Nets A No-Show Against Lakers

Garbage time started early as the Los Angeles Lakers easily discarded the New Jersey Nets, 106-87 at Staples Center. Kobe Bryant (30 points on 11-17, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals) led the carnage against the 0-17 Nets. Pau Gasol (20 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 1 blocked shot) and Jordan Farmar (15 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal and 1 resounding blocked shot on Rafer Alston) rounded out the scoring.

The Nets fired head coach Lawrence Frank earlier in the day, but that did little to stem the tide against the world champions. Although they hustled for temporary coach Tom Barrise, the Nets could not come close to matching the firepower of the Lakers. Center Brook Lopez (26 points, 12 rebounds) was the lone bright spot for the winless Nets who are now tied for the worst start ever, tying the 1988 Miami Heat and the 1999 Los Angeles Clippers.

The Lakers limited the Nets to only 12 points in the opening period (27-12) and coasted from there on to the end of the game. After a poor shooting performance last night against Golden State, Kobe came out aggressive and rediscovered his shooting touch, torching the Nets from distance on 5-8 from behind the three-point line. His fourth trey of the first half gave the Lakers a 57-30 advantage and all that was left was the wait for free tacos at the end of the game.

Andrew Bynum (8 points, 6 rebounds, 5 blocked shots), Ron Artest (8 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists) and Lamar Odom (5 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists) all played limited minutes as Kobe took care of the Nets single handedly in the first half and Farmar held them at bay in the second half. The Lakers next game is another home contest against the New Orleans Hornets on Tuesday night.