Friday 18 February 2011

THROUGH THE WIRE: FRIDAY (02/18/10)

Nov 1, 2010; Los Anglees, CA, USA; General view of the Staples Center exterior and the downtown Los Angeles skyline before the NBA game between the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Clippers. Photo via Newscom

24. With the All-Star game being played in Los Angeles this weekend, let's keep Friday's, 'Through The Wire', Laker themed. It's about time the logo's legend was cemented in stone in Los Angeles. The Lakers have given Jerry West the Magic Johnson and Chick Hearn treatment, immortalizing him in a bronze statue. The Lakers golden Hall Of Famer was enshrined in the Star Plaza along with Wayne Gretzky and Oscar De La Hoya. Jerry reiterated the fact that he was uncomfortable receiving the attention but thanked the Los Angeles Lakers and the Staples Centre for the honor. The statue depicts, Mr. Clutch dribbling. The ice to Jerry's fire, Elgin Baylor was on hand as was Laker legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Pat Riley and Shaquille O'Neal and Boston foe, but good friend Bill Russell.

48. Usually blockbuster trades and the All-Star weekend go hand in hand but don't expect much noise out of Los Angeles on the transfer front. Ron Artest was rumored to be hitting the road, like a fouled out Jack at the Staples Centre and Carmelo Anthony was supposed to be the next Pau Gasol and make the Lakers list of stars look that much more elite. Still, you should expect the only blockbusters to come out of Hollywood to be Matt Damon films as Mitch Kupchak is telling us to not expect much by the February 24th deadline like kids who have forgot that homework. "I think it's unlikely," the former Laker Power Forward said about 'Melo turning yellow. "But there's eight days to go. All of the general managers are here in Los Angeles this weekend, and there will be a lot of yapping. There will be a lot of guys moving off to the side, and there will be a lot of phone calls. ... I stand by what I said, that it's unlikely, but I don't think any general manager can stand here and say there will be absolutely no changes in eight days, in particular at this time of year." the Lakers have lost more form, since the rumors first started as they've just come off three straight losses to end their road trip including one embarrassing loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. This would of been acceptable last year, but not now, times are a'changing, do the Lakers need to? As Kupchak quoted, "Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you can climb up."

82. Keeping it Lakers and legendary it looks like good friends and great rivals Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are off to New York. The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtic legends and Basketball pioneers are set to have a Broadway play written about them. Hey if the company ENRON and the rapper Jim Jones can have a play done about them then why not these two icons? The production will centre around the relationship between the two icons which started as their two colleges went head to head and lasted through their battles in the NBA and to this day. The writers who wrote the 2010 smash 'Lombardi' will pen tnis Earvin and Legend piece. Time to book that ticket to JFK, this is one show you won't mind taking your girlfriend to see.

O.T. Even more Lakers now. Sure Ron Artest may not be playing in Staples this weekend and rumor has it that if he returns there it may not be for long (It would be the Lakers loss) still the enigmatic man has more important plans at the moment. Ron, Ron ha visited Washington D.C. to raise more awareness about the need for help in the area of mental health. We salute his work...the New Jersey Nets have reiterated their stance that Carmelo Anthony won't be heading to the Meadowlands before or after February 24th...injured, reigning Rookie Of The Year, Tyreke Evans won't suit up for the Rookie challenge tomorrow. The injured star will be replaced by James Harden...San Antonio and Western All-Stars coach Greg Popovich says that Tim Duncan will start for the West for Sundays big game. The Robot has been a cog in the All-Star team for practically his whole career, plugging the Power Forward position...enjoy the All-Star weekend and check back on BASKETBALL 24/48/82 on Monday for our recap. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

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