April 12th: Breeze Feels Cool to Lakers. Odom has L.A. on the move. Mihm Eager to Return.

 
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Phil
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:03 am    Post subject: April 12th: Breeze Feels Cool to Lakers. Odom has L.A. on the move. Mihm Eager to Return.

A Breeze Feels Cool to Lakers
A playoff berth is near after a 111-100 victory over the Warriors. Odom has his first triple-double for the Lakers, and Brown has a double-double.
By Mike Bresnahan, Times Staff Writer
April 12, 2006

Jerry Buss predicted it, almost insisted it would happen, pegging the Lakers as a playoff team when few others would dare think such a thing back in October.

It isn't official yet, and the Laker owner can't quite say, "I told you so," but the Lakers made another move toward the postseason, beating the Golden State Warriors, 111-100, Tuesday at Staples Center.

Knocking off a weaker opponent was a problem area not that long ago, but the Lakers took it to the sagging Warriors as if their playoff lives depended on it.

Kobe Bryant had 31 points, Kwame Brown had 15 points and a season-high 15 rebounds, and Lamar Odom completed his first triple-double as a Laker — 15 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.

An added bonus took place up north, where Sacramento managed to lose a 17-point lead in a 123-110 home loss to Phoenix, allowing the Lakers to take a one-game lead for seventh place in the Western Conference. The Lakers have three games left and are three games ahead of ninth-place Utah, which has five left to play.

"I can feel it," Odom said. "You can feel the energy in the crowd, the energy everywhere. Everyone's getting excited. It's a beautiful thing to be part of."
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Phil
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:06 am    Post subject:

Bryant leads by example


Kobe Bryant set the tone with his aggressiveness against Golden State's faulty defense as the Lakers moved ahead of Sacramento in the playoff race.

By KEVIN DING
The Orange County Register


Kobe Bryant of the Lakers loses the ball as he is double-teamed by the Warriors’ Mickael Pietrus, left, and Mike Dunleavy.

KEVORK DJANSEZIAN, THE ASSOICATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES – This was not a night for Kobe Bryant to play his self-described role of "big brother," which entails creating wide-open shots for teammates, barking at them as motivation or even calling trendy restaurants on their behalf to get a table.

Looking at the uniquely slow Golden State Warriors' defensive rotations, Bryant blew out of the starting blocks and wound up putting on a ballet concert around the rim in the Lakers' 111-100 victory at Staples Center on Tuesday night.

Bryant scored 30 of his 31 points in the first half on a night when Lamar Odom (15 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists) took the baton from Bryant in the second half and got his first triple-double as a Laker.
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Phil
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:07 am    Post subject:

Bryant leads by example
Kobe Bryant set the tone with his aggressiveness against Golden State's faulty defense as the Lakers moved ahead of Sacramento in the playoff race.

By KEVIN DING
The Orange County Register


Kobe Bryant of the Lakers loses the ball as he is double-teamed by the Warriors’ Mickael Pietrus, left, and Mike Dunleavy.

KEVORK DJANSEZIAN, THE ASSOICATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES – This was not a night for Kobe Bryant to play his self-described role of "big brother," which entails creating wide-open shots for teammates, barking at them as motivation or even calling trendy restaurants on their behalf to get a table.

Looking at the uniquely slow Golden State Warriors' defensive rotations, Bryant blew out of the starting blocks and wound up putting on a ballet concert around the rim in the Lakers' 111-100 victory at Staples Center on Tuesday night.

Bryant scored 30 of his 31 points in the first half on a night when Lamar Odom (15 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists) took the baton from Bryant in the second half and got his first triple-double as a Laker.
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Phil
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:09 am    Post subject:

Odom, Lakers inch up a spot

LAKERS 111, WARRIORS 100: His triple-double helps lift LA to 7th in the West.

01:00 AM PDT on Wednesday, April 12, 2006

By BRODERICK TURNER
The Press-Enterprise

LOS ANGELES - The Lakers continued their push toward a playoff berth, dispatching the Golden State Warriors, 111-100, Tuesday night at Staples Center before 18,997, moving closer to clinching a postseason spot with three regular-season games left.
Terry Pierson / The Press-Enterprise
Kobe Bryant scores 30 of his 31 points in the first half, helping the Lakers pull away to a 62-55 halftime lead after LA had battled from behind for a 55-55 tie.

Lamar Odom continued his solid play, producing a triple-double with 15 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. It was Odom's first triple-double as a Laker, the ninth of his career and first since March 6, 2004, when he played for the Miami Heat.

"Whenever you can make passes and get these guys easy shots, basketball is an easier game when everyone is coming along with you," Odom said.

Odom was all over the place, diving on the floor for a loose ball once and then while still laying on the floor throwing a bounce pass to Kobe Bryant for a dunk. Odom threw a length-of-court pass right on strike to Smush Parker for a dunk.

