Because really, who wouldn't want to kick it with cats like me one day removed from a series-deflating loss?  Or because I'm about 95% sure the NBA mandates that coaches address the press each day during the playoffs.  But either way, Phil Jackson was rocking some sandals and taking some inquiries at high noon-thirty.  Here's what was discussed.    

Phil Jackson:  I sent them home today after a short video session and told them to bring their energy back to play a basketball game.  We'll get a practice in tomorrow to do what we have to do to make changes.

Congratulations to Kobe Bryant, who was named to the NBA's All-Defensive First Team for the seventh time.  I'll be honest- I consider this award, like a Gold Glove in baseball, to be very reputation driven and don't think this was Kobe's best defensive year by any stretch.  Granted, it's hard to look like an outstanding individual defender on a weak defensive team and he was put behind the lockdown eight ball with his early season injuries, but independent of that, I don't think this was a standout season for Kobe on that end of the floor.  Still, it's not like he sucks or anything, either.  And I don't get a vote, so this mild, typing-with-a-raised-eyebrow semi-protest is about all I can muster.

BK

What Game 3 gaveth in hope to Lakers fans, Game 4 tooketh away.  After surprising the Suns with their intensity and defensive schemes on Thursday, the Suns came back with a vengeance on Sunday, toying with the Lakers before finally putting them away, 113-100.  So what went wrong for the purple and gold?  That's like trying to settle on a choice at Baskin-Robbins.  Too many options.  Maybe it was Steve Nash, who rebounded from a poor Game 3 with 23 assists (and it could have been more).  As it stands, Nash's day was still among the more prolific in NBA playoff history.  What a difference a year makes.  Or, if you prefer bigs playing angry, by all means feel free to point to Amare Stoudamire's 27/21.  Or maybe it was the full weight of injuries to  guys like Lamar Odom, who gamely what he could to generate excitement in the second half, but was battered badly entering and exiting Game 4.  But the biggest problem for the Lakers, as it generally is in the NBA, is one of talent.  They're just not as good, a reality that may be sinking in on a variety of levels.  Luke Walton had a horrible game (7 TOs), Kwame Brown couldn't sustain his momentum from Thursday, the baby Lakers were nowhere to be found, and the tempo unequivocally belonged to Phoenix.  Don't forget a box score and shot chart too riddled with x's from the perimeter that more or less fill in any remaining gaps. 

Basically, the Lakers absorbed so many body blows, they look about a hair's breath away from the final knockout blow.  But other than all that, Mrs. Lincoln...

...is that it can depart as fast as it arrives.  Such was the case Sunday afternoon, where the scene was much more Game 2 than Game 3.  Translation?  Suns 113-100.  The Lakers kept it close in the first half, working hard, generally sticking to the game plan (as much as the Suns would allow), staying competitive... and finishing down by seven.  Hard to say definitively the writing was on the wall at that point, but there were a host of folks near it ready to get their scribe on, to say the least.  In the end, it was too much Big Three for the Lakers to handle.  Steve Nash logged more assists by halftime (15) than the Lakers did through three quarters (13), and 23 for the game- to L.A.'s 21, it should be mentioned.  That's not good.  Amare Stoudamire had 16/12 at the half, and 27/21 at the final buzzer.  They were so big, nobody really noticed Shawn Marion's 22/11.  At least the Lakers again shut down Pat Burke.   

Meanwhile, the Lakers struggled to stay in their offense and control the tempo, especially in the third quarter, when the Suns pushed their lead to 14.  Kobe was productive, with 31/7/9 on 12/25 from the floor, but it was a struggle as the Suns threw just about every body on the court at him.  L.O. came alive in the last 24 on his way to 19/13/5, including 17/10 after the half, but outside of those two, it was slim pickins.  Mo Evans had 11 points, Luke Walton notched 10 (nearly one for each of his seven TOs).  But the most telling stat for the Lakers were some weak assist numbers, which indicated bad ball movement, and the fact that in the minutes that mattered, Phoenix beat the hell out of them on the boards, and finished with an overall 44-39 advantage.

More on the game to come.  NOW ADDED BELOW THE JUMP.

BK 

They've done it through three games, but can the Lakers manage to shut down Eric Piatkowski four times in a row?  We'll find out.  I'll have the first quarter.

BK

Unlike Thursday, when there were a lot of late arrivals, everyone's in the building at tip time, and they're loud.  No shortage of atmosphere in the house today.  Only bad thing?  That horrible ABC Sky Cam thing they use to provide the worst angles in basketball broadcast history is whizzing back and forth in front of me. 

11:40- L.O. picks up a loose ball foul, then James Jones drills a three.  A fine start.  Maybe they're only good when they go down by 17.  Amare starts the game fronting Kwame. 

