Dwight Howard in Adidas “All in for LA” ad

Dwight Howard hasn’t and won’t publicly reveal his long-term intentions on whether he will will resign with the Lakers.

But as Laker fans continuously look for tea leaves, such as the Lakers’ play and Howard’s mood, here’s another one to ad to the collection. Howard’s newest Adidas ad campaign entails the slogan “All in for L.A.”

The commercial featured Howard interacting with Laker fans, but none of the footage entailed him explaining his thought process on whether he will stay with the Lakers (at least the footage that didn’t fall on the cutting room floor). The Adidas slogan also corresponds with Howard’s recent insistence that he’s going to put every ounce into commitment into helping the Lakers make the playoffs, and he hopes, win a championship.

Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@dailynews.com

Lakers turned a corner, but will it be enough to make playoffs?

I appeared on KLAC last night to discuss a whole litany of Lakers’ topics

*The Lakers’ loss Monday to the Denver Nuggets

*Kobe Bryant getting his 14th technical foul rescinded by the NBA

*How Steve Nash has become more aggressive and an update on his back

*More importantly, if the Lakers’ recent progress will be enough to make the playoffs. Laker fans won’t like the answer. Take a listen.

Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@dailynews.com

Pau Gasol gets off crutches

In a sign that the torn plantar fascia in his right foot has somewhat healed, Lakers forward Pau Gasol revealed in a tweet Tuesday that he’s no longer nursing crutches.

 

Gasol injured his foot in the Lakers’ win Feb. 8 over the Brooklyn Nets and was declared out for a minimum of six to eight weeks. Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni suggested that it’s possible Gasol won’t return until the Lakers will know their playoff aspirations.

The Lakers (28-30) remain three games behind the Houston Rockets (31-27) for the eighth and final playoff spot. With 24 games left, it’s likely the Lakers won’t know their postseason fortunes until very late in the season.

Regardless, Gasol won’t be back until at least three more weeks from now. Nothing has changed that timetable yet.

RELATED:

NBA rescinds Kobe Bryant’s technical foul against Denver

Steve Nash reports improvement in his back


Lakers downplay Dwight Howard’s free throw struggles against Denver

Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@dailynews.com

NBA rescinds Kobe Bryant’s technical foul against Denver

DENVER — Kobe Bryant has a little bit more freedom one again to turn his frustration on officials.

In a move that he assured would happen, the NBA rescinded his technical foul called in the Lakers’ 119-108 loss Monday to the Denver Nuggets.

Bryant was given his 14th technical foul this season as he walked off the court at the end of the first half, putting him two away from an NBA-imposed one-game suspension.

But Bryant expressed optimism the NBA would overturn the call after speaking with referee Joey Crawford before the second half.

“Joe didn’t know what was going on. Me and a ref were having just a simple conversation and he kind of jumped the gun,” said Bryant.

The Lakers star said he would control himself after picking up his 13th technical foul in the Lakers’ win Sunday against Dallas. That didn’t last long. After joking in Dallas that Bryant can surely afford the $33,000 he’s accumulated thus far in fines, Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni suddenly turned serious in Denver.

“He has to control that,” D’Antoni said. “He knows we can’t afford to lose him for a game.”

The NBA gave him some added cushion with its ruling. But Bryant has showed in seasons past he’s pretty good at toeing the line.

The 16 technicals he earned in the 2010-11 season marked the only time he’s done so in his 17-year career. He came close in other seasons in 2001-02 (14), 2005-06 (15), 2006-07 (14), 2007-08 (15) and 2009-10 (14). Should the NBA uphold Bryant’s latest technical. he could only earn one more in the Lakers’ 24 remaining games.

How does Bryant manage to immediately shut off his emotions?

“I just don’t get them,” he said. “It’s that simple.”

Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@dailynews.com

Steve Nash reports improvement in his back

DENVER — The stretching and treatment has become so routine for Nash that he doesn’t put much thought that he’s played most of his 17-year career with back issues.

Nash noticed his muscles tighten in the Lakers’ win Friday over Portland and conceded that it hasn’t improved much, an injury he said is different than his usual back issues. Nash said following the Lakers’ win over Dallas he believes the back will heal soon because the schedule only entails two home games Thursday (Minnesota) and Sunday (Atlanta).

