SB Nation Los Angeles - The Red Carpet

Kobe Bryant Gives One Word Answer To Reporter's Question

2012-05-15T17:45:57Z

Aside from the fact that he's still one of the best players on the planet and will go down as one of the top 10 to every grace a basketball court, so watching him play is a joy to us all, Kobe Bryant staying in the playoffs means more than just basketball.

It means he gets to speak to the media.

Well, sort of.

Bryant is notorious for going into dismissive, shutdown mode during the playoffs. His answers are quick, curt and often no longer than three or four words. But his most recent response to a question about whether or not the Lakers can guard the Oklahoma City Thunder will go down as one of his best.

Mainly because the actual answer was one word, but the facial expressions afterwards told a completely different story. He said ‘no' but his expressions said, ‘Did you really just ask me that? What do you expect me to say? Next question.'

Only there wasn't a next question. Bryant got up and left afterwards, probably leaving a room full of petrified reporters with clutched pads unwilling to be the next journalistic casualty to Bryant's prickly verbal delivery.

But please, Mr. Bryant, do continue. It's quite hilarious. Not the getting blown out part, but, well, you know...

NBC LA Mixes Up L.A. Kings With Sacramento Kings

2012-05-15T14:00:48Z

Local NBC news affilate, NBCLA mixed up their hometown Los Angeles Kings logo with the Sacramento Kings logo on a graphic during Monday's six o'clock edition of the news.

See a picture of the goof after the jump.

via static.lockerz.com

The official L.A. Kings Twitter account poked fun at the mistake on Monday night:

Hey @NBCLA. Can we talk about everything that is wrong with this: lockerz.com/s/209070756
— LA Kings (@LAKings) May 15, 2012

While it would be cool if the Sacramento Kings were in the NBA playoffs as well, mixing up the Sacramento Kings and the L.A. Kings is an embarrassing mistake. Mixing up one of the NBA's worst teams with one of the NHL's best teams just makes you look plain bad.

Avoiding this mistake is easy, if the graphic was double-checked it obviously was not checked by a sports fan. The colors and the logo of both teams are similar, except for the part where one logo says Sacramento and one says Los Angeles.

This was not the first mix-up between the two professional franchises, and likely won't be the last — especially if the Sacramento Kings end up moving to Anaheim.

Lakers Vs. Thunder Highlights: Metta World Peace Booed, Devin Ebanks Ejected, Durant And Westbrook Dominate

2012-05-15T11:00:34Z

As the Los Angeles Lakers were losing by 20 (25? 30? 300?), it was easy to get lost in trying to find things that stood out other than Oklahoma City Thunder domination.

Metta World Peace was booed hard by the Oklahoma City crowd early on.

Then the Thunder started pouring it on.

Kevin Durant dunked right past Andrew Bynum's attempt at defense.

Daequan Cook nailed a big three.

After that, many points were scored, mostly by the Thunder.

This eventually led to an epic flop by Steve Blake.

Metta World Peace was not happy with the deficit.

But he did manage to tango with James Harden once before both left the game.

Finally, Devin Ebanks got tossed, knocked over a chair, and took off his jersey for no real reason. Inspired the Lakers to still lose by about thirty or so. A noble effort by Ebanks.

And that's your Laker highlights of the game! It was that type of night in Oklahoma City.

To talk about the loss in Game 1 with Laker fans, head on over to Silver Screen and Roll. To talk about the loss with Game 2 with Thunder fans, go to Welcome To Loud City.

Check out the SB Nation NBA YouTube channel for more coverage of the series.

Matt Kemp Injury: Dodgers Star Leaves Game In 4th Inning

2012-05-13T21:33:35Z

The Los Angeles Dodgers entered Sunday with a 22-11 record, the best record in baseball, but received some bad news. All-world center fielder Matt Kemp left the game against the Colorado Rockies after just three innings on Sunday, presumably with a left hamstring injury of some sort.

