You know, I really hate it when people drop the "I'm so sorry I haven't been posting, I'm just really busy" line. But, I'm so sorry I haven't been posting, I'm just really busy. I'm not kidding either. Between school full-time, work part-time, and my gig co-hosting theloveofsports.com podcast Monday trough Thursday, I've let you down here at VHP. Things shouldn't be like this, especially with this fairy tale start of a season.

So, I'm going to scrape, but I'm going to try to take care of business here. I really do love doing it. It's my little escape.

Well, as I alluded to, this start has been magical at just about every level. The Lakers are 11-1, with the best record in the league, and let me tell you, the crazed superfans will remind you that, yes, that's a better clip than the Celtics. From my perspective (and you know I try to stay as balanced as possible here), it's really hard to find any negatives right now. Sure, Andrew Bynum could be bringing better numbers, but it's all a part of the process. He's taking baby steps, and what many overlook is the fact that he's got Pau F'ing Gasol down there with him. I said it a few months ago. If Andrew averages 10, 10, and 2 blocks, the Lakers should be alright. His presence alone is making a difference. Andrew's 11.2 PPG, 9.2 RPG, and 2.5BPG is in fact doing the job, and barring the possibility of an injury, it's only going to get better from here  as he gets more comfortable with his recovery.

Perhaps the biggest impact this season, however, in my opinion is the breakout of Trevor Ariza. I've always liked TA for his hustle and drive, but this season he's coming out with scoring, and the big one: ANTICIPATION. Trevor has the basketball IQ of a Tim Duncan with the tenacity of a Dennis Rodman. Seeing Trevor fly all over the court picking off passes, dunking on 7 footer's heads... that's basketball to me. He's a worker, and I love it. Trev defines the high-speed, full court bench for this Lakers team, and with 9.3 PPG and more than two steals a game, he's gaining the recognition that he deserves.

Well, it's a long season, we know that, but you'd be a fool to not say that the Lakers have their s__t together. I'm not making predictions here, becasue nobody cares, but things are looking up in lala land. I was going to post some news, but there's really not much to hit on other than Vujacic vs. Ariza, which is old news. Have a good Thanksgiving, people.

The Lakers take the floor at the Honda Center in Anaheim in just about seven hours. For the first time since June, the Purple and Gold will grace the hardwood in a meaningful game.

Meaningful?

My point, exactly. This game shouldn't matter... But, to anyone that follows Lakers basketball, IT DOES.

Tonight's game had been marked on calendars since the preseason schedule was announced way back when, and I must say, this very well may be the most anticipated Lakers pre season game ever.

Bigger than last season, when nobody was sure if Kobe would even show up.

Bigger than 1996, when the duo of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant first saw light

Bigger than 2003, when Gary Payton, Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone, and Shaquille O'Neal were all on the same damn team.

Why?

Because of all of the variables. Sure, coming off of a Finals appearance doesn't hurt, but the 2008-2009 Lakers are an open book of uncertainty. And, it's not necessarily even the bad type of uncertainty. Some of it revolves around finding a home for Lamar Odom (one of the league's most versatile players... when he feels like it), in the offense. Something that produces results regardless.

Some, however, is a little more serious. Questions like "Are Pau and AB going to mesh offensively?", "Will Andrew's knee hold up?", and "Is Josh Powell going to be a formidable replacement for the irreplaceable Ronny Turiaf?" have been asked all off-season and training camp long.

Well, today folks, some insight will be shed. Not speculation. Numbers, and pictures, and videos, and quotes.

Even though it's "juuust an exhibition...," heaps of ambiguity will be brought to a close.

Jazz @ Lakers, 7pm, TONIGHT.

Welcome back, basketball.

What's up kids? I'mmm baaaack.

That's right. After the long, arduous, and HOT summer that followed a pretty chilling Lakers embarrassment in the Finals, I'm back here to spew my numbers, info, and dry humor out on you all.

If you didn't read my stuff last season, let it be known now, I'm NOT here to ramble on about how great Kobe is, I'm NOT here to defend the history of the Lakers organization, and I'm certainly NOT here to get the fanboy juices flowing.

What am I here for? To serve as a conduit for your hungry brains in need of an aggregation of Lakers news, notes, and oddities. ...All laced with my occasional wit and smart ass attitude.

Vlade STILL has a posse, and the posse has no agenda. Welcome home.



