Lakers @ Grizzlies

Payback is a B----! After getting beat up by them exactly one month ago, the Lakers return to Memphis to hand another playoff bound team a loss. They are playing like a playoff bound team as they improved their record on this road trip to 5-1!! Is Charles a believer yet? When the Lakers are in the playoffs, I am going to make sure I hear what Charles has to say.

I like the following Phil quote: "People looked beyond us and said, 'Well, they're OK. They're going to have Kobe (Bryant) score a lot of points and so forth.' Now I think people are going to have to understand that we're back in this run and we're going to be a team to be accounted for"

Well said!!

It was all about defense in this one and the winning streak on the road. Defense will win championships! If you remember, in Phil's first championship season with the Lakers, the biggest change he made in the team was team defense. Granted, these are entirely different teams but the object is hold the opponent to fewer points than your offense can score. Especially when the playoffs roll around. The better defensive teams will excel.

The Lakers held them to .429 % shooting while on the offensive end 3 players scored in double figures. One of those players was SSSSMMMMUUUSSSSHHH!!! Welcome back!!

Lakers win 94-79, Record 12-10