After a 1-4 start, the Lakers management decided that things have to take a different course when they relieved Mike Brown of head coaching duties and had Bernie Bickerstaff as interim head coach while General Manager Mitch Kupchack is on a "worldwide hunt" for the next Lakers head coach (although they already have contacted former head coach and 11-time NBA champion Phil Jackson and "gauged his interest" to coach the Lakers for one more season). However, business in the court was taken care of by Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and a (limited) Dwight Howard, who barraged through the Golden State Warriors in fashion as they claimed their second victory of the season, 101-77.
Yay of the Game:
27-9-7: MVP numbers came in from the Black Mamba, sensing the urgency to get a win now that Mike Brown has been out and changes are soon to take effect. After a close first quarter, Bryant played both scorer and playmaker as he destroyed the Warriors defense not just with high-percentage baskets and pinpoint passing.
Nay of the Game:
24: The number of minutes that the foul-plagued Dwight Howard played. The Superman garnered only 6 points, 8 boards, and two big swats in this game. Fortunately, the Lakers did not demand much of him as Pau Gasol (with a 14-16 night) and Jordan Hill (14 points, 5 of 5 field goals) took care of the paint and hit big baskets.
Play of the Game:
Classic Mamba goes for the steal and a not-so-easy lay-up.
The Lakers Are Now At:
2-4 (5th Pacific, 15th West). The Lakers will next have Pacific Division rivals Sacramento Kings. Two questions: (a) with Mike Brown out, what will happen to the team on both ends? and (b) will this be Phil Jackson's first game as a returning head coach?
Highlights:
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