Kobe gets the Lakers on the board. 

The Lakers pulled out the first of two (for all practical purposes) must win games Thursday night.  Today, they'll need to figure out a way to win another, and guarantee one more home game in this series.  There was some talk about getting Vlad Radmanovic back in the lineup today, especially in light of Brian Cook's sprained left thumb suffered in Game 3, and in his pregame press conference, Phil Jackson said he wasn't sure if Vlad would be in uniform.  But looking at the active list there are no changes, which means Radmanovic will be in a suit today (assuming he brought one) on the sidelines.  Incidentally, the one he borrowed in Game 3 belonged to Kurt Rambis.  He should have made Raddy wear the glasses, too, as punishment for forgetting appropriate dress. 

I wrote yesterday that I think the Lakers will need to play a better game today than they did on Thursday if they want to win.  We'll see if they can do it.  In the meantime, enjoy PJ's presser. 

Download phil_jackson_4.29 Pre Game 4.mp3

The potentially series-tying Game 4 this afternoon can't arrive fast enough for the Laker Nation, but as far as the team they support goes, it's all about taking her leisurely.  The key to an ideally pace will be keeping Steve Nash as quiet on the court as he is away from it, forcing him to become less of a puppet-master.  Having successfully muddied Game 3, the Lakers forced the Suns to, if nothing else, take the series a little more seriously, even though nobody's fingers are nearing any panic buttons.  While Phil Jackson ain't cocky, he's pretty calm himself, if a mite dissatisfied with the number of bench guys completing plays Kobe's looking to make.  Thus, more potential tinkering with the active-inactive roster, which may work out well for Vlad Rad, who apparently can't remember to bring a suit, anyway.  While there's always a chance Phil will think way the hell outside the box and sit Kobe, the safer money candidates for deactivation may be either Sasha Vujacic or Brian Cook, who's nursing a sore thumb.

There will be a Game 5.  That much we know.  Whether the Lakers can ensure a return date to Staples by winning Sunday afternoon (a bonus both for fans and for me, since every home game is another chance for taco night in the media room, and I loves me some taco night) remains to be seen.  On Thursday, the Lakers took the Suns by surprise by a) not folding down 17 points before most fans had parked their cars, b) consistently and effectively getting the ball inside, whether by posting up or through penetration, and c) aggressively trapping on the pick and roll.  All of that effectively slowed down the game to a pace the Lakers could handle.  High percentage shots limited run out opportunities for the Suns, and the proactive D took away that extra gear Phoenix usually has (normally putting them about three gears ahead of the Lakers).   

So what happens now?

Did you get a chance to slap Phil Jackson five after Thursday's triumph over Phoenix?  Well, if not, you missed your chance, because the Zen Master is way over it.  Jackson's got too many things on his plate right now to concern himself with accolades and "you da man!" calls.  He needs to predict any adjustments Steve Nash will make to avoid a repeat entrapment, since it'll be tougher to fool them twice.  He needs a player to serve as a bomb threat.  He needs to decide whether he's going to keep Jordan Farmar in the starting lineup.  Throw in the fact that Amare Stoudemire-who wasn't all that impressed by Game 3 surprise savior Kwame Brown- seems determined to prove his team can step on a neck, and it's understandable why Phil may be holed up in his office conjuring magic until Sunday afternoon.

By "The L's," I mean Lamar Odom and Luke Walton, who were more than stoked to see their squad come up big during last night's crucial game 3.  And by "The L's," I also mean two guys who would probably kill the Laker marketing department if the team began promoting them as "The L's."  At any rate, here's what they had to say after the smoke had cleared, revealing a Laker victory.

- AK



 

Score one for the power of Double A-style soul searching and team re-bonding.  Having gotten their asses huh-whupped in Game 2 and outwardly questioning team unity, the Lakers pulled it together and pulled out a 95-89 win over the Suns.  But the triumph didn't come without a little nail biting.  The first quarter concluded with the Lakers looking resigned to a defeated fate, looking at a 31-17 deficit after an 11-0 Phoenix run.  Given the "you loaf, you sit" ultimatum Phil Jackson had issued, such results might have left the Zen Master forced to suit up five disillusioned fans for battle.  But then the funniest things happened.  The Lakers regrouped, chipped away at the deficit, and actually defended their basket en route to a victory.

