UPDATE: LAKERS WIN 130-105; CLEAN SWEEP OF SEATTLE 2007-2008

Tonight will mark the fourth and final meeting between the Los Angeles Lakers and Seattle Supersonics. The Lakers have dominated this years series currently holding a 3-0 lead. The first game came fairly early in the season and the Lakers were able to pull it out with an easy victory. The second game against the Sonics was quite different.

When the Lakers last traveled to Seattle they were on their way to playing their first game of the season without center Andrew Bynum. Bynum was injured in the previous night’s game and the Sonics were the first lucky team to take on the Bynum-less Lakers. Many analysts had predicted that the team would fall apart without the young center, but that first game without him proved otherwise.

Kobe Bryant emerged once again as the MVP that he deserves to be. With Bynum down, Kobe went off for his highest scoring game of 48 points. Kobe singlehandedly managed to pull the team together and lead them to a victory in overtime. As a matter of fact, somehow Kobe managed to pull the game out while the Lakers shot 2% worse than the Sonics overall in the game.

The third game was another easy victory for the Lakers in Seattle and tonight’s game should be a continuation of the Lakers dominance recently. After big wins on the road at the stadiums that currently hold the #1 and #2 best home records in the NBA, the Lakers are prepared to fight for their homecourt advantage. Currently sitting pretty 1/2 game ahead of the New Orleans Hornets the Lakers have a chance to take a full game lead of the Western Conference with a win tonight.

Fortunately for the Lakers, although they have plenty of their own injuries, the Sonics are once again with Chris Wilcox, an intense and very strong forward/center. Also in the Lakers favor, the Sonics are only 2-20 on the road this season so I’d say its quite likely the Lakers can pull off a win here.

Lakers win by 20+ is the prediction… any thoughts?

The Los Angeles Lakers have officially signed small forward Ira Newble to a 10-day contract. Mitch Kupchak should get some praise for this signing simply because he lured a player into LA that was choosing between a new team and returning to his existing team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he could’ve reunited with Lebron James.

Newble has made the wise decision of teaming up with Kobe Bryant. Perhaps by season’s end Mr. Newble will be capable of determining who the league’s MVP truly is.

Either way, Newble is an eight year NBA veteran who has played for the Cavaliers and for a few games with the Seattle Supersonics. Newble was involved in the trade between the Cavs and Sonics that sent Delonte West and Wally Sczerbiak to Cleveland. Newble went to University of Miami, then played in the International Basketball Association followed by a three year stay in the CBA.

Newble has averaged 4.2 points and 2.7 rebounds in a cool 15 minutes of game time. He is better known for his key role player contributions than his shooting or actual statistics.

With this signing, the Lakers roster is officially at 15 (for the next 10 days), and the Lakers cannot add another player, unless they decide to rid of Newble after his short term contract.