April 2010 Archives

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Lakers escaped the upstart Oklahoma City Thunder, winning Game 6 and taking the first-round series. They said they would be better for having faced such a young and energetic team. "Every year in the playoffs, every series, what you try to do is get better," Kobe Bryant said. "This series forced us to play hard on every possession because Oklahoma demanded that from us. We feel like we're a better ballclub for it."

We'll find out soon. Game 1 of the second-round series against Utah is Sunday.

Here's the Lakers-Jazz schedule, with times and TV

Game 1: Sunday at Staples Center, 12:30 p.m., Channel 7.
Game 2: Tuesday at Staples Center, 7:30 p.m., TNT.
Game 3: May 8 at Utah, 5 p.m., Channel 7.
Game 4: May 10 at Utah, 7:30 p.m. TNT.
Game 5: May 12 at Staples Center, TBD, TNT, if necessary.
Game 6: May 14 at Utah, TBD, ESPN, if necessary.
Game 7: May 17 at Staples Center, 6 p.m., TNT, if necessary.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- If the Lakers end this thing tonight, then they owe full props to Ron Artest for his dogged pursuit of the Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant. Artest's offense has been, well, offensive during the series. His defensive play has been exceptional, however. Durant scored 14 points on only 2-for-11 shooting in the first half. Durant missed his first seven shots tonight. He got to the free throw line early and often, however. He made 9 of 10. Artest scored only two points on 1-for-5 shooting as the Lakers led most of the way.

Phil Jackson will amost certainly return to coaching next season, after his current contract with the Lakers ends after the conclusion of the playoffs, according to his girlfriend and the boss' daughter Jeanie Buss. Whether it's with the Lakers remains to be seen, however. Buss told Ramona Shelburne of the local ESPN Website she can't see Jackson walking away from the profession. She also said she can't see her father, Jerry, paying Jackson $12 million per season, as he is now.

Here's more from Jeanie Buss:

"I think if they win it's like a no-brainer he'll come back because he'll want to win three in a row. But (if they don't win), if there isn't that connection, he would understand. Plus, my dad has made it very clear he doesn't want to pay him what he's been paying him. So that's kind of hard, too. You could kind of say, in some jobs, well I'm cutting back your hours. But can you see him cutting back his hours? It's not really about the amount of money, it's about 'I can't give you less effort.'"

Here's another key quote from Jeanie:

"I know Phil will be coaching next year, somewhere. Whether it's here or someplace else I don't know. There's going to be a lot of good jobs that come up this summer. I know that he can't just retire. I'm, like, 'Honey, what are you going to do? Are you going to help your kids go change diapers and stuff?'"

Jackson, a Hall of Famer with an NBA-record 10 championships, said recently he wouldn't make a decision on coaching beyond this season until after consulting with his doctor. He said the Lakers' playoff success also would factor into his decision.

Here's some rather predictable news:

Kobe Bryant topped the list of the league's most popular jerseys for the second consecutive season, according to sales figures released by the NBA today. Bryant's jersey was No. 1 in sales at the NBA Store in New York and on NBAStore.com. Meanwhile, the Lakers were the league's top seller in overall merchandise for the seventh time in the last eight seasons. The Celtics were second, the Cavaliers were third, the Bulls were fourth and the New York Knicks were fifth.

It was Kobe Bryant's idea to swap defensive assignments for Game 5 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Bryant guarded Russell Westbrook instead of Thabo Sefolosha. Derek Fisher checked Sefolosha. Lakers coach Phil Jackson said Bryant approached him and said, "I'd like to guard Westbrook." Jackson added: "It takes a much higher activity level (to guard Westbrook). It's every play. There's no time off on defense. It told me what his determination was, whether his knee was better or not (I don't know)." Bryant has been troubled for months by injuries to his right index finger, left ankle and right knee.

Westbrook scored 15 points on 4-for-13 shooting in Game 5.

"I enjoy the challenge," Bryant said of checking Westbrook. "He's been playing sensational, and if we're going to be eliminated I don't want to go into the summer thinking I could've done something about it, so i accepted the challenge."

Asked how he stayed with the rookie, the 31-year-old Bryant said: "Just being a savvy old dog I guess."

It was over almost before it began. The Lakers had no trouble with the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5 tonight. They led by as many as 32 points in the third quarter en route to a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 series. Game 6 will be Friday night in Oklahoma City. The Lakers should be well rested since only Ron Artest, Derek Fisher and Lamar Odom played more than 31 minutes. The Lakers' 7-footers led them. Pau Gasol had 25 points and Andrew Bynum scored 21. They both had 11 rebounds. Kevin Durant scored only 17 points on 5-for-14 shooting. The Lakers outscored the Thunder, 58-26, in the paint. Question is, can the Lakers do it again in Game 6 and eliminate the Thunder?

