Crickets in El Segundo...

No, not literally, but that's kind of what it's felt like this week as the NBA schedule makers dealt the Lakers a strange, early season vacation -- maybe hiatus is a better word -- this week.

After taking Thursday off, the Lakers were back at work Friday, preparing to play Houston on Sunday evening.

So what have the guys been doing all week? Well, besides beating the Clippers again?

``That's our message for the week: `We can either be good or we can be great?' Kobe Bryant said. ``And this is our time to wok on things.''