If the Staples Center crowd had any urge to shout, "Thabo, Thabo, Thabo," it restrained itself.
This might have been easy because rarely does a crowd at the Staples Center have an urge to do anything as ordinary as shout, and the Lakers were so thoroughly blowing out the Bulls that Lakers fans might not have seen much benefit in lobbying for Thabo Sefolosha and a package of other, more heralded Bulls players in exchange for Kobe Bryant.
If nothing else, the Lakers' first meeting with the Bulls this season might have scratched one more destination off Bryant's wish list, if Chicago – despite some of the silly rumors that have been bandied about lately – was still on it.
But beyond that, by trouncing the Bulls the Lakers might have demonstrated something to Chicago the Bulls should have known long before the United Center crowd serenaded them with a chant of "Kobe, Kobe, Kobe," a chant more stylish than boos but hit with similar impact.
The Lakers, it would seem, have had a few distractions this season, too. Whether the Bulls had been sidetracked by the Kobe trade rumors, or the less likely influence of the stalled contract negotiations, they clearly have become sidetracked.
There is not the edge, the toughness and competitiveness of last season's Bulls; though the roster is filled with the same players who brought those qualities last season.
It has not helped that the Bulls have not shot straight this season. But they are better than the team they put on the floor in Los Angeles, better than 2-7, or at least they should be.
They could get it all back. They have started badly before and regrouped. But if they were knocked off track by something as ordinary as a trade rumor, the question later will be: What will be more than they can handle?
Things happen in the NBA. Bad calls one night; an injury the next. A schedule loaded with tough travel and back-to-backs. In the case of a good team struggling, there could more trade rumors - or for that matter, actual trades.
The Lakers will live with distraction as long as Bryant is among them. And they had an injury on Sunday, losing Kwame Brown to a sprained left ankle and knee in the first quarter.
At least for the moment, the Lakers are happily chest-bumping their way around the league, winning their share of games – but will it stay that way?
They don't look like contenders, particularly given that they would have to escape the West. Bryant will not accept that fate indefinitely, or perhaps even for another week or two. His contract, with a chance to opt out after next season, means he does not have to. That reality will always hang over the Lakers until Bryant moves on, or something changes to make them seem to be championship material.
Yet, for all the nonsense of life with the Lakers, their young players not considered good enough, seem to make it work.
The Pistons, too, were hit with a few days of Kobe trade rumors, out of date and largely inaccurate as they were. But that veteran team brushed them aside easily and quickly.
It might not be the Bryant trade rumors pushing the Bulls off course, but they have been unable to find their way so far.
At least now they might not have to worry about trade possibilities with the Lakers. If there was ever much of a chance that there could be a deal, the Lakers would seem as averse to it as the Staples Center fans who sounded far more content with their team than United Center fans have with theirs.
This might have been easy because rarely does a crowd at the Staples Center have an urge to do anything as ordinary as shout, and the Lakers were so thoroughly blowing out the Bulls that Lakers fans might not have seen much benefit in lobbying for Thabo Sefolosha and a package of other, more heralded Bulls players in exchange for Kobe Bryant.
If nothing else, the Lakers' first meeting with the Bulls this season might have scratched one more destination off Bryant's wish list, if Chicago – despite some of the silly rumors that have been bandied about lately – was still on it.
But beyond that, by trouncing the Bulls the Lakers might have demonstrated something to Chicago the Bulls should have known long before the United Center crowd serenaded them with a chant of "Kobe, Kobe, Kobe," a chant more stylish than boos but hit with similar impact.
The Lakers, it would seem, have had a few distractions this season, too. Whether the Bulls had been sidetracked by the Kobe trade rumors, or the less likely influence of the stalled contract negotiations, they clearly have become sidetracked.
There is not the edge, the toughness and competitiveness of last season's Bulls; though the roster is filled with the same players who brought those qualities last season.
It has not helped that the Bulls have not shot straight this season. But they are better than the team they put on the floor in Los Angeles, better than 2-7, or at least they should be.
They could get it all back. They have started badly before and regrouped. But if they were knocked off track by something as ordinary as a trade rumor, the question later will be: What will be more than they can handle?
Things happen in the NBA. Bad calls one night; an injury the next. A schedule loaded with tough travel and back-to-backs. In the case of a good team struggling, there could more trade rumors - or for that matter, actual trades.
The Lakers will live with distraction as long as Bryant is among them. And they had an injury on Sunday, losing Kwame Brown to a sprained left ankle and knee in the first quarter.
At least for the moment, the Lakers are happily chest-bumping their way around the league, winning their share of games – but will it stay that way?
They don't look like contenders, particularly given that they would have to escape the West. Bryant will not accept that fate indefinitely, or perhaps even for another week or two. His contract, with a chance to opt out after next season, means he does not have to. That reality will always hang over the Lakers until Bryant moves on, or something changes to make them seem to be championship material.
Yet, for all the nonsense of life with the Lakers, their young players not considered good enough, seem to make it work.
The Pistons, too, were hit with a few days of Kobe trade rumors, out of date and largely inaccurate as they were. But that veteran team brushed them aside easily and quickly.
It might not be the Bryant trade rumors pushing the Bulls off course, but they have been unable to find their way so far.
At least now they might not have to worry about trade possibilities with the Lakers. If there was ever much of a chance that there could be a deal, the Lakers would seem as averse to it as the Staples Center fans who sounded far more content with their team than United Center fans have with theirs.
by Jonathan Feigen
HOOPSWORLD
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