Up next: my experiences in Lakerland, southern branch.
The NBA Finals came down to a thrilling seventh game last season, and the 2005-06 campaign has every reason to be compelling in its own right. While nearly everyone seems to concede that the San Antonio Spurs will again be a powerful force, there are many subplots leading up to opening day on November 1.

In keeping with media fixation on the biggest sports markets, two of the teams drawing a great deal of speculation are the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers. While the Knickerbockers hired legend Larry Brown to coach a squad in the midst of massive turnover, L.A. has once again turned to Phil Jackson to right the purple and gold ship. Both enter the season with contracts as large as their respective fan bases are loyal, but success for either man is far from guaranteed.

This is not the column to deal with the situation in the Big Apple, but I would be remiss in omitting the basics of the scenario out West. The Lakers are coming off a season in which they missed the playoffs for the first time since 1994. Having dealt Shaquille O’Neal in last year’s off-season, GM Mitch Kupchak recently pulled the trigger on a trade to acquire a big man. That would be Kwame Brown, who was drafted out of high school by then-Wizards executive Michael Jordan with the first pick in 2001 and has largely underachieved since that point. Departing in that deal was Caron Butler, a small forward and one of the pieces Los Angeles received for Shaq. The only other player of note in that deal (Lamar Odom) now holds down the three spot for the Lakers and should play a major role in deciding how far the franchise can go. Finally, this draft netted the suddenly lottery-bound club center Andrew Bynum, selected tenth. The seven-foot Bynum, a surprise pick so high in the draft, will turn eighteen tomorrow.

It was with this backdrop that I entered Anaheim’s Arrowhead Pond on Tuesday evening for one of the last several exhibition games with which the Lakers are involved. Recently, the team has traveled to Hawaii, San Diego, and Bakersfield as sort of a regional tour prior to the regular year. The Lakers were 4-2 so far, although I speculated that faring well in such competitions was often just a measure of a how a coach chose to dole out minutes among fifteen players. As I accompanied my parents heading toward section 206B, I couldn’t help but draw parallels with the preseason Mighty Ducks affair I had attended in the recent past. However, there was one distinct advantage tonight: we had better seats. In fact, the three of us nearly gasped as we entered the suite. We were not new to events at this particular arena, but normally our tickets are on the level above. On this occasion, the box was directly behind the lowest level—and even with the right basket. This viewpoint, positioned behind the visiting bench, would have proven all the more spectacular if anyone happened to be a fan of the Jazz. I mean, I love the musical genre and all, but I’m sure some folks from Salt Lake City would have gotten even more out of the experience. A true fan would love to see Spencer Nelson’s back for close to 48 minutes.

Since it had spent the bulk of the summer languishing in my closet, I had opted to wear my Kobe Bryant away jersey, but noticed that most people in attendance went with the home yellow variety. Spying my shirt, another suite occupant asked me sarcastically if I was a Laker fan. I answered that the Knicks were my team; instead of receiving a “too bad” like I expected, he high-fived me and explained that he was originally an East Coaster as well. I was just glad not to have to brave any more insults like the ones thrown my way when I donned an Allan Houston blue-and-orange number to watch my team play at Staples Center.

Despite some heavy traffic on Katella Avenue, I didn’t end up missing a play. Contentedly grabbing a spot in the second row, I was ready for some hoops. The early action did not disappoint, including a Kobe dunk and Brown blocked shot. For the record, Bryant pulled off an astounding move in the third quarter against Keith McLeod that allowed him to keep the ball for the jam instead of passing. As for Brown, I would recommend he demand more touches in the post. Los Angeles went on to build a 26-17 lead it would never relinquish, although Utah did pull within six late in the last quarter. Of course, games that do not contribute toward the standings are more significant for the performances of individual athletes, particularly those on the fringe vying to become role players for their squads. Noted master of the dunk Laron Profit contributed 13 points in an effort to do just this. At the same time, Chris Mihm made the case for a major role, prompting the Lakers blog to write: “Whatever he drank before the game, order a case of it.”

On that count, perhaps the most compelling story of the game was the continued solid play of William “Smush” Parker, who may well become the team’s starting point guard, particularly if Sasha Vujacic needs more time to develop and former Sixers veteran Aaron McKie remains in last season’s funk. Parker explained on KCAL the other night that Smush was a nickname given to him as a child. To me, this presents yet another question: who made up the moniker, and why? Regardless of what you call him, Parker showed a solid touch from behind the arc to the tune of four for five.

With rumors swirling that the Lakers want to send Bynum to the developmental league, his play in preseason seemed all the more valuable. Due to a muscle strain, Bynum had missed all such opportunities since Summer League but was able to come off the bench in this game. His ending line was 1-7 from the field, but he converted early, grabbed seven boards, and was far from awkward following the ball. The always-critical Laker Nation has buried Kupchak far too early on this count.

Utah is hoping to rebound from a tough season in which they missed power forward Carlos Boozer, who also was absent from this battle with a problematic hamstring. Gordan Giricek and Milt Palacio hit double figures at the guard positions, and rookie from Illinois Deron Williams played just ten minutes. Center Greg Ostertag may look lost at times, but he did pull down nine rebounds as did his more offensively gifted teammate Mehmet Okur.

Despite its relative lack of meaning to the NBA season as a whole, a couple of plot twists in the fourth quarter made this night more memorable than most would have anticipated. By far the most underrated moment of the game was James Lang fouling out—after playing seven minutes. The familiar ‘Hit the Road, Jack” played over the PA system, but I think they needed to pull out a new tune for something that dramatic. Furthermore, a Utah dunk late in the game caused the 24-second clock to open, prompting a brief break in the action. Finally, with just over a minute left to play, former Irvine big man Adam Parada elbowed his opposite number Robert Whaley, who was able to retaliate before both were ejected. My theory: Parada wanted something to remember from his brief flirtations with the NBA. On an only partly related note, I noticed that the epic World Series battle began well before I left the house and ended after I returned. The longest game in Fall Classic history made these delays seem miniscule by comparison. Angels Bengie Molina and Ervin Santana, who were in attendance, probably wished they could have been in Houston gunning for the title instead of playing spectator roles in the 95-85 Laker win. Then again, it could have been worse for them: as my fellow Knick fan noted, an army of Laker Girls occupied the floor during every timeout.

Without knowing it, I managed to get a jump on one story before it developed. Today, the Lakers announced the acquisition of a 2007 second round draft pick from Charlotte in exchange for forward Jumaine Jones. This explained why Jones, who could have provided depth at power forward, saw no action yesterday. Another surprise: Devean George had participated in Sunday’s game against the Bobcats, but remained in street clothes while resting his foot. Luke Walton, sidelined with a hamstring ailment, was greeted warmly with Star Wars music and adulation from the fans, who were mostly concentrated in the lower bowl. Of course, to the untrained ear "Luuuuuuuke" sounds a lot like boos.

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