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Lakers destroy Cavaliers by 55

The AP reports:

The Lakers humiliated the Cavs while sending them to their 11th straight loss, rolling to a 112-57 victory on Tuesday night in their best defensive performance of the shot clock era.

It was the Lakers’ third-largest margin of victory since moving to Los Angeles, with the two biggest coming in 1972 and 1966.

“You don’t ever imagine something like that,” Kobe Bryant said. “You just go out there and do your job and we did it for 48 minutes.”

Ron Artest and Andrew Bynum each scored 15 points, while Pau Gasol had 13 points and 14 rebounds. Bryant, Lamar Odom and Shannon Brown also scored 13 points for the defending NBA champion Lakers, who led the league’s worst team by 32 points at halftime on their way to winning their fifth in a row.

“I thought that was embarrassing,” said Cavs coach Byron Scott, who once starred for the Lakers. “I told them at halftime, `You look scared. You look flat-out scared. You’re playing against the world champions, and instead of just competing and playing hard, you look scared. You look scared to death.’ That was my take on it, as simple as that.” …

The Cavs were without starting center Anderson Varejao, who tore his right ankle in a routine conditioning drill. Also missing were missing Joey Graham (right quad strain), Daniel Gibson (left ankle sprain), Leon Powe (right torn meniscus) and Anthony Parker (lower back strain).

Matt Barnes out eight weeks after knee surgery

Los Angeles Lakers forward Matt Barnes underwent successful surgery today on a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee, it was announced today.

The surgery was performed by Lakers team physician Dr. Steve Lombardo at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles. Barnes is expected to be out for approximately eight weeks.

Barnes suffered the injury on January 7 in a game against the New Orleans Hornets.

In 37 games this season, Barnes has averaged 7.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 20.8 minutes.

Lakers recall Devin Ebanks from D-League

The Los Angeles Lakers have recalled forward Devin Ebanks from the NBA Development League’s Bakersfield Jam, it was announced today.

Ebanks, who was assigned to Bakersfield on December 27, played six games with the Jam, averaging 16.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.5 steals in 27.7 minutes.

Selected by the Lakers with the 43rd pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, Ebanks has appeared in 12 games for the Lakers this season, averaging 2.9 points and 1.5 rebounds in 6.4 minutes.

Matt Barnes will have right knee surgery

Lakers forward Matt Barnes will undergo surgery on his right knee on Tuesday to repair a torn lateral meniscus, it was announced today.

The surgery will be performed by Lakers team physician Dr. Steve Lombardo, at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles. A timeline for his return will be established at the conclusion of the surgery.

Barnes sustained the injury on January 7 in a game against the New Orleans Hornets.

In 37 games this season, Barnes has averaged 7.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 20.8 minutes.

Lakers booed as Grizzlies rout them at home

Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register reports:

Phil Jackson cited lack of focus. Kobe Bryant cited lack of energy. Pau Gasol cited lack of togetherness.

For a two-time defending NBA champion team, the Lakers sure are lacking some basic basketball ingredients.

The Memphis Grizzlies exposed the Lakers, 104-85, at Staples Center on Sunday night.

“Just about every category, we got outplayed,” Coach Jackson said of the Lakers (23-11).

The Lakers’ lack of teamwork was evident in their assist-to-turnover margin of 13 to 20. Memphis’ was 30-10.

Bryant tried to turn up the energy in the third quarter with his offensive attack, but there was considerable defensive slippage at the same time. The Grizzlies wound up with 28 fast-break points to the Lakers’ five, reflective of the Lakers’ worsening transition defense.

Lakers assign Devin Ebanks to D-League

INDIANAPOLIS - APRIL 03: Devin Ebanks #3 of the West Virginia Mountaineers reacts in the first half against the Duke Blue Devils during the National Semifinal game of the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 3, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Lakers have assigned forward Devin Ebanks to the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

Ebanks, who was selected by the Lakers with the 43rd pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, has appeared in 12 games for the Lakers this season, averaging 2.9 points and 1.5 rebounds in 6.4 minutes.

The 6’9” rookie will be available to play for the Jam tomorrow night in their game vs. the New Mexico Thunderbirds.

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Nets trade Terrence Williams to Rockets; Nets get Sasha Vujacic, Lakers get Joe Smith

April 07, 2010 Milwaukee, WI. Bradley Center..New Jersey Nets Terrence Williams brings the ball up the court, Williams had 6 points coming off the Nets bench..Milwaukee Bucks won over the New Jersey Nets 108-89. Mike McGinnis/CSM.

The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired forward Joe Smith from the New Jersey Nets in a three-team trade, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak. New Jersey will also send the Lakers Golden State’s second round draft choice in 2011 and Chicago’s second round draft choice in 2012. The Lakers will also receive the draft rights to Sergei Lishouk from Houston, as well as a trade exception. In return, New Jersey will receive guard Sasha Vujacic and a protected 2011 first round draft pick from the Lakers. New Jersey will receive a protected 2012 first round draft pick from Houston, while the Rockets will receive guard Terrence Williams from New Jersey.

