Lakers Not Getting to High

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>EL SEGUNDO - They are 23-11, but they're not impressed.

They have played well, but believe they can do better.

They say they cannot rest on their laurels because they don't have any yet.

"Yes, we're very much a surprise team," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said before a resounding 29-point win Wednesday over the Hornets in New Orleans, breaking into a wry smile that indicated he was not buying into the hype.

"I think, as usual, you have to temper that with the schedule," he continued in a more serious tone. "We have to play a nine-game road trip at the end of this month and (then) we'll measure ourselves."

One of the many reasons the Lakers have not expressed much in the way of an outward swagger over their recent run of success is rooted in their experiences of last season. They were rolling, just like this season, but then injuries struck.

The Lakers had a 26-13 record after a road victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 17, 2007. Kobe Bryant scored 34 points and Andrew Bynum took eight rebounds.

The Spurs went on to win the NBA title; the Lakers went kerplunk.

The Lakers finished the regular season with a 42-40 record and were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round by the Phoenix Suns for the second consecutive spring.

It led to the summer of Bryant's discontent and the subsequent busting of rears by some of his teammates to better prepare for 2007-08.

For instance, Bynum hired a personal trainer to help him improve his fitness and he is now on pace to set career-best averages for points (12.9), rebounds (10), blocked shots (2.1) and minutes played (29).

What's more, Bynum's standout play has helped the Lakers establish a depth they lacked in recent seasons. He has given them a secondary scoring option and while making opponents alter their defensive game plans in the paint and on the perimeter.

"We were worried about Kobe," New Orleans forward David West said. "We trapped him, but then one or two passes later, (Jordan) Farmar is hitting shots and (Luke) Walton is hitting shots. The guys off the bench gave them a spark."

By now, opponents know what to expect from Bynum, too.

"I know he's big," Hornets center Tyson Chandler said after Bynum scored 17 points on 8-for-10 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds. "I watched tape on him and I know they throw him the ball a lot. He had a good night."

LOOKING AHEAD

The Lakers did not practice Thursday after road wins Tuesday in Memphis and Wednesday in New Orleans. They face the Milwaukee Bucks tonight, Memphis again on Sunday and the SuperSonics on Monday in Seattle.

Monday's contest marks the end of a stretch in which the Lakers will have faced six teams with sub-.500 records in seven games. They play the Pacific Division-leading Suns on Thursday at Staples Center.

So it's possible, with three more victories over lackluster clubs, that the Lakers could have 26 victories by Jan. 17 for the second consecutive season. It's also possible that Thursday's game could determine the division leader.

For one night, anyway.</div>

Source: LA Daily News

Kobe & Fisher are keeping these guys humble and in check.

 

Honestly, I'm sick of Kobe being interviewed. He looks ****ing miserable in every single interview he does and he moves his god damned lips constantly. He looks like a complete jackass during interviews and acts like one as well. Typical Kobe interview..

Reporter: Kobe, how about the play of Andrew Bynum...

Kobe: Yeah you know, *stupid 3 second face twitch*, Andrew is playing well, needs to stay hungry and improve more *stupid face twitch*....

Lighten the **** up man, we still know you're ass hurt over management lying to you, but give the team some joyful props. You're the second best team in the best, arguably the first with the way San Antonio has been playing. Lighten up, have some fun through your interviews and give the team some respectable compliments.