Sean

<h3 class="entry-header">Texas Two-Step, step one</h3>
<p>The Lakers head into <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=271113024">San Antonio tonight (5:30, KCAL)</a> having given off mixed signals in their first five games.&nbsp; The purple and gold have looked great (see Utah, Phoenix), they've looked less great (see Houston, New Orleans).&nbsp; No doubt they'll have to be the former if they'd like to return to L.A. with a win or two.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.dailynews.com/lakers/ci_7446503">The Lakers will know what to expect in San Antonio.</a>&nbsp; It's just a question of getting it done <a href="http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA111307.SpursNotes.en.3422d43.html">against some tough D</a>.&nbsp; The rivalry has plenty of history, but while the Lakers have actually played hard and reasonably well against the Spurs over the last couple of years, San Antonio has continued to dominate the league while LAL has been treading water.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-spurs13nov13,1,7734387.story?coll=la-headlines-sports">Of course, with .4 back in the house</a>, things could change for the purple and gold.&nbsp; Add in a healthy Lamar Odom, <a href="http://www.ocregister.com/sports/odom-lakers-season-1921107-jackson-antonio">whom the Lakers would like to free up as much as possible</a> in the offense and a <a href="http://www.pe.com/sports/basketball/breakout/stories/PE_Sports_Local_D_lakers_notes_13.3ed7074.html">lu ll in the Kobe Bryant Saga</a>, and many fans probably feel more optimistic about this game than they might have over the summer.&nbsp; </p>
<p>Things aren't quite as mellow in Chicago, w<a href="http://www.hoopsworld.com:80/Story.asp?STORY_ID=5995">here the Bulls are struggling</a> and need to<a href="http://www.ocregister.com/sports/deng-bryant-chicago-1920913-trade-bulls"> grow up fast, Kobe rumors or not.</a>&nbsp; And if they don't win, <a href="http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mariotti/647182,martiotti111207.article">the discussion in BullsVille continues</a>.&nbsp; By the way, that the issue has died down (a little) locally doesn't mean others aren't still investigating the <a href="http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories/MYSA111307.kobe-chart.en.2057094dd.html">pros and cons of a Kobe deal</a>.&nbsp; </p>
<p>A <a href="http://www.sportshubla.com/2007/11/13/kobe-bryant-the-nbas-gatsby/">literary take on the career of Kobe Bryant</a>.&nbsp; </p> </div>
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<p class="entry-footer"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="post-footers"> <Posted by $MTEntryAuthorNickname$ on> Nov 13, 2007 9:41:38 AM <span class="separator">|</span> <a class="permalink"

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