SportsHubLA

Y E S T E R D A Y . . .

Lakers 107, Nuggets 101: Neeeeexxxxxt. The Lakers dismissed the dysfunctional Nuggets last night in what was the only competitive game of the Lakers’ four game sweep of Denver. Kobe (31 points, 7 boards, 6 assists) & Gasol (21 points, 7 boards, 4 blocks) were dominant. Their inspired play was in direct contrast to a disinterested Melo, an angry Iverson, and a borderline insane J.R. Smith. It’s disappointing that basketball fans were cheated out of a riveting Lakers vs. Warriors matchup, because this series was about as compelling as an Ashton Kutcher movie. It appears a deep, big, athletic Utah team is on the horizon for the Lake Show, who don’t appear to be getting their own big athletic center (Bynum, duh) back anytime soon.

Athletics 14, Angels 2: So it turns out it’s not so easy to play a baseball game after flying cross country the night before from Detroit to Anaheim. Thanks MLB! The Halos were clearly not themselves last night as Oakland jumped on starter Jon Garland early and often to take Game 1 of this four-game series. Between the 7 different opening days, the odd 2 game series I’ve been seeing, and these ridiculous travel days, I hereby deem the MLB schedule maker the Barry Zito of professional sports schedule making.

T O D A Y . . .

Dodgers at Marlins (4:10 p.m PST, KCAL): The Dodgers look to continue their hot play as they send Derek Lowe to the hill to take on Andrew Miller and the suprisingly frisky Florida Marlins. The disappointing start of the Dodgers has raised questions as to why, once again, a team with so much talent appears to be doing so little. Some will say their struggles this year have been in large part to the slow start of closer Takashi Saito. But if you ask Derek Lowe, he gives a very different hypothesis for why there have been so many disappointing seasons. Simply stated: Ain’t no party like a West Coast party cuz a West Coast party don’t stop.

Athletics at Angels (7:05 p.m. PST, FSN): The flu and some injuries to the infield leave the Angels a little out of sorts as they send Joe Saunders to the hill tonight. The LAA hope that recalling Brandon Wood & catcher Bobby Wilson from the 20-1 AAA team will provide the depth they need to get through this homestand. Wait. The Triple-A team is 20 and 1?! That team belongs in Quadruple-A, otherwise known as the National League.

N E W S W O R T H Y . . .

• John Lackey will make another rehab start in Rancho Cucamonga tonight & Howie Kendrick looks to return in a couple days from the hamstring injury that landed him on the DL. Get back soon fellas.
• The Dodgers have hired a sports psychologist to try to make sure they don’t have the clubhouse problems they had a year ago. Enjoy Jeff Kent, Doc.
• It appears USC freshman forward Davon Jefferson is headed to the NBA draft.
• No Bob Baffert horse in the Kentucky Derby? Whaaat?
• It’s the Beckham and Donovan show so far for the Galaxy this season. I typed it ladies and gentlemen, but I have no idea what that means.

C O L U M N S . . .

• When I watched Larry Bowa nearly have an aneurysm because the umpire had the audacity to tell him to get in the third base coaching box, I wondered how someone so old could act like such a child. But according to David Wharton of the Times, there is a reason behind the emotional outbursts. Truthfully, though, it makes Bowa a nice change of pace from Joe Torre, who I often wonder about, particularly whether or not he has slipped into a coma on the bench. If there’s a job for a guy with a stick who pokes Torre to make sure he’s still awake, sign me up.
• SportsHubLA’s Columns of the Day: This distinction goes to the dynamic duo of Bill Plaschke and T.J. Simers over at the L.A. Times. In between days on Around the Horn, Bill Plaschke commends the Lakers for being the only team in the NBA playoffs to sweep their first round opponent. Come on Bill, Denver was terrible. And there’s only one man for the job of telling you just how awful Denver was: the one and only T.J. Simers. You know when you get a pseudo diary full of bitter wit from TJ that the Lakers are in really good shape.

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