ducks
03-11-2005, 09:34 AM
Lakers face difficult road to playoff berth
By JOHN NADEL, AP Sports Writer
March 10, 2005
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Nine months after reaching the NBA Finals for the fourth time in five years, the Los Angeles Lakers are in serious jeopardy of missing the playoffs.
That's happened only once since 1977.
The Lakers' postseason hopes took a serious hit Tuesday night when they allowed 66 points in the second half to lose a 110-101 decision to the Los Angeles Clippers.
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The Lakers (30-29) have 23 games remaining and are a half-game behind Denver in the battle for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff berth.
But 15 of those 23 games are on the road, where Los Angeles has a 9-17 record.
``As a team, we are just playing bad basketball and we have to become better or we will not be playing in the postseason,'' Lamar Odom said.
The Lakers figured to have a difficult time this season after trading Shaquille O'Neal and changing coaches.
But they didn't count on Kobe Bryant, the NBA's second-leading scorer, missing 14 games because of a sprained right ankle and Rudy Tomjanovich resigning as coach because of health concerns.
``Our backs are against the wall,'' said Frank Hamblen, elevated last month from assistant coach to succeed Tomjanovich. ``Our schedule is a monster here on out.
``We'll see if we stay together or fragment. Some teams can fragment. But other teams pull it together and get it going.''
The Lakers, swept in a recent road trip by Toronto, Boston and the New York Knicks, play their next six games on the road starting Thursday night in Dallas.
``Now, we have to go on the road where I am sure everybody is counting us out, and seemingly do the impossible,'' Bryant said.
Bryant scored 41 points against the Clippers to give him 118 points in his last three games.
But it wasn't nearly enough against the Clippers, who beat the Lakers in consecutive meetings for just the third time since moving from San Diego to Los Angeles before the 1984-85 season.
The Clippers beat the Lakers 105-89 on Jan. 26 in a game Bryant missed because of his sprained ankle.
The Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves are tied for ninth place in the West followed by the Clippers (27-34), who trail Denver by 4 1/2 games.
``We must all hang together, or we will assuredly all hang separately,'' Bryant said, quoting Benjamin Franklin.
The Lakers last missed the playoffs in 1994, when they lost their last 10 games to finish 33-49.
By JOHN NADEL, AP Sports Writer
March 10, 2005
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Nine months after reaching the NBA Finals for the fourth time in five years, the Los Angeles Lakers are in serious jeopardy of missing the playoffs.
That's happened only once since 1977.
The Lakers' postseason hopes took a serious hit Tuesday night when they allowed 66 points in the second half to lose a 110-101 decision to the Los Angeles Clippers.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Lakers (30-29) have 23 games remaining and are a half-game behind Denver in the battle for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff berth.
But 15 of those 23 games are on the road, where Los Angeles has a 9-17 record.
``As a team, we are just playing bad basketball and we have to become better or we will not be playing in the postseason,'' Lamar Odom said.
The Lakers figured to have a difficult time this season after trading Shaquille O'Neal and changing coaches.
But they didn't count on Kobe Bryant, the NBA's second-leading scorer, missing 14 games because of a sprained right ankle and Rudy Tomjanovich resigning as coach because of health concerns.
``Our backs are against the wall,'' said Frank Hamblen, elevated last month from assistant coach to succeed Tomjanovich. ``Our schedule is a monster here on out.
``We'll see if we stay together or fragment. Some teams can fragment. But other teams pull it together and get it going.''
The Lakers, swept in a recent road trip by Toronto, Boston and the New York Knicks, play their next six games on the road starting Thursday night in Dallas.
``Now, we have to go on the road where I am sure everybody is counting us out, and seemingly do the impossible,'' Bryant said.
Bryant scored 41 points against the Clippers to give him 118 points in his last three games.
But it wasn't nearly enough against the Clippers, who beat the Lakers in consecutive meetings for just the third time since moving from San Diego to Los Angeles before the 1984-85 season.
The Clippers beat the Lakers 105-89 on Jan. 26 in a game Bryant missed because of his sprained ankle.
The Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves are tied for ninth place in the West followed by the Clippers (27-34), who trail Denver by 4 1/2 games.
``We must all hang together, or we will assuredly all hang separately,'' Bryant said, quoting Benjamin Franklin.
The Lakers last missed the playoffs in 1994, when they lost their last 10 games to finish 33-49.