So I went on live television tonight and said Kobe would score 37 on a high FG%, L.O. would get his 16-20, a mysterious third party would step up with some points, and the Lakers would win.  Three out of four ain't bad.  The purple and gold are back in the series after beating the Suns 95-89 Thursday night at Staples.  Kobe played a huge game, with 45/6/6 on 15-26 from the floor, but more importantly for the Lakers, they got a big night from Odom (18 points, 16 boards) and Kwame Brown (yes, that Kwame Brown), who came alive- along with the rest of the team- after a horrendous first quarter in which Phoenix scored the first eleven points, and led 31-17 when it was over.  But the Lakers crawled back to within three at halftime with a strong second twelve, and continued to play well in the third and fourth quarters to pull and stay ahead.  I don't think I have to tell you this was the best game the Lakers have played in a very, very long time. A full on taco worthy night, no less.  So the Lakers will have a chance to tie it up Sunday.  More on the game to come. NOW ADDED AFTER THE JUMP.

BK

It's Game 3!  Almost guaranteed to be better than Game 2.  Either that, or it's going to be a scary long night...

BK

And here we go.  Phoenix is in bright orange, making this a color combination you don't see a lot in sports.  I feel like I need sunglasses.

10:20- Oh my.  it's 9-0 Phoenix, and three quarters of the crowd hasn't sat down yet.  This feels like the fifth quarter of Game 2.  And now it's 11-0.  And PJ calls a timeout.  I said it before, I'll say it again... oh my. 

8:40- I think when people get frustrated with Kwame, it's the last sequence they're talking about.  Shot goes up, comes off the rim, L.O. battles for it, while Kwame stands there.  Nobody to box out.  He could have made an effort, but he didn't.  Go get the ball!  It's do or die time, my man.  He's got the size and the athleticism.  Use it.

But only technically.  Because while there probably aren't a lot of non-Laker die hards who think the purple and gold can take four of five from Phoenix, I doubt there's anyone who believes they could win four straight.  So while there will be a game Sunday no matter what happens tonight, it's fair to say that the Lakers have to win this game.  Not a lot new to report.  Obviously, we've talked this one to death.  No changes in the starting lineup, but PJ did say that Shammond Williams would have "a role" in tonight's game.  So watch for that.  Here's the pregame presser, divided in two for easier digestion

Download phil_jackson_4.26 PHX pre Game 3.mp3
Download phil_jackson_4.26 PHX pre Game 3 II.mp3

BK

It was clear going into this series that the Lakers don't have the talent Phoenix has, nor do they really have an answer to all the things that Phoenix does well.  Talking about playing better defense and actually being able to do it are very different things, and while the Lakers can be better than they were on Tuesday- they can be, right?- it's not like they're going to morph into the Bulls by 7:30 tonight.  They're not going to suddenly become a team of explosive athletes, nor are their injuries magically going to heal.  So really, the ledger doesn't look good.  2-0 Phoenix.  Talent edge?  Phoenix.  Momentum?  Phoenix.  Psychological advantage?  Phoenix.  Given all that, there's probably one thing that can give them a chance to even out the series tonight and Sunday. 

Discipline.

If you can see through the dark cloud surrounding it, feel free to watch tonight's Game 3 against the Phoenix Suns. Game 2 was a humiliating beat down, one that empowered the purple and gold's opponent to consider themselves in full-on T.C.B. mode. Hopefully, the Staples Center walls can provide a sunshine equivalent, because this team needs any mood-lifting stimuli it can get. Perhaps the spark will come in the form of camaraderie, a necessity MIA of late. Even while acknowledging that Kobe Bryant may only rest from now on during time outs, it's still a priority to begin leaning on each other. But even if the boys do successfully band together, it's still pretty obvious the New Jack Bauer's posse needs goosing.

So I'm back in town, and can absolutely guarantee that my last few days have been more enjoyable than the Lakers'.  And their fans.  By a lot.  But that doesn't mean all is lost. (Though had I not been buried chest deep in last minute wedding details I would have made my dour, sure-to-be-criticized-as-unnecessarily-pessimistic "Suns in five" prediction on Thursday or Friday.  Big thanks, by the way, to everyone for their kind words of congratulations and good luck.  I really appreciated it.)  Still, the mood was appropriately sour in El Segundo this afternoon.  The Lakers were in the midst of a full on scrimmage when we were allowed in.  Or as full on as a scrimmage without Kobe, L.O., Walton, and Kwame can be.  But man, do our reserves do a nice job of making each other look good!  Kobe's ankle is fine, so that's one less thing to worry about (a 2-0 hole being plenty, thank you).   

Below the jump is all the audio you can shake a stick at.  By the time it's all over, you'll have heard just about every way to say, more or less, the Lakers have to play better, suck it up, and figure out how to get it done.  If it was just that easy...

