Lakers Advance To Second Round By Routing Hornets, Close Out Series Winning 98-80

New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) – Kobe Bryant put the finishing touches on the Lakers’ first-round playoff series with a 24-point effort, as Los Angeles rolled over the New Orleans Hornets, 98-80, in Game 6.

Bryant made all 10 of his free throws as part of the Lakers’ 25-of-26 performance at the stripe, helping the two-time defending champions advance to the Western Conference semifinals against either the Mavericks or Trail Blazers with a 4-2 series victory.

Andrew Bynum had his fourth double-double of the series with 18 points and 12 rebounds while Pau Gasol added 16 and eight for the victors.

Chris Paul, who scored at least 20 points in each of the first five games, was held to 10, though the All-Star point guard also handed out 11 assists and grabbed eight rebounds in a losing cause.

The Hornets, who were dealt a crushing blow when leading scorer David West suffered a season-ending knee injury in late March, surprisingly took Game 1 in Los Angeles, dropped the next two and used Paul’s triple-double to even the series in Game 4.

But the Lakers’ depth and considerable advantage in the frontcourt wore down the underdogs in Games 5 and 6. Los Angeles owned a 43-30 rebounding edge in the clincher and had 21 second-chance points to the Hornets’ four.

“They used their length to their advantage,” Paul said. “It’s a disappointing loss for us, but we continued to fight. We just didn’t close it out the way we wanted to.”

Los Angeles never trailed in the second half, as Gasol, who was held to two points in the opening 24 minutes, hit consecutive jumpers to start a 12-2 run early in the third that turned a two-point lead into a double-digit cushion.

Bryant ended the stretch with a pair of free throws for a 54-42 lead with 4:19 showing, and was sent to the line again in the closing seconds of the quarter, this time after Hornets forward Jason Smith committed a flagrant foul.

Bryant made both free throws to push the margin to 69-57, and the Lakers put the game away in the fourth.

Smith opened the final quarter with a jumper, but New Orleans made just one field goal over the next six minutes. LA’s subsequent 15-4 run, culminated in two free throws from Bynum, made it an 84-63 game made midway through the stanza, and the Hornets had nothing left in the tank to mount a comeback.

“We’re good at making adjustments and learning. The more a series goes on, the more we learn … so we’re able to pick teams apart later in the series,” said Bryant, who did not show signs of an ankle injury suffered in Game 4.

Neither team led by more than four points in a tight first quarter that ended with the Lakers holding an 18-16 lead.

It stayed close throughout the second, but the Lakers scored seven of the final nine points to go up, 40-34, heading to the break.

Game Notes

The Lakers have won 33 of their last 34 series when having an opportunity to close out the set at any point…Lamar Odom, the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, posted 14 points and eight rebounds for LA…Carl Landry led the Hornets with 19 points…Paul had five of the New Orleans’ 15 turnovers…Eight of Bynum’s rebounds came on the offensive end…The Lakers will begin their next series at home on Monday.

NBA Playoffs: Previewing Whom The Lakers May Face Next

Lakers Vs. Hornets Game 6: Pau Gasol, Emeka Okafor, & The New Orleans Bench Are Three Key Factors

The Lakers have a chance to close out the Hornets Thursday night in Game 6. We already have a reasonable idea what to expect from the two stars tonight. Chris Paul is going to have his way with Derek Fisher and fill up the stat sheet, while Kobe Bryant has scored 30 or more points in an NBA record eight consecutive close-out opportunities on the road. However, the key to tonight's game might just come from these three factors:

Pau Gasol: The Spaniard has had a rough series, averaging just 13.0 points and 6.6 rebounds, but he has improved after dreadful games in the first two at Staples Center. In the last three games of the series, Gasol has averaged 16.7 points and 7.3 rebounds. In general, he has been more engaged in the last three games, and he put up 17-10 and 16-8 in the last two Lakers' wins.

Emeka Okafor: The Hornets' center, generally good for roughly 10 points and 10 rebounds per night throughout his NBA career, has not had a good series to say the least. Okafor is putting up 7.4 points and 5.4 boards so far against the Lakers, and has nearly as many personal fouls (23) as rebounds (26) in the series. He has 13 defensive rebounds in 157 minutes. The folks at the SB Nation Hornets' blog At The Hive wonder what happened:

Remember the movie Space Jam? (That's a rhetorical question, of course you remember the greatest movie of all time). I'm starting to wonder if the aliens sucked the talent out of Emeka Okafor's body before this series.

The Hornets Bench: New Orleans reserves murdered the Lakers with 39 points in their Game 1 upset win, shooting an amazing 72.7% (16-for-22) from the field. However, since then the Hornets' bench has scored 54 total points in four games, shooting 33.9% from the field. Will the reserves lift the Hornets tonight?

Tonight's 5 p.m. PDT game will be televised by both TNT and KCAL.

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.

2011 NBA Playoffs, Lakers Vs. Hornets: Game 6 Preview, TV, Game Time, Etc

Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, and the Los Angeles Lakers look to close out Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets Thursday night in Game 6 of their first round NBA playoff series in New Orleans. The Lakers lead the best-of-seven series 3-2, thanks to a 106-90 win in Game 5 Tuesday night at Staples Center. Here are the relevant details of tonight's contest:

• Who: No. 2 seed Lakers, No. 7 seed Hornets
• What: Game 6, NBA Western Conference quarterfinals
• Where: New Orleans Arena, amazingly enough in New Orleans, Louisiana
• When: 5 p.m. PDT
• TV: TNT, KCAL
• Closing It Out: In the Pau Gasol era with the Lakers (since 2008), the Lakers have had 11 chances to close out a series. They have closed out 10 series on the first try. In the 2009 Western Conference semifinals, the Lakers held a 3-2 series lead over the Rockets but lost Game 6 in Houston. The Lakers won the series in Game 7.
• Kobe In The Road Purple With The Final Blow: Kobe Bryant has scored 30 or more points in each of the last eight games in which the Lakers have had the chance to close out a series on the road, an NBA record.
• Lakers History In Game 6: When leading a series 3-2, the Lakers all-time are 13-11 in Game 6 on the road, and have won four of their last five such road Games 6.
  

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.

Pau Gasol Benefits When Lakers Stick To Triangle Offense Vs. Hornets In NBA Playoffs

2011 NBA Playoffs, Lakers Vs. Hornets: Los Angeles Takes 3-2 Lead Back To New Orleans After Game 5 Win

The first quarter might not have gone exactly like he expected. When it ended, Kobe Bryant was sitting on the bench, his team down by nine and without a legitimate contribution from it's biggest star. At this point, things didn't look very good for Kobe Bryant's ankle, or the Lakers' chances later in the Playoffs.

The second quarter was a completely different story. Kobe came out with a renewed sense of purpose, a monster dunk over Emeka Okafor and a seemingly healthier ankle. The Lakers outscored the Hornets by 12 in that second quarter, and didn't look back on their way to a 106-90 win over the Hornets in Game 5. They now have a 3-2 lead as the series moves back to New Orleans on Thursday.

