April 2011 Archives

Kobe Bryant said today his sprained left ankle was nothing to worry about, but Lakers coach Phil Jackson contradicted him when he said, "It still affects him a lot. This is not going to go away any time soon. We're just going to have to ... monitor it very closely. I think he'll have a limited amount of practice time. It's tender to the touch still. He's still limping when he walks." Bryant was hurt in Game 4 of the Lakers' first-round win over the New Olreans Hornets on April 24. He played without complaint in the next two games.

The Lakers will be favored to defeat the Dallas Mavericks in their second-round series. Here's how they could (should) win and advance to the next round:

1. Own the paint. The Mavericks are bigger and stronger than the undersized New Orleans Hornets, but not necessarily in the paint. Tyson Chandler, a 7-foot center, plays on the low post, but Dirk Nowitzki, another 7-footer, plays on the perimeter. Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol could (should) be unstoppable for the second consecutive series.

2. Win the second unit battle. The Mavericks might have more depth than the Lakers at more positions, especially if Jason Terry starts hitting shots. The object of the game is to keep the contest close whenever the subs are on the floor. Keep the Dallas backups from making game-changing plays. It could prove to be a tough matchup, though.

3. Exploit this mismatch. The Mavs' guards are smallish. They don't have anybody who can line up with Kobe Bryant and it's something the Lakers must remember. It might be different if Caron Butler was healthy but he's not going to play in the series after injuring his knee Jan. 1 and undergoing surgery. Bryant, as ever, must be the Lakers' go-to guy.

Here's the schedule for the Lakers' second round series:

Game 1: Mon May 2, Dallas at Lakers, 7:30, TNT.
Game 2: Wed May 4, Dallas at Lakers, 7:30, TNT.
Game 3: Fri May 6, Lakers at Dallas, 6:30, ESPN.
Game 4: Sun May 8, Lakers at Dallas, 12:30, Channel 7.
Game 5 (if necessary): Tue May 10, Dallas at Lakers, TBD, TNT.
Game 6 (if necessary): Thu May 12, Lakers at Dallas, TBD, ESPN.
Game 7 (if necessary): Sun May 15, Dallas at Lakers, 12:30, Channel 7.

All times Pacific

NEW ORLEANS -- The Lakers advanced to the second round with a comprehensive victory over the New Orleans Hornets tonight in Game 5. Kobe Bryant scored 24 points and made 10 of 10 from the line. Andrew Bynum scored 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. The Lakers broke open the game with a 19-6 run that gave them an 84-63 lead in the fourth quarter. They led most of the way and were never challenged late. The Lakers even made Chris Paul seem human, holding him to 10 points, eight rebounds and 11 assists.

NEW ORLEANS -- Was this the Lakers' best defensive half of the series tonight in Game 6? Or were the New Orleans Hornets simply shooting bricks? The Hornets did miss a good many open shots in the first half, shooting only 41.2 percent (14 of 34). the Lakers were a little more efficient with the ball, especially when they put it into the hands of Andrew Bynum, who scored 12 points on 6-for-9 shooting in the half. Kobe Bryant had nine points despite tweaking his sprained left ankle in the first quarter. Chris Paul was very quiet in the first half for the Hornets, scoring two points on 1-for-2 shooting and adding four assists.

NEW ORLEANS -- Lakers coach Phil Jackson said after today's shootaround that Kobe Bryant was still limited by a sprained left ankle. "He's still a guy who's not 100 percent," Jackson said hours before the Lakers looked to close out the New Orleans Hornets in Game 6 of their first-round series. "I just think it's a matter of where is his physical ability with the ankle. It's not about whether he plays 28 minutes or 38 minutes. That, obviously, it going to put a little more stress on the ankle. I think he can play 40 minutes if he has to."

Bryant was seated nearby as Jackson spoke, but declined to talk to reporters. He was hurt in the final moments of the Lakers' loss Sunday to the Hornets in Game 4. He scored a team-leading 19 points, including two thunderous dunks, in the Lakers' victory in Game 5, which gave them a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 series.

Kobe Bryant scored 19 points, one of six Lakers in double figures tonight as they won Game 5 and took a 3-2 series lead over the New Orleans Hornets. Game 6 is Thursday in New Orleans. Game 7, if necessary, is Saturday at Staples Center. Bryant answered questions about his sprained left ankle when he dunked over Emeka Okafor in the second quarter, part of an 8-2 run that gave the Lakers the lead for good. Andrew Bynum scored 18 points and 10 rebounds. Pau Gasol scored 16, Derek Fisher and Lamar Odom each had 13 points and Ron Artest added 11 points. Trevor Ariza had 22 for New Orleans.

