. Wesley Johnson and Wayne Ellington added two of those 10 points each in the starting lineup and Jabari Brown added the last 10 points off the bench.

Final Score: vs. Philadelphia 87-101 [W]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20150322/PHILAL/gameinfo.html

Highlights:

Next Game: @ Oklahoma City (Tonight 6:00 PM Pacific Time)

Steve Nash Announces Retirement

Steve Nash's tenure with the Lakers has ended. Today, the two-time NBA MVP and former All-Star announced his retirement today by writing an article on the Player's Tribune website. Nash was dealt to the Lakers in a sign-and-trade during the Lakers' 2012 blockbuster offseason that also included the trade for Dwight Howard. The Lakers gave up a two first round picks and two second round picks to acquire Nash after several illustrious seasons with the Phoenix Suns. However, Nash's tenure with the Lakers didn't come to fruition as multiple injuries derailed his time with the Purple and Gold.

I originally didn't want to write about this other than the fact that I just want to wish Steve Nash good luck in his future. However, due to the lack of Laker content on this blog as I've been cancelling numerous nationally televised Laker games to cover for this year, I feel this is little compensation. To be honest, I don't think you can ever consider that there was a Steve Nash era with the Lakers. When the Lakers first acquired him, Nash was already getting up there with age. I think his last season with the Suns is when he was officially approaching the end of his career. There were two reasons why Nash was dealt to the Lakers: 1) Nash wanted to go to a contender close to his family residing in Phoenix and going to the Lakers was his best chance to finish his career with a ring. 2) The Lakers front office retaliated from the vetoed Chris Paul trade (f*ck David Stern for that still) after the 2011 lockout and took the next best alternative the following offseason by acquiring Nash.

The 2012 offseason for us Laker fans, we thought that it was a coup. The Lakers acquired Nash, acquired Dwight, kept Pau Gasol, it looked like Mitch fooled both then Suns' GM, Steve Kerr and Magic GM, Rob Hennigan and was in position to win Executive of the Year. Mitch thought he outsmarted them both, but in the end both Steve Kerr and Rob Hennigan ultimately won that trade subliminally. The Lakers mortgaged their future a lot acquiring an aging Nash, who battled injuries all seasons long playing for the Lakers. We already know the story with Dwight. Focusing back on Nash though, the lesson we learned once again during Nash's tenure is that Father Time is undefeated. No matter how healthy you feel or how well conditioned you've been in the past or if there's something that you want to do you haven't done yet before you consider your career is all said and done, Father Time will find a way to ensure you walk away from the game you love. Nash tried denying that in order to get that elusive ring he's been chasing throughout his 18-year career in the NBA, but Father Time just simply said "I'm sorry, but time's up."

For us Laker fans, it's easy to bash Steve Nash because he ate up some of the salary cap just to be in a suit and tie and not contributing to the team. However, it doesn't change the fact that Steve Nash has placed himself as one of the NBA's all-time great point guards and is the most classy guy you'll ever meet (even though I've never personally met him). Nash gave us Laker fans more fits in his prime during his time with the Phoenix Suns than when he was sitting on the Laker bench injured at the twilight of his career. He, however, left one lasting memory with the Lakers despite not delivering a lot of memories donning the Purple and Gold and that was moving up into third place on the NBA all-time assists list during a regular season matchup against the Portland Trailblazers last season. He also paved the way for the future by taking rookie, Jordan Clarkson under his tutelage and it paying dividends big time with Clarkson putting up great numbers in the last few games. Unfortunate that Steve Nash's tenure didn't work out for the Lakers, but I wish him the best in all his future endeavors.

Links to the 2012 offseason posts from this blog:

http://trueraiderlaker.blogspot.com/2012/07/blockbuster-report-lakers-agree-to-sign.html

http://trueraiderlaker.blogspot.com/2012/08/dwight-howard-to-lakers.html

Loss #50

Only three Lakers scored in double figures and not even one scored more than 15 points (that's how generous I am). Tarik Black (I think this was his first start; I am not sure) was the Lakers' top performer with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, but the Lakers could not pull a victory, losing to the Jazz 80-73, tallying up their 50 losses in two consecutive seasons. Wesley Johnson added 12 points and Carlos Boozer came off the bench with 11 points.

Final Score: vs. Utah 80-73 [L]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20150319/UTALAL/gameinfo.html

Highlights:

Next Game: vs. Philadelphia (03/22)

Raiders Add Trent Richardson For RB Depth

Cleveland traded him, Indianapolis cut him, Raiders claimed him. The Raiders bolster their depth at running back by adding Trent Richardson to the team. Details of his contract are undisclosed, but it is safe to assume he is on a prove-it deal that if he can rekindle putting up numbers the way he did his rookie season, he makes the team, if he flops during preseason, he gets cut.

Whoo boy. The Raiders have done this in the past before, giving under-performing football players a 2nd chance to be a star on their team and it has worked out (ex: Jim Plunkett). Obviously, things didn't work out for T-Rich in his tenure with Indianapolis Colts. They thought he could bolster that running game and relieve pressure off of Andrew Luck in the passing game and Richardson hasn't lived up to the expectations. In fact, he hasn't lived up to expectations since his rookie year as he almost rushed for 1,000 yards and adding 11 TDs and then those numbers have dipped. The reason why this got a separate post is because it was unexpected. I thought the Raiders were contempt of having Latavius Murray and Roy Helu, Jr. in that backfield and they could line up Reece there if they want to. With the addition of T-Rich, even though contract details feel like he's going to be there as a camp body, Raiders get somewhat of a bruiser at that position. However, if things don't work out, that's fine. This goes to show that they're not anointing Murray yet to play a full 16 game season as an every down back. Heck, if they choose to keep T-Rich, probably the Raiders pull a Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots last season and run with whoever is a capable back by committee.

Contract details: 2 years, $3.9 million  < I guess it's safe to assume that he'll make the team although there are no guarantees once players push themselves to the limit to make the team, but with this deal, it looks like T-Rich is going to stick around.

Lakers Fall Shorts vs. Warriors

Talk about almost another trap game the Lakers were giving against the Western Conference-leading Warriors. Jordan Hill was the Lakers' top performer, recording a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds to add to 5 assists, but the Lakers couldn't upset the best team in the West and in the division right now as the fall to the Warriors 105-108, allowing them to clinch a playoff spot. Wesley Johnson added 15 points and Jordan Clarkson and Wayne Ellington both added 17 points to round out the starters. Jeremy Lin was the top scorer off the bench with 15 points, despite shooting 3-8 from the field and Carlos Boozer chipped in 10 points and 9 rebounds.

Final Score: @ Golden State 105-108 [L]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20150316/LALGSW/gameinfo.html?ls=slt

Highlights:

Next Game: vs. Utah (03/19)