According to Bill Plashke of the Los Angeles Times, Kobe Bryant treated his miraculous recovery from the ankle strain with the same nonchalance that he had handled his diagnosis and rehab.

"It was a little stiff," Bryant said of the ankle. "But it loosened up."

Of course it did. Kobe doesn't get too much time off in between this game and the Lakers next game, so hopefully it stays loose for the next couple days. Our Lakers blog Silver Screen and Roll is ready to add this to Kobe's legend.

And of course, it's another chapter in the anthology of Kobe's greatness. I don't know that we're totally out of the woods yet with his sprained ankle. There could be swelling tomorrow, and there will certainly be pain for him to manage. But he was terrific tonight and demonstrated yet again that far more often than not, he can be trusted to make the right call when it comes to his availability and minutes.

The Hornets might have won a few more games in this series than people were expecting, but the Lakers still have an opportunity to seize some momentum before they advance to the second round. This convincing win in Game 5 was a pretty good start. An equally comfortable win in Game 6 would help quiet down all the naysayers and give the Lakers some serious confidence heading into Round 2.

2011 NBA Playoffs: Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum Lead Lakers Over Hornets In Game 5, 106-90

Going into this first round series, the consensus was that the Lakers had too much size for the Hornets to handle. Tuesday night, that came to fruition as Andrew Bynum scored 18 points and grabbed 10 boards, leading the Lakers to a 106-90 victory over the Hornets in Game 5, and a 3-2 series lead. Heading into tonight's contest, the health of Kobe Bryant was also in question, after he badly hurt his left ankle and foot in Game 4. Bryant, however, answered those questions with this:

This was one of two vicious dunks by Kobe on the night, as he attacked the rim on several occasions, scoring 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting. The Hornets started out on fire, shooting 81% in the first quarter to take a 32-23 lead after 12 minutes. However, the Laker defense came alive after that. The Lakers outrebounded the Hornets 42-25 on the night, and limited New Orleans to a mere three offensive rebounds.

Telling Stat: In Game 4, Chris Paul's 27 points and 13 rebounds matched the output of Bynum and Pau Gasol. In Game 5 tonight, Bynum, Gasol, and Lamar Odom combined for 25 rebounds, matching New Orleans' entire team total.

The Lakers will look to close out the series on Thursday night in Game 6, a 5 p.m. PDT game that will be televised by TNT and KCAL.

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.

Ron Artest Given NBA's Citizenship Award

Phil Jackson On Kobe Bryant's Injury: 'He's Going To Play Anyway' In Game 5

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant sprained his ankle in his last game, and refused to let team doctors run a precautionary MRI to determine the severity of the injury. There are two ways to interpret this seemingly unnecessary act of defiance. One is that he is so tough that he doesn't even need an MRI, because he's going to be playing anyway, damn it! The other is that he is actually hindering his own recovery by refusing the medical staff to gain a greater understanding of the true nature of his injury. The problem is that even if Kobe's intention is the former, it leads to the latter.

According to Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times, Phil Jackson doesn't expect the injury to keep Kobe out of the Lakers' Game 5 against the Hornets on Tuesday.

"It doesn't matter," Jackson said of whether Bryant may be afraid that the test results would indicate his ankle sprain is more seriously hurt than he believes it might be. "He's going to play anyway. That's his answer."

Is it me, or does Phil even look a little bit frustrated with the way Kobe is handling this situation? He's got that little smirk on his face, but I think even he would feel more comfortable if Kobe would just let the training staff perform the MRI so that they have a better idea of what they are dealing with.

Kobe's toughness is admirable, but if it gets in the way of his own recovery and as a result hurts the team in the long run, it could be an issue. toughness is one thing, stubbornness is a different animal.

Derrick Caracter Loves Pancakes, Is An Idiot

Who among us hasn't been arrested in an IHOP?

Lakers Vs. Hornets: Game 5 Facts & Figures, Series Schedule, Game Time, TV, Etc

It goes without saying that the Los Angeles Lakers face a pivotal Game 5 Tuesday night at Staples Center against the Hornets in their first round NBA playoff series. They don't want to head back to New Orleans with the Hornets needed only a win to eliminate the Lakers. Kobe Bryant, bum ankle and all, is expected to play Tuesday night, in the 7:30 p.m. PDT game which will be televised by TNT and Fox Sports West. Here are some facts and figures about Game 5, this series, and Lakers' playoff history.

• In Game 5 of a 2-2 best-of-seven series all-time, the Lakers are 25-8, including 19-0 at home
• When winning Game 5 to go up 3-2 in a best-of-seven series, the Lakers are 16-0 in series since the 1969 NBA Finals (which they lost to Bill Russell and Boston)
• The Lakers have played five Games 5 of a 2-2 series at home in the last three seasons, and have won all five games by an average of 16.4 points per contest.

Here is the series schedule:

• Game 1 - Hornets 109, Lakers 100
• Game 2 - Lakers 87, Hornets 78
• Game 3 - Lakers 100, Hornets 86
  
• Game 4 - Hornets 93, Lakers 88
  
• Game 5 - Tuesday, at Los Angeles, 7:30 p.m. (TNT, Prime Ticket)
  
• Game 6 - Thursday, New Orleans, TBD (TNT)
  
• Game 7* - Saturday, at Los Angeles, TBD (TNT)
  

*if necessary

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.

Lakers Vs. Hornets: Kobe Bryant Refuses MRI, Plans To Play In Game 5

Kobe Bryant has a reputation for being tough and playing through pain, and stubbornness at times has a certain charm to it. However, the Lakers' guard is taking his toughness to a new level with his latest injury. Bryant, who injured his left ankle and foot on Sunday night in Game 4 in New Orleans against the Hornets, on Monday refused to take an MRI exam, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles:

Bryant spent Monday undergoing extensive treatment on the ankle, according to Jackson, including icing, electrostimulation and massage.

Bryant declined to undergo any further examination of the injury through X-rays or an MRI, going against the wishes of the Lakers front office.

The Lakers have officially listed Bryant as day-to-day with a sprained left ankle, but by all accounts Bryant is expected to play Tuesday night. The best-of-seven series with the Hornets is tied at 2-2, and Game 5 will start at 7:30 p.m. PDT and be televised on TNT and Fox Sports West.

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.

Kobe Bryant Injury Required An MRI, But Lakers Guard Expects To Play Game 5

It’s never good when a basketball fan sees “Kobe Bryant Injury” in the headlines, but the fans of the Los Angeles Lakers shouldn’t have too much to worry about when it comes to the guard’s planned MRI sometime Monday evening as Bryant himself has already said that he plans to play.

The injury in question, of course, is the rolled ankle Bryant suffered in the waning seconds of the Lakers Game 4 loss to the New Orleans Hornets on Sunday that evened the first-round NBA playoff series at two games apiece heading into Tuesday night’s pivotal Game 5. Bryant only missed 16 seconds of game-time, however, and doesn’t seem like he plans to miss anymore playing time next time out.

