Pau Gasol hadn’t played in an NBA game this season — until Thursday night. In a nationally televised game against the Chicago Bulls, Gasol scored 24 points, pulled down 13 rebounds and dished out three assists as the Lakers beat the Bulls 108-93.
Gasol, who was out due to injury, didn’t skip a beat. He hit 9-of-15 field goal attempts and all six of his free throws. Kobe Bryant chipped in 21 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, while Ron Artest had 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals.
The Bulls were never really in the game. They trailed by …read more

When the season began, the Los Angeles Lakers were supposedly going to threaten 70 wins. Now, after two straight losses, the Lakers just want to get back on track. The latest team to beat L.A. was the Houston Rockets, who did so by a final score of 101-91.
The Rockets only had one starter in double figures, however that one player dominated: Aaron Brooks. The quick little point guard who tortured the Lakers last year in the playoffs was at it again. In 41 minutes of action, Brooks finished with 33 points, six rebounds and four assists. He hit 11-of-23 shots …read more

According to multiple sources, Ron Artest is headed to Los Angeles to sign with the defending champion Lakers. Artest, whose Houston Rockets took the Lakers to seven games in the Western Conference Semi-Finals, will reportedly sign an offer using the mid-level exception.
The Lakers needed to look for a new small forward after Trevor Ariza decided to ask for more money than Los Angeles wanted to pay. Although Ariza played great in the NBA playoffs, the Lakers obviously think he is expendable. Enter Ron Artest.
Last season with the Rockets, Artest averaged 17.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. He …read more

Or could the fallen Great Wall be a blessing in disguise?
Devastating news out of Houston tonight (Saturday, May 9th) as Yao Ming will be out for the remainder of the playoffs with a hairline fracture in his left foot.
This is obviously painful for not only Yao but Rocket nation as well. The fans and the players really thought Houston could compete with the Lakers and even possibly beat them. Now it looks like a rather bleak proposition, but I wouldn’t rule Houston out just yet.
Of course Houston is a better team with Yao playing 30+ minutes a game, that’s not the issue.
Transition …read more

I’m a little late on this since it happened last night, but I had to at least comment on it.
The easily agitated Ron Artest is going to join Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady on the Houston Rockets. It kind of makes you wonder why the Sacramento Kings didn’t trade him to an Eastern Conference team so that this didn’t come back to bite them in the butt. And for Bobby Jackson … really?
Although Artest wanted to go back to New York (why, I have NO idea) he’s still content with this trade.
According to ESPN, he was quoted …read more