Odom even had a scoop move in which he floated along the baseline and scored on a reverse layup.

"He's beautiful to watch going to the basket making these moves he's been making the last few games," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:10 am    Post subject:

Faceless Warriors drubbed by Lakers

Janny Hu, Chronicle Staff Writer

Wednesday, April 12, 2006


Los Angeles -- There was no questioning the Lakers' identity when Kobe Bryant limped off the court to a series of "M-V-P" chants during Tuesday's 111-100 romp over the Warriors.

With the Lakers come Bryant and the triangle offense. With Phoenix comes Steve Nash and the run-and-gun offense.

With the Warriors comes uncertainty at times; a lack of distinction at others.

What was supposed to be an offense centered around Baron Davis and the pick-and-roll this season has evolved into a game-by-game, piece-by-piece study of Golden State's roster.

For the most part, the identity mining has yet to yield a telltale product.
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Phil
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:11 am    Post subject:

All L.A.: Lakers throttle Warriors
Los Angeles takes control with 28-5 run; Odom posts triple-double
By Marcus Thompson II
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

LOS ANGELES - Probably the worst part about this season for Warriors fans is that they're going to hear it from the many Los Angeles Lakers fans in the Bay Area.

Last season, the Warriors humiliated the Lakers in Oakland, winning by 27 points in their final meeting of the season.

It seemed the Warriors were the better team and, more important, had the brighter future of the two - the consolation prize Warriors faithful certainly appreciated.

But as of Tuesday, nothing appeared further from the truth. The Lakers handed the Warriors another smack-down, 111-100 at the Staples Center. Not only did Los Angeles hand the Warriors their ninth consecutive loss, they pulled off the season sweep of the Warriors (30-47).

"They've got a better record than us," said guard Jason Richardson, who led the Warriors with 20 points on 7-for-17 shooting. "They're making the playoffs. They're the better team."

With Sacramento's loss to visiting Phoenix, the Lakers (42-37) moved a game ahead of the Kings (41-38) for the seventh of eight playoff seeds in the Western Conference. Whichever team gets the seventh seed will take on Phoenix in the first round of the playoffs; the eighth seed will get either San Antonio or Dallas.
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Phil
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:13 am    Post subject:

Kobe Not MVP-Type

10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, April 11, 2006

GREGG PATTON

Random notes, idle thoughts and watching Kobe shoot (and shoot) for an MVP...

Kobe Bryant's army of fans may be pushing him for the Most Valuable Player award, but he doesn't fit the criteria.

Who says?

His coach.

"I think you look at the top teams in the league, and then you look at their top players," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson earlier this week when asked how he thought the MVP race shaped up.

He then ticked off a short list of names that didn't include his own guy.

Jackson may be a fond employer of the psychological ploy, but this wasn't one of those wry, smiling Buddha moments he uses to light a fire under one of his chosen targets.

Nor is it the residue of a lingering grudge. Remember all the way back to -- gee, it was only last summer -- when the coach was hired for a second time despite a famously rocky relationship with Bryant? After a season devoid of head knocking between the player and the coach, the friction seems like ancient history.

In fact, Jackson has called Bryant a deserving candidate for the award and believes his superstar had reclaimed his status as the best guard in the NBA this season.

Jackson just seemed to be making a lucid, honest point about the MVP -- that stellar individual achievement isn't enough.

Bryant has had a great season. He will win his first scoring title and likely be the first to average more than 35 points in 18 years. He is about to break Elgin Baylor's franchise record for points in a season. He rang up the remarkable 81-point game against Toronto.

More importantly, he is making sure the Lakers are a playoff team this season, even if his fallback method -- trying to do too much by himself -- sometimes earns him deserved criticism. Undoubtedly, it's a tough balancing act, leading and leaning, and he's still learning how.
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Phil
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:14 am    Post subject:

Fisher Still Has Heart, but the Beat Goes On
April 12, 2006

It took him about four-tenths of a second to find it.

It was Sunday, about 2 a.m., in the Bay Area home of a Los Angeles son.

Derek Fisher had just returned from an eighth straight loss with his Golden State Warriors, a team beneath all hope, a team beyond all relevance, a champion out of his mind.

What happened? Those three rings, where did they go? Where did he go?

"I was really down," Fisher said. "I really needed to appreciate some of the things I had done."

He knew just where to look.

In his office, on the wall above his desk, there is a blown-up photo of his game-winning shot for the Lakers with .4 of a second remaining in Game 5 of the 2004 Western Conference semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs.

It was a shot that will live forever in T-shirts and testaments and wherever they are talking Lakers. It was one of the two biggest shots in the biggest era in team history.

Fisher sank into his desk chair and soaked it all in.

The feeling lasted only as long as that shot.

Thirty-seven million dollars doesn't buy what it used to.

He turned to his wife, Candace.