“I’ve played through so many of them, it kind of becomes old hat for me,” Bryant told the Orange County Register. “It’s going to take a lot to stop me from playing.”

As Tom Ziller from SB Nation NBA points out, the Lakers need Bryant to play through it because if he doesn’t play, L.A. could be in a world of hurt. Ron Artest has been the Lakers’ No. 2 scorer behind Kobe during this series and Pau Gasol is averaging just 12 points and six rebounds and shooting less than 40 percent against New Orleans.

Lakers Vs. Hornets: Chris Paul Still The Talk Of Game 4

In many ways, Sunday night's Game 4 may have been the most bizarre game of the 2011 NBA playoffs. The Lakers and Hornets were both without a point from their superstars with a few minutes remaining in the first half; Kobe Bryant, in fact, did not score at all in the first half, while Chris Paul scored four points, the first two of which after a highlight-reel crossover move on Bryant that left Kobe in Paul's dust. Both players were facilitators in that first half, and both found their scoring touch in the second half. But it was Paul who ultimately prevailed, with an eye-popping 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 15 assists in the Hornets' 93-88 win over the Lakers.

"He made a lot happen out there," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson told Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. "A triple-double is nothing to sneeze at in a playoff game." That might be the understatement of the year. In the last 20 years in the NBA, nobody but Paul had a playoff triple double with at least 13 rebounds and 15 assists except for Jason Kidd, then a Net, who had 16 points, 16 boards, and 19 dimes against Toronto in the first round in 2007. The Lakers have had six triple-doubles against them in the playoffs since 1991:

At the SB Nation Hornets' blog, At The Hive, Rohan Cruyff noted that Paul played well beyond his size on Sunday night:

The talking point of this series, here, there, and everywhere, was size. More specifically, and, I suppose, redundantly, it was the size Los Angeles has and New Orleans does not. Consider: in Game 4, the Lakers' starting front court combined to equal the points (27) and rebounds (13) total of the shortest player on either team. The games of Carl Landry and Emeka Okafor, if not the efforts of Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum themselves, strongly warrant a mention here.

Paul is averaging 25.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 11.5 assists per game during this first round series, which is tied at 2-2. Game 5 will be held Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. PDT at Staples Center. Tuesday's game will be televised by TNT and Prime Ticket.

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.

2011 NBA Playoffs: Lakers' Derrick Caracter Arrested In New Orleans Sunday

As if the loss in Game 4 Sunday night to the Hornets and the ankle injury to Kobe Bryant weren't bad enough for the Lakers, they now have to deal with the distraction because of the off-court actions of a no-name rookie. Derrick Caracter, the Lakers' second round pick out of UTEP last year who played in all of 215 minutes this season, was arrested early Sunday morning in New Orleans. NOLA.com has the details of Caracter's trip to IHOP:

He "started grabbing and pulling" a pregnant waitress, prompting the manager to go outside and flag down a police officer, Harper said. The female officer tried to defuse the situation, Harper said, but Caracter remained obstinate. The officer arrested him.

He was handcuffed and taken to Orleans Parish jail and booked with one count of battery for hitting the waitress, as well as one count each of public intoxication and resisting arrest. Each charge is a municipal violation, police said.

The Lakers and Hornets resume their first-round series Tuesday night with Game 5 at Staples Center.

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.

Lakers Vs. Hornets: Paul, Hornets Defeat Lakers In A Tight Game 4, 93-88

New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) – Chris Paul capped his triple-double with an assist on Jarrett Jack’s big jumper with 9.3 seconds remaining, as the New Orleans Hornets held off the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, 93-88, in Game 4 of their Western Conference quarterfinal set.

Jack followed up his jumper with three free throws to account for his only five points of the game for the Hornets, who bounced back from a 100-86 loss on Friday to even the series at 2-2.

Paul recorded 27 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds for New Orleans, which got 19 points and six boards from Trevor Ariza. Carl Landry tallied 16 points and seven rebounds.

“We’ve been talking about being strong and courageous since the playoffs started about our guys fighting for everything that we’re going to receive, we’ve got to take it. Chris Paul, that was one of the better performances I’ve ever seen in the playoffs,” Hornets head coach Monty Williams said. “A lot of guys have performances where they score. He scored. He dished it out. He rebounded. He made tough, tenacious plays.”

Kobe Bryant finished with 17 points, eight assists and six boards for the Lakers, who got 16 points apiece from Ron Artest and Pau Gasol.

Game 5 of the series will be back in LA on Tuesday.

Derek Fisher’s driving layup with 1:53 to play got the Lakers within three, 85-82.

Willie Green responded with a free throw at the other end to make it a four- point game. Bryant then drew a double team and passed down low to an open Gasol, who failed to catch the ball. Gasol immediately fouled Paul, who made two foul shots to make it an 88-82 game with 1:12 to go.

Gasol made up for his mistake with a jumper in the lane while being fouled. He got his own rebound after missing the free throw, but Gasol was off the mark with a jumper.

Paul grabbed the defensive rebound before losing control of the ball. A mad scramble led to a jump ball with 45.6 seconds remaining. The basketball went right to Ariza, who dribbled down the left side of the court. Ariza passed off to Green, who made a contested layup, but Ariza was called for offensive goaltending.

Lamar Odom made two shots at the charity stripe to make it a two-point game with 33.6 ticks left on the clock.

But Jack’s big shot at the other end essentially put the game away. Bryant played good defense on Paul, who passed the ball to Jack at the foul line. Jack’s fadeaway shot hit nothing but net to give the Hornets a 90-86 lead with 9.3 seconds to go.

Gasol’s slam was followed up by two Jack free throws to keep it a four-point contest. Bryant missed a three-pointer before Jack made 1-of-2 from the line to seal the victory.

“Well, it’s a series now,” Lakers head coach Phil Jackson said. “We punked out there on the court tonight.”

The Lakers led for a majority of the first quarter and took a 25-22 edge into the second.

But New Orleans scored the final 12 points of the second frame to grab a 49-45 lead at the half.

A tight third quarter resulted in the Hornets taking a 69-67 edge into the fourth.

