Today’s NBA draft might be the last chance to satisfy your pro basketball fix as the likelihood of a work stoppage threatens to cut next season’s slate of games short to some degree at least.
The Los Angeles Lakers do not have a first round pick after trading guard Sasha Vujacic to New Jersey for forward/center Joe Smith in mid-December.
What the Lakers Need on Draft Day
LAst Night's Action: Dodgers Break June Swoon and Beat Angels
LA Dodgers defeat LA Angels 10-6. Dear Jesus Lord the Dodgers and Angels play never-ending games. After manager Joe Torre reported went on a tirade after Wednesday night’s awful loss, the Dodgers seemed to be revived using a five-run fourth inning to help them get their first win over the Angels this season. After the Dodgers ran themselves out of the game last night, the Angels had their turn tonight with runners getting picked off left and right including your run of the mill 1-4-3-2-5 pick off. A bank of lights went out in the seventh inning delaying the game for 18 minutes, but that’s no excuse for the game ending past 11 pm. Jeff Weaver got the win for the Dodgers and Angels starter Scott Kazmir was tagged for the loss.
LAst Night's Action: Action Packed
Chicago White Sox defeat LA Dodgers 2-0. Dodger's starter Clayton Kershaw couldn't get out of the fifth inning, and the Dodger's offense did nothing to help him. The Dodgers had their chances to at least make it a game, but when it counted the most the Bums went cold. Kershaw is still without a win in any professional game this year, and thanks to being in a horrible NL West the Dodgers still have a chance of winning the division.
LAst Night's Action: Complete Game for Stults
LA Dodgers defeat Chicago White Sox 5-0. Eric Stults just a couple of weeks ago was sweating it out in Vegas. Wednesday night he became the second Dodger pitcher this season to throw a complete game shutout giving up only four hits while walking only one. Stults was right on his game confusing the Sox hitters all night. Meanwhile Joe Torre decided to field a more normal looking lineup including Andre Ethier and Blake DeWitt. Ethier came through in the first inning with an RBI single and scoring a run. DeWitt hit a two-run double in the fourth inning and scoring a run on Stults' sacrifice fly.
LAst Night's Action: Lackey Not Lacking
LA Angels defeat Toronto Blue Jays 3-1. Angel's start John Lackey pitched a masterful game against the Chicago White Sox in his season debut on the 14th but didn't get the win. So Lackey came out Tuesday night and pitched just as well giving up one run on seven hits in seven innings while the bullpen pulled through to give him his first win. Things got interesting in the ninth inning when Angel's closer Francisco Rodriguez walked three to load the bases and went 3-0 on Alex Rios. Rodriguez got Rios to strike out on the next three pitches to end the game. Angel's shortstop Erick Aybar left the game in the first inning after dislocating his pinky while fielding Alex Rios' grounder. A trip to the DL might be in the future for him.
LAst Night's Action: Ducks Get Roasted
Dallas Stars defeat Anaheim Ducks 3-1. The Ducks continued to be outplayed by the Stars as goalie Marty Turco came within seven seconds of shutting out the Ducks. Duck's center Brian Sutherby, who had scored only one goal early on in the season, thought he had tied the game in the second period but was called off after a video review for kicking the puck in the net. Down three games to one, the Ducks now have to take care of business at home tonight to avoid being the fourth consecutive reigning Stanley Cup Champion to not make the second round of the playoffs.
Draft Day Hangover in LA
I'm guessing someone went out to celebrate last night, as a couple local college boys were chosen in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft. USC's Nick Young was the first to go, at pick number 16 to Washington, where he will toil in obscurity and probably be irrelevant in three years. Just kidding -- he might fit well in the Wizards offense. UCLA's Arron Afflalo was chosen 27th by the Pistons, who could...
What's Bruin at UCLA: Bathroom Sex, Afflalo Leaves for NBA
There have been student reports of gay sexual encounters occuring in the Royce Hall bathroom over the past year. Campus police have confirmed that more than one report has been filed on this matter. One student suggests that gay sex is occuring through holes that exist between the stalls and urinals in the bathroom -- kinky? Some are claiming that gay students (or visitors perhaps) turn to bathroom sex as a way to cope...
Around the Globe with the other Ists
Sometimes you need to clean yourself up, get serious, and move in with daddie for a few months before you head to Latin America for a new gig. The District bids Jenna Bush adios. D.C.-based television shows have an elderly audience and DCist has Butterstick the panda bear a birthday bash.
Sam I Am
The Clippers acquired Sam Cassell and a first round draft pick from the Minnesota Timberwolves for Marko Jaric and Lionel Chambers.
Bye, Bye, Bobby
While we're sure Clippers fans are groaning, Donald Sterling, Mike Dunleavy, and Elgin Baylor have made the right decisiion here. Sterling's frugality has been the Clippers biggest problem over the years, but sometimes it actually helps.
High School High
Admittedly, we've never seen Bynum play, so we have no idea if he's the next Shaq or Desagna Diop. But high school players have panned out in recent years, and the kid certainly has size at 6-11, 280 pounds.
Everybody Loves Raymond
Much like the NFL Draft, this is a weak class at the top, led by University of Utah player. Andrew Bogut will probably be a solid NBA center, ala Vlade Divac, but that's not the kind of franchise-changing player you hope to get at No. 1.
Lakers Should Let Season End
Sometimes things need to get worse before they can get better. The Lakers are in desperate need of a big man and a point guard, and with Brian Grant eating up $12 million in cap space through 2007, they can't exactly sign one soon.
Hip to be Clip?
As the Lakers put the finishing touches on a contract for new coach Rudy Tomjanovich, we don't anticipate too many "Ru-dy" chants at STAPLES Center if Kobe Bryant is not wearing Purple and Gold.
Livingston on a Prayer
The Clippers drafted arguably the best player in the NBA Draft yesterday, by selecting high school phenom Shaun Livingston. The 6-6 point guard has exceptional passing skills and could wind up being a mini-Magic Johnson.