Asked what he thought of Bryant's in the first quarter, coach Phil Jackson said, "Better get him off the floor. He's a liability. He came back in the second strong as ever and after a misplay on trying to get a foul and a 3-point play by Trevor he was able to get it going."

Asked what he thought of the Lakers' play after Bryant's dunk, Jackson said, "It got the crowd going. It seemed to spark him. You know, he was at a point, 'That's enough," so yeah, I think that was a big statement."

The New Orleans Hornets played an almost flawless first quarter tonight in Game 5 at Staples Center. The Lakers recovered, thanks in part to a surge from their second unit to start the second quarter, and led by halftime. The Hornets shot 81.3 percent (13 of 16) in the first quarter, but they led by only 32-23. The Lakers' backups got them back into the game with a 10-0 run to start the second quarter. Kobe Bryant, who was ineffective in the opening quarter and had an extended rest, went on a tear late in the half and scored 13 points on 6-for-10 shooting. Chris Paul had 11 points and eight assists to lead the Hornets.

Ron Artest was named the winner of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award for his "outstanding service and dedication to the community." Artest won for his "tireless" efforts to promote awareness of mental health, including fund-raising, appearing before Congress in support of the Mental Health in Schools Act and his "all-around advocacy on the issue." In addition, Artest raised more than $650,000 when he raffled off his championship ring in support of mental health awareness. He also filmed a public service announcement in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Dept. of Mental Health.

"Ron has such a passion for the issue, and has demonstrated such leadership he was a perfect choice for such a prestigious award," said Doug Smith of the Toronto Star, the president of the Professional Basketball Writers Association, whose members voted on the award. "His work embodies the kind of dedication to important causes that NBA players have become known for."

NEW ORLEANS -- The Lakers are in a fight they might not have expected from the New Orleans Hornets, dropping Game 4 tonight. A victory would have put the Hornets on the brink of elimination. Instead, the Lakers will look to try to take the lead in the series in Game 5 on Tuesday at Staples Center. Game 6 will be back in the New Orleans Arena on Thursday. Chris Paul led the Hornets with 27 points, 13 rebounds and 15 assists for his second career playoff triple-double. Kobe Bryant had 17 points, one of three Lakers to score in double figures. He turned his left ankle late in the game, however.

NEW ORLEANS -- Kobe Bryant was scoreless on 0-for-7 shooting in the first half of Game 4 tonight against the New Orleans Hornets. Chris Paul wasn't a whole lot better for the Hornets, scoring only four points on 1-for-3 shooting. Paul scored his first points by driving past Bryant late in the half and then earned a technical foul for yapping about it. Until then, he had been CP0 instead of CP3. Bryant couldn't guard Trevor Ariza in the opening half and swapped defensive assignments with Ron Artest, who had been checking Marco (2-for-6) Belinelli. Ariza had 16 points, the same as Artest.

NEW ORLEANS -- Ron Artest wore a black T-shirt with the words "Go Loco" printed on it before today's practice in preparation of Game 4 of the Lakers' first-round playoff series against the Hornets on Sunday night at the New Orleans Arena. He insisted it was not the team's slogan for the 2011 playoffs, although it might be too late for that after he talked about the team going loco during its victory in Game 3 on Friday. Stay tuned.

NEW ORLEANS -- Kobe Bryant scored 30 points, but said he could play better after the Lakers took a 2-1 series lead tonight over the New Orleans Hornets. Pau Gasol added 17 points and 10 rebounds, bouncing back from a cold that knocked him off his game in the first two games of the series. Andrew Bynum scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Chris Paul led the Hornets with 22 points, including 18 in the first half.

"I just went out there and played my game," Bryant said. "I'm a scorer first. Pau helped open things up. It's funny because he missed a lot of shots close to the rim and then he knocked down a 3-point shot. That seemed to get him going. But it makes a big difference for us when he's able to score in the paint."

Lakers coach Phil Jackson had this to say about Gasol: "He's just too good a basketball player. He can shoot the basketball. He can handle the ball. He can do a lot of things. It's just a matter of him finding a comfort zone out there. I didn't expect him to find it out on the 3-point line, but we're not surprised when he makes those shots."