Lakers Vs. Hornets: Game 4 Preview

The Los Angeles Lakers look to take control of their first round NBA playoff series against the New Orleans Hornets on Sunday night in Game 4 in New Orleans. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to a 100-86 win in Game 3 with 30 points, the 80th 30-point playoff game of Kobe's career. Here are the relevant details of tonight's game:

• What: Game 4 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals, Lakers at Hornets
• When: 6:30 p.m. PDT
• Where: New Orleans Arena
• TV: TNT, KCAL
• Bench Barometer: The Hornets won Game 1 thanks in part to their bench scoring 39 points on 16-of-22 shooting. However, in the next two games the New Orleans bench scored just 22 points on 9-of-34 shooting
• Bynum's Knee: Lakers fans everywhere held their collective breath Friday night in the third quarter when Andrew Bynum went down clutching his right knee. His surgically repaired right knee. Bynum had 14 points and 11 rebounds in Game 3, but only two of those rebounds and none of the points came after halftime. Bynum told reporters he would play Sunday, and that his knee brace has helped. "I think it just happens because the MCL is a little loose," Bynum told ESPN LA's Dave McMenamin. "But as long as I have the brace on, hopefully I'll be all right. ... I'm lucky because that brace is doing its job."
• The Importance Of Game 4: When winning Game 4 of any best-of-seven series in their history, the Lakers have won 40 of 44 playoff series
• Looking Ahead: Dallas had a chance to pull ahead 3-1 in their series with Portland, with a 23-point lead with 13 minutes remaining in Game 4 on Saturday, but Brandon Roy the Blazers managed one of the greatest comebacks in NBA playoff history, outscoring the Mavs 40-15 in the final 13 minutes to even their first round series at 2-2. If the Lakers should beat the Hornets, they would next play the winner of Dallas vs. Portland, so a win tonight for the Lakers in Game 4 could help shorten this series, providing rest while the Mavs and Blazers fight it out in a prolonged series.
  

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.

2011 NBA Playoffs, First Round: Kobe Bryant Leads Lakers Over Hornets 100-86 In Game 3

Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 30 points, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 100-86 win over the New Orleans Hornets in Game 3 of their first-round NBA playoff series. The Lakers now have a 2-1 series lead, and have regained home court advantage over New Orleans. It was the 80th career 30-point playoff game for Bryant, second only in NBA history to Michael Jordan, with 109.

The Lakers pulled away in the second half, thanks to the resurgence of Pau Gasol. The Spaniard scored 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting, one more point than Gasol scored in the first two games combined. Gasol had a double-double, also pulling down 10 rebounds. Andrew Bynum also had a double-double, with 14 points and 11 rebounds in 35 minutes.

The Lakers outrebounded New Orleans 43-38, and committed no turnovers in the fourth quarter. Carl Landry led New Orleans with 23 points. Chris Paul scored 22 points for the Hornets, but scored just four after halftime. Game 4 is Sunday night in New Orleans.

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.

Lakers Vs. Hornets, Game 3: Kobe Bryant Leads L.A. To 30-23 Lead After First Quarter

Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers came out firing on all cylinders in the first quarter Friday night, looking to recapture home court advantage in New Orleans against the Hornets in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. Bryant scored 10 points in 10 minutes, making four of six field goals, and leading the Lakers to a 30-23 lead after 12 minutes. The Lakers shot 68.4% from the field, making 13-of-19 shots.

Ron Artest added seven points for the Lakers, making all three of his shots, as he maneuvered inside against Marco Belinelli and Carl Landry. Andrew Bynum had six points and grabbed four boards in the first quarter. Chris Paul led New Orleans with nine points, and former Laker Trevor Ariza scored eight of his own for the Hornets, who shot 42.3% in the opening quarter.

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.

Lakers Vs. Hornets, Game 3: Starting Lineups, Game Time, TV, Etc

Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers look to regain the advantage in their first round series against Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets. The two teams face off Friday night in Game 3. The game is expected to tipoff a little after 6:40 p.m. PDT, and will be televised by both ESPN and KCAL. Here are tonight's starting lineups for Game 3:

Hornets

• Point Guard: Chris Paul
• Shooting Guard: Marco Belinelli
• Small Forward: Trevor Ariza
• Power Forward: Carl Landry
• Center: Emeka Okafor

Lakers

• Point Guard: Derek Fisher
  
• Shooting Guard: Kobe Bryant
  
• Small Forward: Ron Artest
  
• Power Forward: Pau Gasol
  
• Center: Andrew Bynum
  

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.

Lakers Vs. Hornets, Game 3: Was Game 1 Loss Enough To Refocus Los Angeles?

The Los Angeles Lakers shocked the world when they dropped Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs to the New Orleans Hornets after Chris Paul seemed to have all of the answers, but an NBA.com’s Scott Howard-Cooper points out that the loss might not be such a bad thing for the Lakers.

In fact, it might have been just the wake-up call Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and the rest of the Lakers’ supporting cast needed.

As L.A. fans might remember, the Lakers were previously challenged in the first round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs by the Houston Rockets as well as last year against the Oklahoma City Thunder before going on to win the NBA Championship.

It’s tough to say just two games into the series if the Game 1 loss to the Hornets was actually anything more than the Lakers simply overlooking an otherwise undaunting opponent, but there’s a good chance we’ll find out tonight at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN whether the opening-game loss was enough to refocus the Lakers on the way to a fourth-straight Finals appearance.

Lakers Vs. Hornets: Can L.A. Continue Mastery Of Chris Paul's Pick-And-Rolls?

Lakers Vs. Hornets: Game 3 Preview, Game Time, TV And Breakdown

The Los Angeles Lakers lost home court advantage in their first round NBA playoff series to the Hornets with a Game 1 loss, but they will try to get it back beginning with Game 3 in New Orleans on Friday night. The Lakers came back after their loss in the opener with an 87-78 win in Game 2. Here are the relevant details of Friday night's Game 3:

• What: Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals, Lakers at Hornets
• Game Time: 6:30 p.m.
• Location: New Orleans Arena
• TV: ESPN, KCAL
• Hornet to Watch: Chris Paul; after the Hornets' point guard decimated the Lakers' defense with 33 points, 14 assists, and seven rebounds in Game 1, Kobe Bryant took on the task of guarding Paul in Game 2. Paul is limited to 20 points on 5-of-11 shooting, but it also affected Bryant on the offensive end. Kobe scored just 11 points of his own on 3-of-10 shooting
• Laker to Watch: Pau Gasol has had a tough series. After eight points and six rebounds, and 2-of-9 shooting in Game 1, Gasol came back with a nearly identical performance in Game 2, with eight points and five rebounds. In Game 2, Gasol had zero defensive rebounds.
• Turnovers: After committing just three turnovers in Game 1, the Hornets turned the ball over 16 times in Game 2
• Shooting: Derek Fisher has made just three out of 15 two-point field goal attempts, but has hit both three-point attempts this series.
• Stay On The Court: Andrew Bynum has averaged 15.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks while shooting 66.7% from the field in the first two games, but because of foul trouble (10 fouls in two games) Bynum has averaged just 29 minutes on the floor.
• Bench Mob: In Game 1, the New Orleans bench scored 39 points on 16-of-22 shooting (72.7%), but in Game 2 the Hornets' reserves were limited to 13 points on 5-of-17 shooting (29.4%)

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's NBA playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.