As documented throughly by a trip thought the VHP archives, last season was a roller coaster in Lakers Land. Well, the ups and downs of a trying, injury-laden season has lead us to this coming Tuesday. Preseason game one of the 2008-2009 season.

Ronny is gone, but Sasha is back.

Kobe and Pau are tired, but Andrew is at full health.

Phil shaved the beard, but grew out the hair.

Sun Yue is finally a Laker, but has mono.

Kobe wants to go to Europe... buuuuuut, it was "just a joke."

These are the story lines that will finally be partially laid to waste on Tuesday. We will finally have the numbers and pictures to back up everything we've heard for the past three months.

The off-season was a long one for Lakers fans. Perhaps the 'so close, yet so far' nuances of the NBA finals left fans in a perpetual state of anticipation for the coming season, waking in a cold sweat at 2am in the middle of August... waiting... just waiting to finally doze off for the night on a high note.

There is NO DOUBT that the Finals didn't go as planned for the Lakers, I could go on forever about that, but now, finally, is the time to buckle into another rousing season of NBA action.

Shifting back into the classic VHP style, let's get up to date on what's going on right now.

Perhaps, one of the most interesting stories of the off-season came out of the LA Times last week:

Forget about that Lakers frontline of Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum.

Odom has been shifted to ball-handling guard, part of an experiment conducted by Coach Phil Jackson in a monthlong petri dish called exhibition season.

Odom, who has already clashed with Jackson in training camp, has brought the ball up court for the Lakers in their first two days of practice.

Derek Fisher has shifted to a shooting-guard role on offense and Kobe Bryant has moved to small forward. [LA Times]

Well, aint that something? After all of the drama surrounding wether Lamar would even start this season with the new-look line-up, Phil drops this bomb. This is an idea that I like. Not only can Lamar handle the ball well, as evidenced through a small portion of last season, but the mismatch that this would create would be unprecedented. A 6'10" point guard taking the ball down and making plays has the potential to throw off an entire defensive effort.

Also coming out of camp:
Sasha Vujacic suffered a moderately sprained left ankle Tuesday after coming down on the foot of DJ Mbenga on a drive to the basket.

Vujacic, who signed a three-year, $15-million contract in the off-season, is expected to be out a few days.

"I think he's going to be all right," Jackson said. "It's one of those weird ones. There's no swelling, but he's got some obvious discomfort." [LA Times]

That's about it for now... aside from Chris Mihm being deemed 100% for the fist time in a few years.

The Lakers take the court Tuesday night against the Jazz at 7pm on KCAL 9, locally.

Thanks for reading, everyone!

In the midst of preparations for the opening games of Men's Basketball pool play in Beijing, Kobe is starting a new firestorm here at home.

Kobe Bryant won't sign a contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers until he has tested the global market, the U.S. Olympic basketball star told Yahoo! Sports on Saturday. Asked whether he plans to solicit overseas offers before signing an extension, Bryant flatly said yes. It's possible Bryant could leave the NBA for Europe - perhaps in a dual role of owner and player - as early as next summer. Bryant is signed with the Lakers through the 2010-11 season, but can opt out after next season. [Yahoo! Sports]

I could express my opinion on this for pages, but I'll keep it at this:

Why does Kobe feel the need to talk about this right now? After all of the emphasis he's put on the importance of winning an Olympic gold, he's spouting off about a controversial move that won't even happen for another year. It just doesn't seem right.

I respect both Kobe's status as one of the best players in the world, and anyone's quest for riches, but give me a break. Why now?

[Complete Post at LA Hoops Blog]

Just two days before the US is set to take on China in men's basketball pool play at the Olympics, the Lakers have announced the acquisition of point guard, Sun Yue-China's premiere play making presence. Yue, drafted by the Lakers 40th overall in 2007 has been highly touted as the "Magic Johnson of the far east," because of his 6-9, 205lb. frame coupled with his excellent ball-handling and passing abilities.

The Lakers are set to make the deal official in the next few days. "Hopefully, it will get done soon" said Lakers' spokesman John Black, yesterday.

This is a big pick-up for the Lakers. The word was that Mitch wasn't going to pull the trigger on Yue until next year, however, doubt on Jordan Farmar's progression is rumored to have been the kicker on the move.

Despite the historical uncertainty on foreign players, the tape doesn't lie on Sun Yue.

[Complete Story at LA Hoops Blog]