Kemp made the final out of the third inning, then as he went back to the dugout to grab his glove he met with assistant trainer Greg Harrel and manager Don Mattingly. It seemed like Kemp was pleading to stay in the game, as he slammed his glove down in the dugout after getting removed.

Kemp was a late scratch from the Dodgers lineup last Sunday at Wrigley Field in Chicago with tightness in his left hamstring, and he felt the effects this week. Kemp went 3-for-3 with a walk on Monday, but was running gingerly both on the bases and in the field.

Kemp grounded out to shortstop in each of his first two at-bats and is currently in an 0-for-14 slump. He has no home runs in 11 games in May after hitting 12 home runs in 23 games in April, setting a new Dodgers franchise record.

"Matt's no different than anybody else. He's not going to hit .430. He's going to go through periods," said Mattingly on Saturday. "Guys that hit home runs get hot, hit them for a week, then slow down, then have another hot streak. I don't think it has to do with his hammy."

For more news on Kemp and the Dodgers, be sure to read True Blue LA.

ANIMATED: Zach Randolph Clotheslines Blake Griffin

2012-05-13T19:01:32Z

NBA Playoff basketball has always been known for it's increase of physicality, but this Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies series has fallen right in line be being just as chippy and violent. And now that it's game seven the gloves are coming off, as Memphis' Zach Randolph proves to us by clotheslining Blake Griffin under the hoop early in the second half.

Griffin and Randolph get tangled up going for a rebound, which infuriates Randolph to the point of almost landing a closed fist punch into Blake's face. Instead, Griffin catches the brunt of Z-Bo's forearm smack dab on the nose, visibly stunning him as he staggers back, falling to the floor with a dazed look upon his face.

via assets.sbnation.com

It's not going to get any prettier as both of these squads fight to stay alive this afternoon.

via assets.sbnation.com

For more on the Clippers, make your way over to Clips Nation and SB Nation Los Angeles.

VIDEO: Chris Paul's Uber-Travel Narrated By Jeff Van Gundy

2012-05-13T17:38:44Z

Every now and again an NBA player can get away with a bit of a travel. Then there are times when players get away with dancing with the ball halfway down the court, which Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul certainly did in his game seven matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies Sunday morning.

Make the jump to see the epic glide-step in action.

Ok, I think I've made this move before in my kitchen and a nerf ball, but certainly never in a game, not even at the rec center. But then again, I don't move like CP3, who's move below is somewhat akin to that of a gazzelle in sneakers.

Catch that? Jeff Van Gundy did too. Maybe Paul can switch out to some hoover boots for the second half to keep up the show.

For more in depth discussion and analysis of the Los Angeles Clippers, make your way over to Clips Nation and SB Nation Los Angeles.

Pau Gasol Scores Just Before Halftime, Is Feeling It

2012-05-13T04:09:08Z

Just before halftime at the LA Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets game 7 matchup, Pau Gasol mopped up a missed shot just before the buzzer sounds. This gif has everything you want, a difficult shot, things lighting up, and a man beast who looks like he would eat your face off. Mmmm, face….

That's not a man I'd want to mess with. It's the face of a man in the throws of violent passion. Giving in to his own animal nature.

NBA Playoffs, Clippers vs. Grizzlies: Lob City? More Like Flop City

2012-05-12T03:05:43Z

Flopping has been an art perfected by many throughout the history of basketball. Need a big defensive stop in a playoff game? Stand kind of close to the basket or ball, wait for the opposition to make a move and fall over, regardless of the amount of contact. And sometimes there isn't even any contact made!

With elimination on the line in tonight's Clippers vs. Grizzlies game, the flopping has gotten out of control at Staples Center. We have some fun GIFs of the madness after the jump!

Here's a fun one:

And another:

I'm not sure what Marc Gasol is doing here, but yeah, he needs a hug.

Fun stuff! This is Where Amazing Happens, you guys.

For more on the Clippers, be sure to check out Clippers Nation. Grizzlies fans should visit Straight Outta Vancouver for their coverage. And as always, SB Nation is the place to go for all-things sports.