T.J. SIMERS

It doesn't take much to make these Lakers happy

Two straight wins, including Sunday over the mighty Thunder, and suddenly Lakers' world is all sweetness and light. Of course, they're still six games under .500.

By T.J. Simers

January 27, 2013, 9:02 p.m.

Gush City.

T.J. Simers
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Everyone loves everybody now. There were Lakers hugs all around, with fans at Staples Center on Sunday joining the party, getting rally towels and the feel of a playoff game.

Happy 79th birthday, Jerry Buss, as Gush City flattens Oklahoma City and holds the top-scoring team in the NBA below 100 points.

The Lakers not only bring back excitement to Staples but look as if they will never lose again while shooting guard Steve Nash sets sights on the NBA's scoring title.

"Kobe Johnson," meanwhile, puts on another show, more assists than shots, with the unselfish one now tweeting just as much as his namesake.

In a season filled with too many restarts to count, finally confirmation the Lakers might have something going.

How about the Lazarus Award for Mike D'Antoni for being comeback coach of the year?

Or the Lakers reaching the .500 mark again? Happy days are here again, as the world turns.

It was just a few days ago the local media had the Lakers and Dwight Howard pegged as goners.

Some media types quoted unnamed sources suggesting the Lakers were talking about trading Howard. There was no truth to it, as if that matters anymore, but it makes you wonder about these unnamed sources.

Others were hearing from unnamed Lakers insiders who said Howard was unhappy and had already decided not to return to L.A. next season.

When Howard announced after Sunday's win he was having fun, I asked, "So now that you are having fun does that mean you will be back with the Lakers next season?"

I thought it might be better to check with Howard rather than seek out unnamed Lakers insiders.

I got the big Howard smile in return.

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear your answer," I said, and I remember saying that to Jim McMahon once and he blew his nose on me and said, "There's an answer for you."

Howard showed more restraint and good humor.

"You're crazy," he said with a laugh, but then I reminded him it was well known around here that he was unhappy and he had already decided not to return.

"I have never said that," Howard said, after actually suggesting quite the contrary in an earlier interview here that he wanted to use L.A. as a platform to do bigger things in his life.

Comments (33)

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boloneysandwich at 11:40 AM January 29, 2013

uhhh huuh, I noted in the last Simers article where everyone was hand wringing and calling for heads to roll, to chill out and stop over reacting - forging a winning formula takes time and experience. Two wins and everyone is happy again. Stay balanced, people, there is a long half season to go.

skegeemann at 6:02 PM January 28, 2013

T.J...T.J...T.J....I never thought I would ever say this, but this was the best article that I have read from you in a while. I was the guy who wrote you some time ago about getting off the back of Kobe with some of your intrusive questions and you fired back by printing my comments. This time, I actually like one of the quesitons you asked this time. You asked Dwight, "So now that you are having fun does that mean you will be back with the Lakers next season?" I will admit I was one of those who was on board with a Dwight trade because it didn't look like his heart was in it and the fact that he is known as a waffler when it comes to his decision making. If Kobe continues on the path he is on I think this will do good for his image as a basketball player and his relationship with Dwight and the rest of the team. I know it's a love fest with just a couple of wins, but you have to admit T.J. that they are playing with a renewed vigor with Kobe's new approach, which will in the end extend his championship run by adjusting his game.

Diamondweave at 2:02 PM January 28, 2013

As the players put D'Antoni's system in the trash, the team is finding success. The Lakers are running a sort of hybridized Triangle out there with Kobe in the post and the slow tempo.

I guess this is how it would have looked if Phil Jackson was hired from the beginning.

But if the Lakers succeed in tuning out D'Antoni and play their own way, what is the future for D'Antoni?

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