Game 4 is Sunday night in New Orleans.

NEW ORLEANS -- The Lakers finally began to expose the New Orleans Hornets as a one-man team in the first half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series tonight. Chris Paul had a team-leading 18 points on 8-for-10 shooting, but the Lakers could live with the fact that he had only three assists and three rebounds. The Lakers dominated the paint in the first half, scoring 34 points from point-blank range. Kobe Bryant had 15 points, Andrew Bynum scored 14 and grabbed nine rebounds. Pau Gasol had only four points and four rebounds, but he didn't seem to be pressing as much as he was in the first two games.

Kobe Bryant scored 11 points on 3-for-10 shooting and Pau Gasol had eight points on 2-for-10 shooting in Game 2 of the Lakers' first-round playoff series against the New Orleans Hornets tonight at Staples Center. Normally, that would mean bad news for the Lakers, but they found a way to win a physical and methodical contest. Actually, they won with defense again, a throwback to those heady days when they won 17 of 18 after the All-Star break back in February. The Lakers gave up 109 points to the Hornets during their loss in Game 1 on Sunday. In Game 2, they gave up only 78 points and limited the Hornets to 39.1 percent shooting (27 of 69). Trevor Ariza had 22 points for the Hornets.

"We like it to be tough," Andrew Bynum said of the series after scoring 17 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. "Even though they won the first game, we like o have a good first round opponent, kind of like (Oklahoma City) last year. They (the Hornets) made us play with a sense of urgency. So, losing this first game, that really put it right back on us."

The Lakers played with the fire and emotion tonight in Game 2 that was missing in their loss Sunday to the New Orleans Hornets in Game 1. They were only halfway to tying the best-of-7 series at a victory apiece, however. There were good signs all around Staples Center for the Lakers. First and foremost, they lead by halftime despite the face (or perhaps because) Kobe Bryant scored only three points. The Lakers divided up the workload far better than on Sunday. Andrew Bynum scored 12 points, Lamar Odom had eight, Ron Artest scored seven and Pau Gasol had six. Carl Landry had 12 for the Hornets.

Here's what Charles Barkley had to say on TNT after the Lakers' loss to the Hornets in Game 1 on Sunday: "I've already told you I don't think the Lakers are going to win the championship. This is not the same Lakers team. They've gotten old in a hurry. And that little nonchalant thing they do when they can turn it on. The little yellow light is on, and you can't turn it off."

Steve Blake was cleared to resume practicing with the Lakers today after a doctor determined he was no longer contagious after he bout with chicken pox. Blake made it through the film session and on-court workout, but was a little fatigued and had to sit out now and then. "I felt a lot better than I thought I would after lying in the bed for seven days," he said. "I got a little tired ... but for the most part I felt pretty good." He said he has no idea how he got it. "it's not like I went up to someone and shook hands with someone who had spots all over him," he said. He also said he hoped to play in Game 2 on Wednesday.

The Lakers lost Game 1 because they didn't play with the necessary energy to start the game and they never caught up with the New Orleans Hornets' emotion and drive. Everything else stemmed from their lack of life in the opening minutes.

Their defense was porous, particularly against Chris Paul (34 points, seven rebounds, 14 assists). Kobe Bryant said they don't need to make dramatic adjustments for Game 2 on Wednesday, they just need to do what they were supposed to do in Game 1.

They need more from Pau Gasol, who scored only eight points on 2-for-9 shooting and grabbed six rebounds. He averaged 22.3 points on 70.5 percent shooting and 12.8 rebounds in four games against the Hornets during the regular season.

They also didn't get enough from their other big guy, Andrew Bynum, who had 13 points and nine rebounds but played only 25 minutes, 39 seconds because of foul trouble. He averaged 15 points and 5.8 rebounds in the regular season against the Hornets.

The Lakers were no-shows in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the New Orleans Hornets today at Staples Center. They were outplayed from the opening tip and were booed as they left the court. Kobe Bryant scored 34 points, Ron Artest scored 16 and Pau Gasol had only eight on 2-for-9 shooting. Chris Paul had 33 points, seven rebounds and 14 assists.

