Fun. It’s definitely not the word that comes to mind when the League’s best team (sorry Cleveland, but the Lakers have your number this year) faces a squad full of scrubs. That might sound a little harsh, but I still remember them burning Laker jerseys during their best years. You will never get any sympathy from me for the Kings. Never. Ever.

Nor is the word Laker fans have used while watching excruciating painful basketball while the playoffs and Bynum has been on everyone’s mind. Tonight they faced an opponent who had no reason to play. A team that is as it’s record shows, the worst competition the NBA has to offer. The Sacramento Kings have won exactly 16 games, the same amount the Lakers have lost.

As of late the Lakers have struggled with putting away teams. Their drive to win and play all 48 minutes of a game with equal intensity has been questioned by not only fans, but even the coach. Phil’s 33 seconds.

Tonight, there was no one on the Laker squad who was left disgruntled. The Lakers played with a purpose, and if they do that the rest of the season, the number one position is their’s to take.

Pau Gasol, AKA the Spaniard, was completely dominant. 26 points off an efficient (is there any better way to describe Pau?) 11 for 16 shooting and 12 boards. Kobe finally seems to have his shooting hand back and dropped 22 with 5 boards and 4 assists in thirty minutes of play. Can’t ask for better numbers from your awesome twosome.

If Derek Fisher is the heart of the Lakers, then Lamar Odom is their soul. Lamar “the goods” Odom had 15 and 11 in just 30 minutes, and just played a smooth as silk game. And if anyone missed it, there was a Sasha sighting in a big way. Twelve points on 4 for 7 shooting and a dunk that would make Marc Jackson say “mama there goes that man!”. Luke looked like Magic Johnson (minus the athleticism or short shorts) and dished out nine assists with 11 points. Jordan Farmar better get his game up because if he doesn’t, I’m sure Shannon Brown won’t mind taking his minutes. 9 points in 11 minutes and a couple of steels is more than any Laker faithful can ask for. The dude simply brought an energy which had been missing since the Lakers lost to the 76ers. Don’t know about how well he will continue to play, but if he keeps this up, there might be another Ron Harper-esque once again running the point for a Phil Jackson team.

This was the first night in about a month where I saw that the Lakers were excited to be together. In fact, I’m almost afraid to say this, but after so much criticism from all fronts, the Lakers had fun again.

The Lakers will try to continue their ‘fun times’ with a potential welcome back party for Andrew Bynum on Thursday against the Nuggets.

Zen-Laker quote of the day: “Take rest. A field that has rested gives a beautiful crop.”