Pre-Game:

On establishing a home identity:

"...I do know that we've got to start extending ourselves at home, and playing better.  We talked about that as a team today.  Establishing a home record and some credibility here."

-No doubt, this team will struggle to make the playoffs if their home court performance doesn't improve.  That their schedule turns later this season, giving them more games at Staples isn't much comfort if they don't win consistently there. 

Q: After a couple months of the season, are you guys where you thought you would be?

A: It's hard to know what to expect of a team like this.  They're so young, and it was-- We're happy to be where we're at, don't get me wrong, but we're disappointed that we've lost numbers of games where we felt we controlled the majority of the minutes of the game.  And that's disappointing.  but learning how to win in these situations is important for a basketball club, and that's what we have to do.

Q: Is that a viable excuse?  That we're young? 

A: Are any excuses viable?  Is there any of them that are alright?  I don't think so.

-They're 15-14, and it's hard to say they should be substantially better.  That they've lost a bunch of games they could and should have won is actually encouraging, because it shows they can compete on a game to game basis with most of the teams in the league.  If they can turn the corner and start winning some of those games, things obviously will improve.  The recent hot streak showed they're capable, and it's tempting to read too much into that stretch, and assume that's how good they really are.  They look to me like I thought they would- a hard working team with limited talent that must work hard to make the playoffs.  I still think it will happen, and that the second half (when it comes) will be better than the first.  So many factors- #8 and how he involves his teammates, how the supporting cast asserts itself, if Kwame makes progress, etc. will make the difference.  We'll have to wait and see. 

Q: After losing two tough games in a row, is there frustration seeping in with the guys?  (Remember, this was before the game)

A:  I don't think so.  This is a long season, and I think they understand it's a learning process and that's something we have to develop.  We have some things that we have to straighten up.  We say the games that the games are not won on last plays or not won on the last two plays.  They're won sometimes in the first three quarters of the game, and you establish that.  Unfortunately for us, we only played 2 1/2 quarters (in Washington).   At the six minute mark, Lamar gets his fourth foul on him and it changes the complexion of the game.  Chris misses a couple free throws and suddenly there's a downfall with the club.  There's a sense about, "How do we prevent this?" and that's what we're trying to do as a team.

-From talking to the players, I feel like these losses are pissing the them off... which is exactly how it should be.  The best thing about the win streak was it created expectations and showed the players they can win.  Still, you don't want your coach freaking out and sounding frustrated, or saying that the sky is falling.  Especially with such a young group.

On Lamar's Crunch Time Threes:

"...he hasn't shown that he makes that shot at the end of the game.  We talked about that.  About the fact that he's taken a few of the three pointers at the end of the game, it's time to penetrate and find somebody else if that's not the shot you're making or you're comfortable with.  You have to know that, and he responded to it."

-I agree that Lamar should be penetrating, and shouldn't fall in love with the three.  You could say the same thing about virtually the entire roster.  Lord, do they need an outside gunner. 

Q: Did he say he thinks he could hit that shot, though?

A: No, he didn't.  I didn't give him an opportunity to say he could. 

Q: If Player A is frustrated with Teammate B's play during a particular game, do you think it's more appropriate for him to get into his face during practice as opposed to during the game in front of 18,000 people and the TV audience?

A: Do you think that happened, that Player A (did that)?

Q: I think it happened.  With Kobe and Sasha.

A: (jokes, I should watch more highlight shows, because) I don't see that in the television play.  Yeah, there's a sense that we have to remain calm, poised, and collected as a basketball team.  And one of the things that we're trying to work at is sustaining that poise through the course of a game so that we develop that camaraderie that's necessary to feel comfortable in the confidences of our teammates. 

Q: Kobe was pretty direct after Washington saying if he's going to be double and triple teamed and have the ball taken out of his hands, his teammates have to step up and take shots.  How is he doing on the trusting his teammates angle?