BK 

There are bad defeats.  There are doozies.  And then there are crushing blow outs that carry the potential of killing whatever fight remains in a squad.   Last night's 126-98 loss to the Suns would fall into the third category.  Had the game ended after the first quarter, Phoenix would have still prevailed, but at least it would have been by a respectable 31-25 margin.  From there, everything went haywire on both sides of the ball, especially defensively.  Steve Nash appeared able to bounce the rock off the jumbotron to set up an assist.  Leandro Barbosa was his usual Speedy-Gonzalez-on-crack-self, putting up another 26 off the bench. In addition to putting the game on ice, Barbosa did the same to Kobe Bryant's ankle after a fourth quarter collision.  And what was Kobe still doing in the game with box score clearly sealed, one might ask?  Frankly, that was a mystery to Bryant himself.  For that matter, why some of the other dudes were on the court at certain times was a riddle wrapped in an enigma wrapped in onion-like layers.

I don't know everything about hoops strate-ma-gizing, but were I Phil Jackson, I'd have spent more time planning for Leandro Barbosa and less planning for Pat Burke heading into this baby.  Of course, he's the Zen Master and I'm just some yutz with a blog, so who I am to tell him what to do?

AK

Look, I've already gone on record saying that I don't think the Lakers have a prayer in this series.  Unfortunately, that opinion hasn't changed and I simply watch the games rooting like a crazy man that I'm wrong.  But even if the Lakers do come up short, I'd still like to see them doing everything in their power to get beat "the right way."  Playing to whatever strengths they have and trying to make themselves better than the sum of their parts.  And even though I watched Game 1 with a more than slight hangover after BK's wedding, I was still coherent enough to make some observations (and wishes) going into tonight's brouhaha. 

Tonight's Game 2 against the Phoenix Suns provides the Lakers a chance to square the series up.  And as Laker fans may recall, last year's desert showdown featured a tough Laker loss followed up by purple and gold hootin' and hollerin'.  Can history repeat itself?  Perhaps, but probably not in a "Kobe Bryant and Raja Bell fighting kinda way."  The scrappy adversaries have learned to respect, even admire, what the other brings to the table.  What does need to repeat itself, however, was 2006's "Other-Dudes-Helping-Out-Kobe-In-The-Playoffs-Fest."  Bryant's mates will need to step it up down the stretch during the sequel, since #24 can't be a one man band against a team like the Suns.  At the same time, the onus falls squarely on the New Jack Bauer to provide the opportunities to step it up.

They often say Game 1 sets the tone of a playoff series, and if that's the case, the Lakers-Suns series will be one where the Lakers watch any good work on their part quickly slip away.  Emphasis on "quickly."  In what's being billed as a potentially redemptive opportunity for the L.A., Yesterday's 95-87 loss certainly provided the Lakers their fair share of chances, and often looked table set for a purple and gold victory.  Kobe Bryant's scorching start produced 28 points, and given how the tally was complimented by- and this is not a typo- solid defense, they helped put the team up 48-39 heading into the locker room for a little halftime Gatorade.  Unfortunately, the refs agreed to let the second half commence and that's when everything became too fast and furious for the Lakers' taste.  Heavy 6th Man of the Year favorite Leandro Barbosa went into Ferrari mode, putting up 15 straight points to help cut Phoenix's deficit and eventually take the lead.  Dude was working so fast, even he couldn't keep track of his numbers.  Throw in a wretched fourth quarter where every Laker from a suddenly ice cold (and relentlessly defended) Kobe to the third stringers couldn't sink a shot into the Grand Canyon, and you know how the box score reads. 

Sorry, just got out of a brunch!  I'm chock full of bacon.  BK's still married.

GAME ON!

AK

And because of that, for obvious reasons, we're both gonna be a little tied up and unable to do much, if any, comment updating.  Personally, I was up for using our Blackberrys while on stage during the ceremony to keep the blog current, but BK nixed it.  Somebody needs to take a good look at himself in the mirror and ask how dedicated he is to his job.  We'll hopefully be getting a little assistance from the folks at the Times, but it's the weekend, so who knows?  Thus, if you're not seeing your comments go through in timely fashion, that would be why.

However...

There, WILL, repeat, WILL, repeat again, WILL be a game thread for tomorrow's game. 

No worries on that front.  So everyone enjoy their Saturdays and rest up for a Sunday game 1 battle.

AK

As we reported earlier this month, if Laker fans are looking for a book that'll even out their blood pressure and help them relax heading into the postseason, ":07 Seconds or Less" ain't appropriate reading.   It's chock full of Suns swagger, a sentiment that apparently hasn't dwindled much heading into 2007's first round rematch.  They had particularly harsh words for Kwame Brown, who'll have his opportunities to say, "I got your bestseller right here, pal!"

