Due to the overwhelming support of our fans, the second day of Lakers Fan Jam is sold out. There will be no walk-up tickets sold at the Convention Center on Sunday.
“We had an amazing turnout from the best fans in sports today,” said Lakers Spokesman John Black. “We’re thankful to have so much support from the Lakers community.”
For those possessing tickets we look forward to seeing you for another fun-filled day of Lakers Fan Jam.
Thank you to everyone for making this event such a success.
Their best player, Danny Granger, has battled various injuries and played in only 41 of 59 games, while Troy Murphy has missed 10 and Mike Dunleavy 14 contests.
With those – and other – injuries leading Head Coach Jim O’Brien to use 22 different starting lineups this season, the Pacers have turned recently to small ball, starting point guards T.J. Ford and Earl Watson together in the backcourt. Usual power forward Murphy has been playing center, with wings Granger and Rush spreading the floor further. The Pacers, however, could very well start Dahntay Jones instead of Ford to better match up with Kobe Bryant.
When on the floor, Granger’s been quite good to average 23.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.61 steals, and Murphy a near double-double with 13.8 points and 9.7 boards a night.
But as assistant coach Jim Cleamons explained, punishing the Pacers with size and not getting into their up-and-down game will be the key factor for the Lakers. It certainly was on Jan. 27 in Indianapolis, when Andrew Bynum posted 27 points and 12 rebounds while Pau Gasol added 21 and 13.
While the Lakers didn’t have anyone participating in this year’s Rookie/Sophmore Challenge that didn’t stop three Lakers from attending for various reasons.
Guard Jordan Farmar, in town as the team’s players association representative, sat courtside next to the the Clippers’ Chris Kaman while watching fellow UCLA Bruins Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook.
At halftime the NBA held their first ever Dunk-In contest between DeMar DeRozan and Eric Gordon with the winner gaining entrance into Saturday night’s main event. Shannon Brown is quickly becoming the people’s favorite to take the Slam Dunk crown but that didn’t stop him from doing a little scouting Saturday.
For Pau Gasol it was a family affair as for the second year in a row his brother Marc was involved in the game.
PHIL JACKSON PART I
PHIL JACKSON PART II
Lakers Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom have been named to USA Basketball’s initial 27-man roster that will compete in various events between 2010-2012 leading up to the 2012 London Olympic games.
Bryant joins eight other returning members of the 2008 team that captured gold in Beijing.
“This is another important step in the reassembling of the USA National Team for the next three years of competitions that will include the FIBA World Championship in 2010, and if we qualify, the 2012 Olympics in London. Unlike 2006-08 when we were first starting the program, this time we have the benefit of including players who were members of the last national team, while also incorporating players who were involved in our pipeline the last couple of summers,” said Jerry Colangelo, who also served as Managing Director of the 2006-08 USA National Team.
Odom is no stranger to international competition as he was a member of the 2004 team that played in Greece.
For the full roster visit USAbasketball.com
After the game Kobe Bryant talked about what it means to him to pass Jerry West and become the all-time leading scorer in Lakers history.
For every point Lakers big man Pau Gasol scores tonight against the New York Knicks he will donate $1,000 to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.
The two former presidents established the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund (CBHF) to respond to unmet needs in the country, foster economic opportunity, improve the quality of life over the long term for those affected, and assist the people of Haiti as they rebuild their lives and “build back better,” according to their website, clintonbushhaitifund.org
President Clinton will be on hand at Madison Square Garden for tonight’s game and will be interviewed by ESPN at halftime along with Gasol and the Knicks’ Danilo Gallinari.
Other Wasserman Media Group players like Antawn Jamison, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, Tyreke Evans and many other will join in donating monies per point in tonight’s game.
Lakers guard Jordan Farmar, also represented by Wasserman, headlines a group of players making generous contributions to the relief effort.
Earlier this week the Lakers organization and their fans mobilized on several fronts to raise nearly $40,000 for American Red Cross – Haiti Relief and Recovery. Read more about that here.
