Kobe Bryant

The Lakers were already sporting a different look Monday, with Sasha Vujacic back on the court and Ron Artest unveiling his second hairdo in two days.

Even cosmetic changes were welcome for a team returning home following its first three-game losing streak in more than two years.

Kobe Bryant described the Lakers as “upset” and “a little edgy,” supporting his descriptors with a series of curt answers to reporters’ questions.

Asked if he was feeling better a day after stomach issues forced him to miss the team bus to Amway Arena in Orlando, Bryant said, “I’m getting a stomach virus now with all these questions.”

HoopsWorld

Pau Gasol

Pau Gasol had heard enough.

Too much chirping from the Birdman (Chris Andersen). Too much nonsense from Nene. Too much mouthing off from Melo (Anthony). Too many comments from Kenyon (Martin).

And so he did something about it, grabbing a game-high 14 rebounds, which helped erase a nine-point first-half deficit in the Lakers’ 95-89 win against the Nuggets on Sunday.

“They talk too much,” the normally reserved Gasol said after the game. “Way too much. I don’t listen to things that don’t make sense. I’m a player that likes to play and that’s how I talk, by me playing. Other players can’t do that.”

HoopsWorld

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant has missed the Lakers’ last five games with a sprained ankle and he has had enough.

After practicing Saturday, Bryant said he expects to return Tuesday against Memphis, the ankle, Bryant says, should be ready.

“It should be. If not, I’m firing everybody.”

Bryant is expected to get treatment on the ankle today.

FanNation

Jason Kidd

Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Kidd and New York Knicks forward David Lee have been named by NBA Commissioner David Stern to replace injured West All-Star guard Kobe Bryant (ankle) of the Los Angeles Lakers and East All-Star guard Allen Iverson (personal reasons) of the Philadelphia 76ers, respectively, in the 2010 NBA All-Star Game in Dallas.

Kidd, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time All-NBA First Team selection, will be making his 10th NBA All-Star Game appearance.

Lee, in his fifth NBA season, has recorded 30 double-doubles on the season for the Knicks and will be making his first NBA All-Star appearance.

Inside Hoops

Phil Jackson

Even after Andrew Bynum gets healthy again, Lamar Odom might supplant him in the Lakers’ starting lineup going forward.

That, however, would be one risky shakeup for a team already on track to win it all.

Phil Jackson acknowledged late Wednesday night that his trusted assistants are already lobbying him to make the change to start Odom over Bynum – and he is going to contemplate it when the Lakers reconvene after the All-Star break.

HoopsWorld

Watch Lamar Odom dunk on the moon thanks to new PowerBar Energy Blasts.

YouTube

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant watched the game last night from the locker room after receiving treatment for a sprained left ankle. An MRI exam earlier in the day confirmed a sprain.

The NBA does not like its players sitting out the All-Star game, but if Bryant is not able to play Wednesday at Utah, he probably has the option of sitting out Sunday’s game at Cowboys Stadium.

If he continues to stay off the court, Bryant will pocket a total of 10 days’ rest before the Lakers’ first game after the break, next Tuesday against Golden State.

FanNation

Chris Kaman

The battle of Los Angeles might just have heated up for the next time the Lakers and Clippers meet.

Clippers center Chris Kaman said in an interview with FanHouse after Thursday’s 105-85 loss to Denver that Lakers big man Pau Gasol does not deserve to be in the All-Star Game.

“I don’t think Gasol should be in it at all,” Kaman said when asked if he would be disappointed if Gasol, who starts at power forward for the Lakers, is slid over to be the backup center when West coaches vote for All-Star reserves.

“He’s only played like 20 games (he played Thursday in his 25th out of 42 Lakers games) this year. I think there should be a number of games you should play. I think you should have to play like 80 percent of the games.

HoopsWorld

Luke Walton

The Lakers are unlikely to make a major move before the deadline, but they will try to move Sasha Vujacic and his $5.5 million salary in 2010-11.

Although, they surely know that Adam Morrison’s $5.3 million expiring contract is the one teams prefer.

The club’s attempts to deal Luke Walton (who has nearly $17 million over three years left on his contract after this season) have led nowhere.

Real GM

Shannon Brown

Nike may have leaked Lakers guard Shannon Brown as a participant in next month’s Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star Weekend in Dallas.

A post came across from the Nike Basketball Blog on Friday morning touting the Shannon Brown iD Slam Dunk Design Contest, according to the Sporting News.

A picture of Brown gliding towards the basket accompanies the post on Nike’s basketball site.

Real GM