Those of you who said, "Phoenix" in the "Who Should the Lakers Play?" debate went to bed Wednesday night a bunch of happy campers, because with their 117-106 win over the Kings, the Lakers secured the seven seed and a rematch with the Suns. The Lakers got hot shooting from Kobe (12-19), Kwame Brown (7-8), and Andrew Bynum (4-5) on a generally hot shooting night for the team (57%). That's the sort of formula, or at least part of it, they'll need to win in the desert and wipe away the bad memories of last year's collapse. And this year's Phoenix squad is stronger, which is why Amare Stoudamire doesn't think the series will go seven. Let the posturing and playoff smack begin. Statistically and historically, the odds are against the Lakers going deep into the postseason. But they do have that Bryant guy, fresh off securing his second consecutive scoring title, and as healthy a team as they've had in a while, which means matchup options.

No matter how you slice it, it'll be a must-see series.

We're not getting all pessimistic here, but it's never too early to examine offseason possibilities. ESPN.com is taking a look at every squad, including the Lakers (Insider required).

Mavericks or Suns. You choose. (Technically, of course, the Lakers will, but it's important to feel like part of the process, right?)

BK

By virtue of Golden State's 111-82 pasting of a resting Dallas Mavericks squad (Dirk, Howard, Stackhouse, Dampier... and D.J. Mbenga all sat), tonight's regular season finale in Sacramento still has meaning.  Win, and the Lakers will head to Phoenix.  Lose, and if the Warriors win their game at Portland, the Lakers will face the Mavs.  At this point, it's fair to debate the merits of winning (and the Mavs losing last night), because that's what you do in the NBA.  However it shakes out, and it's no picnic either way, it looks like two things are clear- Kwame Brown says he'll give it whatever he's got from here on out (encouraging words from him, considering a week or so ago, he wouldn't say if he'd play in the postseason), and if he wants a starting point guard to feed him in the post, it's time to lean on Jordan Farmar.  Phil Jackson wouldn't say for sure that the rook would start tonight, but Farmar practiced with the starting group on Tuesday.  That's a clue. 

Tonight, Golden State plays Dallas in a game that could affect the Lakers' playoff seeding.  Should the Warriors come out on top this evening (completing a improbable-but-true sweeping of the Mavs), a Wednesday win against Portland combined with a Laker loss to Sacramento means the Bay Area playoff drought will not only end, but the Lakers will go from a 7 seed and a series against Phoenix to an 8 seed showdown with Dallas.  The Lakers obviously control their own destiny (win tomorrow and it's a moot point), but if you could control destinies, how would you prefer the dust settle?  A rumble with Phoenix or Dallas?

Double check and make sure you don't actually work for the NBA.  Otherwise, you might find yourself watching the playoffs in a sports bar, as is the case with suspended ref Joey Crawford, who offered to step outside with the Big Fundamental.  Apparently, you're not allowed to do that.  It must be one of those obscure rules way in back of the book.
 

At this time of year, it's normally about fine tuning, tweaking, and adjusting.  For the Lakers, it's about potentially making permanent changes to the starting point guard position.  While Kurt Rambis, subbing for a dentist visiting Phil Jackson (dude, lay off the sweets), wouldn't say who will start heading into the playoffs.  If it is Farmar, he's got a tough assignment no matter who the Lakers play.  Surprisingly, at least to some, was how Smush Parker took the demotion.  Not sure if that came up in the Lakers town hall meeting with season ticket holders, but we're willing to bet many in attendance are hoping for a guard upgrade next season, in some way, shape, or form. 

Who the Lakers will draw in the postseason could be answered tonight, when the Mavs visit Golden State.  If the Warriors lose, the Lakers will be the seven seed and play Phoenix. If Golden State wins, we'll all have to wait until Wednesday to sort everything out.   

It's not just old fashioned audio of some team that hasn't qualified for the postseason.  Nope, this is the audio of a playoff squad.  Soak it in. 

BK

To quote the great Jim Mora, "Playoffs?"

Oh yes, Jim. Playoffs.  Playoffs, indeed. Who they'll play is still in the air, but they'll be playing someone. 

Back when the Lakers were 13 games over .500, it seemed unlikely it would take until the 81st game of the season for the purple and gold to clinch their ticket into the top eight, but that was before the wheels came off. The the transmission dropped out, the starter burnt out, and the battery died. But at least for the time being, after L.A.'s 109-98 win over Seattle, all is right (or at least not horribly wrong) in the world. The Lakers were bolstered by the welcomed return of Kwame Brown to a shaken and stirred starting lineup, which also included the insertion of Jordan Farmar over Smush Parker. Oh yeah, Kobe scored 50 on 18-25 from the field. That helped, too. As did having a full roster. When the gang's all there, the Lakers are a much better team. When it was over, everyone could exhale, not just because for one night, the losing habit was kicked, but because the Lakers almost let this one get away, too. And while the box shows bad free throw shooting (18-30) again could have been the culprit, a season low in TOs (four) helped balance the scales.

And this has nothing to do with anything, but it does help tie the intro back into the conclusion.  Buttons up everything nicely.   