Trailing by eight points at halftime was no big deal for the Lakers, but the possibility of injuries to two of their best player was one, however. First, Pau Gasol suffered a nasty cut below his left eye when D.J. Mbenga smacked him and he had to go to the locker room. Then, Kobe Bryant fell to the court after sinking a jumper from the wing and crashed into the first row of seats. Bryant stayed down while Chris Paul made a 3-pointer and Ron Artest countered with a 3 at the buzzers for the Lakers. Then everyone rushed to see about Bryant, who rose after a time and walked to the locker room under his own power. Bryant scored 16 points on 7-for-13 shooting in the half. Paul had 11 points and 11 assists.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson left home for Staples Center without girlfriend Jeanie Buss this morning. She was running late and he was impatient, but "I just saw her in the hallway. She was just coming in now, so she caught up," Jackson said before Game 1 today.

Andrew Bynum suffered no setbacks in his bruised right knee and will play Sunday in Game 1 of the Lakers' first-round playoff series against the New Orleans Hornets. Matt Barnes said his sore right knee was improved after he had it drained of fluid Thursday and said he planned to play Sunday. Lakers coach Phil Jackson said Friday that Barnes was "probable." Today, Jackson called Barnes, "questionable." Asked about it, Jackson joked, "He's probably questionable." Steve Blake won't play because of chicken pox.

Asked if the Lakers were ready after finishing the regular season with losses in five of seven games, Kobe Bryant said rather succinctly, "The moment is here."

My prediction: Lakers in four.

Andrew Bynum practiced today with his teammates and reported only minor pain in his bruised right knee. If he suffers no setbacks in Saturday's workout, he's likely to play in Game 1 of the Lakers' first-round playoff series against the Hornets on Sunday.

Matt Barnes did not practice because of soreness in his surgically-repaired right knee. Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he would list Barnes as probable to play in Game 1. Barnes sat out the last two games after waking up with pain in his knee Sunday night.

Jackson said he paid a visit Thursday night to Steve Blake, who has chicken pox. Jackson delivered a DVD, so Blake could stay up with what the Lakers are watching. Jackson reported Blake "looks very speckled. He has a lot of poxes on him."

Blake won't play in Game 1, but Jackson held hope that he could play in Game 2.

Also, Ron Artest did not practice after hyperextending a knee Wednesday against the Sacramento Kings. Artest's status for Sunday wasn't immediately clear. Jackson said he hoped the veteran small forward would be ready to play against the Hornets.

If that really was the final game to be played by the Kings in Sacramento, then what a shame. I've given this some thought since the final buzzer sounded on the Lakers' overtime victory over the Kings on Wednesday and I think the fan support over the years was amazing. Too bad every game wasn't as well attended and as exciting as Wednesday's game. Arco Arena was like an old-time college fieldhouse, with the fans right on top of the court. It was hot and loud and fun. The Honda Center, where the Maloof family hopes to move the team, is a great place, too. Just different. The luxury suites and all the modern amenities make it the perfect destination if the team is to move. It just won't be the same. A piece of the NBA will be gone forever.

Personally, I'll never forget the 2002 Western Conference finals between the Lakers and the Kings. Game 7, won by the Lakers in overtime in Sacramento, was incredible, starting with the sound system blaring James Brown's "Payback" at full volume before the tip and ending with 5 extra minutes after the Kings couldn't put away the Lakers. It was a fitting ending to a wild series. It also made Wednesday's overtime game seem like the perfect finale, if that's what's going to happen next. The Kings pushed and pushed and the crowd got louder and louder until the teams had to play 5 more minutes.

So, farewell Sacramento, thanks for the memories.

The Lakers' 116-108 overtime victory tonight over the Sacramento Kings means they clinched the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs and will face the seventh-seeded New Orleans in the opening round. Here's the schedule:

Game 1: Sunday at Staples Center, 12:30 p.m., Channel 7.
Game 2: Wednesday at Staples Center, 7:30 p.m. TNT.
Game 3: April 22 at New Orleans, 6:30 p.m., ESPN.
Game 4: April 24 at New Orleans, 6:30 p.m., TNT.
Game 5 (if necessary): April 26, at Staples Center, TBA, TBA.
Game 6 (if necessary): April 28, at New Orleans, TBA, TBA.
Game 7 (if necessary): April 30, at Staples Center, TBA, TBA.
All times Pacific.

The Lakers were 4-0 during the regular season against the Hornets.