“It actually felt a little better tonight,” said Nash, who posted 15 points on 6 of 8 shooting and five assists in the Lakers’ 119-108 loss Tuesday to the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. “It’s on its way out.”

That’s because Nash received increased treatment from Lakers physical therapist Judy Seto.

“He plays through everything,” said Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni, who coached Nash through four seasons in Phoenix (2004-2007). “Even if he’s struggling, he’ll find a way to be positive and that’s kind of what we need.”

Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@dailynews.com

Lakers downplay Dwight Howard’s free throw struggles against Denver

DENVER — The storyline has become just as tiring as Dwight Howard’s pending free agency.

He may have avoided the scrutiny surrounding his season-wide poor free-throw shooting for a while. But it reemerged again in the Lakers’ 119-108 loss Monday to the Denver Nuggets where Howard went 3 of 14 from the foul line.

That mark tied his worst of the season when he’s taken at least 10 attempts. Howard also shot 3 of 14 in the season opener against Dallas. In related news, the Lakers lost that game too.

“I can’t get down on myself,” Howard said. “For the most part, the same form and everything was straight. Some were just long. I’ve just got to continue to practice and they’ll start falling. But I’m not going to get discouraged. I’m going to beat this.”

Continue reading “Lakers downplay Dwight Howard’s free throw struggles against Denver” »

Kobe Bryant not concerned about nearing suspension for technical fouls

DENVER — Kobe Bryant vowed he won’t go over the NBA’s technical foul limit (16) that will earn him a suspensions. But he’s surely toeing the line very closely.

The Lakers didn’t fret much over their 119-108 loss Monday to the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Arena. After all, they had won eight of their last 11. But a day after chuckling over Bryant’s technical foul total, Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni suddenly sounded concerned after Bryant picked up his 14th for arguing over a non-call after attempting a half-court shot before halftime.

“He has to control that,” D’Antoni said. “He knows we can’t afford to lose him for a game.”
Continue reading “Kobe Bryant not concerned about nearing suspension for technical fouls” »

World Series of Poker provides Jerry Buss tribute

Whether it was running the Lakers organization or sitting at the poker table, the late Jerry Buss had a fondness for gambling.

Such risk taking played a large part in the Lakers securing 10 of their 16 NBA championships once Buss purchased the team in 1979. As indicated in a World Series of Poker tribute, such risk taking allowed Buss to excel with a deck of cards and stack of chips.

“I don’t know if poker prepared me for the Lakers or the Lakers prepared me for poker,” Buss said in the video. “It maybe a little bit at the same time.”

Still, Buss family spokesman Bob Steiner made a clear distinction on how Buss approached his risk taking.

“Jerry Buss is a gambler in his love of poker, but he was a not a gambler in business,” Steiner said. “He made calculated risks and did his examinations early on.”
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Steve Nash has lingering back issue he believes will go away soon

DALLAS — The defining legacy surrounding Steve Nash goes beyond his superb passing.

It also involves how he’s managed his longevity in his 17-year career despite lingering back issues. But Nash said the back spasms he endured in recent days appears to be a unique albeit temporary issue where his muscles have tightened.

“I don’t know if I made some sort of movement or if I got hit or something,” Nash said following the Lakers’ 103-99 victory Sunday over the Dallas Mavericks. “I had my veterebrae lock up on me and the muscles overcompensated and it created spasms. I don’t have much freedom.”
Continue reading “Steve Nash has lingering back issue he believes will go away soon” »

Kobe Bryant hardly concerned about nearing technical foul limit

DALLAS — From a financial standpoint, there’s no need for Bryant to fret about collecting a league-leading 13 technical fouls. The cumulative $33,000 in fines pales to the $27.8 million he’s making this season.

“You think his money is going to run out?” D’Antoni joked.

Should Bryant accumulate 16 technical fouls, though, the NBA will suspend him for a game.

“That’s a little nerve wracking,” Bryant said sarcastically. “I don’t know if I can control myself.”

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