There were a couple of changes for Game 5 tonight. Ron Artest shaved his head, getting rid of the hideous blond dye job, making his look a little less conspicuous as he chased Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant around the court. Kobe Bryant guarded Russell Westbrook instead of Thabo Sefolosha, who hasn't hurt anybody so far in the series. Also, Durant began guarding Bryant instead of checking Artest. The Lakers also kept pounding the ball inside and kept getting results and they led by as many as 21 points in the first half. The Lakers held the Thunder to 0-for-9 shooting and forced two turnovers to start the game.

Reporters in print, on the Internet and on TV and radio have referred to one of Kobe Bryant's injuries as either a broken right index finger or an avulsion fracture (the technical term) of the right index finger. They have been reporting that because that's what the Lakers have been saying about Bryant's finger. Until today, that is. Today, the team said the break or fracture has healed. Now, Bryant is suffering from arthritis in the finger. So, he still is suffering from left ankle, right index finger and right knee injuries.

There are two ways to look at the huge gap in free throws during Games 3 and 4 in Oklahoma City, when the Thunder shot 34 and then 48 and the Lakers shot 12 and then 28. First, the Lakers aren't fast enough to keep up with the Thunder. They aren't moving their feet on defense and are reaching for the ball. They are playing a step behind the faster Thunder. Second, the referees are killing the Lakers. Personally, I'll go with No. 1.

If the Lakers do the unthinkable, if they fail to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder in their first-round playoff series, will it be the biggest postseason upset in NBA history? Eighth-seeded teams have beaten top-seeded teams in the past, but the Lakers also are the defending champions, a team that's made consecutive trips to the Finals. The Thunder are a team with almost zero playoff experience. The series is deadlocked at 2-all.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- It got so bad for the Lakers tonight in Game 4 that Kobe Bryant left the bench and returned to the locker room for a massage long before the final buzzer. Insert your own joke here. He finished with 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting in 32 minutes, 4 seconds and raised a whole new round of postgame questions about his health. The Lakers have two days to regroup and regain their lost momentum before playing Game 5 at Staples Center. The series is tied at two wins apiece. What's next is anyone's guess.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Lakers got off to a reasonably good start tonight in Game 4 and then went to pieces. They got the ball inside, as promised, but didn't do enough with it. They scored 24 points in the paint, but shot only 12-for-25. They also were only 3 of 10 at the free throw line. Oklahoma City shot 20 free throws, making 19. The Thunder shot 34 during their victory in Game 3, so they're on pace for many more tonight. Andrew Bynum led the Lakers with 11 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in the first half. Kobe Bryant had eight points and four assists. Russell Westbrook led the Thunder with 16 points.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Lamar Odom called on the reserves to play better Saturday in Game 4 than they did in Game 3. He said today before the Lakers' practiced at the Ford Center: "I think our bench play has to step up offensively and defensively. The first unit is doing a great job of getting a good start. We're not keeping the momentum up. ... We've got to find a way for the second group to come in and stretch the game out a little bit and maintain the lead."

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Lakers coach Phil Jackson said today that NBA commissioner David Stern was being too heavy handed when it came to threatening suspensions to players and coaches for criticizing referees. Jackson has been fined $35,000 twice already this month for comments about the officiating and he might be dinged again. Stern said Thursday such public criticism is "corrosive" Stern also said, "So our coaches should be quiet because this is a good business that makes them good livings and supports a lot of families. If they don't like it, they should go get a job someplace else."

Jackson responded: "When you start throwing one- and two-game suspensions in the threats, I think that means a lot to the ballclubs and to the coaches. That seems awful heavy handed to me, but David is one who isn't shy. There's a certain gamesmanship that he feels cheapens the game."

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Did the Lakers give Game 3 away tonight or did the Thunder snatch it from their grasp? It depended who you talked to. "Give them credit because they did their job, but we let the game slip from our hands when we had it under control," Pau Gasol said. Kobe Bryant had a little different viewpoint. "For the most part we controlled the game," he said. "(But) against this team (the Thunder) you can't afford to have those slippages because they're so explosive. I think they won it. They had a moment where they made big plays." Game 4 is Saturday night. Expect the Lakers to make adjustments to get the ball inside to Gasol and Andrew Bynum. Don't expect them to try 31 shots from 3-point range.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- All things considered, the first half of Game 3 couldn't have gone better for the Lakers as they attempted to take a 3-0 series lead over the Thunder. The Lakers got off to leads of 10-0 and 15-3 and held the Thunder to 7-for-20 shooting by the end of the first quarter. Kevin Durant scored two points on 0-for-4 shooting in the first quarter as the Lakers led, 27-22. Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher got the Lakers pointed in the right direction, scoring 14 and 11 points, respectively. Hindered by fouls, Durant scored eight points on 2-for-10 shooting. He also had a team-leading 11 rebounds.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- David Stern, the NBA commish, stopped by the Ford Center tonight watch the first playoff game in OKC's story history. Stern was asked about the twin fines to Lakers coach Phil Jackson for criticizing the league's referees, including saying the Thunder's Kevin Durant gets superstar treatment from the officials.

