Silver Screen and Roll, a Los Angeles Lakers community

Folks, you're probably already doing this, but I've got one piece of advice for you: Read the links! There is so much being written about the Lakers, and about Kobe Bryant, and the overwhelming majority of it is very positive. Read it all – enjoy it while it lasts!

This is non-negotiable: Every Lakers fan must read this; every Kobe fan must read this. In fact, every Lakers/Kobe hater must read it as well. Why? Because I don't ever want to hear another person claim that Kobe is a poor leader, and I don't ever want to hear it said that he doesn't make his teammates better. Throughout this year, he has done everything for the Lakers – he has been teacher, mentor, coach, leader, director, master, and of course, the best player in the world throughout it all. Lakers fans, grab this link. Post it on every message board where Kobe's leadership is questioned. Email it to your Kobe-hating friends. Make it a permanent fixture in your arsenal of links to be used in heated Kobe Bryant-related debates. Go. Read. Now.

I've been pretty bad about linking back to the stuff I've been writing on NBA.com. I guess I'm just used to having my writing automatically show up in front of my target audience, which is what happens here at the blog. So in case you missed them, here are a few recent pieces I wrote for NBA.com, to keep you busy while you wait for the game to start: A Pre-Game Anecdote of Laker Fanaticism Lakers Fans Euphoric After Overtime Win Lakers Fans Encouraged, Even After Loss Lakers Fans Optimistic About Future

16 people said they wanted to come to the Game 4 Watch Party, but no one did (or at least, no one found me there – I will have a nice big sign for the Game 5 Watch Party). I have a sneaking suspicion that having it at Buffalo Wild Wings, 30 miles east of L.A. proper, may have discouraged many people from coming. So here's what I propose. You suggest a good location for our Game 5 Watch Party, one that a lot of people could make it to. I need to make the announcement tomorrow morning, so I need a really good suggestion by tonight, or early tomorrow morning at the latest. If we don't get any good suggestions by tonight, the wife and I will be at Buffalo Wild Wings. Personally, I'd prefer that, because the place has seven huge screens, awesome wings... and it's Sunday, so people should have plenty of time to drive a few extra miles and get there early. But we want you guys to be able to come. So – Where should we have the Game 5 Watch Party, so that lots of SS&R people can come?

The wife's flight got canceled, so she won't be there tonight. We're hoping she can stay for Sunday's game. Click the link above for a Google map. Click here to know why I chose Buffalo Wild Wings, even though it may mean extra driving for some of you.

The series is officially over... [Ed. Note: This is not how we wanted to win this series. It's really unfortunate for Yao Ming, and for the Rockets, and we sincerely wish them, and Yao in particular, better luck in the future. The man has become a beast, and a real problem that demands solving in the middle. That said, let's not count unhatched chickens, folks. This Rockets team is a team and they play as one. That will be even more so now.]

OC Register - The NBA has chosen Monday night for Game 1 of the Lakers’ Western Conference semifinals series, regardless of whether the Lakers face Houston or Portland. The game will be at Staples Center. LeBron will probably be receiving the MVP award on Sunday. [Update: this last part is just my idle speculation - GK]