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We're For Real | November 12, 2008 The Lakers stormed out of the 2008-09 gates on a 7-0 run culminated by a 93-86 victory in New Orleans that wasn’t anywhere near as close as the final score (L.A. led by 19 heading into the fourth quarter). The victory came a night after L.A. handled the Mavericks in Dallas and confirmed that expectations for the Lakers were high for a good reason. FULL STORY |
Ariza Steals the Ball! | May 19, 2009 With 29.1 seconds remaining in a hotly-contested Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, Trevor Ariza stepped in front of an Anthony Carter pass to seal victory for the Lakers. Ariza’s emergence in the playoffs along with Andrew Bynum’s return was a major factor to the team’s success, particularly as neither player was able to contribute in 2008. FULL STORY |
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Lakers Get Bynum Back | April 9, 2009 In his first game back after missing 32, Andrew Bynum scored 16 points with seven rebounds in 21 minutes against Denver. It wasn’t the 26 points and 14 rebounds Bynum averaged during a five-game stretch in late January, but the Lakers knew they had their center back for the playoffs even if not at 100 percent, which couldn’t be said in the previous season. FULL STORY |
Kobe Drops 61 in NYC | February 2, 2009 In a spectacular display of his all-encompassing basketball skills, Kobe Bryant exploded for a league- and season-high 61 points in Madison Square Garden the day after L.A. learned it would be without Andrew Bynum – who’d been on an absolute tear – for a few months. Bryant simply wasn't going to let the Lakers slip. FULL STORY |
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Lakers Halt Cavs' Streak | Feb. 8, 2009 The Cavaliers had yet to lose in their home building all season, and L.A. was on the final leg of a 6-game road trip. No matter. Lamar Odom was brilliant with 28 points and 17 rebounds as the Lakers outscored Cleveland by 20 points in the second half to win 101-91. The victory allowed the Lakers to cement an undefeated trip through the East that also featured a win in Boston. FULL STORY |
Exorcising the Celtic Demons | Feb. 5, 2009 Road wins had already been had in Denver, New Orleans and Houston early in the season, but L.A.’s toughness wasn’t really understood until a gritty 110-109 win in Boston keyed by the terrific Bryant-Gasol-Odom trio. The Lakers had previously handed Boston a 9-point defeat at STAPLES on X-Mas day, snapping the Celtics’ franchise-record 19-game winning streak in the first leg of a season sweep. FULL STORY |
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Tide Turns in Houston | May 8, 2009 After dropping a tough Game 1 against Houston and losing Derek Fisher to suspension in Game 2, the Lakers rallied around the captain to dominate the Rockets 108-94 in their building, regaining home court thanks in part to Kobe Bryant’s 33 points. Though L.A. would drop Games 4 and 6 in Houston, they’d smash the Rockets in Games 5 and 7 at home to take the series. FULL STORY |
Lakers Crush Nuggets, Win West | May 27, 2009 A game after L.A. finally seemed to figure out the Denver Nuggets with an impressive 21-3 second half run that put them up 3-2 in the Western Finals, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers destroyed the Nuggets 119-92 on the road in Game 6, making a statement heading into the Finals. FULL STORY |
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Fisher for Three... Twice | June 11, 2009 To nail a game-tying triple with 4.6 seconds to go in Game 4 of the NBA Finals was enough, but Derek Fisher then swished the go-ahead three-pointer in OT to seal a comeback victory over Orlando to give L.A. a 3-1 series lead and make ultimate victory all but inevitable. FULL STORY |
Lakers Win Title No. 15 | June 14, 2009 After jumping on the Magic with a 16-0 second quarter run in series-clinching Game 5, the Lakers raised their 15th trophy in 61 years as Phil Jackson won his 10th and Kobe Bryant took home Bill Russell Finals MVP accolades for the first time. The season finished with 65 regular season wins and a 16-7 playoff mark. FULL STORY |