2011 NBA Playoffs, Lakers Vs. Hornets: A Look Back At Game 2

It might not have been pretty, but the Los Angeles Lakers got the win they needed on Wednesday night at Staples Center to even their first-round NBA playoff series with the New Orleans Hornets. Sure, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol combined to make just five of 20 shots, but the Lakers still found a way to win, 87-78. C.A. Clark from Silver Screen and Roll has an idea why:

The Lakers secondary stars and bench stepped up to carry the night, because they are the deepest, most talented team in the NBA.   This couldn't happen a year ago.  Or even two years ago.  Bynum wasn't able to step up and carry the team without being a blackhole.  Lamar wasn't consistent and confident enough to put the team on his back.  It always fell on Kobe and/or Pau.  The rest of the Lakers fed off of them this time. As time goes on, no longer do they need Kobe or Pau to be All-World to find their own game.  Pau's slacking?  Andrew raised the intensity.  Kobe's focusing on defending Chris Paul instead of scoring?  Lamar took over the game.

For the Hornets, they did their job. They got a split on the road in the first two games, and now have to hold serve on their home floor to take control of the series. The big difference for New Orleans was that they committed only three turnovers in Game 1, but that ballooned to 16 turnovers in Game 2. Paul Sondhi of the SB Nation blog At The Hive is looking forward to Game 3:

For Friday night’s game, I anticipate fewer jumpers and more of what Trevor Ariza brought tonight. The Hornets didn’t match their valiant Game 1 effort, but there are still positives to take away from this game. To only lose by nine points after turning the ball over many times and taking unsightly shots is an accomplishment in and of itself.

Coverage for Game 3 will tipoff at 6:30 p.m. PDT and will be televised by ESPN (nationally) and KCAL (locally).

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's NBA playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.

2011 NBA Playoffs: Lakers Vs. Hornets Series Schedule

The Lakers were able to even their first-round series with the Hornets with an 87-78 win in Game 2 on Wednesday night at Staples Center. Now the two teams head east to New Orleans for the next two games. Here is the schedule for the remainder of the series, which resumes Friday night (all times PDT):

• Game 1 - Hornets 109, Lakers 100
• Game 2 - Lakers 87, Hornets 78
• Game 3 - Friday, April 22, 6:30 p.m. at New Orleans (ESPN)
  
• Game 4 - Sunday, April 24, 6:30 p.m. at New Orleans (TNT)
  
• Game 5 - Tuesday, April 26, TBD at Los Angeles (tbd)
  
• Game 6* - Thursday, April 28, TBD at New Orleans (tbd)
  
• Game 7* - Saturday, April 30, TBD at Los Angeles (TNT)
  

*if necessary

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's NBA playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.

2011 NBA Playoffs, First Round: Andrew Bynum, Lakers Beat Hornets 87-78 In Game 2, Even Series

Andrew Bynum had 17 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocked shots, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to an 87-78 win over the New Orleans Hornets Wednesday night in Game 2 of their first round NBA playoff series at Staples Center. Bynum led a defensive resurgence for the Lakers in Game 2, especially compared to the Game 1 loss. Dexter Fishmore of SB Nation Los Angeles and Silver Screen and Roll chimed in with the efficiency statistics: "Final points per possession: Lakers - 1.05, Hornets - 0.92."

Chris Paul had 20 points and nine assists for the Hornets, but that was a far cry from Game 1, when he dominated with 33 points, seven rebounds, and 14 assists. The Lakers had a relatively balanced scoring attack, with four players in double figures. Lamar Odom, who was presented with his Sixth Man of the Year trophy before the game, scored 16 points and grabbed seven boards in 28 minutes.

Kobe Bryant struggled for the Lakers, with 11 points on 3-for-10 shooting, but he wasn't alone. Pau Gasol had another subpar game, with eight points, five rebounds, and five assists. Gasol made just two of 10 shots from the field, and for the series Gasol is shooting only 21.1% (4-for-19).

Game 3 is Friday night in New Orleans, in a 6:30 p.m. PDT game that will be televised by KCAL and ESPN.

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's NBA playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.

2011 NBA Playoffs, Lakers-Hornets: Three Keys To Game Two That Have Nothing To Do With Chris Paul Or Pau Gasol

For an NBA fan, there's little that's more irksome than seeing your team drop Game One of a playoff series at home. Not only do you find yourself immediately behind the eight ball, but the gap between games means you have to spend multiple days digesting what went wrong before the Game Two palate cleanser is served. In the case of Laker fans, they've spent the 48-plus hours since the end of the champs' 100 to 108 loss to the New Orleans Hornets pondering endless variations on the following themes:

• What happened to Pau Gasol?
• How are the Lakers going to slow down Chris Paul?
• No, seriously, what's the deal with Pau?
• CHRIS PAUL CHRIS PAUL CHRIS PAUL CHRIS PAUL.

No doubt, these are the core questions raised by the Game One shocker. But whether the Lakers can even the series Tuesday involves a broader array of issues. Here are three keys to the contest that have nothing to do with CP3 or PG16.

1.  Can Trevor Ariza make some shots? Lost amid the generally splendid Game One performance by the Hornets' role players was some calamitous shooting by Ariza. New Orleans can't count on the likes of Marco Belinelli, Willie Green and Jarrett Jack to continue scoring with blistering efficiency, so to keep pace with the Lakers they need someone else to step forward. It can't be Paul, since it's not really possible for him to play any better than he did. In all likelihood, the Hornets will need Ariza to turn four or five of his bricks into made hoops. He's a bad shooter, but he's not 2-for-13 bad.

2.  Can the Hornets break through on the offensive glass? In Game One, the Hornets turned the ball over on an incredible three percent of their plays. This, too, is something that won't happen again. There will be more empty trips this time around, so to get enough looks at the basket, they'll need to do better on the offensive boards. New Orleans collected only 13 percent of their misses on Sunday, resulting in four second-chance points. To make matters worse, one of the best offensive rebounders, Aaron Gray, is questionable for Game Two with a sprained ankle. Pressure now falls on Emeka Okafor, who fouled out of Game One after 22 minutes and just a single offensive board, to battle the Laker bigs on the glass more effectively.

3.  Is the Laker bench capable of not sucking? As we've documented extensively at Silver Screen and Roll, the Laker bench has been a model of depressing impotency. They just can't figure out how to score. Perhaps the return of Steve Blake from chickenpox quarantine will add zip to the attack. Perhaps more minutes for Trey Johnson will do the trick. Perhaps working Luke Walton into the rotation will help HAHAHAHA I'M KIDDING. (Just a joke, Phil: please do not attempt to work Luke Walton into the rotation.) One way or another, there has to be more production and accountability from the Laker reserves. If not, the starters will have to play more minutes than we and their aging legs are comfortable with.

Follow Dex on Twitter @dexterfishmore.

Derek Fisher Reflects On Lakers Game 1 Loss To Hornets

The Los Angeles Lakers’ quest to ‘three-peat’ got off to an inauspicious start on Sunday. The seventh seeded New Orleans Hornets stunned the Lakers at Staples Center, 109-100, to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven opening round series. The Lakers are just 3-9 all time when losing the first game of an opening round playoff series. Of course, a 1-0 lead used to carry more significance when the opening round used to be best-of-five. Nevertheless, Wednesday night’s game becomes critically important for the defending champs.