Here's some of what Stern had to say: "I wish I had it to do all over again, and starting 20 years ago I would be suspending Phil and Pat Riley (then coach of the New York Knicks) for all the games they play in the media, because you guys know our referees go out there and knock themselves out doing the best job they can.

"But we have coaches who try to work them publicly and what that does is erode fan confidence and you get some of the situations we've had. So our coaches should be quiet because this is a good business that makes them good livings and supports a lot of families. If they don't like it they should go get a job someplace else."

Andrew Bynum did not practice today with his teammates, sitting out to undergo treatment on his strained left Achilles tendon. He said there was some soreness in his Achilles, which was not unexpected after playing Sunday and Tuesday for the first time since he was hurt March 19. Bynum plans to play in Game 3 on Thursday.

The Lakers expect more from the Thunder. Here's Derek Fisher: "I think we knew it was going to be a hard-fought series .They're a team, even though they're young, the style of play they bring on the floor gives them confidence. They're well coached. So, we're not surprised by anything. We're trying to concentrate on ourselves and doing what we do well."

Sasha Vujacic continues to rest and rehabilitate his sprained left ankle. He said he would not join the team for its trip to Oklahoma City for Games 3 and 4.

The Lakers won Game 2 tonight, but only just barely. Kobe Bryant reverted to form, scoring 15 of his team-leading 39 points in the fourth quarter. He also had 25 in the second half. So, that was good for the defending NBA champs. Kevin Durant scored only six of his 32 points in the fourth quarter for the Thunder as Ron Artest hounded him. That was a positive note, too, for the Lakers. However, the Lakers shot enough bricks to build a house. They must improve on their 37.5 percent shooting if they hope to win Game 3 in OKC. They also must find a way to avoid getting their stuff swatted. The Thunder had 17 blocks.

Once again, the Lakers held the Oklahoma City Thunder in the teens in the first quarter. Once again, they couldn't build on their lead before halftime. In fact, they trailed. In Games 1 and 2 of the series, the Lakers' biggest bugaboo is their inability to maintain their energy and efficiency. They led by as many as 11 points, but limped to the end of the half trailing by two. Kobe Bryant scored 14 points and Pau Gasol added 10 for the Lakers, who shot 40 percent in the half. Kevin Durant scored 21 points on 9-for-15 shooting for the Thunder. The Lakers led the Thunder by 26-18 after one quarter. Oklahoma City shot 28.6 percent in the first period.

DJ Mbenga received medical clearance to rejoin the active roster tonight for Game 2. He sat out Game 1 after undergoing emergency laser surgery on his left eye Saturday night. He was fitted for a pair of protective glasses. They're similar to the ones Amare Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns wears during games. Mbenga joined Ron Artest in wearing blond dye jobs. Mbenga called his Congo Cash. Artest declined to explain his many purple streaks.

Kobe Bryant practiced on a limited basis today, resting his injured ankle, finger and knee. Andrew Bynum practiced and said he had no setbacks after playing more than 30 minutes in the Lakers' victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 on Sunday. He said he was good to go for Game 2 on Tuesday. DJ Mbenga showed off some new glasses. He needs them to protect his injured left eye. He did not suit up for Game 1 after undergoing emergency laser surgery to repair a retinal hole Saturday. He said the surgery took only 10 minutes, but was still concerned about it. "It's your eye you're talking about," he said.

The Lakers won Game 1 because they got off to a fast start, shot reasonably well in the first quarter and played strong defense in all but the second period. Ron Artest was especially good at defending Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant, who had 24 points on 7-for-24 shooting. Russell Westbrook added 23 points. Jeff Green was the only other Thunder player to score in double figures with 10. That's just about how the Lakers want to play it. Look for the Thunder to try to get off to a better start in Game 2 on Tuesday. Thirteen points on 5-for-19 shooting (26.3 percent) in the first quarter played right into the Lakers' hands. Also expect them to try to get Green going. They need more than two options.

