Hooped Up

The pupil Kurt Rambis, did not surpass the master Phil Jackson as the Lakers won ugly 96-104 over the visiting Timberwolves at the Staples Center, but L.A. lost Andrew Bynum to injury in the process.

“I was just running and felt a lot of pain in my calf and down from there,” Bynum said as he walked with a limp. “It’s calmed down a little bit now. It was just really sharp, really quick. One or two seconds of super sharp pain.”

Bynum left the game a few minutes into the third quarter after he felt a pop in his left achilles’ tendon and did not return after going to the locker room for treatment. With the victory over the Wolves, L.A. earned a playoff spot (shocking) and racked up their fifth straight win.

No word has surfaced as to when Bynum will be able to return to the Lakers line up or when he’ll be able to hoist Playboy model Nicole Narain above his shoulders again.

H/N LA Times

One of the biggest benefits of winning an NBA championship last year, is the obligatory visit to the White House to meet the President the this year. Especially if the President in office is Barack Obama and not that other guy that use to “run things” before.

Being a huge hoops fan, Barack Obama was probably the first President to actually watch the playoffs and finals with interest and he commended the defending champion Lakers on defeated Orlando in last year’s NBA Finals for their 15th NBA title. When they visited the White House to meet me.

“Nobody exemplifies excellence in basketball better than the Los Angeles Lakers,” Obama said. “I want to congratulate everybody who helped make this team what it is, from the assistants to the front office staff to the trainers and the ticket-takers, all the fans back in LA who bleed purple and gold. You all should be very proud.”

The President also commended the Lakers on their efforts to help earthquake victims in Haiti.

See video of the Lakers visit to the White House after the jump.

Read More »

When the Lakers left New York on Saturday morning to travel to Toronto, Bynum missed the team flight and was forced to pay for his own travel to Canada. Lakers Coach Phil Jacksonsaid that Bynum would be fined — he wouldn’t disclose the amount — and that paying his own way was another way of punishment for the young center.

Jackson said Bynum placed his bags outside his hotel room in New York for the designated time for pickups, but perhaps fell back to sleep.

“His bags made it to Toronto, but he didn’t,” Jackson said, smiling. “So obviously he got up and put his bags outside the door and something happened between there and the bus, like going back to sleep again, or whatever. … He’s all right. A rookie mistake you would call it, even though he’s not a rookie. There’s a standard fine for it. He paid his own plane fare.”

LA Times

Sorry Andrew Bogut, your jump hook work visa has been denied by Staples Center immigration officer Andrew Bynum.

Another van glorious season of NBA basketball is about to begin and Hooped Up does a quick and dirty preview of all 30 clubs.

This summer, Rasheed Wallace said the Boston Celtics could win more than 72 games in the ‘09-10 season. Well, I’m thinking that if anybody in the league is going to win at least 70 games. It’s the Lakers. Read More »

It’s early, undoubtedly, but center Andrew Bynum is currently on the Lakers’ second unit. Lamar Odom played with the starters in Saturday night’s scrimmage, along with Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest, Pau Gasol and Derek Fisher.

Apparently,Lakers Coach Phil Jackson is more comfortable going with a unit similar to the one that flourished in the playoffs last season, the obvious exception being Artest in place of Trevor Ariza.

Los Angeles Times

I am starting believe that Kobe Bryant’s “more feared than loved” style ain’t that bad because it gets results. Ever since, the Lakers got bounced from the finals last year by the Boston Celtics, Kobe Bryant has been on a tear during the 08-09 season with revenge on his mind. The Jazz, Rockets, and Nuggets all tested the Lakers mettle but Kobe Bryant would not be denied and only a return to the finals would do. So, say what you want to about Bryant, but I can’t name another guy with 3 championship rings on his fingers that’s still hungry for another more that the “Black Mamba”.

The Orlando Magic can pull off an upset, but do you really want to bet against Kobe Bryant? I think not.

Things are about to get awkward again on the Lakers front line because Andrew Bynum returns to the line up tonight and karma will be watching.

“The day he learned he sustained ligament damage in his right knee, Andrew Bynum emerged from the Lakers locker room at Madison Square Garden and vowed he’d be in uniform before the start of the playoffs. Tonight it appears he’ll deliver on that promise from 10 weeks ago. Bynum will make his long-awaited comeback in tonight’s nationally televised matchup with the Denver Nuggets, a source close to the Lakers center said Wednesday afternoon. The source said Lakers coach Phil Jackson called Bynum after Tuesday’s game in Sacramento to notify him that he would be cleared to play tonight.”

Andrew Bynum is a great player, but I really like the Lakers line up without him. Lets see if his return sinks or rises the Lakers a level.

Via Press Telegram

Call it a sneak peek for next season. Call it a sliver of redemption. After languishing all season with franchise player Gilbert Arenas and top center Brendan Haywood out with injuries, the Washington Wizards finally had both on the floor at the same time Thursday night. As a result, they fielded a starting lineup closely resembling the one team officials and fans expected would begin the season – and they got the anticipated results.

The Wizards – owners of the Eastern Conference’s worst record – welcomed LeBron James and the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers to town and pulled off a 109-101 victory in front of a sellout crowd at Verizon Center.
Washington Times 

Read More »

As I mentioned in yesterday’s Outlet Pass, Andrew Bynum was spotted at Hugh Hefner’s mansion for the Playboy Golf pajama and lingerie (mostly lingerie) after party. So while the Lakers were busy in Atlanta losing to the Hawks 86-76 on Sunday. Andrew Bynum was in LA hula hooping, sucking back Bahama Momma’s and enjoying the healing properties of the infamous Grotto. Do you think Bynum’s injured knee feels better? Just look at his face in the picture above. That’s the smile of a healed man.

Then again, having Nicole Narain’s crotch on your neck would bring a smile to an injured man’s face too.

Andrew Bynum straight hula hoopin’ with Playboy bunnies, after the jump. Read More »