Which is why the Lakers will take this 109-98 win over a team as crappy as the Seattle Not-so-Supersonics. Yeah, the Lakers squandered an 18-point lead. Yeah, they should have widened that gap against a team missing Ray Allen, Luke Ridnour and Earl Watson, as opposed to battling a tightly contested second half where Seattle actually came within a point of knotting things. Yeah, there should have been a healthy dose of Vlad Radmanovic "we're up a by a zillion, so let's work the snowboarder back into shape" PT on display, a human victory cigar moment carelessly and sloppily missed.   

But once again, the Lakers are fighting for their playoff-entering lives, an invitation they've now officially RSVPed "yes." Whether they join the party as a seven or eight remains to be seen, but first things must come first. And they don't come much "firster" than simply getting in. And there were other RSVPs accepted during the win. Kwame Brown joined the festivities after a long absence from the party circuit. Jordan Farmar attended the shindig for the first time as a starter.   And with the  21st half-century point tally of his career, Kobe's invite to the "most 50 point games" became even more of a "permanent guest list" thing.

More to come later. (NOW ADDED, AFTER THE JUMP)

AK 

Kwame's back.  Seattle's gonna be in trouble?

You can sing the chorus without our help.

AK

First Quarter

AK is your captain.  And with 48 seconds elapsing, Kobe hits a 21-foot jumper.  This may or may not be considered a small sample size, but Kobe has never missed his first shot of the game when Jordan Farmar starts the game. 

Lakers fans get a couple bits of good news heading into tonight's game against the Sonics.  First, the Clippers managed to lose at home to Sacramento, meaning the Lakers are playoff bound if they can take down Seattle.  The second is that Kwame Brown will start.  Apparently, some time in the walking boot did him enough good that he feels comfortable getting back out on the court.  That, along with the dire straits his teammates have found themselves in recently and the news that his ankle injury probably can't get any worse, has him feeling comfortable enough to suit up.  Needless to say, Phil Jackson is happy to have 14 players to choose from tonight, a luxury he hasn't had in a long time.  Interesting stuff in tonight's audio as well about the point guard situation.  Jackson was asked straight up if there is still a chance a change could be made in the starting lineup if Smush Parker doesn't pick it up- and said yes.  Not surprising, since Parker hasn't seen a lot of important minutes in second halves recently.  P.J. praised the recent play of Jordan Farmar, and was pleased with Sasha's run on Friday against the Suns.  So that's something to keep an eye on.

It's officially crunch time in the the battle for the Western Conference's 7 and 8 spots.  With a half game lead over the Clippers and Warriors, the Lakers are technically in the driver's seat, but seem intent on steering the car over a bridge.  The formula for success is simple enough.  Win the final two games and it's a done deal.  The Lakers' Staples Center roomies and Golden State will have already finished their pivotal matches before the purple and gold square off against Seattle, meaning there could be even extra pressure up in the ol' cooker.   There will obviously be little bench time for Kobe during these final 96 minutes of regular season, but as many of you have asked, if the Lakers do pull off the post-season birth, what does it all mean?

There's one positive about being a .500 team.  Nobody can accuse you of having a losing record.  Period.  Point blank.  It's just not possible.  Of course, being at. 500 leaves you perilously close to said losing record, meaning that more results like last night's 93-85 fall to the Suns can't follow.  The game started out promisingly enough, with surprise starter Ronny Turiaf doing a solid job on All-Star Amare Stoudemire and the Lakers closing the half down by just 1, despite Kobe Bryant's 5-15 shooting struggles (that eventually turned into 7-26).  But then came...and stop us if you've heard this one before... the third quarter, when Phoenix outscored L.A. 25-13.  Then came the furious 4th quarter rally, but it was a little too little, a little too late for a winning box score.  The Lakers' playoff hopes are now in jeopardy, although the Lakers have the luxury of controlling their own destiny.  It's a pressure cooker situation, just the kind of challenge the SI's#5 ranked player was born to take on.  Bryant's hoping his teammates will follow his lead, despite a few being at a tender age.

Eighty games into the season, the Lakers are right back where they started.  A .500 team, after dropping Friday night's duel in the desert with the Suns, 93-85.  And not a very good one at that.  If my math is correct, since reaching a season high 13 games after a January 17th win over the Spurs (damn, that seems like a long time ago) the Lakers are a rather shoddy 14-27.  Teams like the Knicks, Sonics, and Bobcats can look at and say, "Wow, that's bad."  And that's not good.  It was an atypically ugly night offensively for both teams, with the Lakers at 39% and the Suns a point worse.  Kobe was bottled up (7-26), playing 42 minutes on top of the 48 he logged Thursday night.  L.O.?  7-19.  But outside Steve Nash (10-16), Phoenix's big guns weren't better.  7-18 for Shawn Marion, 6-15 for Raja Bell, 4-16 for Amare Stoudamire.  But, as has been the case recently, the Lakers got hammered at the line.  Only 12 trips for the purple and gold, and only eight makes.  Phoenix, however, converted 18-20.  You do the math. 