The Lakers answered a whole lot of questions in the first half today. First and foremost, Andrew Bynum snowed he was ready to play after sitting out for 13 games because of an Achilles tendon injury. He dunked in the face of Oklahoma City's Nenad Krstic for two of his nine points on 4-for-6 shooting in the half. Kobe Bryant had a team-leading 14 points and Pau Gasol scored nine points and added nine rebounds. The Lakers had a double-digit lead for most of the half, but then former UCLA standout Russell Westbrook went a little nuts and scored eight of his 10 points in the closing minutes for OKC. Kevin Durant added 10 points for the Thunder. The Lakers led by as many as 17 points in the second quarter.

Backup center DJ Mbenga won't play today in Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder after undergoing emergency eye surgery Saturday night. He got cracked upside the head for the second straight day in practice, suffering a rentinal hole. Surgery was performed by Dr. Ron Gallimore. The Lakers said he would be out 72 hours, minimum. He'll return to the doctor for a checkup on Tuesday afternoon. Andrew Bynum's return from a 13-game absence because of a strained left Achilles tendon makes Mbenga's absence a little less serious to the Lakers' depth for the first two games of the series.

The list of the injured going into Game 1, with their status:

Ron Artest (sprained left thumb) will play.
Shannon Brown (sprained right thumb) will play.
Kobe Bryant (avulsion fracture, right index finger) will play.
Andrew Bynum (strained left Achilles tendon) is probable.
Jordan Farmar (strained left hamstring) is probable.
DJ Mbenga (retinal surgery, left eye) is out.
Sasha Vujacic (severe sprain, left ankle) is out.
Luke Walton (pinched nerve, back) is probable.

Andrew Bynum will start Sunday in Game 1, Lakers coach Phil Jackson said today after practice. Kobe Bryant also will start against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Bynum's strained left Achilles tendon is sufficiently healed. Bryant's injured ankle, finger and knee remain a concern, but he's good enough to play. Sasha Vujacic is out because of a sprained left ankle. DJ Mbenga got cracked upside the head for the second straight day and went to see a doctor. Stay tuned.

Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum practiced with their teammates today and they expect to play in Game 1 of the Lakers' first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. However, backup center DJ Mbenga became the third player to be injured in as many days when he suffered a possible concussion during the 2 1/2-hour workout. Sasha Vujacic sprained his left ankle Wednesday against the Clippers and might not play in the first round. Jordan Farmar strained his left hamstring Tuesday against Sacramento. It's expected that Farmar will be fit to play Sunday.

The NBA dinged Lakers coach Phil Jackson a cool $35,000 today for his critical comments Tuesday about Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant receiving favorable calls from the referees. It's Jackson's second $35,000 fine this month. League punishment czar Stu Jackson nailed him for ripping the referees' work after the Lakers' loss to the San Antonio Spurs on April 4. Of course, that's chump change when you're making more than $12 million, as Jackson is this season. It sets up the Lakers-Thunder series quite nicely, don't you think?

Here are the key paragraphs from the Daily Oklahoman:

"Phil Jackson on Tuesday became the second person in the past two weeks to question the foul calls Kevin Durant has been awarded. Jackson told Los Angeles-area reporters that Durant, who leads the league with 10.3 foul shots per game, gets preferential treatment. ... Durant, before wrapping up the scoring title Wednesday against Memphis, had his chance to respond. 'I respect Phil Jackson,' Durant started. 'It really doesn't matter, to be honest.' But the longer Durant spoke, the more his true emotions surfaced. 'Ever since KG said something, everybody's been questioning how I get to the line,' Durant said, referring to Boston forward Kevin Garnett, who claimed after losing to the Thunder he thought he was playing, 'Michael (expletive) Jordan.' 'If you watch our games, you wouldn't question it. The NBA should put us on national TV more, I guess.' When asked whether Jackson's comment fired him up more, Durant, 'Yeah, it does.' 'Because it's taking away from what I do,' Durant said.' ... Durant said he doesn't think Jackson's comments will have any influence on how the officials call the series. 'If the refs pay attention to that and change how they call things because of that, that's terrible,' Durant said."

Lakers coach Phil Jackson said Sasha Vujacic might miss the first round of the playoffs after suffering a sprained left ankle. X-rays were negative and an MRI exam was scheduled for Thursday. Ron Artest also tweaked an ankle, but it wasn't nearly as bad. Vujacic left the locker room on crutches. He rode in an electric cart to get from the locker room to his car, which was parked on the Staples Center loading dock. The Lakers also were without Kobe Bryant (ankle, finger, knee) and Andrew Bynum (Achilles tendon). Jordan Farmar played only 1.3 seconds at the end of the half after straining a hamstring Tuesday. Oh, and Luke Walton's back stiffened up and he played only limited minutes in the second half.

