No Kobe? No Problem.

It has been a pretty remarkable run for the Kobe-less Lakers, who have gone 4-1 in their last five games without their superstar.  Kobe Bryant, injured with tenosynovitis of the shin, missed the last five contests, ending his regular season streak of 138 consecutive games.  When news of Kobe's injury surfaced, many wondered if LA can continue to put up wins.  Those doubts only strengthened after the Phoenix Suns blew out the Lakers on their first game without Bryant.  The lack of offense was evident.  Someone needed to step up.  The Lakers responded by winning their next four games.  Game two without  Bryant was hosted by the New Orleans Hornets.  The Lakers turned to Pau Gasol to lead the team.  Gasol led a well-rounded game, scoring 25 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, and dishing out 4 assists.  The Lakers won a nail-biter, 93-91.  Game three against the elite San Antonia Spurs worried many fans.  Yet, the Lakers, held up by All-Star center Andrew Bynum, came out with the victory.  Grabbing 30 rebounds, which hasn't been done for over two years, Bynum led the Lakers to an easy 98-84 win.  When Bynum doesn't provide 30 rebounds, no problem.  In game 4 without Bryant, Bynum scored 30 points, winning a game at home against the Denver Nuggets 103-97.  Today, the Lakers were faced with another obstacle in proving they're an elite squad.  Playing the defending champions, the Dallas Mavericks, the Lakers came out with a victory.  But it wasn't easy.  The game went into overtime, but they were able to win 112-108.  Three of the Lakers' starters scored at least 20 points.  This game was definitely a team effort.  Besides Gasol and Bynum, many of the role-players steeped their game up in the five games.  Matt Barnes and Metta World Peace picked up scoring where Bryant left.

What's next for the Kobe-less Lakers? Only time will tell.  When interviewed, Bryant stated he'd be back before the season ends.  Although the Lakers have been successful without Bryant, it is obvious they miss his scoring and leadership on the court.  If they want chance at winning another title, Kobe must come back with a vengeance.

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Soap Opera in Orlando

     Dwight Howard is easily the NBA's hot spot for high profile soap opera drama, and the story only gets more interesting. Anyone who follows the NBA knows of the trade drama that has surrounded
Dwight Howard for the past couple of months, but with the trade deadline long gone that drama was supposed to be over with. Instead the exact opposite happened, and the rumors are now hotter than ever. All of this steams down to the Orlando Magics head coach Steve Van Gundy and his comments made three days ago of word that "came from the top". According to Van Gundy he knows that Dwight Howard has personally asked Magic's top managers that Steve Van Gundy be fired as head coach, and this of course is a whole new mess of its own. With playoff time dwindling ever closer, this huge disagreement between star player and coach does nothing to help Orlando's chance at a NBA Championship title.
     Orlando's game yesterday against the Seventy Sixers showed that even with the drama going on Dwight is still a performance monster, with an impressive twenty rebounds and twenty points. However this does not seal the deal. Despite Howard's impressive performance his newly found back troubles became more apparent, as at one point he got a rebound and completely collapsed onto the f;oor. This is only the begging. Orlando will have many harder games as the NBA season comes to an end, and even more of that as the playoff's begin. Can the team make it through the playoffs? Will Dwight's back be able to handle the stress?
     The NBA Championship is  the key factor in determining the Orlando Magics near future, and with Orlando's future Dwight's as well. If the Magic don't pull of a championship title this year Dwight and Van Gundy are both very unlikely to return to the team next season. Dwight is Orlando's power house averaging 20 points a game, and a crazy 14 rebounds per game. It is hard to imagine an Orlando without such a dominant center. Yet these coaching issues do not look good for Orlando, and if those don't kill the Magic in the playoffs, Howard's back might. Either way is a loose loose situation for Orlando, cause in both situations they loose their star player. The Soap Opera in Orlando continues, and a cloudy future looks like it is on its way for the vacation city.

No D.Rose and Still Strong

The Chicago Bulls have the made the best out of it. They currently hold number one of the season standings and their most valuable player is injured. Derrick Rose, one of the best players on the Bulls suffered a severe groin pull against the New York Knicks back on March 12. He has been sitting out for 12 games and the Bulls have pulled off a successful season so far. They've won 9 games, and 4 of the games were consecutive wins. The possibilities that the Bulls have is outstanding, with Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng and the rest of the team, they are definitely making a big cover for Rose. Being ranked number one in season standings isn't easy, especially without a great point guard like Derrick Rose.

 The question is though, will the Bulls keep working hard and hold their position without Rose or will they eventually need him? Rumors have been saying that his injury is probably going to make him stay off the courts for the rest of the season, but Rose said "My groin is not bothering me. I'm happy to move on. My spirits are up. I felt good out there...It's really not up to (Thibodeau). It's up to me. If I'm feeling good, I'm going to play. If I think that I need some more days, I'm going to take some more days. More than likely I'll be out there." With no doubt Derrick Rose will make the Bulls a stronger team. With or without him, the Bulls have pulled off a successful season and are ready for the next title.  

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