The Lakers, that is.  Unbelievably, they seem to have heeded the words of an occasional fan who only knows as much about basketball as a naive but intelligent person can glean by watching four seasons of NBA games, starting in the “Larry Bird era” over thirty years ago, listening to commentary by ex-player ex-coach Tommy Heinsohn and Celtics great Bob Cousy (unfortunately a pedantic commentator (Tommy was too, but more entertaining)),  tuning out with the post-K.C. Jones demise of the dynasty, and tuning back in with Linsanity three seasons ago.  Actually, I missed Linsanity by just a few games, and only became aware of it when our dear friend Steve Elliott gave us a glass jar of homemade maple syrup, and on the handwritten label scribbled “Linsanity February 2012”.  When I saw this, at their house in the aftermath of another in a series of memorable feasts at the hands of Steve’s wife Margie, I innocently (and ignorantly) asked “What’s Linsanity?”  The rest is, as they say, history in the Koh household (at least THIS Koh household).   By subscribing to NBA LeaguePass that season I was able to watch all of the Linsanity games in their entirety, about fifteen of the games which ignited not only the country, but even more so the entire Chinese-speaking world behind a nearly Messianic figure, a young ABC (American-Born Chinese) man named Jeremy Lin.

Anyway, not to dwell on the subject any more than might be welcomed, the Lakers played WELL last night after two miserable season-starting outings, against a very strong LA Clippers team.  After a poor first quarter which put them down by 18 points, they came back to take a 6 point lead and make an exciting game of it, losing by 8 points.  Surprisingly, Kobe Bryant had after the second game asked Jeremy to be more assertive with the ball and NOT defer to him so much, and to lead the team in a more uptempo, quick passing game.  So my criticism of Kobe as a me-me-me player was valid, but he was man enough to realize it himself and to make the corrections!  Besides the team’s improved play, Jeremy racked up impressive individual numbers (yeah, I know, basketball is a team sport): 17 points, 9 assists, and 4 rebounds, and playing time only exceeded (by seconds) by Kobe’s.  The highpoint for me was a last-second three-pointer over team leader Chris Paul.  I feel like a proud papa…