SACRAMENTO -- The NBA wasted no time in passing judgment on Kobe Bryant's homophobic slur shouted at referee Bennie Adams during Tuesday's victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Bryant's comment and apology was covered in an earlier post. Here's what NBA commissioner David Stern said in a statement released by the league:

"Kobe Bryant's comment during last night's game was offensive and inexcusable. While I'm fully aware that basketball is an emotional game, such a distasteful term should never be tolerated. Accordingly, I have fined Kobe $100,000. Kobe and everyone associated with the NBA know that insensitive or derogatory comments are not acceptable and have no place in our game or society."

Bryant explained himself this way during an interview with John Ireland and Steve Mason on KSPN (710): "The concern I have is for those who follow what I say and look to me as a role model or whatever it is, not to take what was said as a message of hate or a license to degrade, or embarrass or tease. That's something I don't want to have happen. It's important for me to talk about that issue, because it's OK to be who you are. I don't want this issue to be a part of something to magnify something that shouldn't be."

SACRAMENTO -- Andrew Bynum has a bone bruise in his right knee, an MRI exam revealed today. "The injury is not deemed to be serious," the team said in a statement. Matt Barnes also had an MRI on his surgically-repaired right knee,which revealed no new damage. Neither will play in tonight's regular-season finale against the Sacramento Kings, but they are expected to be ready when the playoffs begin this weekend. Bynum hyperextended his knee during the Lakers' victory Tuesday over the San Antonio Spurs. Barnes could not play against the Spurs after aggravating his knee after Sunday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

SACRAMENTO -- Kobe Bryant shouted a gay slur at referee Bennie Adams after picking up his 15th technical foul of the season during the Lakers' victory Tuesday over the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center. Bryant could be heard screaming, "Bennie," at the veteran referee. TNT's mic then goes silent and Bryant said something else.

Here's Bryant's statement today: "What I said last night should not be taken literally. My actions were out of frustration during the heat of the game, period. The words expressed do NOT reflect my feelings towards the gay and lesbian communities and were NOT meant to offend anyone."

Meanwhile, the Lakers signed shooting guard Trey Johnson, who was the D-League's second-leading scorer with an average of 25.5 points with the Bakersfield Jam.

The Lakers also recalled forward Derrick Caracter from the Jam.

Finally, results of the MRI exam on Andrew Bynum's hyperextended right knee is expected later today.

Kobe Bryant scored 27 points, Lamar Odom added 23 and Pau Gasol scored 17 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to help the Lakers end a five-game losing streak with a nerve-jangling victory tonight over the San Antonio Spurs. Now, the worst the Lakers can do is finish as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Derek Fisher scored 13 and Shannon Brown added nine points in a reserve role. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Antonio McDyess did not play for the conference-leading Spurs.

Andrew Bynum suffered a hyperextended right knee after stepping on the foot of San Antonio's DeJuan Blair while running back on defense in the second quarter of tonight's game against the Spurs. Bynum will undergo an MRI exam Wednesday morning and will not join the team for its trip to Sacramento. He stayed on the court for quite some time before leaving the game and heading for the Lakers' locker room with 8 minutes, 11 seconds left in the first half. He walked slowly, but under his own power. Joe Smith, a seldom-used big man, entered the game and grabbed two rebounds.

Bynum had surgery on his right knee July 28 to mend torn cartilage and missed the season's first 24 games. He has had knee trouble in four consecutive seasons. He sat out of the 2008 playoffs after injuring his left kneecap and the Lakers fell to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. He was relatively healthy in the last two seasons and the Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic in the 2009 Finals and the Celtics last June.

Matt Barnes, a backup forward, has a sore right knee and might not be able to play in tonight's game against the San Antonio Spurs, the Lakers announced this afternoon. Barnes had surgery on his knee back in January. Steve Blake, a reserve guard, definitely won't play tonight after coming down with chicken pox.The Lakers said he's out indefinitely.

The Lakers plan to sign shooting guard Trey Johnson from the Bakersfield Jam of the D-League in order to bolster their playoff roster. Johnson was due to arrive at Staples Center during tonight's game against the Spurs. He will sign Wednesday and be available to play in the regular-season finale against the Kings at Sacramento.

The league took another look at the technical foul assessed to Kobe Bryant for his part in a minor entanglement with Kendrick Perkins of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first half Sunday and then decided to rescind it today. Bryant has 14 technical fouls this season. If he picks up two more in the Lakers' final two games he would have to serve a one-game suspension to start next season. They don't carry over to the playoffs.

