Pau Gasol scores 34 points to lead Lakers
LAKERS 116, CHICAGO 109
The Lakers had three days to think about last Friday night's loss to the Detroit Pistons, to collect themselves after their string of seven consecutive victories to start the season was snapped, to re-discover their defense.

latimes.com
LAKERS FYI
Young center wants to be more assertive, but Hall of Famer says opportunities will come. >>

LAKERS FYI
Chicago isn't Detroit (the Bulls are only 5-5), but Kobe Bryant expects another tough, physical game against a 'gritty' opponent. >>

LAKERS
Lakers' guards match up against quality point guards almost every night. So far results have been mixed. There's no letup this week, with Derrick Rose, Steve Nash and Chauncey Billups on the schedule. >>

OBITUARY
As the Lakers' general manager, Newell, who retired from coaching at 44, brought Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to L.A. in 1975. >>

PRO BASKETBALL
Derek Fisher (sore ribs) and Sasha Vujacic (sprained ankle) practiced Monday. >>

November 17, 2008
LAKERS FYI
Lakers center, averaging only 9.9 points per game, vows to become more assertive in the low post. >>

November 15, 2008
MARK HEISLER / ON THE NBA
With O'Neal in Phoenix, they'll be seeing a lot more of each other. >>

LAKERS FYI
Lakers provide little resistance in first setback and Jordan Farmar calls their effort 'disappointing.' >>

BILL PLASCHKE
Mortals, we knew. >>

DETROIT 106, LAKERS 95
Allen Iverson and Rasheed Wallace score 25 points apiece as Detroit pulls away in the second half. >>

NBA
The veteran knows it's a long season, so he remains on an even keel despite the team's fast start. >>

LAKERS FYI
His shooting hasn't improved, but he starts for the Pistons at center against the Lakers. >>

November 14, 2008
LAKERS FYI
Seven of their next eight games are at home, and only three of them are against teams with winning records. But there isn't complacency on the team. >>

November 13, 2008
LAKERS 93, NEW ORLEANS 86
L.A. wins in New Orleans, 93-86, to improve to 7-0. Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher score 20 points for Lakers, who led by as many as 23 points in third quarter. >>

LAKERS FYI
The coach says his star was doing too much at the end of the game as the Lakers were holding off the Hornets. >>

PRO BASKETBALL
The coach and former player, who grew up in Inglewood, says he's thought about the L.A. coaching job 'a lot.' He was NBA coach of the year last season for New Orleans. >>

November 8, 2008
In an excerpt from the new book, "Madmen's Ball: The Continuing Saga of Kobe, Phil and the Los Angeles Lakers," author Mark Heisler writes about the start of their last season together. >>

November 12, 2008
LAKERS 106, DALLAS 99
The Lakers dig down on defense during the game's most important moments and improve to 6-0. >>

November 11, 2008
PRO BASKETBALL
He shuts down Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki in the second half, a key part of the Lakers' come-from-behind victory. >>

November 12, 2008
LAKERS FYI
Although team owner Jerry Buss says the job is his as long as he wants it, the Lakers' 63-year-old coach is making no promises beyond this season. >>

November 11, 2008
LAKERS FYI
Dallas traded for Jason Kidd in February, partly in response to Lakers' acquisition of Pau Gasol. But all Mavs have gotten so far is a first-round playoff exit and 19-21 record. >>

JERRY CROWE
Text messages from press row >>

LAKERS
The Lakers have gone to great lengths to shore up their defense from last season. Having a pair of 7-footers helps. >>

November 10, 2008
PRO BASKETBALL
Owner says he'll pay what it takes, in salary and luxury taxes, to keep the team in championship contention. Retaining Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson is a priority. >>

MARK HEISLER / ON THE NBA
What's Wrong With The Lakers? (First of a 10-part series.) >>

LAKERS 111, HOUSTON 82
They win their fifth straight to start the season, erasing early 16-point deficit and routing Rockets by 29. Their average victory margin is 22.4 points. >>

LAKERS FYI
Some physical play by Houston's Carl Landry brings out a more aggressive side to the Lakers forward. >>

November 9, 2008
LAKERS FYI
L.A.'s shooting percentage of 43.5% ranks 21st in the league. >>

LAKERS
Houston has a winning record and three standout players in Yao Ming, Ron Artest and Tracy McGrady. >>

NBA
L.A. will try to stay undefeated. >>

November 8, 2008
LAKERS
With only one game this week, the All-Star guard has made sure to keep everyone from becoming complacent during the down time. >>

