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Jackson Wants Lakers To Improve Defense, Turnovers
"I'm not real happy with our defense," he said after practice Saturday. "... We can be a better defensive team." Los Angeles is allowing 98.7 points per game, which ranks them in the middle of the pack. "Turnovers is another thing I'm always focused on," Jackson added. The Lakers are committing 14.6 turnovers per game, 12th-highest in the league. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Lakers Total Salary Bill Jumps From $86M To $112.7M
Their total salary bill would be $112.7 million if they make no trades or minor free-agent acquisitions. Comparatively, they spent about $86 million last season, including luxury taxes. That figure does not include Phil Jackson's $12-million salary to coach the team. "As long as we keep winning, I think he'll keep doing it," center Andrew Bynum said. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets RealGM Recaps For Games On Thursday, 11/19
- New Orleans 110, Phoenix 103 The New Orleans Hornets (5-8) earned an impressive win over the Phoenix Suns (8-3) on Thursday night. Peja Stojakovic starred with 25 points and 13 rebounds, Emeka Okafor posted 13 points and 12 boards and Darren Collison added 15 points, five rebounds and five assists. New Orleans hit just 40% of their shots, but outrebounded Phoenix by 18. Amare Stoudemire had 23 points and five rebounds, Steven Nash tallied 13 points and 10 assists and Channing Frye contributed 11 points and 10 boards in the loss. Game FIC Scores - Utah 90, San Antonio 83 The Utah Jazz (6-6) got their first win in San Antonio in 10 years by beating the San Antonio Spurs (4-6) at the AT&T Center. Deron Williams led with 21 points and 10 assists, Carlos Boozer tallied 18 points and 11 rebounds and Paul Millsap totaled 20 points and seven boards off the bench. Utah held San Antonio to 42% shooting and turned the ball over just nine times. Tim Duncan had 21 points and nine rebounds, George Hill scored 18 points on 17 shots and Richard Jefferson put up 16 points and six boards for the struggling Spurs. Game FIC Scores - L.A. Lakers 108, Chicago 93 Pau Gasol returned and helped lead the Los Angeles Lakers (9-3) over the Chicago Bulls (6-5) on Thursday evening. Lamar Odom had 11 points and eight rebounds, Kobe Bryant posted 21 points, nine boards and eight assists and Gasol totaled 24 points and 13 rebounds in the victory. Both teams shot 45% from the floor, but Los Angeles won the rebounding battle by seven and committed fewer turnovers. Derrick Rose had 20 points and six assists, Joakim Noah tallied 12 points and 15 rebounds and John Salmons scored 18 points on 7-for-13 shooting from the floor. Game FIC Scores RealGM calculates the Floor Impact Counter using the following formula: (Points + .75 Defensive Rebounds + Offensive Rebounds + Steals + Assists + Blocks - .75 Field Goal Attempts - .375 Free Throw Attempts - Turnovers - .5 Personal Fouls) ( )'s indicate a negative FIC score. It is also used to rank players and to determine their Reina Value. Click here to view the player rankings with the Reina Value for the current season New Orleans Hornets, Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Lakers Nov 2009 Archive
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Lakers coach Phil Jackson is concerned about his team's defense and turnovers through the first few weeks of the season.
The Lakers have a player payroll of $91.3 million this season and will spend an additional $21.4 million in luxury taxes if their roster remains the same on the final day of the regular season.
The Hornets, Jazz and Lakers were victorious in a rare Thursday night three-game slate.