DALLAS — As if the Lakers can tolerate any more bad news this year.

Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni suggested Pau Gasol won’t return in the regular season after nursing torn plantar fascia in his right foot for the past three weeks.

“By the time he gets back, we’ll be in or out,” D’Antoni said. “His impact will be in the playoffs if we get there.”

The Lakers (28-29) have 25 games remaining before the regular season ends April 17 against the Houston Rockets. After their 103-99 victory Sunday over the Dallas Mavericks, the Lakers remain 2 ½ games behind the Houston Rockets (31-27) for the eighth and final playoff spot.

“I don’t think anyone on this team is counting the days for Pau to come back because we don’t have time,” Lakers guard Steve Nash said. “We have to win now. Although we’d welcome him back this instances, we have to move on and try to win games without him and find an identity.”

Gasol originally was expected to miss at least four to six weeks after suffering the injury in the final minutes of the Lakers’ win Feb. 5 against the Brooklyn Nets. He expressed optimism last week he would soon walk without crutches.

“It’s close,” D’Antoni said. “He might be using them, just barely. But he’s close.”

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

DALLAS – With the little regard he holds for Laker fans, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban hardly seemed surprised of the reaction over suggesting the Lakers considering using the amnesty provision on Kobe Bryant.

“That wasn’t what I was looking to accomplish,” Cuban said. “But it’s always fun to hear Lakers fans respond to anything.”

Instead, Cuban said he merely wanted to explain the ramifications surrounding the new collective bargaining agreement that imposes harsher luxury taxes this offseason for teams spending over the luxury cap.

“Fans, it’s not their job to understand how the CBA works,” Cuban said. “You have to use examples. I was clear in saying that it was a hypothetical. But it was a good example because they have a high payroll with the highest paid player in the league.“
Continue reading “Mark Cuban reiterated it was a “hypothetical” when talking about Kobe Bryant amnesty issue” »

By Mark Medina

Game: Lakers (27-29) vs. Dallas Mavericks (25-29)

Where: American Airlines Center

Time: 10 a.m. PST

DALLAS – At a time when most NBA teams sleepwalk through their schedule, the Lakers and Mavericks square off in a game that could have huge playoff implications

Both are teams are currently trying to scrape back into the postseason picture. The Lakers remain three games behind the Houston Rockets (31-27) for the final playoff spot, while Dallas are closely behind with a four-game deficit.

The Lakers have won two consecutive games, partly because of Dwight Howard’s resurgence. His improved conditioning and effort has led the Lakers center to average 21.5 points on 62.9 percent shooting and 14 rebounds in the past two contests.

“He’s turned it up a notch,” Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni said. “But you can’t put it all on his shoulders. We all have to turn it up a notch.”
Continue reading “Lakers-Mavericks game could have big playoff implications” »

With the short history he has been here, Dwight Howard couldn’t glean much from what the late Lakers owner Jerry Buss meant to him. After all, Howard’s lone interaction with Buss’ passing from cancer happened this fall on a hospital visit. So all Howard could do was rely on what others said about him.

So as he attended Buss’ memorial service Thursday at the Nokia Theatre, Howard paid less attention to the star power that packed the room and more attention to what they said about him.

“I was thinking the whole service — I want to be how Jerry Buss was,” Howard said. “Everybody had something great to say. He pushed a lot of people. He changed this city. Those are things I want people to say about me when I leave this earth. That was my whole focus was how he left a legacy that will go on forever.”

Buss, 80, bought the Lakers in 1979, when he purchased the team along with the Forum, the NHL’s Kings and a 13,000-acre ranch in Kern County from Jack Kent Cooke for $67.5 million. Buss then oversaw 10 of the Lakers’ 16 NBA championships and built a franchise Forbes magazine recently valued at $1 billion.

What legacy does Howard want to leave?

“My legacy? Well… Great man. Changed the world,” Howard said. “Somebody that never let things that people attacked him with change who he was as a person and a player. I believe I can do that. Motivate a city and a team to win. That’s what he did. I’m going to continue look at him and guys who did something special like that. Phil Jackson, all the guys who won. it’s all about winning.”

Howard’s discovering that with the Lakers where anything short of an NBA championship remains unacceptable. Yet, as he demonstrated in the Lakers’ 111-107 victory Friday over the Portland Trail Blazers, Howard can adopt that mindset even with his assorted injuries.

“It starts with me,” Howard said. “I have to really come out every night with the same intensity and the same effort. When I get tired, I can ask coach to take me out. I think it starts with me. I have to do a better job of playing hard. I’m going to try.”