LAKERS FYI
Brian Cook is complaining, while Ronny Turiaf and Kwame Brown are off to slow starts. Marc Gasol is doing well at Memphis. >>

CLIPPERS FYI
Clippers coach impressed after two lopsided defeats to the Lakers. >>

November 7, 2008
LAKERS FYI
He wrestled with the idea of being the team's sixth man, saying, 'It humbles you.' But by deferring to the decision-makers, he sees lots of playing time. >>

November 6, 2008
LAKERS-CLIPPERS FYI
Hall of Famer is thrilled about the presidential election and optimistic about this team. >>

LAKERS 106, CLIPPERS 88
Lakers use a 22-0 run in the fourth quarter to turn a deficit into their fourth consecutive win and Clippers' fifth loss. >>

MARK HEISLER / ON THE NBA
They appear to just go through the motions against the Clippers in a 106-88 win. >>

November 5, 2008
PRO BASKETBALL
After last week's romp over Clippers, they meet again >>

LAKERS FYI
Coach wants every Laker to be ready to contribute, for however long he is needed. Luke Walton's playing time is way down from last season. >>

November 4, 2008
BILL DWYRE
Former Lakers great has never been comfortable with the recognition that came from his success. >>

LAKERS FYI
Wednesday's game against Clippers is Lakers' only game in an eight-day stretch. They say they're viewing it as an opportunity to iron out a few wrinkles in practice. >>

LAKERS
Lakers center strains rotator cuff during practice but says he will go against the Clippers on Wednesday. >>

November 3, 2008
LAKERS FYI
He would like to see him get the ball more and be more integrated in the game, as his tendencies are the flip side of those of Kobe Bryant. >>

November 2, 2008
MARK HEISLER / ON THE NBA
They have stepped it up a notch with Andrew Bynum, but they still are left with the memory of a humiliating loss to the Celtics. >>

LAKERS 104, DENVER 97
Bryant scores 14 of his 33 points in the final seven minutes and Lakers improve to 3-0 after their first big test on the road. >>

LAKERS FYI
He can't get into a rhythm against the Nuggets in his first game after signing extension. >>

LAKERS
They stop Nuggets when it counts and pull away in the fourth quarter. >>

November 1, 2008
LAKERS FYI
The 21-year-old center is happy and relieved about his four-year, $57.4-million contract extension, saying he wants 'to be a Laker . . . for life.' >>

LAKERS
Both forwards are in the final year of their contracts. >>

October 31, 2008
BILL PLASCHKE
Mitch Kupchak is taking a risk that the young center's knee holds up and that he becomes a franchise player. >>

MARK HEISLER / ON THE NBA
The 21-year-old center gets his contract extension, just a few years removed from being known as a player who was out of shape and not interested in basketball. >>

LAKERS
The young center's contract extension is worth $57.4 million. He could have been a restricted free agent in July. >>

JERRY CROWE
Text messages from press row . . . >>

PRO BASKETBALL
They all have been towering presences over the basketball landscape, some of the best centers to have played the game, each dominated the NBA and help make up the lineage of great Lakers centers over the last six decades. >>

LAKERS FYI
He is represented by David Lee, who just helped Andrew Bynum sign an extension. Ariza, who faces negotiations next summer, has increased his all-around game. >>

October 30, 2008
T.J. SIMERS
The Champs versus the chumps. >>

LAKERS FYI
With plenty of depth, they make it two easy victories in a row. >>

MARK HEISLER / ON THE NBA
Of course, nobody has ever won the NBA title only two games into the season. >>

LAKERS 117, CLIPPERS 79
Balanced team makes it two in a row, as Clippers are routed in their opener. >>

CLIPPERS
Though it was only their first game of the season, Davis says he doesn't want Clippers to have a losing attitude. >>

Lakers 117, Clippers 79
Kobe Bryant has 16 points and eight rebounds, Pau Gasol has 13 points, nine rebounds and six assists as Lakers cruise to victory. >>

AROUND THE NBA
The rookie center was injured in his NBA debut Tuesday against the Lakers. >>

October 29, 2008
T.J. SIMERS
After Tuesday's win, the only question left is whether they will be distracted in next year's season opener. >>

BILL PLASCHKE
They incorporate defensive moves learned from their loss in Finals to Celtics in solid season opener against Trail Blazers. >>

MARK HEISLER ON THE NBA
Resumption of serious hostilities between L.A. and Portland, and budding rivalry between Andrew Bynum and Greg Oden, is put on hold as only one team shows up on opening night. >>

