Think the Pau Gasol trade makes no difference?

Think again.

Even without Andrew Bynum, the Lakers won their ninth in a row.

Los Angeles 96 Portland 83.

Kobe had his usual 30 points. Kobe also added 9 rebounds and seven assists.

Pau Gasol had 15 points and 10 rebounds.

The Lakers are on a roll.

Second-year backup point guard Jordan Farmar tied a career high with 21 points for the Lakers, who lead the Western Conference by one game over San Antonio and Phoenix and are 40-17, just two wins behind last season’s total with 25 games to play. source

Phil Jackson is trying to convince his team of the importance of home court for the playoffs and they seem to be listening.

Portland

Meanwhile, things are not so good in Portland.

The Blazers have lost eight of their last nine and 15 of 22 following a 17-1 surge. As a result, they are only one game over .500 (29-28) in the tightly bunched West, where the top nine teams are separated by just 6 1/2 games. Portland is in 10th place, 4 1/2 games behind Denver and 5 1/2 behind Golden State for the eighth and final seed.

Kobe speaks

Kobe even bragged about his bench.

“We have, in my estimation, the best bench in the league,” Bryant said. “Guys come in and do an extremely good job of playing, moving the basketball, knocking down shots and just playing extremely well.” source

It appears everything is ok in Laker land.

How can it even get better when Bynum gets back?

NBA Basketball Fan Question Will the Lakers win the NBA Title?

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