Andrew Bynum wanted a full-court scrimmage today to help iron out the Lakers' problems. So did Lakers coach Phil Jackson. It didn't happen because they didn't have enough healthy bodies. Steve Blake was out sick. Matt Barnes is still recovering from right knee surgery and needed a break. Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher and Pau Gasol needed rest. Devin Ebanks isn't ready to go after suffering a stress fracture in his left leg. Derrick Caracter is on assignment with the Bakersfield Jam of the D-League. Sooooo.... No scrimmage.

The Lakers got lost on the home stretch and didn't play any defense to speak of from start to finish and fell for the fifth consecutive game, their longest skid since 2006-07. They are tied with the Dallas Mavericks for second place in the Western Conference with matching 55-25 records. The Oklahoma City Thunder is one game back at 54-26. The Lakers have games Tuesday against the San Antonio Spurs and Wednesday against the Sacramento Kings in order to get things right before the playoffs start next weekend.

Will they?

"I told them (Saturday) I didn't think we would be able to turn it around in one game," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "We got partially back into what we're trying to do. A number of things went wrong for us (and) we didn't survive."

Said Derek Fisher: "We're going to have some great stretches, some bad stretches and I think this one is tough for us in terms of how we want to finish the regular season. ... We can't get caught up in the way the package is supposed to look. At the end of the day, we just want to have the gift that we want and that's to be champions."

Said Lamar Odom: "We'll fit it and find a way."

Said Kobe Bryant: "We've got to focus on it (Tuesday's game against the Spurs) and come out and do our jobs, which we haven't been doing. We've got to do our jobs."

The Lakers played with more fire, more passion, more desire tonight in the first half than in any of their last four games. Now, about their defense ... Kobe Bryant scored 22 points, Pau Gasol had 18 and Andrew Bynum scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds. Russell Westbrook had 18 points and Kevin Durant had 15 for Oklahoma City, which shot 62.2 percent (23 of 37). The Thunder also made 6 of 9 3-pointers. The Lakers never led and trailed by as many as 12 points before getting close by halftime. Oh, and Kendrick Perkins scored two points and grabbed two rebounds in his first game with the Thunder against the Lakers since he was traded from the Boston Celtics in February.

Power forward/center Pau Gasol had his say today when asked about Kendrick Perkins of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who said last month that he doesn't like Gasol because he's "soft" and dislikes Lakers coach Phil Jackson because he's "arrogant."

Said Gasol: "Certain players talk too much. They should worry about their own stuff."

For the record, Gasol is averaging All-Star statistics of 18.7 points on 52.8 percent shooting plus 10.2 rebounds in 79 games this season. Perkins is averaging pedestrian totals of 6.3 points on 51.6 percent shooting plus 8.3 rebounds in 26 games.

Gasol also has two championship rings and Perkins has one.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Brian Shaw has always appeared to be the odds-on favorite to replace Phil Jackson when he retires from coaching at season's end. Neither of them has spoken publicly about the possible transition during the summer, but Kobe Bryant did on Friday in an interview with a reporter from Yahoo! Sports.

"I feel all of the players believe in coach B-Shaw," he said. "We have such a rapport with him. He's been with us for such a long time. We all have a bit of a bias towards him. I don't want to get in the way of management. But we've all kind of had our eye on him for a while."

Bryant also said: "He's been around Phil for a long time," Bryant said. "He has a great deal of knowledge and understands the game. He communicates very well. He's tough. I think when his time comes he'll be ready. We go way back (as Lakers teammates in the early 2000s). It's an honest relationship. What I mean by that is he doesn't tell you what you want to hear. He tells you what you need to hear. That's something I respect in people. I don't like (butt) kissers. Never have. I have a great deal of respect for him."

Bryant said the decision would be up to Lakers management, however.

"It's not my responsibility to do that," Bryant said. "It's their responsibility to come to me and say, 'What do you think about X, Y and Z?' I'd be more than happy to give my opinion. I'm not just going to march up there and say, 'Do X, Y and Z.' If they want my input, they know where to find me."

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Lakers lost their fouth in a row, tying their longest skid of the season, when they tumbled tonight against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Lakers weren't aggressive and the Trail Blazers were and it showed in the final score. Kobe Bryant scored 24 points on 10-for-25 shooting. LaMarcus Aldridge had 24 points and 11 rebounds for Portland, and Gerald Wallace added 19 points and 13 rebounds. All five of Portland's starters scored in double figures.

