The Los Angeles Lakers have finally done what we like to see, win. They beat the Sacramento Kings in Las Vegas 94-89. After trailing most of the first half, the Lakers opened a lead in the third quarter to gain control of the remainder of the game.

Notes from the game:

• Kobe played too many minutes. He played the most minutes on the team with 25:30. Does that make any sense? Of all the guys on the team, shouldn’t he be playing least in order to let everyone else have a turn?
• Lamar Odom did not play enough minutes. Odom finished with 4 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists in just under 22 minutes. Odom took a total of two shots in over 20 minutes of play. My question, besides collect rebounds, what did he do? Has Odom done a single thing to prove that he deserves starting minutes? He better get on track with his game or else I guarantee Phil Jackson will throw him in the doghouse quick.
• Bynum and Gasol looked pretty solid together in the post. They played 20 minutes each, combined for 22 points on 7 of 12 shooting. My only real issue with their performance so far is their lack of rebounding. They seem to get caught too far from the basket on defense trying to block 20 foot jump shots. Odom and Radmanovic both had more rebounds than the two seven footers.
• 3 point shooting as sad and pathetic. The Lakers as a team made one out of eleven three pointers. Who was the guy to make the shot, Lamar Odom. Thats just sad when Lamar is the only player on your team that actually drops a shot from behind the arc.
• Jordan, Ariza, and Powell all had impressive games. They each had 8 points on a combined 50% shooting. The more I watch Powell play in purple and gold, the more I begin to understand that he is the closest thing we will find to replacing Ronny Turiaf. Powell has a good amount of learning to do regarding the triangle offense but he has done a great job adapting on the defensive end thus far.

The Lakers next game is this Saturday, October 18, 2008, at Staples Center. The opponent, FC Barcelona. For the first time ever, the European ball club has come to the US to face the Los Angeles Lakers. FC Barcelona has most recently been in the news for its former superstar point guard, Juan Carlos Navarro. They are considered in elite European ball club and I look forward to seeing the match up.