Lakers Start Season 0-3 with Loss to Clippers

The Lakers are expected to be a title contender this season but so far they haven't looked like one.

The Lakers have lost to the Mavericks and the Trail Blazers so far this season. Game 3 on the schedule had them playing a home game (technically) to their in town (in house) neighbors the Clippers. Kobe Bryant showed up huge in this game scoring 40 points. More was needed, however, from his teammates. The Clippers would still win this game by ten 105-95. Five Clippers were in double digits with points, two of them were off the bench. Lakers now fall to 0-3 this season.

Should the Lakers start to worry about their chances on winning a title? The fans shouldn't but the team might want to pick up a few more practices together. Sure, Steve Nash did not play in this game but even when he was there they still need some work. The Lakers need some time to get there chemistry working. If they are still dropping games like these last three come January, then start to worry.

Until then, take some of Dwight Howard's advice and be patient.

Deron Williams Going to Brooklyn

The Nets made a huge gamble a season and half ago when they acquired Deron Williams through a trade. While Williams at the time probably didn't think he wanted to be on the team for the long term, the Nets got him in hopes that he would come around. That has happened earlier today. In the midst of the Joe Johnson trade and the team trying to acquire Dwight Howard, Deron Williams has agreed to come back to the Nets. He agreed to a contract worth $98 million over five years instead of picking the Mavericks who could only offer $75 million over 4 years because of the CBA.

Deron Williams stays with the Nets and is their main attraction moving into their new stadium in Brooklyn... for now. With Johnson and Williams locked up, Dwight Howard is the only question mark remaining. Or maybe Howard isn't a question mark? Sure, Williams wasn't going to make his decision just waiting for Dwight Howard but that doesn't mean that his decision to stay with the Nets wasn't influenced by it at all. Maybe Williams heard that a deal is close and decided to stay on board. Maybe he thinks that the Nets will eventually get Howard whether it be this year or next.

It's hard to decipher what Williams true reasons were for staying with the Nets. It may have just been about the money. Either way, this move along with the Joe Johnson one makes the Nets a playoff team. If they can add one more piece to the puzzle, they can become something more.