Change of scenery

The weather here in Memphis, like the shocking turn of events for the Lakers in the previous two games, was bracing and biting.

So instead of a day spent indoors re-hashing how the last two games have gotten away from them, or bundling up in the 28-degree air, walking in and around Memphis, Phil Jackson had his team come down to the FedEx Forum for a quick practice Sunday afternoon.

Normally, on an off-day after a back-to-back, Jackson might've given the team a day off. But this was no normal off-day. Not after the Lakers dropped back-to-back games for the first time this season.

``I've been talking to the guys about playing with more enthusiasm and more energy,'' Jackson said. ``I think I've been reiterating that for a while. So we've been talking about that, trying to get these guys to liven up a little bit.''

In other words, with an offense gone stagnant, and a defense still figuring itself out, doing something was better than standing still.