Howard posted 19 points and 16 rebounds despite aggravating the torn labrum in his right shoulder once Victor Claver fouled him late in the second quarter. Howard winced on the ensuing timeout. Howard admitted afterwards that it’s “still in pain right now.” After laboring through a third quarter where he scored zero points, Howard said he forced himself to block out the pain. He made two key late field goals and two blocks in the fourth quarter.

“I’m in a little bit better shape, and I’m able to do more,” Howard said. “I’m just going to continue to do whatever I’ve been doing to get better.”

That includes trying to craft a legacy that will eventually leave everyone singing his praises.

“There’s a lot of negative things that really take place in the world,” Howard said. “I would like to see positive things happen as well. There’s a lot of negativity always going around. I don’t think it’s good. I think as role models we have the opportunities to change the perception, make people have a more positive outlook on life. I just hate negativity, I hate being around it. I hate anybody that’s not positive.

“I feel like everybody should have a positive outlook on life because we’re blessed. We’re blessed to be living.”

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

In an empty court with very few people watching, Kobe Bryant took the floor and performed something that he does best.

Shoot. Shoot. And shoot.

Bryant performed that task all around the perimeter so he could end the 1 of 34 mark he compiled in the last 15 games. But his marksmanship goes beyond finding the right rhythm as he tries to find a balance between his facilitating and scoring roles. He’s also been battling a right shoulder injury.

“I’ve had them for a while,” Bryant said. “It’s just part of it.”

How did it happen.

“Passing,” Bryant deadpanned.

Well, he found a cure in the Lakers’ 111-107 victory Friday over the Portland Trail Blazers. With very few teammates hitting open shots, Bryant went back to his traditional scoring role by dropping 40 points on 15 of 23 shooting. Bryant even went 1 of 3 from three-point range.

“I didn’t realize I was shooting so poorly from the 3,” Bryant said. “It was one of those things where I was facilitating and taking a 3 here and there, a 3 here and there. All of a sudden, it adds up. It just irked me it’s not going down.”

That hardly was the case for Bryant against Portland. His 11 fourth-quarter points included fadeaways, floaters, driving layups and free throws. With exception to a careless turnover where he overdribbled too much, Bryant rediscovered his niche for scoring.

“When I first started, it was about getting my teammates in rhythm,” Bryant said. “Then figuring my way through it. I know I can find that balance. Coming out of the break, I’m being aggressive. Tonight, they weren’t hitting shots. But that’s okay. I can do both comfortably.”

Even with an injured right shoulder.

“I got hit on it or something,” Bryant said. “It’s just one of those things you have to do. When I wake up, it hurts. When I come in, you get treatment. You got to do what you got to do.”

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

Lakers forward Earl Clark wore a splint to protect the dislocated pinkie finger on his left hand. But he vowed it won’t take him away from the court.

Still, it looked like the hand was in pain in the final moments of the Lakers’ 111-107 win Friday over the Portland Trail Blazers.

He hurt his hand while going after a loose ball as Blazers guard Wesley Matthews attempted a free throw with 14.4 seconds remaining. Clark immediately went to the bench during the Lakers’ subsequent timeout, clutching his left hand. Moments later, Lakers trainer Gary Vitti then taped his left pinkie.

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

The Lakers were not happy Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban suggested Friday they should waive Kobe Bryant through the amnesty provision.

But Bryant sure sounded like he didn’t care.

“He would love that I’m sure,” said Bryant following the Lakers’ 111-107 win Friday over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Bryant provided an immediate rebuttal by posting 40 points on 15 of 23 shooting. Not that he had any reason to worry about his future.

The Lakers would never use the one-time provision on Bryant. First, there’s the immediate public-relations nightmare over parting ways with Bryant after winning five NBA championships and climbing to fifth place in the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Second, Bryant ranks fourth in the league in scoring (26.4 points per game) in his 17th NBA season.

That’s why Bryant rolled his eyes and smiled after I remarked Cuban would likely try to sign him if the Lakers ever followed his advice.

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

Never one to shy to throw barbs at the Lakers, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban suggested something that irked team officials.

Cuban suggested Friday that the Lakers use their amnesty provision to waive Kobe Bryant.

“We’re aware of Mark Cuban’s comments. We feel they’re inappropriate,” Lakers spokesman John Black said. “As far as the issue itself, we’re not going to comment publicly on the amnesty issue as it relates to any of our players.”

The Lakers won’t formal complaint to the NBA, but it’s possible the league could fine Cuban the comments he made with a Dallas radio station.

“If you look at their payroll … you’ve got to ask that question, ‘Should they amnesty Kobe?’” Cuban said on ESPN’s “Ben and Skin Show” in Dallas. “I’m just saying that hypothetically. When I say amnesty Kobe, I don’t think they’d do it, but they’ve got some choices to make. Now, they’re in a big market, but they’re still limited.”