A: I think he gave the ball up in various points of the year, and there's been a fine balance between guys stepping up and making shots, and Kobe trusting his teammates.  It hasn't got to the point where it's not happening, where I'm disappointed, but there's opportunities that still could be there and have to be exploited even more, and we have to recognize that as a team.  My biggest problem with them is when teams overplay like Washington did the other night in situations where they're decidedly throwing another defender on the court, than we just have to away from Kobe.  Don't even try to get the ball to him and understand that we have an advantage of four on three or whatever advantage on the other side of the floor.

-I don't think Kobe and the guys found that balance last night.  Just a hunch. 

Q: Even when he's demanding the ball?

A: You have to do that.  That's basketball.  Go back to the '93 Chicago Bulls, we had to do it.  We knew that Michael Jordan was going to be doubled, and we had to go away (from him) and Paxson hits a three.  And that's what you do as you develop to be championship teams or good teams... He (Kobe) has to understand that.  That is about basketball.

Q: How critical is it develop a 3rd scoring option?

A: ...It depends on what the team is about.  We don't have an A scorer, second scorer, third scorer situation on this team.  We actually think that Lamar is probably going to filter just filter out to be our second scorer by his talent.  But it depends on what a team gives you.  If teams are taking away drives, than our three point shooters have to hit shots.  A guy like Cook is going to hit shots, or Smush is going to hit shots, and just giving opportunities for drivers.  Lamar is going to have the opportunity to take the ball to the hoop.  We have to read defenses, and that's the important part of our game... to read defenses and understand who's got the favorite time now?  But we think we have guys that can score.  Chris Mihm has shown the ability to score, he's playing with confidence, he's got a game in there, and he's got an outside jump shot that he can shoot.  So we've got- all five of the players, I talked to them about, we have confidence in you, you have to have confidence in yourself to step into that vacuum whenever it's provided to you and supply the demand for it. 

-So much on this issue comes down to Lamar.  As Andy pointed out, it's unreasonable in many ways to expect him to pour on the points, because he's never done it during his career.  Still, he's by far the most talented offensive player outside Kobe on the team, so at some point, he needs to do it.  Or, the team (either now or in the long run) needs to find another player more comfortable with that role.  If they could get a guy like that, and keep Lamar, the difference would be profound.  Sliding Odom into that #3 scoring role would improve his all around game, and boost everyone else. 

Q: Are you comfortable with Mihm and Kwame?  Riley referred to them as a "two headed monster" on Sunday.

A: Wow.  Yeah, we're very comfortable with it.  Too comfortable in fact.  I don't want Kwame to just get complacent about being the backup, twenty minute center.  I think he should demand more of himself, and we're going to work on that aspect of how to get some more minutes for him.  He's valuable to us out there in what he does.  He does have to develop a go-to move, and he does have to develop an offensive game that has some dependence-- to become a dependable scorer.  But his defense, his rebounding, his activity is invaluable, as far as our team. 

-If Brown and Mihm can't be on the floor together, than Kwame must develop an offensive game (assuming he's capable of it, and the jury is still very out on that one).  Take last night as an example.  The Lakers established a nice low post game with Mihm, who started off very strong.  Then Kwame comes in, and for the 20 minutes he plays the low post becomes a black hole offensively.  The ball never goes in.  So when Mihm comes back, often the players have gotten out of the flow of getting the ball down low.  That's hard to get back.   

Q: Lamar from game to game will go from seven shots to fifteen, to six to twelve.  Is it important for him to find some consistency in how he asserts himself offensively?

A: No, I think it goes right back to that last statement I made.  He's got to play- some games, you know, Lamar is one of those players who doesn't need to score.  He doesn't live to score.  And when he facilitates the game, he makes the game much easier for everybody else on the team.  So he's got to do that, and that role is imperative, that we have someone to fill that role.  He's the guy that does it.  Other times, when other guys don't have the ability to score then he does have to step into that void, but that's a tall order to find that balance.  That's his growth and development this year.

-see above.