Originally Posted by sltrib.com

Like Jazz, L.A. also off to fast start[/url]
With Bryant returning to form following knee injury, the Lakers are leading Pacific Division
By Steve Luhm
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated:11/24/2006 01:35:23 AM MST


If the sizzling Jazz are the biggest surprise of the young NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers are first runner-up.
Heading into tonight's matchup against one-loss Utah at newly-christened EnergySolutions Arena, L.A. has won four straight games and sits atop the Pacific Division.
Ahead of Phoenix and two-time MVP Steve Nash.
Ahead of the rival Los Angeles Clippers, who have finished with a better record in each of the last two seasons.

Originally Posted by latimes.com

Kobe-Shaq rivalry now has a price
By Lisa Dillman, Times Staff Writer
November 24, 2006

Kobe vs. Shaq.

Again. Haven't we had enough of this already?

Of course not. Not even if it's an Internet-only auction of sports memorabilia and cards, running through Thursday at scpauctions.com. Among Lakers-related items, there is Bryant's game jersey from the 2002 Finals and O'Neal's game jersey from the 2000-01 season.

Originally Posted by latimes.com

Parker takes a step forward

By Mike Bresnahan, Times Staff Writer
10:28 PM PST, November 23, 2006

The Lakers' point guard scored a season-high 15 points Tuesday against the Clippers, making five of 11 shots, an uptick after averaging 8.5 points and shooting 36.5% through the first 10 games.

"It's funny that I come out a little slow the first couple games and people write me up like I can't play," Parker said. "But I just go out and play hard every night. The first 10 games, I just forgot to have fun. [Tuesday], I just went out and had fun."

It wasn't just people writing him up. His coach noticed a drop-off as well.

Originally Posted by dailynews.com

Lakers notes: All of a sudden, Jazz looks snazzy

BY ROSS SILER, Staff Writer
Article Last Updated:11/23/2006 10:42:31 PM PST

Nobody could have known it when the schedule was released in August, but the Lakers' game tonight against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City might be the NBA's marquee matchup of the season's first month.

The Jazz are off to the best start in franchise history at 11-1 and are riding a seven-game winning streak. The Lakers have won four games in a row and lead the Pacific Division at 8-3.

"We're going to enjoy our turkey," Kobe Bryant said before Thanksgiving, "but really licking our chops for Utah."

Originally Posted by sltrib.com

Jazz: Kirilenko ready to play again
By Phil Miller
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated:11/24/2006 01:35:21 AM MST

Home or road, black shoes or white, no change is big enough to shake the Jazz's winning streak. They have won with Andrei Kirilenko and without, by taking big leads and falling way behind. They've worn light blue, dark blue and white uniforms, dominated in the paint and hit three-pointers, practiced in the the Delta Center and played in EnergySolutions Arena, all in the same day - and still won, won, won.
"No stopping us when we play like this," Deron Williams said the other day, and at 11-1, it's getting rather difficult to argue with him. "We don't even think about all [the changes]."
Maybe not, but he might notice the next change. Because it could come in the starting backcourt.
Kirilenko, his sprained right ankle now pain-free, will likely return to the Jazz lineup tonight when the Jazz face the Lakers (7 p.m., KJZZ), though Jazz coach Jerry Sloan hasn't decided how to use the lanky forward yet. "I'll have to see Andrei play," Sloan said. "Maybe he's better coming off the bench. I don't know where he's at right now."

Originally Posted by newsobserver.com

Meet the new Sloan
He's the same as the old Sloan, but now Utah is winning

Coach Jerry Sloan has led Ronnie Brewer and the youthful Jazz to an 11-1 start.

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. - Through tragedy, there is revelation.

Through defeat, there is enthusiasm.

This would be a new Jerry Sloan, all right, except that it's really the same old one, from the days of dinosaurs and NBA shorts that didn't dangle to the shins. Just to make sure there was no misunderstanding, it took all of five days of training camp before he canceled a scheduled off day and sent his Utah Jazz back to practice.