Here's the Lakers-Oklahoma City Thunder first-round playoff schedule:

Game 1, Sunday at Staples Center, noon (ABC).
Game 2, Tuesday at Staples Center, 7:30 p.m. (TNT, FSN).
Game 3, Thursday at OKC, 6:30 p.m. (TNT, KCAL-Channel 9)
Game 4, April 24 at OKC, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN, KCAL-Channel 9).
Game 5, April 27 at Staples Center (time and TV TBD).
Game 6, April 30 at OKC (time and TV TBD).
Game 7, May 2 at Staples Center (time and TV TBD).
All times PDT.

The injury bug took another bite out of the Lakers tonight, when Sasha Vujacic turned his left ankle when he landed on the foot of Clippers forward DeAndre Jordan in the second quarter. Vujacic was fouled on the play but could not attempt the free throws, so he's out for the rest of tonight's game. It means Jordan Farmar might get to play after all. Farmar strained his left hamstring in Tuesday's win over the Sacramento Kings. He played the final 1.3 seconds of the first half to become one of four Lakers to play all 82 games this season.

Clippers lead at halftime, 52-49.

First things first, Jordan Farmar said he strained his left hamstring after missing a layup in the second quarter but planned to play in Wednesday's game against the Clippers. Second, the Lakers spread the minutes around during their victory tonight over the Sacramento Kings. Pau Gasol scored 28 points in only 32 minutes, 15 seconds. Shannon Brown had 24 points in almost 42 minutes. Sasha Vujacic had 13 points, a season-high, in 26 minutes. Beno Udrih had 21 points for the Kings.

Here's a quote from Lamar Odom that summed up his feelings on the game:

"I look at it, honestly, like we're practicing against the other team. You want to run all the sets and do everything the right way. We want to play almost how we play in practice. It's just a practice in front of 20,000 people."

Also, I spoke to Andrew Bynum after the game and his run on the treadmill went well and he expects to participate in some on-court activities at Wednesday morning's shootaround. He has been out since March 19 because of a strained left Achilles tendon.

The Lakers' big goals going into tonight's glorified exhibition against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center were to avoid injuries and get a victory. They looked good one one count, and not so good on the other. They had a modest lead at halftime, but lost Jordan Farmar to a strained left hamstring. Farmar won't play in Wednesday's regular-season finale against the Clippers, a team spokesman said. Meanwhile, Pau Gasol scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead the Lakers. Shannon Brown added 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting. Kobe Bryant did not play in order to rest several nagging injuries. He also won't play against the Clippers. Jason Thompson led the Kings with 15 points.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson delivered the scoop on this back in October, but the team will head to London and Barcelona to play two exhibitions next October. The NBA finally got around to releasing the details this morning. The Lakers will face Kurt Rambis and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 4 in London and then travel to Pau Gasol's native Spain to play Regal FC Barcelona on Oct. 7 at the Palau Sant Jordi. No word yet on the Lakers' other exhibitions. Usually, they make a tour of Southern California and Las Vegas.

UPDATE: The Lakers released the rest of their exhibition schedule this afternoon.

Here it is:
Oct. 13, vs. Sacramento Kings, Las Vegas, 7 p.m.
Oct. 16. vs. Nuggets, Jazz or Clippers, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 17. vs. Nuggets, Jazz or Clippers, Staples Center, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 19. vs. Utah Jazz, Honda Center, 7 p.m.
Oct. 21. vs. Golden State Warriors, San Diego, 7 p.m.
Oct. 22. vs. Golden State Warriors, Citizens Business Bank Arena, 7 p.m.

Full disclosure, I don't believe in conspiracy theories in general. Oswald killed Kennedy. Alone. Ruby killed Oswald. Alone. That's what I believe. You can't change my mind.

Now, about Sunday's loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. ... I have no evidence for what I'm about to suggest. Just tossing a theory out there for you gentle readers to chew on. It starts with a question. Do you think the Lakers dumped the game in order to avoid the Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs? If you're the Lakers, wouldn't you rather face the inexperienced Oklahoma City Thunder than the Blazers or the San Antonio Spurs? Beating Portland Sunday would have all but ensured a Lakers-Blazers matchup.

Let's review. Kobe Bryant shanks two free throws. Derek Fisher bricks one of two. Bryant makes 81 percent and Fisher 85 percent. So that's plenty weird, right? Then Fisher sticks out a mitt and fouls Martel Webster, who is trying some ridiculous off-one-foot 3-pointer with time running out. Why not let him shoot that mess, right?