LAKERS 96, PORTLAND 76
Kobe Bryant has 23 points and Pau Gasol has 15, all in the first half, as Lakers cruise past Portland. >>

LAKERS FYI
Young center struggles a bit against Trail Blazers. >>

PRO BASKETBALL
Reserves play key roles on opening night. >>

October 28, 2008
PRO BASKETBALL
Portland is poised to enjoy a new Blazermania, but without the wild guys from the first version. >>

PRO BASKETBALL / LAKERS PREVIEW
The flameout against Celtics in Finals has instilled an ambition to win it all this season. With a reloaded roster, it's certainly possible, but Lakers will also have a target on their backs. >>

LAKERS FYI
A day before Tuesday's season opener against Portland, the Lakers coach says he still hasn't settled on who will start, much less what his regular rotation will be. >>

MARK HEISLER / ON THE NBA
They never complain, they store any insults, go out on the floor and take it out on whatever team is there. >>

October 27, 2008
LAKERS FYI
After a summer of international competition, including the Olympics, Pau Gasol seems to have adapted flawlessly to his new NBA position, power forward. >>

October 26, 2008
NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW
With Andrew Bynum adding a defensive element, this Lakers team could be better than last season's NBA Western Conference champion. But the competition again looks fierce. >>

LAKERS FYI
In the Lakers' eighth and final exhibition game, Bynum scores 23 points in 29 minutes, a 10-for-15 shooting effort topped off with eight rebounds and three blocked shots. >>

MARK HEISLER / ON THE NBA
The teams are picked in a poll of NBA general managers as the favorites to win their respective conferences, with the Lakers winning it all, so get ready for Ballyhoo II. >>

June 16, 2008
LAKERS 103, BOSTON 98
Lakers again build a big lead and give it up, but this time they battle it out and win the war to force a Game 6 in Boston on Tuesday. >>

October 25, 2008
LAKERS FYI
His knee injury heals enough for him to play nearly eight minutes and score six points in 105-94 victory over Oklahoma City. 'It felt fine,' he says of his right knee. >>

October 24, 2008
PRO BASKETBALL
He should be financially secure no matter what option he chooses. Bryant is reluctant to talk about next summer, and Lakers can only wait to see what he does. >>

LAKERS FYI
He worked out some Thursday morning with intention of playing, but decided to rest knee injured in game Tuesday. He says he'll definitely be ready for start of regular season. >>

October 23, 2008
KURT STREETER
The team's enigma has plenty of positive things to offer. >>

LAKERS
Once a 'know-it-all,' the guard has matured in his first two seasons and is hoping to be the starting point guard one day. >>

LAKERS
His injured knee was better today, and he still expects to play in next Tuesday's opener against Portland. >>

October 22, 2008
LAKERS
He leaves game after bumping knees with teammate. >>

October 21, 2008
LAKERS FYI
They are improving on a game-by-game basis in passing around the basket. 'We definitely have a lot more high-low post action going on,' Bynum says. >>

LAKERS
With the addition of Lamar Odom, last year's 'Bench Mob' has been charged with providing instant offense. >>

CLIPPERS FYI
Point guard could be back in time for the team's opener against the Lakers on Oct. 29. >>

October 20, 2008
LAKERS
The 7-footers go up against Raptors' big men O'Neal (6-11) and Bosh (6-10) in exhibition win. >>

October 18, 2008
LAKERS FYI
MVP might be a little fatigued from the Olympics and Phil Jackson is keeping an eye on him. >>

August 23, 2008
OLYMPIC BASKETBALL
Argentines give the Americans their toughest game so far, relying on a zone defense, but U.S. still prevails, 101-81. >>

August 20, 2008
MARK HEISLER / ON BASKETBALL
Chinese fans adore the Lakers star, whose commercial appeal has had quite a rebound. >>

August 10, 2008
BILL PLASCHKE
Feeling awed and humble, for a night at least, it was that kid we knew before all the superstar drama. He was part of a team -- Team USA -- as he marched into the stadium during the opening ceremony. >>

June 13, 2008
BEST LAKERS TEAM EVER TOURNAMENT
Which duo was better, Wilt and West or Kareem and Magic? Find out now. >>

June 8, 2008
BEST LAKERS TEAM EVER TOURNAMENT
Showtime? Shaq and Kobe? Or the 1971-72 squad. Which teams make the finals? >>

June 5, 2008
BEST LAKERS TEAM EVER TOURNAMENT
Will Mikan make it to the final four? And which teams were better, the Shaq-Kobe Lakers or the Showtime Lakers? >>

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