All in all, it's hard to take a lot of solace in this one.  The Lakers held Phoenix to 93 points, generally kept their big guns in check, and got 30 fairly decent minutes from Sasha Vujacic... and they still lost.  And in doing so, they crept closer to the Clippers and Warriors, both winners on Friday.

The Lakers still control their own destiny, which is good.  Or at least it should be.  The way they're playing, it's hard to say.  More on the game tomorrow.

BK

If everything goes well, the Lakers will finish the night 2.5 games up on the Clippers and Warriors, sitting pretty (relatively speaking) for the playoffs.  Should things turn sour, the MFE (margin for error) shrinks to a scant half game.  Ahhh, life on the bubble. 

BK

Last night's 118-110 loss to the Clippers marked yet another episode of the Lakers coming apart when it mattered most.  By now, you've gotten gobs of free fall feedback from the principles (Kobe, LO, Phil Jackson, etc.).  Thus, I thought it might be worthwhile to get some perspective from the one active Laker who had nothing to do with the loss (unless you think he was screaming orders from the bench to stop playing defense).  Shammond Williams.  Like the fans, Williams could do nothing but helplessly watch his team go down in flames.  And since he's seen quite a bit of watching during this 2-5 April, I was curious about what he's picked up on.  Here's what he had to say.    

Andrew Kamenetzky:  One of the reasons you were brought in as a free agent was to bring leadership and a veteran perspective for some of the younger players.  What have you talked about with guy during this period when the team's having some trouble getting over the hump? 

Shammond Williams:  Situations are different each and every night.  You have to find the balance and what's going on in the game.  Tonight, clock management would have been real important.  Once you've got that kind of lead, you have to cut the possessions down and make them work so much defensively to stop us.  Get the shots that we want.  The thing about it is, we were getting good shots and we were hitting shots, but defensively, you have to understand in these types of games and others, especially with (the Clippers) being in the position they're in, they're fighting for blood.  You have to understand defensively, this is playoff basketball here.  This is the fourth quarter.  That's playoff basketball.  You have to work defensively to try to keep them from getting what they needed to get.

Felt like Friday the 13th came a little early for the Lakers, as their luck steadily grew worse during the course of last night's 118-110 loss to the Clippers.  The entire seasons have felt pretty "black cat path crossed" for both squads, but given how playoff stakes are in the simultaneous balance, the
crosstown rivalry was kicked into serious overdrive.  Things started out swimmingly enough as the Lakers finished the first half up by 4 and upped the ante to 17 during the third quarter.  Unfortunately, the Clips shaved that lead to 7 to start out the fourth quarter and knotted things about halfway through.  There was some Sam-I-am in the mix, along with a healthy does of Elton Brand.  The tie came courtesy of a Corey Maggette trey, which accounted for three of his career-high 39 points.  His weren't quite as impressive as Kobe's 50, but they were better timed.  Maggette put up 7 in the final pair of minutes to clinch things for the Clips, while Kobe, along with the rest of his teammates, went ice cold down the stretch.   The collapse did damage to the Laker box score, as well as the team's collective tear ducts.   

There's a scout for the Mavs sitting behind us who agreed that in terms of getting a handle on Dallas' potential playoff opponent- i.e. the occupant of the eight spot- tonight's game allowed him to kill two birds with one stone.  Of course, a Lakers victory over the Clippers would have essentially made that a two horse race between LAC and Golden State.  And at the end of the third with the Lakers up seven, that looked like a distinct possibility.  Unfortunately, they play four quarters in the NBA- which makes sense, since they're quarters- and over the final twelve the Clippers pasted the Lakers 32-17, en route to a ludicrously disappointing 118-110 loss.  A drink-inducing-kick-in-the-pants-tick-off-a-lot-of-bloggers 118-110 loss.  In the end, they couldn't get the points (Kobe popped up 50 on 17-33, but didn't have a field goal in the last 10:57, and needless to say didn't get much help) or the stops (...shocker) to pull it out.  Ugly.  Uuuuuuuuuuuugly.  Roadkill ugly. 

More on the game to come. NOW ADDED BELOW THE JUMP 

BK 

That this is the most important matchup in the history of the L.A. teams is both fun on one level, and a scathing indictment of the current state of L.A.'s teams.  Someone's gonna turn it around tonight.  That's all we know.

BK

Two consecutive trips where the ball ends up in the post to Bynum.  Good to see the Lakers looking to get inside early. 

