The Credits: "Seabiscuit"

Starring: Chaz the Lakers Scout. Jim Buss randomly met him while watching horse racing, but it's cool, he's a really nice guy. He's not exactly a bartender, but people say he's genuinely a great guy:

Chaz is a great guy, genuinely liked by many in the Lakers organization. He's also comfortable hanging out at the bar with hoops celebs like Charles Barkley.

Plus Chaz is not shy about picking up a bar tab. He gets great comps from Las Vegas and he's pretty free in sharing them, even with Lakers reserves, such as Luke Walton.

Who knows, maybe he's an intelligent scout. I'm sure he works really hard. But, really? Just some random buddy that Jim met gets to be one of the main scouts for the Los Angeles Lakers??

In other news, Bynum looks and feels incredible, Barnes gives a warning to other teams fouling our stars, and Kobe's neck is still sore.

Much more after the jump...

Lakers news:

• Up next for Lakers: Friday vs. Sacramento - latimes.com
• Big dates for Lakers: Sunday vs. Miami, March 15 trade deadline - latimes.com
• Jeff Van Gundy: Lakers must post up vs. Heat - Lakers blog : The Orange County Register
• Lakers Friday matchup: vs. Sacramento Kings (12-23) - Lakers blog : The Orange County Register
• Kobe (neck) sits out practice Thursday - Lakers blog : The Orange County Register

NBA.com:

• Lakers Figuring Things Out " Lakers Blog
• Celtics: ‘Not Trying To Trade Rondo’ | Hang Time Blog
• Sloan Conference Tips Off Today | Hang Time Blog
• An Award, And So Much More | Hang Time Blog
• A Fresh Start For Suns, Nash? | Hang Time Blog

ESPN:

• Metta World Peace thinks he could have been Kobe's rival - Los Angeles Lakers Blog - ESPNLA
• Defending DeMarcus - Los Angeles Lakers Blog - ESPNLA
• Matt Barnes: Ready to play enforcer, or at least enforcer's sidekick - Los Angeles Lakers Blog - ESPNLA
• Sacramento releases financing plan for $391M arena - ESPN
• Charles Barkley on Michael Jordan as executive -- Not done a good job - ESPN Chicago
• Kobe Bryant of Los Angeles Lakers sits practice to receive treatment on neck - ESPNLA

Probasketball Talk:

• Stein: Odom to play in one D-League game before returning
• JaVale McGee trying to adjust to benching
• Wilson Chandler will be with the Nuggets or no one
• Making the advanced statistics movement relevant to players
• Baseline to Baseline recaps: Another day, another Thunder comeback
• Relentless Miami Heat wear down, blow out Trail Blazers

CBS Sports:

• Silver touts transparency in lockout tactics
• Better scoring night: Kobe's 81 or Wilt's 100?
• Report Card: Flying fast breaks rule
• Report: Odom going to the Mavs D-League affiliate
• Doc Rivers says there's no talk of dealing Rondo
• Bosh to miss two games due to personal matter

Yahoo Sports:

• Charles Barkley would like to ‘just shoot’ 20 percent of NBA fans. Do you disagree? | Ball Don't Lie
• Following their biggest win of the season, the Knicks celebrate a young girl’s win of a lifetime | Ball Don't Lie
• Shedding some light on Jim Buss’ role in the Laker front office, and his buddy ‘Chaz’ | Ball Don't Lie
• New York hockey player says Jeremy Lin can punch him | Ball Don't Lie
• Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game made history, but never defined the Hall of Fame center - Yahoo! Sports

Slam Online:

• Suns Owner Thinks Steve Nash Will Re-Sign in Phoenix
• Erik Spoelstra: LeBron James Had a Magic Johnson-Like Performance
• Orlando Magic CEO: Still Time to Convince Dwight Howard to Stay
• Could Baron Davis End Up Taking Jeremy Lin Starting Spot?
• 100 Grand

Other Blogs and Links:

• HoopsHype - Setting the record straight on Chaz the Scout
• Clipper Darrell's betrayal — of the Clippers - latimes.com
• Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game still a wonder 50 years later - latimes.com
• Lakers vs. Kings: Pre-Game Report | Lakers Nation
• Was Dwayne Wade's All-Star Foul on Kobe Personal? [Video] | Laker Nation
• Lakers' Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum feeling fine - Inside the Lakers
• Fantastic Photoshopping: The Kobe Mask Phenomenon | Lakers Nation
• Kobe Bryant has No Issues with Dwyane Wade for Broken Nose | Lakers Nation
• Forum Blue And Gold " Winning, Rotations, & The Rumor Mill
• The Spurs Double-Staggered Ball Screen | NBA Playbook
• Here is Jerome James and his giant bike | The Basketball Jones
• Things of Note for March 2, 2012 | The Basketball Jones
• Wizards’ JaVale McGee frustrated with benching, losing - Wizards Insider - The Washington Post
• The Point Forward " Posts Sixers’ struggles in the clutch a concern "

Multimedia:

• Andrew Bynum's Mystery Knee Procedure [Video] | Laker Nation
• Metta World Peace Makes Cameo in 'Think Like a Man' | Lakers Nation
• Video: Kenneth Faried accidentally kicked Kurt Thomas in the head | Ball Don't Lie - Yahoo! Sports
• Shaqtin’ A Fool: Episode 8 " NBA.com | Hang Time Blog
• Video: David Stern talks Lin, lockout, more with Bob Costas | ProBasketballTalk
• SLAM ONLINE | " Video: Derrick Rose x adidas Surprise Fan
• Video: Not every Timberwolves alley-oop is perfect | The Basketball Jones