By KEVIN DING – The Orange County Register

MINNEAPOLIS — The Lakers took the court for the ninth and final game of the longest continuous trip in their Los Angeles history with the giddiness of kids in the car antsy to reach their destination.

“Are we there yet?!?!”

They certainly are.

And just as Coach Phil Jackson, the father figure driving their family station wagon, always preaches, they enjoyed the journey, too. With a 117-92 cakewalk over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night, the Lakers finished 7-2 — the best record in modern NBA history on a continuous trip of at least nine games.

“They can sense the fact we’re going to be a pretty good team now,” Jackson said of his players.

To borrow Lamar Odom’s favorite word, it was a “festive” capper in Minnesota, with Odom posting a triple-double: 10 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists. He spent the first 4:10 of the fourth quarter hunting that 10th assist. After four letdowns when teammates missed off his passes, Sasha Vujacic finally made a layup for Odom. Kobe Bryant sprang off the bench with an open-mouthed, sideways grin, waving a white towel over his head.

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Andrew and Brian Kamenetzky – LA Times

After Sunday’s win against the Heat, Isreal Gutierrez of the Miami Herald put together a column centered on where D-Wade needs to go in a post-Shaq world, using Kobe as the measuring stick. There were a few parts I think Fans o’ the Mamba will enjoy:

“Wade faced the player who has elevated himself and his teammates to the point where O’Neal is merely a pleasant Laker memory instead of a haunting reminder of a ghastly trade.

In 42 minutes of the Lakers’ 104-94 defeat of the Heat on Sunday, Kobe Bryant guided in a handful of those demoralizing fade-away jumpers that reminded you of Michael Jordan. He played relentless, suffocating defense reminiscent of Scottie Pippen, practically handcuffing Wade at times. He even threw in a graceful running hook shot from 15 feet that made you swear that was Magic Johnson in a Lakers uniform again (Magic was actually in the stands watching the display for himself.)”

Later in the column, Gutierrez hits on a theme that, at least as far as Kobe’s chase for his first MVP goes, could be more important:

“For as much as people mock Bryant for being so obsessive about the game, and how he so obviously attempts to mimic Jordan, he has come the closest to perfecting the game.

Since O’Neal left his painted area, Bryant has not only sharpened his offensive game but finally acquired the team mentality that was missing while he was so desperately trying to prove himself as the league’s best talent.”

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By Roland Lazenby – SportsHubLA

Tex Winter has had high praise for Jordan Farmar this season, although the Lakers consultant like many other observers had noted Farmar’s performances had lost their sheen in January.

Then came the infamous nine-game, 15-day Lakers road trip, and Farmar started hitting big shots again and playing the role of a push guard off the bench.

“He had dropped off there for a while,” Winter said. “He’s getting better, finding his way.”

It’s not easy, Farmar admitted in a recent conversation.

Adjusting to the triangle offense remains a challenge, especially for a young point guard. In other offenses, the point is charged with doing lots of things, most of them involving being aggressive.

In the triangle, less becomes more, although it’s hard for a young guard to see it that way.

“Yeah, that’s the toughest thing for me,” Farmar replied when asked about having to do less as a point guard in the triangle. “I’m still struggling with it every day.”

So much of the transition to playing point in the triangle is attitude, and despite any struggles adjusting, it’s clear Farmar has a 24-carat attitude.

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But unlike Phil Connors’ adventures in Puxatawney, there’s nothing particularly hilarious about Mihm continuing to wake up on an operating table. Hopefully, today’s successful operation on his right heel can put to rest a never ending string of foot related problems. To say the least, it’s been a trying season for the center.

Andrew and Brian Kamenetzky – Los Angeles Times

El SEGUNDO – Los Angeles Lakers center Chris Mihm underwent successful surgery today to remove a screw from his right heel, it was announced today.

The 30 minute procedure was performed by Dr. Bert Mandelbaum of the Santa Monica Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Group. Mihm’s recovery time is expected to be approximately six weeks.

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By Scott Boeck, USA TODAY

Kobe Bryant is all smiles as he heads to The Big Easy for NBA All-Star Weekend.

The reigning All-Star Game MVP is playing for a contender — the Los Angeles Lakers (34-17) were in the fifth playoff spot in the Western Conference going into Wednesday — and is battling for his third consecutive scoring title, averaging 28.0 points to trail the Cleveland’s LeBron James, who averages 30.1.

“It’s going well,” Bryant said of his team’s first half. “We’re playing extremely well.”

Yes, all is good in Lakerland.

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