On Monday, Derek Fisher joined The Dan Patrick Show to talk about Sunday’s loss. Fish and DP chatted about the Lakers’ problems defensively, the incredible challenge of winning a championship, let alone multiple titles in a row, how hard it is for a veteran team like the Lakers to stay motivated year round, and how LA will have to make life more difficult on Chris Paul if the Lakers are going to get back on track in the series.

On how some people might have forgotten how good Chris Paul is:

“No I don’t think I forgot. I don’t think our team forgot. But the reality of it is it’s not a matter of who it is — if he’s in the NBA, he can do something, and if you don’t play the proper defense, guys are going to take advantage of it. For somebody that’s as good as Chris Paul is already, if you make mistakes on top of that then it magnifies the situation. So that’s what we have to correct. It still doesn’t mean he won’t have good games, but he can’t have great games because we’re making bad decisions and not doing things correctly.”

If he would personally prefer to resume the series today or if he likes the fact that Game 2 is not until Wednesday:

“Personally I think we could use the days, not from a rest standpoint or because of our veteran team, but really to improve upon some things that we need to improve on even at this stage of the season. You know, having Steve Blake out, Matt Barnes has been banged up and missed some days of practice, Andrew Bynum’s banged up, Kobe’s in and out of practice this season. So we need more practice; we need more time together to continue to push to become the team we need to become in order to win a championship. We already have the guys and the team that’s capable of winning it, but as you work through a postseason you actually do have opportunities to get better. To have two days off in the playoffs is definitely an opportunity to get better.”

(Partial transcription via: SportsRadioInterviews)

2011 NBA Playoffs, Lakers Vs. Hornets: Paul Dominated Game 1, Lakers Need Pau In Game 2

In their opening game of the 2011 NBA playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers were dominated by Chris Paul. The point guard sliced and diced his way through the Lakers' defense for 33 points and 14 assists, leading the New Orleans Hornets to a 109-100 win in Game 1 of the first round at Staples Center. Paul controlled Game 1; the Lakers now need Pau to control Game 2.

Pau Gasol played very well in the Lakers' four regular season wins over New Orleans. Gasol averaged 22.3 points and 12.8 rebounds per game against the Hornets, and was very efficient, shooting 70.5% from the field. However, in Game 1 on Sunday, Gasol was a no-show. Gasol played 38 minutes, but he only scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds. He did dish out six assists, but shot just 2-of-9 from the field.

C.A. Clark of Silver Screen and Roll was not impressed, saying, "Pau Gasol's nickname should be Houdini, because when Pau has a bad game, it's like you never even knew he was there." In addition, Clark summed up Gasol's Game 1 like so:

Gasol had nine shot attempts in yesterday's game.  More than half of them were taken from more than 10 feet away.  On the season, Pau gets roughly 2/3 of his shots from close range.  Yesterday, more than half his shots came from 10 feet or further.  He took half as many shots (2) from 16 feet or further as he did from close range (4).  He attempted three 3 pt attempts all season long.  One of his nine shot attempts yesterday was from downtown.  That should tell you everything you need to know about where Gasol was playing.

Simply put, the Lakers need a better game from Gasol on Wednesday night in Game 2.

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's NBA playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.

Lakers Vs. Hornets: Steve Blake No Longer Contagious, Rejoins Lakers At Practice

Steve Blake, who missed the Lakers final two games of the regular season and Game 1 of the first round NBA playoff series against the Hornets with the chickenpox, might be close to coming back to the team. At the very least, Blake is able to be with his teammates again. Blake's wife Kristen tweeted the following on Monday morning:

Steve is officially not contagious and will be joining the team at practice this morning! Yeah!

If it were up to Kristen, it sounds like she would have Steve play immediately, or at the very least at some point during the first round, which was extremely doubtful heading into the series:

Hey all you reporters who said he'd miss the whole first round and possibly the whole playoffs.....nevermind. I'll be nice. :)

Blake struggled to find his role in the triangle offense for most of the season, and struggled with his shot for a good portion of the year. Through November, Blake was shooting 47.4% on three-pointers, but since then he hit just 33.8% from distance in his final 62 games of the season. On the season, Blake shot worse on two-point shots (32.7%) than three-point shots (37.8%).

The Lakers made six of their 13 three-point attempts in Sunday's Game 1 loss to New Orleans. Game 2 is Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. at Staples Center. Game 2 will be televised by TNT.

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's NBA playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.

Lakers Vs. Hornets: Chris Paul Carved Up Lakers, But Supporting Cast Key For New Orleans

The Los Angeles Lakers have two off days to prepare to defend point guard Chris Paul, who decimated them in Game 1 of their first round playoff series with 33 points and 14 assists, leading New Orleans to a 109-100 win at Staples Center. While Paul was great and certainly the key for the Hornets' attack, the supporting cast also had stellar games for New Orleans. Dexter Fishmore at Silver Screen and Roll explains:

CP3's staggering assault might have been survivable had his supporting cast not stepped up in equally unexpected fashion. We all have a mental list of opposing players we think could cause problems for the Lakers this postseason. Russell Westbrook is on it. Derrick Rose, certainly. LeBron James is there. Nowhere on this list do you find the names Jarrett Jack, Marco Belinelli, Aaron Gray or Willie Green. That's because they're not that good. But for 48 minutes today, they rewarded Paul's bold, clever passing by converting the open looks he created for them. Those guys combined to score 45 points on 31 shots.

This reminds me of Pat Riley in the NBA Finals after getting torched by Gerald Henderson that if the Lakers had to prepare for that every game they'd be in trouble. The Lakers of 2011 might not have to deal with such good games from the Hornets' supporting cast every game, but they will have their hands full. One of those supporting players, Aaron Gray, had an outstanding game but hurt his ankle near the end of the game.

Gray made all five field goal attempts and had 12 points in 20 minutes off the bench. Gray led all players with an astonishing +25 plus/minus. Gray's ankle injury appears to be a mild sprain, and he figures to be ready for Game 2, which is Wednesday night at Staples Center.

Will the Lakers be ready?

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's NBA playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.

2011 NBA Playoffs: Chris Paul Leads Hornets Over Lakers, 109-100, To Steal Game 1

The Los Angeles Lakers weren't playing very well in the final two weeks of the regular season, but the thought was that they would flip the switch once the NBA playoffs began. That didn't happen on Sunday. Chris Paul dominated the Lakers with 33 points, seven boards, and 14 assists, leading the New Orleans Hornets to a 109-100 win in Game 1 over the Lakers at Staples Center.

Paul proved too much for Derek Fisher and the Lakers, as he led the New Orleans offense through, around, and over the Lakers on Sunday. New Orleans shot 51.9% from the field and had 24 assists on their 41 made field goals. Carl Landry chipped in with 17 points and five rebounds for the Hornets. Jarrett Jack was very effective off the bench, scoring 15 points in 22 minutes, with four rebounds, and five assists.

Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 34 points, and survived a scare when he hit his neck on a courtside seat at Staples Center near the end of the first half. Ron Artest had 16 points and 11 rebounds in the loss. The Lakers' big man trio of Andre Bynum, Pau Gasol, and Lamar Odom combined for just 16 rebounds in the game (and 31 points).

Game 2 is Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. PDT, at Staples Center.

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's NBA playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.

2011 NBA Playoffs, Lakers Vs. Hornets Game 1: Chris Paul Leads Hornets To 55-47 Halftime Lead Over Lakers

Hot shooting and terrific play from guards Chris Paul and Marco Belinelli in the first half gave the New Orleans Hornets a 55-47 halftime lead over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of their first round NBA playoff series at Staples Center. It could have been worse, as in a double-digit deficit, but Ron Artest hit a 44-foot three-pointer at the halftime buzzer to cut the lead to eight. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 16 points in the first 24 minutes.

Paul carved up Derek Fisher and the Lakers' defense for a first half double-double, with 11 points and 10 assists. Belinelli chipped in with 10 points, including two threes, for the Hornets, who shot 58.5% in the opening half. New Orleans only committed two turnovers in the first half.

Artest scored seven points and grabbed eight rebounds in the first half for the Lakers, who shot just 42.1% from the field in the first half. The Lakers outrebounded New Orleans 22-18. Pau Gasol had a quiet first half for the Lakers, shooting just 1-for-5, scoring four points and grabbing three rebounds.

Andrew Bynum had eight points, six rebounds, and a blocked shot in the first half, but also committed three fouls, which could limit his minutes in the second half. Trey Johnson, the Lakers' unheralded pickup from the D-League, actually played six minutes, scoring three points and grabbing three rebounds.

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's NBA playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.

2011 NBA Playoffs, Lakers Vs. Hornets Game 1: Probable Starting Lineups, Game Time, TV, Etc

Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers begin their quest for a fourth straight NBA Finals berth, and a third straight NBA championship, on Sunday against Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets. The two teams begin their first-round playoff series today at 12:30 p.m. at Staples Center, in a nationally televised game on ABC. The Lakers beat the Hornets all four times this season, by an average of over 10 points per game.

Here is a look at today's probable starting lineups for Game 1:

Hornets

• Point Guard: Chris Paul
• Shooting Guard: Marco Belinelli
• Small Forward: Trevor Ariza
• Power Forward: Carl Landry
• Center: Emeka Okafor

Lakers

• Point Guard: Derek Fisher
  
• Shooting Guard: Kobe Bryant
  
• Small Forward: Ron Artest
  
• Power Forward: Pau Gasol
  
• Center: Andrew Bynum
  

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.

2011 NBA Playoffs: Lakers First Round Facts & Figures

The Los Angeles Lakers get ready to open their NBA playoff series with the New Orleans Hornets, starting with Game 1 at Staples Center at 12:30 p.m. PDT on ABC. The Lakers beat the Hornets in all four regular season meetings. Here's a look at some Lakers' NBA playoff facts and figures:

• The Lakers have made the playoffs in 46 of the last 51 years, since they moved to Los Angeles. They are 36-10 in their opening round playoff series.
• The Lakers are 34-12 in Games 1 of their opening playoff series.
  
• When the Lakers have home court advantage in the first round, they have won 33 of 35 series in the first round.
• The Lakers are 67-34 in Game 1 of a best-of-seven series, in any round of the playoffs
• When the Lakers win Game 1 of a best-of-seven series, they have won 60 of 67 series.
  
• Phil Jackson, when winning Game 1 of any postseason series, is 48-0, including 24-0 with the Bulls and 24-0 with the Lakers.
  

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.

2011 NBA Playoffs: Health-Wise, Lakers Are In Decent Shape For Game One

At the close of the regular season, the Lakers were dealing with a shortage of healthy bodies. The bone bruise to Andrew Bynum's right knee kept him out of the regular-season finale in Sacramento. Matt Barnes missed the last two games with discomfort in the knee that underwent surgery earlier this year. Meanwhile, Steve Blake mysteriously contracted chicken pox and was quickly remanded to quarantine. This carnival of pain led the team to enlist D-Leaguer Trey Johnson as an emergency fill-in on the final night of the season.

But the Lakers caught a break when the NBA scheduled Games One and Two of their first-round series against the Hornets for Sunday and Wednesday, instead of Saturday-Monday. That's given them extra time to get guys right. Bynum practiced yesterday and, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN, has experienced no complications in his ever-fragile knees, so he's good to go for Game One. Ron Artest, though I don't think anyone knew it at the time, hyperextended his knee in Sacramento but will play on Sunday. So, perhaps, will Barnes, who had his knee drained on Thursday. Although Phil Jackson characterizes Matt's availability as "probably questionable," Matt said earlier today, "I'm playing tomorrow." Only Blake has been ruled out.

Look for Jackson to monitor Bynum's minutes carefully. Against a front line as weak as the Hornets', there shouldn't be any need to ride the big man hard right out of the gate. As for the Hornets, they're in good health. Aside from, you know, missing their second-best player in David West.

Follow Dex on Twitter @dexterfishmore.

Early Game One Tip Time Could Be Trouble For Lakers

NBA lore holds that an underdog's best chance of stealing a playoff win on the road comes in Game One. The underlying rationale weaves together a few threads, not all of them consistent: the idea that the home team sometimes comes into Game One unduly relaxed and complacent, or that all the pressure's on the favorite to hold serve, or that as a series wears on, familiarity between the teams makes it gradually harder for the underdog to overcome the talent gap with innovative strategery. I've no idea how well this conventional wisdom actually comports with reality, but it could well hold true in the case of the first-round series between the Lakers and Hornets for another reason entirely: the Game One start time.

The series tips off on Sunday afternoon at 12:30 California time. So far this season, the Lakers haven't been great at rolling out of the rack and playing ball at such an early hour. Three times they've played at Staples Center at 12:30 p.m., and all three were losses:

• On January 16, they fell behind early to the Clippers, came back to take the lead at halftime but fell apart in the fourth quarter en route to a seven-point L.
• On January 30, they got blasted by the Celtics, losing by 13 to their odious rivals.
• On April 3, their 17-1 run after the All-Star break came to a crashing end when they snored through a loss to the Denver Nuggets.

As they say, three's a trend!

The Lakers actually have been pretty decent with early start times when they're out on the road. But there's something about sleeping in their own beds that's left them groggy in these Sunday matinee games. I recommend to the Laker training staff that they stock the locker room with Five Hour Energy Drink, and if that doesn't work, maybe give everyone a little pick-me-up with a cattle prod.

Follow Dex on Twitter @dexterfishmore.

2011 NBA Playoffs First Round: Lakers Vs. Hornets Matchup By The Numbers

The Los Angeles Lakers open their 2011 NBA playoff run with a first-round matchup against the New Orleans Hornets. The first two games will be held at Staples Center, beginning Sunday at 12:30 p.m. PDT on ABC. The Lakers were 4-0 in the regular season against the Hornets. Here is a statistical look at their four encounters this season:

Thanks to Dexter Fishmore (follow him on Twitter!) for the bulk of these numbers.