Webster hits all three free throws to give the Blazers a 91-88 lead.

During the ensuing 20-second timeout, Lakers coach Phil Jackson designs a play for Pau Gasol to take a 3-pointer from straight away. This is the same Pau Gasol who is 0-for-4 on 3s this season. The same Pau Gasol who admitted he doesn't even practice 3s. The same Pau Gasol, who usually catches the inbounds pass from Lamar Odom or Ron Artest and feeds a crisp pass to Bryant for the winning jump shot at the buzzer. Gasol missed his shot a bit long and the Lakers fall to the Blazers, who now have a terrific chance to move up and avoid the Lakers in the opening round of the playoffs.

So, am I wrong to raise an eyebrow at the endgame Sunday? You tell me.

Kobe Bryant decided to sit out the Lakers' final two regular-season games. Officially, he will not play against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday and the Clippers on Wednesday in order to give his broken right index finger a rest before the playoffs begin Sunday. He missed two games last week in order to rest his swollen right knee. Bryant informed Lakers coach Phil Jackson of his decision via a text message hours after Sunday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Bryant was unavailable for comment today.

"Well, certainly I'm concerned about it, but I'm not worried about it that much," Jackson said. "We'll have practice time. There should be two or three days in between (the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs). ... Yeah, I think he's a little worn down."

Pau Gasol didn't mince words after the Lakers bungled today's game against the Portland Trail Blazers by missing late free throws and fouling a guy trying an off-balance 3-pointer in the dying seconds. Here's how the 7-foot center described the Lakers: "We are not playing as well as we were last year. We are more banged up than we were last year. We had Andrew Bynum out (because of a knee injury), but we have guys struggling with injuries and we are trying to get them back in the game. We all want to be healthy for that last run."

Kobe Bryant will play today against the Portland Trail Blazers after sitting out the last two games because of swelling in his right knee. He was dressed in his uniform when reporters entered the locker room for the pregame access period this morning. ... Lamar Odom was a late arrival, reportedly because of heavy traffic. ... Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he planned to play his regular rotations and would not go easy on the Trail Blazers, who are locked in a battle with Oklahoma City and San Antonio for sixth place in the Western Conference. ... A Lakers victory today would be a damaging blow to the Trail Blazers, who hope to avoid falling to eighth and playing the defending champs in the first round.

Kobe Bryant didn't talk to reporters today, but Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he and the guard talked on the flight home from Minneapolis late Friday night. Jackson said Bryant intends to play in Sunday afternoon's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Bryant sat out Friday's West-clinching win over Minnesota and Thursday's loss to Denver because of what the team described as swelling on his right knee. More news Sunday.

MINNEAPOLIS -- The West is won. The Lakers took care of business tonight, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves and clinching the top record in the Western Conference for the third consecutive season. They will have home-court advantage for the first three rounds of the playoffs. Only the Cleveland Cavaliers have a better record overall. the Lakers sealed the deal thanks to Pau Gasol scoring 29 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. Lamar Odom added 13 points and 12 rebounds. Jordan Farmar also scored 13. Ron Artest, Shannon Brown and DJ Mbenga each scored 11 points. It was a career high for the seldom-used Mbenga. Jonny Flynn had 19 points for Minnesota. Kevin Love added 12 points and 18 rebounds.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Fatigue is setting in for the Lakers, who just gave up 31 points in the third quarter after limiting the Timberwolves to 34 points in the first half. The Lakers slowed to a crawl at the other end, too, after it seemed they might run away and hide. Pau Gasol is having a monster game, scoring 25 points and grabbing 11 rebounds so far. Shannon Brown has 11 and Jordan Farmar has 10. Others are struggling.

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Lakers are halfway to clinching the best record in the Western Conference. It's been ugly at times tonight, but the Lakers dropped a defensive hammer on the Timberwolves in the first half. The Lakers held Minnesota to 34 points on 37.5 percent shooting. Pau Gasol scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Lakers. Coach Phil Jackson played everybody available to him and everybody contributed something. Jackson promised to spread around the minutes after the team arrived in the Twin Cities around 5 a.m. from Denver, where they lost to the Nuggets on Thursday.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Kobe Bryant did not play again tonight and the Lakers sputtered again. They led a narrow lead, but their shooting touch was woeful. They made 8 of 22 shots (36.4 percent) in the opening quarter. Shannon Brown, rather than Sasha Vujacic, replaced Bryant in the starting lineup and scored a team-leading eight points. Pau Gasol had six points and five rebounds. The Timberwolves played without Al Jefferson, who was not with the team because he was attending to a family matter. The Lakers were looking for their third consecutive win over the Wolves this season and their 11th overall.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Kobe Bryant will sit out tonight's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves because of swelling in his right knee. He also might not play in any of the Lakers' final three regular-season games, according to Lakers coach Phil Jackson. Bryant did not play in the Lakers' loss Thursday night to the Denver Nuggets. "I'm not putting anything on him about Portland," Jackson said before tonight's game. "I basically said if you have to take all the games off until the playoffs, we have to do that. I'm not going to speculate. That's two days away. I just have to worry about today."