Coach Phil Jackson blasted the Lakers after the game.

"We were lazy and inefficient in the first half," he said. "In the second half, we just didn't buckle down and do the right thing offensively. ... These guys just don't want to play hard right now. ... It's a product of not paying attention, not being focused, not playing the game with the right attitude. ... I asked them (the players) to give some recognition to what this is about, this job, their professionalism and their responsibilities."

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Lakers were halfway to their fourth consecutive loss after a poor defensive effort tonight against the Portland Trail Blazers, a possible first-round playoff opponent. The Trail Blazers made 22 of 40 shots (55 percent) in the half, including 13 of 20 during the second quarter (65 percent). Kobe Bryant countered by hitting four consecutive 3-pointers in the closing moments of the second quarter to help the Lakers trim a 12-point deficit to six by halftime. Bryant scored 18 points on 7-for-13 shooting..

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Andrew Bynum said he would play tonight against the Portland Trail Blazers despite coming down with what he believed was a case of food poisoning. He said he ate some undercooked salmon while the Lakers were in San Francisco after Wednesday's game against the Golden State Warriors. He skipped the team's morning shootaround and said he was feeling weak.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Here's some of what center Andrew Bynum had to say after the Lakers' loss Wednesday to the Golden State Warriors, their third consecutive defeat: "I just think we're going out there and playing kind of stupid basketball. We're not playing our smartest. People are going hard, but the energy (isn't good). When you put negative energy out, it's going to come back to you. ... And it goes all the way down the line, from the coaching staff to the players who miss free throws to when we came in at halftime, the video guy put in the (wrong DVD). So, the collective energy is just bad right now."

OAKLAND -- The Lakers' loss tonight to the Golden State Warriors coupled with the San Antonio Spurs' victory over the Sacramento Kings means the Spurs and not the Lakers will be the No. 1 seeded team in the Western Conference when the playoffs begin. The Lakers' margin was slim, but they lost all hope with their third consecutive defeat. After the Lakers fell behind with a disastrous second quarter, Lakers coach Phil Jackson decided it was time to rest some of his starters. Pau Gasol, who has a bone bruise in his right knee, played only 27 minutes and scored 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting, for instance. Kobe Bryant played a little less than 32 minutes and scored 25 points, for another example.

OAKLAND -- The Lakers played a fine first quarter tonight against the Golden State Warriors, but they went off the rails in the second and trailed by halftime. After outscoring the Warriors, 23-14, and holding them to 24.1 percent shooting (7 of 29) in the opening quarter, the Lakers lost their momentum. The Warriors outscored them, 29-15, in the second quarter. Kobe Bryant scored 10 points of his 11 points in the first quarter. Monta Ellis scored 10 of his 14 points in the second for the Warriors.

Pau Gasol underwent an MRI exam today that revealed he has a bone bruise in his right knee. The Lakers said he is day-to-day, which means it's uncertain whether he will play in Tuesday's game against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center. Andrew Bynum had a bone bruise in his knee earlier this season and was forced to sit out a game. Gasol was hurt in the second half of Sunday's loss to the Denver Nuggets.

Tex Winter, who developed the triangle offense and served as an assistant coach to Phil Jackson with the Lakers and the Chicago Bulls, was among 10 names selected for induction into the Hall of Fame today. Dennis Rodman, who played for Winter and Jackson in Chicago and also had a brief stint with the Lakers, also was selected. As was Chris Mullin, Tara VanDerveer, the women's coach at Stanford, plus Philadelphia University's Herb Magee; longtime NBA and ABA star Artis Gilmore; former Portland Trail Blazers center Arvydas Sabonis; Olympic gold medalist Teresa Edwards; Harlem Globetrotter Reece "Goose" Tatum; and former Celtic Tom "Satch" Sanders.

Jackson said Sunday when asked about Winter's impending selection; "The fact now that he's had a stroke (in 2009) that's impaired his abilities, it kind of irritates me a little bit that this wasn't done 10 years ago when he was still serving basketball in such a great capacity. Still, in all, I'm happy it's been awarded."

