The Credits: "Road Trip"

Stephen Jackson was supposed to make an immediate impact in Milwaukee. He was going to provide leadership, which the Bucks have lacked in recent years, and contribute on both ends of the court. Twenty games into the season, that hasn’t been the case.

Jackson was initially frustrated with the organization because they wouldn’t extend his contract. Now, the 33-year-old is also unhappy with his role.

“I ain’t surprised,” Jackson said of being benched. “They know how I feel. It ain’t no secret. Everybody knows the situation. I’m going to cheer the team on and do what I’ve got to do. My situation is going to get better soon. But until then I’m going to support these guys and continue to collect my check.”

I don’t really care about the Clippers and their success or that they are becoming more popular. But for years the Lakers’ selling point to attract other players is their location and winning tradition. Everyone wants to be a Laker and no one had the Clippers on their “wish list” which is something that is becoming more popular. Everyone has a wish list. The Clippers were a team that everyone laughed at. But now that is changing. Players are actually considering the Clippers. The Clippers have to win a title first before they can even be in the Lakers vs Clippers comparison. But they are becoming a thorn on the Lakers side if they begin to attract A – list players. IMO

Less than two weeks ago, Troy (Murphy) was lost as a brand new puppy dog out there, and finally we had two or three contact practices and now it’s to a point where we’re able to teach in a live setting, stop it, redo it four or five times if we have to and it’s paid off for us.

Take the example of 3-point shooting in the last four contests:

- vs. Charlotte: 12-of-26 (Murphy 4-of-4, bench 10-of-14, Kobe 2-for-2 before nine straight misses)
- at Minnesota: 8-for-19 (Kobe 5-for-9, Murphy 2-for-3)
- at Milwaukee: 6-for-19 (Kobe 1-for-5, Goudelock 3-for-5)
- vs Clippers: 8-for-16 (Fisher 3-of-4)

That’s a total of 34-for-80, or 42.5 percent, which would rank first in the NBA

Brown’s best shooter thus far has been Murphy, a career 39 percent triple sniper who at 6-10 with a quick, direct release almost always gets a good look off. This season, he’s connected on 11 of his 23 attempts to lead the team at 47.8 percent, boosted by that 4-of-4 . Close behind is rookie Andrew Goudelock, who displayed crazy range throughout his career at College of Charleston and has made 10-of-23 triples for L.A. (43.5 percent)

On Wednesday’s "Mason and Ireland" show on 710 ESPN, Murphy said that part of the reason he’s gotten good looks of late is that Goudelock has proven adept at running the pick and roll. Since opponents have to respect Goudelock’s shot, he’s been able to draw an extra defender, and then dish off to an open Murphy, who is quite good at popping off the screen to free himself for a three

We have shooters, and they are just starting to get comfortable. We can only go up from here.

“If I’m going to get any time on the court, it’s going to start defensively," he said. "I can score. That’s what intrigues a lot of people. But the reason they got me on the court in the first place is playing hard in practice, busting my butt on defense and he (Brown) told me as along as I’m playing hard on defense, that’s No. 1 thing. It’s not scoring for them.”

Here is hoping the Lakers, Kobe not included, know how to pack for the road and don’t forget important items such as, I don’t know, the Defense and Rebounding. We’ll be needing those

and how more floor team (hopefully)

greggeraci at 7:01 AM February 02, 2012

Kobe needs to have an operation on his left eye….It’s a lazy left eye lid and it distortes his vision. Look at it the next time when he sitting on the bench. It’s a sign of fatigue. It’s half way shut and more than likely the doctors don’t know how to fix it. They should get rid of him while they can

He’s the originator of the jaw jut. His is natural.

“They wouldn’t let him eat,” Goudelock added. “He had to stand there while everyone was eating with a towel over his wrist like a butler.”

:(