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It’s a clean sweep folks. After a ridiculous 6-0 road trip throughout the Eastern Conference, the analysts unanimiously believe the Lakers are the team to beat.
The road trip included wins over the Boston Celtics who were riding a 12 game winning streak and was followed up by a stunning performance in Cleveland ending the Cavaliers 23-0 home game streak. The Lakers also secured tie breakers over both of these teams and will have the home court advantage come playoff time (if they have the same or better record).
Lamar odom has definitely stepped up really big this week. After Andrew Bynum went down with the knee injury and was diagnosed with a severe sprain that will keep him out for 8-12 weeks, Lamar Odom has really taken advantage of his playing time and made the most of his minutes. The clear evidence is his 28 points and 17 rebounds against the Cavs. They have a really big front line but he managed to penetrate it and dominate the boards.
Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol are obviously the catalysts of this team and they have been excellent leaders. Both have stepped up to the plate and performed brilliantly. I look forward to seeing plenty more Kobe points and Gasol rebounds!
ESPN.com
2008-09 Power Rankings: Week 15 RANK (LAST WK) TEAM REC. COMMENT 
1 (4) Lakers 41-9 If the past seven days say anything, it’s that this team is better than last season’s Lakers — even if Bynum can’t come back — because of Pau and Ariza … and if the Odom we saw in Boston and Cleveland sticks around. 
2 (5) Spurs 34-15 Looks like that Popovich fellow knew just what he was doing when he ordered Timmy, Manu and Tony to skip the game in Denver, gas up during the four days off that followed and then leave it all on the floor in Boston. 
3 (1) Celtics 42-11 Can’t see the Celtics sliding into another 2-7 funk after their second streak-busting loss to the Lakers. But Boston just allowed 100 points in three successive games, which is something else we didn’t expect to see. 
4 (3) Cavaliers 39-10 First Mo Williams is snubbed again for an All-Star spot, then LeBron is stripped of his MSG triple-double, then the home winning streak is halted by the Lakers. Weeks don’t get much more deflating for teams up here. 
5 (2) Magic 38-12 Jameer is obviously borderline irreplaceable for the Magic, but all of us will feel the loss, too. Hard to see how the second round of the East playoffs can be as tasty as we thought with Orlando missing such a major piece. NBA.com
TEAM (LAST WEEK) REC. BREAKDOWN 1 
L.A. Lakers (3)41-9 Pace: 93.1 (5), Off: 116.1 (1), Def: 106.9 (7)
What a week for the Lakers. They completed season sweeps against their two most likely opponents in June (if they get there themselves) and finished their road trip 6-0. And getting a big game from Lamar Odom in Cleveland could have long-term benefits. Oh yeah, that Bryant guy scored a lot of points in New York on Monday.2 
Cleveland (4)39-10 Pace: 87.9 (25), Off: 114.5 (3), Def: 103.3 (2)
The perfect record at home is no more. LeBron’s historic triple-double is no more. And Mo Williams got overlooked for an All-Star spot again. Keep your head up Cleveland. You still have the best team in the Eastern Conference and the only squad that has yet to lose two straight.3 
Boston (1)42-11 Pace: 89.4 (17), Off: 112.5 (6), Def: 102.2 (1)
Losses to the Lakers and Spurs at home put the Celtics at 1-4 against the other three teams in our top four. The only win was over the Cavs on opening night. Of more concern should be not having home-court advantage in the postseason.4 
San Antonio (5)34-15 Pace: 87.4 (26), Off: 110.2 (12), Def: 106.7 (6)
Big Shot Rog does it again. Roger Mason got the Clippers, Suns, Lakers and now the Celtics. Of course, it helped that Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili actually played on Sunday to put Mason in position to win the game. Tuesday in Denver was a different story.5 
Orlando (2)38-12 Pace: 91.1 (10), Off: 112.7 (4), Def: 103.4 (3)
This is still the third best team in the Eastern Conference, but you can take the Magic out of title contention now that they’ve likely lost Jameer Nelson for the season. Without Nelson, Orlando’s defense wasn’t able to hold up against the Mavs or Pacers this week.USAToday.com
Rank Team Prev. Team MVP 
1
Los Angeles Lakers (41-9) 2Kobe, of course. 2
Boston Celtics (42-11) 1Kevin Garnett, because of the defense. 3
Cleveland Cavaliers (39-10) 3LeBron. Next! 4
San Antonio Spurs (34-15) 5Tim Duncan. Pops says he retires with him. 5
Orlando Magic (38-12) 4Duh, Dwight Howard. But Nelson was closer than you think. Sports Illustrated
1 
Last Week: 1Los Angeles Lakers (41-9)So much for the idea that the loss of Bynum would sink their title hopes. With Lamar Odom playing very unlike Lamar Odom (i.e. consistently productive), the Lakers swept through the East, delivering messages to the Celtics and Cavaliers to end their 6-0 trip. In the first four games without Bynum, Odom averaged 16.8 points and 10.8 rebounds and shot 52.9 percent.
2 
Last Week: 5San Antonio Spurs (34-15)First-year Spur Roger Mason Jr. keeps coming up with big shots. His latest was a go-ahead three-pointer with 20.4 seconds left in Sunday’s win at Boston, San Antonio’s ninth victory in 11 games. Mason also has nailed clutch, last-minute threes in victories against Phoenix, the Lakers and the Clippers. He ranks ninth in the league in three-pointers made (105) and seventh in percentage (44.7).
3 
Last Week: 2Boston Celtics (42-11)Of greater concern than two close losses to the West’s best (on the heels of a 12-game winning streak) is how coach Doc Rivers manages the Big Three’s playing time the rest of the season. Unlike last season, when the Celtics ran away with the East’s best record, Rivers won’t have the luxury of limiting the minutes of his star veterans yet still earning home-court advantage throughout the conference playoffs. Is pushing for home court worth it if thirtysomethings Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett have lost some steam entering the postseason?
4 
Last Week: 3Cleveland Cavaliers (39-10)They won’t head into the upcoming All-Star break a happy bunch. Mo Williams was denied a second chance to join the All-Star team when Ray Allen was selected to replace the injured Jameer Nelson. The NBA took away LeBron James‘ triple-double in New York when it awarded one of his rebounds to Ben Wallace. And the Lakers ended Cleveland’s 23-0 start at home. Those aren’t issues that will keep you up at night, but the Cavs’ nagging inability to stop opposing power forwards from torching them should be.
5 
Last Week: 4Orlando Magic (38-12)They beat the Clippers and Nets and lost at Indiana in their first three games without Nelson (shoulder), who might miss the rest of the season. Anthony Johnson and recent acquisition Tyronn Lue, who played together in Atlanta last season, are now the starter-backup point-guard tandem in Orlando.
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February 10th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
IS THIS FOR REAL? SOMEONE SHOWED ME THIS LA LAKERS BLACKBERRY BOLD BUT I DONT KNOW IF ITS FAKE OR YOU CAN REALLY GET ONE. IF SO, WHERE AT???
http://www.helloooooo.com/2009/02/09/the-limited-edition-los-angeles-lakers-blackberry-bold/
February 12th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
The Lakers are not too popular in Utah, and they just got murdered last night!
Check out what Utah fans think-
http://www.jazzbots.com/web/2009/02/11/the-tumultuous-laker-fan/
Pretty funny