MINNEAPOLIS -- Here's Lakers coach Phil Jackson's take on three possible first-round playoff opponents: "Well, you know, San Antonio has a tiebreaker with Oklahoma, and that sets things up. Portland has the fewest games and probably has the easiest schedule, three out of four (at home). So, I think Portland is going to be in sixth and then it's going to be a toss-up. If it's a tie, the tie goes to San Antonio. So, we're kind of looking at Oklahoma as the odd-on favorite to be in that (eighth) spot. They had devastating losses Tuesday and Wednesday, both games they could have won. This is how you get experience as a young team. This is how you garner the ability to play through what happened (Wednesday). They had a 13-point lead (against the Nuggets) and couldn't hold it."

DENVER -- Lakers coach Phil Jackson said after the team's 98-96 loss to the Denver Nuggets tonight that it was Kobe Bryant's decision to sit out because of swelling in his right knee. Jackson also said he would leave it up to Bryant as to whether he would play in Friday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lakers need one victory in their final four regular-season games to secure the best record in the Western Conference.

The question is, what would you do if you were Bryant and the Lakers? Would you play? Or sit out and come back healthier for Sunday's game against Portland?

P.S., The Lakers are 4-2 without Bryant in the lineup this season. Their only two losses came on last-second misses by Derek Fisher tonight against Denver and against the Boston Celtics on Feb. 18, when Bryant missed his fifth and final game because of a strained tendon in his left ankle. What's more, the Lakers have won 10 consecutive games over the Timberwolves, including two earlier this season at Staples Center.

DENVER -- With leading scorer Kobe Bryant scratched because of swelling in his right knee, the Lakers struggled to score tonight. Andrew Bynum sat out for the ninth game because of a strained left Achilles tendon, so the Lakers were without two-fifths of their starting lineup and a combined 43 points. Ron Artest led the Lakers with 15 points in the first half and Pau Gasol added 14. The Lakers shot only 33.3 percent. Sasha Vujacic scored two in place of Bryant. Shannon Brown replaced Vujacic to start the second half.

DENVER -- Lakers coach Phil Jackson hinted before the game that he might sit out one of his top players tonight against the Denver Nuggets. That player turned out to be Kobe Bryant, who was replaced in the starting lineup by Sasha Vujacic. Jackson said he wasn't as concerned about Bryant's broken right index finger as he was about his dead legs. Denver's mile-high altitude wasn't going to help matters in that regard, so Bryant did not dress. It's more likely he'll play in Friday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

DENVER -- OK, there's really not much new to report. It remains likely that Andrew Bynum will not play again until the playoffs start because of a strained left Achilles tendon. He said tonight he's OK with a playoff return and doesn't feel compelled to come back for one of the Lakers' final four regular-season games, including Friday at Minnesota. Here's more:

"It's coming along very slowly, but I'm getting better every day," he said. "I think all the treatment I'm doing is paying off and I'll be all right soon. I'm not sure it's possible (to return to the roster before the end of the regular season next Wednesday). First, I was kind of excited about doing it, but then I was, like, 'What's the point?'

"I'm going to play the first game of the playoffs (April 18)."

Can the Lakers still win 60? "Oh sure," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said today. "We can still do it." However, the Lakers are 55-22 with five games to play in the regular season, which means their margin for error is gone. They must defeat Denver, Minnesota, Portland, Sacramento and the Clippers in order to win 60. They were 65-17 last season.

Here's Pau Gasol speaking today about the Lakers' play of late: "We're just not very consistent. We have too many ups and downs. We want to be playing our 'A' game at this point in the season, or getting very close to it. We have to work really hard in the next 10 days before the playoffs to get to that level."

Here's Derek Fisher: "We've really had very few times where we've played more than one half of good basketball, and I say that in terms of total 24 minutes, not like a whole half. It's been just totally inconsistent. ... It's the most frustrating thing of all. As you guys (reporters) so gracefully pointed out, even when we were winning games, we still weren't playing very well."

No practice today, but there was some news on Andrew Bynum and Phil Jackson.