According to the rules of the current collective bargaining agreement, tax rates climb exponentially next season. Bryant’s $30.5 million deal for one more season could severely hamper the team’s long-term financial flexibility. The Lakers’ other amnesty candidates in Pau Gasol ($19 million), Metta World Peace ($7 million) and Steve Blake ($4 million) earn significantly less.

The Lakers absolutely won’t ever use the one-time provision on Bryant. First, there’s the immediate public relations nightmare over parting ways with Bryant after winning five NBA championships and climbing up to fifth place in the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Secondly, Bryant ranks fourth in the league in scoring (26.4 points per game) in his 17th NBA season. Bryant’s made strong suggestions he will retire when his contract expires after the 2013-14 campaign.

Former Lakers coach Phil Jackson often engaged in verbal spars through the media with Cuban. But not Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni.

“I’m not going to get in a war with that,” D’Antoni said. “Guys can say what they want to say.”

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

For someone who professed he hadn’t written anything out ahead of time, Kobe Bryant spoke at Jerry Buss’ memorial Thursday at the Nokia Theatre with a few pretty clear messages.

One, Bryant admitted skepticism on the Lakers re-hiring Phil Jackson in 2005 a year after he released a tell-all book that described him as “uncoachable.” In retrospect, Bryant values Buss for convincing him otherwise since it resulted in two more championships.

Secondly, Bryant hoped the surrounding backdrop regarding Buss’ memorial brought proper perspective to the current roster as they try digging back into playoff contention.

“I encourage all of you – me included – to look around the room and look at the greatness of one man’s vision,” Bryant said. “The players that are here, the coaches that are here, we all have one thing in common and it’s that we all believed in Dr. Jerry Buss. For us to look around this room and understand that we’re playing for something bigger than ourselves, bigger than a single season, we are playing for the memory of a great man, Dr. Jerry Buss.”

The reasoning remains pretty simple.

Buss, 80, owned the Lakers since 1979 when he purchased the team along with the Forum, the NHL’s Kings and a 13,000-acre ranch in Kern County for $67.5 million from Jack Kent Cooke. Since then, the Lakers have become one of the sport’s top franchises, winning 10 of their 16 NBA championships under Buss’ watch. That’s only one shy of the Lakers’ rival, the Boston Celtics.

“A lot of guys feel that way anyway,” Lakers center Dwight Howard said. “It wasn’t nothing new. We’ve all been talking about doing something special and changing what’s been going on.”

Ever since Buss’ passing Monday from an unspecified form of cancer that affected his kidneys, the Lakers invoked his memories in various ways.

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak addressed the team about Buss and what he meant to the franchise. The Lakers began wearing “JB” patches on their jerseys. The Lakers honored him in a pre-game tribute, which then led helped spark the Lakers to a 113-99 win Wednesday over the Celtics.

Lakers guard Steve Nash called the rallying cry “a nice story” before cautioning, “you have to be self motivating.

“I’d like to believe that regardless of Dr. Buss passing that we’d have the toughness in ourselves to rally,” Nash said. “It’s been obviously a tough year, trying and disappointing. But we made some progress and we have to continue to make progress the rest of the way. It would be a beautiful thing to do it for Dr. Buss. But I’d like to think we have the toughness to find it in ourselves regardless.”

RELATED:

Mark Cuban suggests that Lakers use amnesty clause on Kobe Bryant

Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss laid to rest

Lakers supportive of Kobe Bryant’s playoff guarantee

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

The Lakers have issues beyond whether they’re going to somehow squeak into playoff contention.

However that plays out, the Lakers will enter this offseason having to weight how to trim their $100 million to avoid harsher luxury tax implications. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban argued the solution should involve using the amnesty provision on Kobe Bryant.

“If you look at their payroll … you’ve got to ask that question, ‘Should they amnesty Kobe?'” Cuban said on ESPN’s “Ben and Skin Show” in Dallas. “I’m just saying that hypothetically. When I say amnesty Kobe, I don’t think they’d do it, but they’ve got some choices to make. Now, they’re in a big market, but they’re still limited.”

The Lakers absolutely won’t do that for various reasons. First, there’s the immediate public relations nightmare over parting ways with Bryant after winning five NBA championships and climbing up to fifth place in the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Secondly, it could send a horrible message about the Lakers’ front office intentions on having the willingness to spend to win titles and when they hope to attract future stars. Third, Bryant’s still an incredible player and has hinted that he’ll retire once his contract expires in the 2013-14 season.

Of course, Cuban would love for that to happen. He publicly conceded this season he hopes the Lakers’ star-studded roster “will suck.” But Cuban’s issues raises an interesting discussion.
Continue reading “Mark Cuban suggests that Lakers use amnesty clause on Kobe Bryant” »