Smith, currently in his 16th NBA season, was selected first overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 1995 NBA Draft, after averaging 20.1 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.9 blocks in two seasons with the University of Maryland.

After garnering multiple National Collegiate Player of the Year awards, being named First Team All-America by the AP, and being selected ACC Player of the Year after his sophomore season with Maryland, Smith finished third in Rookie of the Year voting and was named All-Rookie First Team after averaging 15.3 points and 8.7 rebounds in his first NBA season with Golden State.

In 1,018 career games (619 starts), Smith is averaging 11.0 points and 6.4 rebounds in 26.5 minutes. Signed by New Jersey as a free agent prior to the 2010-11 season, Smith has played in four games this season (three starts), averaging 0.5 points and 0.8 rebounds in 6.3 minutes.

Lishouk, a 6-11 forward from Ukraine, was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in the second round of the 2004 NBA Draft, was traded to Houston in 2008 and currently plays for Valencia in Spain (ACB).

Vujacic, currently in his seventh season, was originally selected by the Lakers in the first round (27th overall) of the 2004 NBA draft after playing three seasons for Snaidero Udine of Italy’s top professional league. In 420 career games (12 starts), Vujacic is averaging 4.8 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 14.3 minutes.

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Andrew Bynum makes season debut

Los Angeles Lakers' Andrew Bynum poses for photos during the basketball team's media day at Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California on Sept. 25, 2010. The Lakers will try to three-peat this season after winning back-to-back NBA championship titles. UPI/Jim Ruymen Photo via Newscom

Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum played his first game of the 2010-11 regular season Tuesday night in a 103-89 road win in Washington against the Wizards. Coming off the bench, Bynum played over 17 minutes, shooting just 1-of-5 for seven points, four rebounds, an assist and two blocks.

“I thought his first few minutes were good and then he tired after that…noticeable difference,” said Lakers coach Phil Jackson after the game. ” He gave us something that we needed at the time. We had both Lamar and Pau with two fouls.”

Jackson does not plan on forcing Bynum into unnecessary action. “I’ll try to work him out somewhat similar to what we did tonight, short minutes, relief minutes and see how he goes in the game. I was ready to put him back in if we needed to tonight but that was a game in which we didn’t have to push it down the end.”

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Andrew Bynum making season debut Tuesday

June 15, 2010 - Los Angeles, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES - epa02204142 Los Angeles Lakers' Andrew Bynum (R) goes to the basket as Boston Celtics' Rasheed Wallace defends during the first half of game six of the NBA Finals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, USA, 15 June 2010. The Celtics lead the series 3-2.

Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register reports (via blog):

Andrew Bynum is set to make his season debut Tuesday vs. the Wizards after one final successful practice Monday.

Bynum had surgery to his right knee on July 28 to reattach cartilage damaged last postseason and will have missed this season’s first 24 games.

Bynum has been expected to be the starting center again immediately. Phil Jackson wants Bynum to carry over his knee looseness from pregame warmups to game action instead of stiffening up on the bench.

The Los Angles Times reports:

“I’m definitely playing tomorrow,” said the Lakers’ center, who has not see game action since undergoing knee surgery last July.

The Lakers, on a 9-7 skid after winning their first eight games, have been waiting for Bynum to return, though there was no timetable for how many minutes he might play Tuesday against Washington.

“I don’t know how long,” he said Monday after practicing with teammates before they met with President Obama. “The practice felt very good. Obviously I’m not myself yet, but I can definitely go out there and help the team, and I’m going to go do that.”

Ron Artest still does not understand the triangle offense

Los Angeles Lakers NBA player Ron Artest wore his championship winning team s colors, purple and gold, as he made his way through a sea of fans outside Voyeur Nightclub in West Hollywood, California on June 24, 2010.Ron Ron sported a large necklace that reads True Warier. Fame Pictures, Inc

Elliot Teaford of the Los Angeles Daily News reports:

Ron Artest acknowledged during an interview with ESPN what almost every Lakers watcher has assumed since he signed with the team as a free agent during the summer of 2009. He admitted he doesn’t know the Lakers’ offense.

“See, I can’t really understand the triangle,” he said in a story posted Saturday on ESPN.com. “There’s 1,000 plays in the triangle. It’s such a challenge. I get so frustrated about it. So I just stay in my one spot in the corner.

“If I leave my spot, I get yelled at. (Lakers coach) Phil (Jackson’s) gonna say, `What are you doing over there!’ So I just don’t move.”

Artest made his comments Dec. 3 during a day-long visit with Rick Reilly.

The Lakers called off Saturday’s scheduled practice, so Artest was not available for comment. He was the first player to leave the locker room after the Lakers’ loss to the Chicago Bulls on Friday, the first game on their six-game trip.

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