The Lakers controlled most of the their season opener against the Clippers despite the narrowing of a double-digit lead to just a point at the third quarter’s close, ultimately winning by seven behind 33 points from Kobe Bryant and double-doubles from both Andrew Bynum (26 and 13) and Lamar Odom (16 and 13).
Below are the postgame quotes from both head coaches and several players from L.A.’s two basketball teams:
Lakers Head Coach Phil Jackson
On tonight’s game: “I thought we had a pretty good run in the first quarter. Second quarter, their second unit really outplayed us quite consistently there for the first four, five, six minutes. We got the momentum back and carried it into the second half. That third quarter was a real letdown for us which is not an issue we’ve had before. We missed a lot of easy shots and gave up a lot of opportunities to them and they came storming back in the game. I thought that second unit in the fourth quarter with Lamar out there really got things going and in the fourth we were able to sustain it. A long game for a lot of these guys and a lot of minutes for a number of starters.”
On the pre-game championship ring ceremony:
“It was a nice ceremony. I think it’s always tough to play games after those kind of ceremonies. I think some of the energy is always difficult to maintain because there is a lot of energy that’s dissipated I think when you go out in that and have that kind of ceremony and this kind of re-living the last year and you’re not ready to step up and march to the tune of this season right yet. We got it back. We did okay.”
On the performance of Ron Artest: “Ron did really well. I thought he shut down defensively really well. Some offensive things he had opportunities on he didn’t complete, but I thought he looked like he was in the mix and knew what was going on most of the time and felt comfortable with what we were trying to do.”
On Andrew Bynum’s defense: “He did pretty well. The first half we talked a little bit about our rotations and help defense and I thought Drew was much better in the second half giving help.”
Lakers Forward Ron Artest
On atmosphere of first game and where he stood during ring ceremony: “I just waited back here and waited for them to enjoy their moment, and after they enjoyed their moment I came out and enjoyed it with the team”
On if ring ceremony gave him extra motivation: “At this point there’s no extra motivation needed. I’m already motivated to win.”
Lakers Forward Lamar Odom
On his reaction to the ring ceremony: “It felt good, part of history… I guess when we won, I got caught up in the moment a little bit and the parade as well, and today realized what we accomplished and was really proud of it. The company we’re in now… have a banner up that I’m a part of, it feels good.”
On former Lakers legends in attendance for ring ceremony: “This is an amazing franchise to be a part of and to be in that company is a big deal for a kid from Queens.
While seven years would be the shortest of times between championships for most professional franchises, it seemed far too long for Lakers fans that have celebrated the riches of a franchise that won five times in the 1980’s, three straight from 2000-02 and 15 total. It’s all relative, after all.
Behind solid all-around games from Kobe Bryant (game-high 33 points), Andrew Bynum (26 points, 13 rebounds)and Lamar Odom (16 points, 13 rebounds and five assists), the Lakers emerged from STAPLES Center with a 99-92 victory (not to mention a shiny new toy).
Yet the seesaw tilted back in the Lakers favor, as they tightend up defensively and scored easily in the paint, led by a heavy dose of Lamar Odom. In fact, in the first six minutes of the quarter, Odom scored eight points, grabbed two boards (both offensive) and nailed his second three-pointer, helping L.A. boost its lead to 10 once again until Bryant, Ron Artest and Bynum came in to close the game.
After a hotly-contested Western Conference Finals between L.A. and Denver last season, and now back-to-back preseason games in Southern California just four days before the regular season opener for LA, the opposing squads were enjoying each other about as much as the Yankees and Red Sox on Friday evening.
Prior to Sunday’s Staples Center Shootout finale between L.A.’s two basketball teams, Phil Jackson was asked if he’d hold anything back, considering that the Lakers and Clippers open the regular season in just nine days.
Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Luke Walton missed the game with minor injuries for the second consecutive night - though Jackson said that all could have played were it a playoff game - leaving only Andrew Bynum to fill the void against a rather large Clippers squad.
The Lakers knew what they were getting in Ron Artest before he was signed away from Houston in July, at least from a tangible perspective:
“I try to always go hard, try to always play hard, I’ve been doing that for a long time,” Artest said prior to the game. “It’s the only way I know how to play.”
To: Los Angeles Lakers Teammates
In the old school
It took overtime for the Lakers to find the same effort they’d put forth in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, but at the end of a sunny Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles, the home team managed to seal a five-point win that secured a 2-0 series lead, a luxury the Lakers didn’t have against either Houston or Denver in the West.