First, Bynum underwent an MRI exam on his injured left Achilles tendon Monday, and the results were unchanged. He continues to suffer from a strain and there is no timetable for his return to the active roster, a team spokesman said in an email. He will continue to receive therapy from the team's athletic training staff.

Second, Jackson received a $35,000 fine from the NBA for criticizing the referees after Sunday's loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Jackson was displeased with the manner in which calls went against Ron Artest, who was locked in a physical battle with Manu Ginobili.

From the press release today straight from Springfield, Mass.:

"The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame today announced that eight individuals and two teams have been named as the Enshrinement Class of 2010. The inductees include Jerry Buss, Cynthia Cooper, Bob Hurley, Sr., Karl Malone and Scottie Pippen, along with two celebrated teams: the 1960 USA Men's Olympic team and the 1992 USA Basketball "Dream Team." The Class of 2010 also includes three legendary players: Dennis Johnson, Gus Johnson and international star Maciel "Ubiratan" Pereira, all of whom will be honored posthumously. The announcement was made at a press conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, the site of the 2010 NCAA Final Four."

Here's the Buss bio:

JERRY BUSS - Contributor, has owned the Los Angeles Lakers since 1979, building one of the most successful organizations in the history of professional sports. The Lakers have won nine NBA championships during his tenure while capturing 16 Western Conference championships. During Buss' ownership, the team has recorded the most wins and the highest overall winning percentage in the NBA. Buss owned the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA from 1996-2006, and the club captured two WNBA titles (2001-02) under his leadership. He also became the first NBA team owner of a D-League franchise when the Lakers bought the Los Angeles D-Fenders in 2006. Buss served two terms as Chairman of the NBA Board of Governors and has received numerous honors for his wide-ranging charitable interests."

Here's the bio for Cooper:

CYNTHIA COOPER - Player, competed at the University of Southern California, where she won two NCAA Championships and participated in three Final Fours. As a member of the Houston Comets, she won four WNBA Championships and was named WNBA Finals MVP with each title. Cooper was named to three WNBA All-Star teams and was also selected WNBA regular season MVP twice. Cooper won an Olympic Gold Medal in 1988 and an Olympic Bronze Medal in 1992 to go along with two FIBA Women's World Championship Gold Medals.

And the bio for Johnson:

DENNIS JOHNSON - Player, was one of basketball's toughest defenders, earning nine consecutive NBA All-Defensive team honors during his 14-year professional career. He was a major part of three NBA championship teams and won MVP honors at the 1979 Finals as a member of the Seattle SuperSonics. He played with Seattle from 1976-80 and was traded to the Phoenix Suns, where he played from 1980-83. He finished his NBA career with the Boston Celtics (1983-90), winning NBA championship rings in 1984 and 1986. Known as "DJ" to teammates and fans, he was named to five NBA All-Star teams, scoring more than 15,000 points and compiling 5,000 assists before retiring in 1990. (Born: Sept.18,1954; Died: Feb. 22, 2007). Played at Pepperdine and Harbor College after growing up in Compton. Also served as an assistant coach and head coach with the Clippers in the early 2000s.

Not the Lakers' finest moment this season. Then again, they're compiling quite a list of clunkers, aren't they? The Lakers never led today after the opening minutes of the second quarter. Pau Gasol had a season-high 32 points and Kobe Bryant had 22 points on 8-for-24 shooting. Their reserves combined to score four points on 2-for-15 shooting. Overall, the Lakers shot 33 for 81 (40.7 percent). The Lakers missed a chance to clinch the best record in the Western Conference. They were within 74-71 early in the fourth quarter, then fell apart down the stretch.

The Lakers were within three points of the Spurs in the closing seconds of the half today and then melted down. Ron Artest and Manu Giinobili of the Spurs got tangled up while San Antonio was trying to inbound the ball. Technical fouls were called on each with 59 seconds left. Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant got mad and got a T, too. Giniobili hit all three free throws and the Spurs were up 43-37. Ginobili then scored after a steal and it was 45-37. After Artest made a 3-pointer, Keith Bogans countered with a 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer and it was 48-40. The Lakers started with a 21-13 lead. Pau Gasol scored 15 points in the first half for the Lakers, making 7 of 11 shots. Ginobili had 14. The Lakers need a victory today in order to clinch the best record in the Western Conference.

Lamar Odom was named one of the four finalists for the Magic Johnson Good Guy Award. Final voting by members of the Pro Basketball Writers Association will be conducted through April 7. Odom is joined by Andrew Bogut of the Milwaukee Bucks, Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors and Manu Ginobili.