"Losing stinks," he said.
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:15 am    Post subject:

Lakers' George moving?

Warriors notes

LOS ANGELES -- Leaving home is so hard. Probably the only way to deal with it is to put it out of your mind.

That's the route Los Angeles Lakers forward Devean George, a free agent at the end of this season, is taking.

"I'm trying not to think about that," George told the Los Angeles Times. "That's just part of the business. But this could be the last month. There has been some great times -- ups, downs, a lot of fun times, championships, eyes burning from champagne, cigar smoke."

The reality is, after spending all seven of his seasons in Los Angeles, there's a very real chance George will not be wearing a Lakers jersey next season. He hasn't panned out as the team expected when they signed him to a four-year deal worth about $20 million. He entered Tuesday's game with just five starts in 67 games, averaging 6.3 points and 3.9 rebounds in 21.9 minutes.

There is a chance the Lakers will re-sign him, but it would likely have to be for considerably less money. The Lakers were in this position before and chose not to give point guard Derek Fisher, who was much more key a contributor, the money he wanted. So it figures if George wants to make close to the $5 million he gets for this season it will have to be with another team.

"Right now, (the Lakers) is the only thing I know," George told the Times. "I've never been on another team. Then again, I don't know what's available. I'm just going to finish the season, talk to my agent and see what the deal is."
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:16 am    Post subject:

Mihm Feels Close, Aims for Sunday
By Mike Bresnahan, Times Staff Writer
April 12, 2006

The Lakers can't quite make playoff plans yet. Neither can Chris Mihm.

The Laker center has missed the last 15 games because of a severely sprained right ankle, although he is getting closer to returning to the court.


Mihm still feels pain in the ankle, and it will continue to bother him when he returns, which he hopes will be Sunday against the Phoenix Suns, the Lakers' next-to-last game of the regular season.

Mihm has been out since coming down on the foot of Seattle SuperSonic forward Rashard Lewis with 48.4 seconds left in a March 12 Laker loss.

"Every time I plant or change direction, it's pretty painful," he said Tuesday. "Even when I come back, it's going to be something I'll be rehabbing after the season."

The Lakers are hoping to see enough from Mihm to include him on the playoff roster, assuming they make it that far.

"We're concerned about it, obviously," Laker Coach Phil Jackson said. "It's going to be a decision obviously that's going to weigh in. He's not going to be 100% by the time the season's over. We're just going to have to project where he can be."

The Lakers end the regular season April 19 against New Orleans. They would have until April 20 to file their playoff roster with the league office if they make the playoffs. Their first game would be April 22 or 23.
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:18 am    Post subject:

Mihm seeking return to court
BY ROSS SILER, Staff Writer

A month after suffering a potential season-ending severe ankle sprain, Lakers center Chris Mihm hopes to get back on the practice court today and could return in the coming week.

"I'm hoping to try to catch a couple games here before the playoffs come," Mihm said.

Mihm ran on his injured right ankle Tuesday, but still has a long road ahead of him. It is painful for him to plant or take off after tearing a ligament on the inside of the ankle and he will have to rehab into the summer.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson said last week that Mihm could fill a role coming off the bench and playing six minutes a half in the playoffs. But Jackson first has to decide about including Mihm on the playoff roster.

"Obviously, he's not going to be 100 percent by the time the season's over," Jackson said. "We're just going to have to project where he can be."

The NBA announced Tuesday that teams will be able to carry 13players on their playoff rosters this season, up from 12 in previous years. They will have to deactivate one player before each game.

But teams can't change the players on the roster between rounds. That means including Mihm could come at the expense of excluding a healthy player. Teams have to submit their playoff rosters by noon April 20.

"I don't understand why you have 15 (players) all season long and then the playoffs you have 13," Jackson said. "That doesn't make any sense. You're going to have a rule for the regular season, you might as well have it for the playoffs."
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:19 am    Post subject:

Mihm Eager to Return

Broderick Turner

10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, April 11, 2006

LOS ANGELES - Lakers center Chris Mihm, out for a month recovering from a severely sprained right ankle, said he hopes to play Sunday when the Lakers face the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center.

Mihm has missed 15 games with the ankle injury, and he's still not close to 100 percent healthy. But Mihm said he has been getting treatment and hopes the ankle can hold up so he can play in the playoffs.

If Mihm does come back Sunday, he'll get to play in two games before the regular season is over. The Lakers think it's more likely that Mihm plays one game, the regular-season finale against the New Orleans Hornets here.

"It's been disappointing to say the least to have this happen at the end of the season, when it's getting so close to the playoffs," Mihm said. "To get back is what I had in mind from the day I hurt it, and hopefully being able to catch a couple of games before the playoffs will put me in a better position to make it back for the team come playoffs."

Mihm said he was told it would take six weeks for his ankle to heal. He has been out for four weeks so far.
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