I'll say this for Phil Jackson.  I've been around a reasonable variety of teams for a reasonable amount of year and today was the first time I've ever seen a coach make use of visual aids while talking to the press.  Asked what he made of Kwame Brown hinting that his ankle might not be healed by the playoffs, Phil calmly reached into his pocket, produced a white hankie and waved it as if it were a tiny flag.  "Am I the last in America that has a handkerchief," joked Jackson.  But seriously folks, Phil feels the situation is one "he's going to have to manage to help us.  If he wants to help us, it's really important."

As BK reported yesterday, the whirlwind of "yes or no?" news surrounding Luke Walton and Britney Spears falls squarely on the "no" side.   Repeat.  They are not dating.  They never have been dating.  If you're a man that bets the odds, they favor the notion that the two will never end up dating.  And given how Ms. Spears seems to have gone what I believe the medical world formally diagnoses as "goonybird," that's probably for the best.  Except for one thing.

The Laker Nation was robbed of its "Brangelina" moment.

Say what you want about the Lakers, but one thing's for sure. Whether they're playing like champs, chumps, or somewhere in between, they are typically filled with oddities you just can't make up. What's weird these days? Well, you've got Luke Walton categorically denying that Britney Spears has been been telling him, "Hit me baby one more time."  Lamar Odom is also, to the best of our knowledge, not dating Spears. But he's making like her and ex K-Fed with a salute to reality TV.  And then Andrew Bynum is dropping "news" that Kwame Brown is out for the season, a report halfheartedly refuted later by Brown and Jackson. Well, if the team gets really desperate for help up front, Samaki Walker would probably leave his current gig.  Dude does know the triangle, after all.

As a member of the Lakers working media, my average trip to El Segundo consists of the following:

-a wait in the press room until we're allowed in (varies daily).
-a brief glimpse of practice, followed by the watching of a team huddle from afar.
-a quick PJ interview, followed by Kobe, and generally L.O. or Luke, or another member of the supporting cast who happens to be in the news (usually due to injury).
-a little more standing around both for the purposes of making sure nothing else important might happen, and also looking like a dedicated reporter interested in squeezing every ounce of juicy news from the often unripe fruit of practice time.
-a trip home along the 405 and La Cienega that generally takes longer than the amount of time spent at the facility.

The process is very fast, and often I leave feeling I didn't learn much that wasn't already known.  Fairly predictable, really. 

Not today.   

Actually, LO said nothing of the sort, but he's probably still excited about the launch of his new official website, www.lamarodom.com.  It's chock full of features about Lamar, cool video, links to Rich Soil (Lamar's music and clothing label), Laker updates and oodles of other Odom related goodies.  There's also info about Cathy's Kids, Lamar's foundation devoted to both cancer research and helping underprivileged NYC and L.A. kids.  Check it out and see whatcha think. 

The site was created by Athlete Interactive (www.athleteinteractive.com), a web development company focused solely on athlete websites.  Founded by sportswriter David Neiman, the company prides itself on a strong sports I.Q. to complement its design skills.  To my knowledge, they plan to work exclusively with pro athletes, but if any reader is kicking particularly huge ass in beer league softball and fancies his or herself on the verge of a major breakout, give Athlete Interactive a shout.  I'm guessing they'll pass, but you never know until you ask.

AK   

If history proves anything, it's that anything can happen.  Thus, the lesson Phil Jackson is trying to impart on his students when it comes to the possibilities of a last minute fire catch.  That being said, the odds of gaining last minute mo' increase dramatically if all the pieces are in place.  And with a 270 lb. piece's future remaining cloudy, the Lakers' prospects in the playoffs follow suit.  If you're a believer in rankings created by various... media... pundits, the tide currently ain't rollin' the purple and gold's way. 

If you're playing a game of craps, six is considered the easiest point to hit, whereas seven is a crap out.  If that info somehow translates to NBA hoops- And there's little to no evidence to suggest a connection, but who knows- then the Lakers did themselves poorly in their 115-111 loss to the Denver Nuggets, a fall that further solidified their standing as a playoff 7 seed.  Ironically, the Nuggets don't even want the 6 seed (although their preference isn't strong enough to induce tanking).

In a game where Kobe Bryant struggled to find his shot (his box score entry registers 9-30, although he dished 10 dimes), various '06-'07 Laker trends (poor D and Freebie shooting) haunted the squad even further.   Should the Lakers continue not fixing those problem areas, then it would behoove them to watch the scene in "Glengarry Glen Ross" where Alec Baldwin's character explains the "A.B.C." philosophy.  Always Be Closing.   At this point in the season, there are no moral victories, meaning furious rallies amount to precious little.  For that matter, "little" would describe the skills put on display, if you ask Lamar Odom (who's feeling the same amount of strength these days in his shoulder).