The Denver Nuggets ended the Lakers' nine-game winning streak today at Staples Center, handing them only their second loss in 19 games since the All-Star break. The Lakers also fell to 2 1/2 games behind the conference- and league-leading San Antonio Spurs. Kobe Bryant scored 28 points and Lamar Odom had 17. Pau Gasol scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, but also tweaked his right knee in a fall and is scheduled to undergo an MRI exam on Monday. The Lakers had 20 turnovers, which sent them to their first defeat in almost a month. Danilo Gallinari scored 22 points for the Nuggets.

The Lakers can't gain ground on the first-place San Antonio Spurs since the Spurs beat the Phoenix Suns and ended their six-game losing streak earlier today. The best the second-place Lakers can do is beat the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center and remain 1 1/2 games behind the Spurs. Kobe Bryant scored 19 points and Andrew Bynum had 12 rebounds for the Lakers. Danilo Gallinari scored 18 points for the Nuggets. The Lakers went into the game with a nine-game winning streak. The Nuggets had won five in a row.

Matt Barnes returned to the practice court today after serving a one-game suspension for his part on Thursday's near-rumble with Jason Terry and the Dallas Mavericks. He had plenty to say on a variety of subjects. "I knew I was getting something," Barnes said. "The way things go down these days, I knew I was going to get something."

On Jason Terry's continued barbs about Barnes and the Lakers: "I'm not worried about what he's talking about. In Golden State, we showed how to beat Dallas. You got in there and take it right to their chin and they back down. Obviously, nothing has changed since then. Hopefully, we get a chance to see them again."

On watching the Lakers struggle in the first half before rallying without him Friday against the Utah Jazz: "I was more frustrated than anything that I couldn't be out there. I knew we would right the ship in the second half and at least pull closer. As we normally do, we closed the game out in the fourth quarter."

On Phil Jackson's call for a need to avoid emotional outbursts during the playoffs: "Down the stretch, I think we've shown you're not going to come in our house and push us around, but myself and the rest of the team, we can't afford to get kicked out of games or give teams free shots on technical fouls. Just got to do that in a more controlled manner, I guess."

On the possibility of a playoff series against Dallas: "We're prepared to play anybody anywhere, so whoever we play, it will be fine."

SALT LAKE CITY -- The Lakers rallied from a 17-point deficit tonight to win their ninth consecutive, their 17th in 18 games and moved to within 1 1/2 games of the conference- and league-leading San Antonio Spurs. Kobe Bryant score 21 points, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom added 16 apiece, Derek Fisher scored 15 and Andrew Bynum had 11. Odom played 29 minutes, 34 seconds despite coming down with a stomach ailment before the game.

"Just for my own competitive drive, I wanted to at least give it a shot," Odom said of playing after vomiting only 90 minutes before the tipoff. "I don't feel too well. People can appreciate that you gave it a shot. You let your instincts take over."

SALT LAKE CITY -- The Lakers moved within two games of the conference- and league-leading Spurs when San Antonio lost in overtime tonight to the Houston Rockets. The second-place Lakers needed a big rally in the closing minutes of the half just to have a chance at narrowing that gap to 1 1/2 games. They trailed by as many as 17 points in the first half, but closed the second quarter with a 10-0 run to get close. Lamar Odom was sick before the game, coming down with a stomach ailment. Matt Barnes served a one-game suspension, so he wasn't available. Plus, the Lakers shot only 39.4 percent (13 of 33) in the half. Kobe Bryant scored 13 points. C.J. Miles had 12 for the injury-depleted Jazz.

Matt Barnes received a one-game suspension without pay from the NBA today for what the league said was "escalating an on-court altercation and actions following his ejection." Barnes will be barred from tonight's game against the Utah Jazz. The league did not impose further discipline on Jason Terry of the Dallas Mavericks, whose two-handed shove sent Lakers guard Steve Blake to the court and touched off a ruckus with 9 minutes, 23 seconds remaining in Friday's blowout victory. Terry received a flagrant-2 foul. Blake also was not suspended for confronting Terry after the shove.

Barnes via Twitter: "I get an extra day of rest for my knee. Ill be watching the game 2nite w/the rest of the laker fans, on tv. All good team will keep it Rolln 2nite vs the Jazz.. Ill be bak sunday.. Appreciate the support from all the lakeshow fans.. RESPECT!!"

Coach Phil Jackson wasn't surprised, but he also wasn't pleased, saying: "He's definitely going to have to check that stuff at the door when it comes to the playoffs. We don't want to play shorthanded in the playoffs, and third party in (a confrontation) is not a way to step things in the right direction. They're going to get you almost every single time."