Kobe Bryant, a three time All-Star MVP, will make his 12th All-Star game appearance alongside Steve Nash, Carmelo Anthony, Tim Duncan and Amare Stoudemire for the Western Conference at the 2010 All-Star Game in Dallas.
The reserves for each conference will be announced next Thursday on TNT. Here’s how the selection process for the reserves works:
In selecting the reserves, the 30 NBA head coaches must vote for seven players within their conference, including two guards, two forwards, a center and two players regardless of position. Coaches are not permitted to vote for players on their team. After the coaches select the reserves, if a player is unable to participate in the All-Star Game, NBA Commissioner David Stern will select a replacement. Reserves will be announced Jan. 28, on TNT.
The East and West All-Star coaches and coaching staffs will be determined by the best record in each conference through games played Jan. 31. Last year’s East and West coaches – Cleveland’s Mike Brown and the L.A. Lakers’ Phil Jackson — are not eligible to coach this year’s All-Star Game.
The final voting tallies are listed below the jump.
2010 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING WESTERN CONFERENCE
Forwards: Carmelo Anthony (Den) 2,137,560; Tim Duncan (SA) 1,156,696; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 1,093,005; Pau Gasol (LAL) 1,051,784; Kevin Durant (OKC) 870,567; Trevor Ariza (Hou) 645,937; Luis Scola (Hou) 580,243; Ron Artest (LAL) 368,281; Shawn Marion (Dal) 363,516; LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) 309,497.
Guards: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 2,456,224; Steve Nash (Pho) 1,222,235; Chris Paul (NO) 1,055,789; Tracy McGrady (Hou) 1,022,492; Aaron Brooks (Hou) 591,930; Jason Kidd (Dal) 523,708; Manu Ginobili (SA) 465,211; Chauncey Billups (Den) 452,983; Tony Parker (SA) 439,536; Brandon Roy (Por) 422,290.
Centers: Amar’e Stoudemire (Pho) 1,824,093; Andrew Bynum (LAL) 981,355; Nene (Den) 364,543; Marc Gasol (Mem) 353,155; Antonio McDyess (SA) 328,717; Al Jefferson (Min) 252,777; Greg Oden (Por) 225,245; Marcus Camby (LAC) 188,240; Emeka Okafor (NO) 182,626; Andris Biedrins (GS) 167,481.
2010 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING EASTERN CONFERENCE
Forwards: LeBron James (Clev) 2,549,693; Kevin Garnett (Bos) 1,978,116; Chris Bosh (Tor) 1,164,007; Paul Pierce (Bos) 525,677; Josh Smith (Atl) 475,671; Andre Iguodala (Phi) 313,827; Danny Granger (Ind) 309,808; Rashard Lewis (Orl) 302,743; Michael Beasley (Mia) 277,400; Hedo Turkoglu (Tor) 213,369.
Guards: Dwyane Wade (Mia) 2,327,550; Allen Iverson (Phi) 1,269,568; Vince Carter (Orl) 1,048,977; Ray Allen (Bos) 710,045; Derrick Rose (Chi) 571,911; Gilbert Arenas (Was) 545,860; Joe Johnson (Atl) 496,255; Rajon Rondo (Bos) 425,590; Jose Calderon (Tor) 292,909; Mike Bibby (Atl) 223,759.
Centers: Dwight Howard (Orl) 2,360,096; Shaquille O’Neal (Cle) 856,056; Al Horford (Atl) 270,532; Andrea Bargnani (Tor) 265,024; Brook Lopez (NJ) 223,246; Andrew Bogut (Mil) 202,072; Jermaine O’Neal (Mia) 159,327; Rasheed Wallace (Bos) 131,084; Brad Miller (Chi) 102,994; Kendrick Perkins (Bos) 90,278.
As was the case in December against the Utah Jazz, the Lakers will wear their gold uniforms in an opposing city.
On that day, the Jazz exercised their option to wear their alternate green uniforms, forcing the Lakers to bring gold unis that are normally reserved for home use only.
Tonight the Cavs will pay tribute to their earlier years in Cleveland as they break out their wine and gold duds.
The game is set for a 5pm tip on TNT.