GO PURPLE & GOLD

The preseason is now underway for the Los Angeles Lakers. So far the Lakers have played their first two preseason games against the Utah Jazz and their inner city rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers. Though they have lost both of these games the Lakers are still picked to be one of the top seeds in the West once again this year.

Thursday night's game (October 9th) was the Laker's worst preseason loss since a 31-point defeat to the Golden State Warriors in 2005 and it kept the Lakers (0-2) this preseason. Lakers star Kobe Bryant played 24 minutes and finished with 12 points and three assists. He left midway through the third quarter and did not return.

Baron Davis, who signed with the Clippers in the offseason after spending the past three seasons with the Warriors, played 17 minutes and finished with 12 points and seven assists. Ricky Davis, who signed as a free agent with the Clippers in the offseason after playing for the Miami Heat, scored 13 points in the first half and was 3-of-5 from behind the arc. The Los Angeles Clippers led by as many as 13 points in the first half and began distancing themselves again early in the fourth quarter after the Lakers got as close as 79-74 on Jordan Farmar's 3-pointer. Farmar, who finished with 12 points, was one of five Lakers in double figures. Reserve forward Vladimir Radmanovic led the Lakers with 14 points.

It was a predominantly Lakers crowd who came out to see a rare NBA game in the central San Joaquin Valley. It was the first time the Lakers lost in Fresno, where the team also played in 2004 and 2006. The final score of Thursday nights game was 107-80. Many people are "already" questioning whether the Los Angeles Lakers have become a mediocre team or if they can in fact make it to the NBA finals once again this season. Please people have no fear, Kobe Bryant is here who was the NBA's MVP this past season and let's also not forget Andrew Bynum is back. Prior to Bynum's injury he ranked among league leaders in rebounds (10.2/11th), field goal percentage (.695/1st) and blocked shots (2.06/9th) while posting 18 double-doubles in 35 total games.

It's too early right now to see how the Los Angeles Lakers are going to play together this 2008-2009 season. We JUST started preseason and haven't even begun the long grueling regular season that lies ahead of us. Let's take one game at a time and watch how they do as time moves on. I am a die hard Lakers fan and always have been. I myself am looking forward to this coming up season. Now that Andrew Bynum is back and healthy I am ready to see how this team fits and plays together this year. I support the Los Angeles Lakers and I hope this year is our year and we can bring the NBA Championship back to LA!