SoCal NBA Preview

LA Lakers (30-16) at New Jersey (20-27), 4:30 pm

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) - All offseason, Kobe Bryant questioned the lack of talent surrounding him as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Those concerns have likely been alleviated. With Pau Gasol expected to make his Lakers debut, Los Angeles continues its season-high nine-game road trip when it meets the New Jersey Nets on Tuesday.

The Lakers acquired Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday in a deal that sent center Kwame Brown, rookie guard Javaris Crittenton, two first-round draft picks and cash to the Grizzlies. The trade adds even more talent to a team that Bryant infamously and openly questioned in the offseason. The 7-0 center steps should give Los Angeles the post presence the Lakers have missed since the loss of injured center Andrew Bynum, who is expected to miss at least six more weeks with a knee injury. The Lakers have gone just 5-5 since Bynum succumbed to injury, ironically against the Grizzlies on January 13.

Gasol, an All-Star in 2006, is averaging 18.9 points and 8.8 rebounds this season. However, Los Angeles won its second straight game on Sunday against the Washington Wizards, 103-91. Bryant scored 19 of his 30 points in the first quarter as the Lakers were never seriously threatened.

The Nets saw their own two-game win streak go by the wayside in Saturday's 104-92 road setback against the Atlanta Hawks. Richard Jefferson paced New Jersey with 23 points. Though nowhere as publicized as the Gasol deal, New Jersey made a trade of its own with Memphis on Monday, acquiring former Stromile Swift from the Grizzlies in exchange for reserve center Jason Collins. The second overall selection in the 2000 draft, Swift is averaging 6.8 points and 3.7 rebounds in 35 games this season and will be asked to inject some athleticism to the Nets' frontcourt.