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.

2011 NBA Playoffs First Round: Lakers Have Handled Hornets This Season

The Los Angeles Lakers open the 2011 NBA playoffs with a first-round matchup against the New Orleans Hornets. The Lakers had their way with the Hornets in two of the four matchups, and the Lakers were 4-0 on the season against New Orleans. Here is a look back to their four regular season games:

December 29 - Lakers 103, at New Orleans 88: The Lakers were playing perhaps their worst basketball of the season, with three consecutive losses by at least 15 points, including two at home. Andrew Bynum, who had come off the bench in his first seven games back from right knee surgery, was inserted into the starting lineup for the first time in this game. Bynum scored 18 points, and the Lakers shot 58.6% from the field and rolled to the win. Lamar Odom, in his first game off the bench, scored a team-high 24 points in the win.

January 7 - at Lakers 101, New Orleans 97: This was the third game of a seven-game winning streak for the Lakers, one of four separate winning streaks of seven games or longer by the Lakers this season. Kobe Bryant in this game passed Oscar Robertson for ninth place on the NBA All-Time Scoring List.

February 5 - Lakers 101, at New Orleans 95: The Lakers had lost three of four games, and this game was the first game of a seven-game road trip. The Lakers were led by 34 points and 10 rebounds by Pau Gasol in the win.

March 27 - at Lakers 102, New Orleans 84: Kobe scored 30, while Gasol scored 23 points and had 16 rebounds, as the Lakers at won their 15th game out of 16 in an easy win at Staples Center.

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.

2011 NBA Playoffs: Lakers Vs. Hornets First Round Schedule & TV Times

The Los Angeles Lakers open their quest for a third straight NBA championship with a first-round matchup against the New Orleans Hornets. Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, and the gang will open their series on Sunday afternoon with a nationally televised game on ABC. Here is the national broadcast television schedule (local TV schedule to be determined) for the Lakers vs. Hornets (all times PDT):

• Game 1 - Sunday, April 17, 12:30 p.m.at Los Angeles (ABC)
  
• Game 2 - Wednesday, April 20, 7:30 p.m. at Los Angeles (TNT)
  
• Game 3 - Friday, April 22, 6:30 p.m. at New Orleans (ESPN)
  
• Game 4 - Sunday, April 24, 6:30 p.m. at New Orleans (TNT)
  
• Game 5* - Tuesday, April 26, TBD at Los Angeles (tbd)
  
• Game 6* - Thursday, April 28, TBD at New Orleans (tbd)
  
• Game 7* - Saturday, April 30, TBD at Los Angeles (TNT)
  

*if necessary

The Lakers were 4-0 against New Orleans during the regular season.

For more news on this first-round matchup, be sure to stay tuned to this story stream at SB Nation Los Angeles. For more NBA playoff coverage, check out SB Nation's playoff bracket and schedule. For more news and information on the Lakers, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.

2011 NBA Playoffs: Lakers Vs. Hornets First Round Preview

It took until the final moments of the regular season, but last night the Lakers' playoff seeding and first-round opponent came into focus. With their heart-stopping victory in Sacramento, the champs secured the second seed in the West and will face the New Orleans Hornets in the opening round. Game One is at Staples Center on Sunday afternoon.

The pairing is precisely what Laker fans were hoping for. A deeply flawed team, the Hornets present nothing like the dangers posed by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round last year. The Lakers and Hornets played four times in the regular season, and the Lakers won all four by an average of almost 11 points per game. Across the four meetings, the Lakers outscored the Hornets by a startling 0.13 points per possession. This was in keeping with a long-term trend of Laker dominance in the series ever since Pau Gasol joined the team. Of the 13 head-to-head contests with New Orleans since the Gasol trade, the Lakers have won 10.

Size is the wedge issue. The Hornets don't have enough of it, and as a result they struggle both to score on the inside and to keep the Laker bigs from operating over their heads. They also don't have an elite wing player. Ex-Laker Trevor Ariza is a competent defender, but not on the level of a Tony Allen or Shane Battier, guys who can really make Kobe Bryant work for his looks. Shooting guards Marco Belinelli and Willie Green aren't good enough to make Kobe exert himself defensively. And the Hornets' main weapon, point guard Chris Paul, isn't the kind of turbocharged, Rose/Westbrook attack monster that typically causes problems for the Lakers' PG defense. Seriously, there are lottery teams that match up better with the purple and gold.

Here are three questions to keep an eye on as the series gets under way this weekend.

1. Which version of Andrew Bynum will we see?

For Laker fans, the world stopped turning on Tuesday night, when Andrew Bynum crumpled to the Staples floor with an injury to his reconstituted right knee. It didn't start again until Wednesday afternoon, when an MRI revealed nothing more serious than a bone bruise and the Lakers announced that Drew would be ready for the playoffs. What remains unclear is whether the bruise will impair Bynum's explosiveness. When his mobility is hampered by lingering pain or a lack of match-fitness, Drew's still a useful piece. But when he's close to 100 percent, he can be a nightmare for opponents. The Lakers won't need him to be the latter in the first round but do need to get him moving in that direction.

2. What kind of series does Chris Paul have in him?

It's been a strange season for Chris Paul, filled with pseudo-trade demands, the loss of sidekick David West and bouts of weirdly inconsistent play. Though for the season his numbers are great, there have been some unusually bad performances from him lately -- like last week, when he went scoreless and shot 0-for-6 against the Grizzlies. Against the Lakers Paul has often seemed too selfless for his own team's good. It seems inconceivable that the Hornets could even take a couple games from the Lakers, let alone gun for the upset in any believable way, without Paul coming through with a killer series. Everyone else on the team will struggle to generate points, so Paul will have to look for his own shot far more than he's accustomed to doing.

3. Will the Lakers' bench be really bad, or just bad?

Lamar Odom is awesome, of course. But Shannon Brown has spent the past six weeks dribbling frantically on the perimeter before hoisting up off-target jumpers. Steve Blake has the chicken pox. (No really.) Matt Barnes has sat out the past couple games with soreness in his right knee. And Luke Walton's play has cast the Adam Morrison Era in a flattering new light.

This is the bench Phil Jackson's taking into battle?

He'll spend the first round picking through this mess and figuring out what can be salvaged. All these guys have deep postseason experience, so it's not a question of who can handle the playoff spotlight. It's about who can be trusted not to put the Lakers into a massive hole when the starters need a few moments' rest.

One name to keep in mind is Trey Johnson. The one they call Trey J was signed from the D League before the Sacramento game and looked good in limited action. I know, I know... there's no way Phil gets comfortable giving playoff minutes to a new arrival. But Johnson isn't entirely new. He spent training camp with the Lakers and has been playing for the Lakers' D-League affiliate in Bakersfield, so he has familiarity with the sets. If Blake and Brown continue to supply nothing but bad times, Phil might start dialing up Trey J as an emergency option.

Follow Dex on Twitter @dexterfishmore.