Asked after practice Tuesday what the Lakers can still do better, Coach Phil Jackson said: "Defensively we're still working on some things that need to be a lot better."
Jackson might need to think of something else to worry about.
The Lakers were fantastic on defense in the second half Wednesday night to rally and eventually rout the Utah Jazz, 101-77, at Staples Center . Utah scored six points in the fourth quarter.
It was the Lakers' 10th consecutive victory, and with a home victory Friday night over 3-18 Minnesota , they would have their first 11-game winning streak in 5 ½ years.
Although Jackson said he wanted fewer points allowed in his team's paint, the Lakers came into the game leading the league in field-goal defense, allowing just 42.7 percent shooting. If he wanted more, though, he got it.
Utah led, 38-31, in the second quarter and stretched its advantage to 63-55 before Jackson took a timeout midway through the third quarter. Immediately came a 10-2 Lakers run, and the Lakers led, 73-71, after Kobe Bryant set up Jordan Farmar's 3-pointer to end the period.
Bryant had 27 points on 10-of-19 shooting, eight assists and six rebounds. Bryant later assisted on Ron Artest's 3-pointer - his first of the night - for an 83-73 lead with 8:20 to play, sparking the party time.
Utah came in shooting 49.7 percent from the field, No. 2 in the NBA, and finished up at 33.7 percent on this night. Jazz power forward Carlos Boozer shot 5 for 16 from the field and had just 11 points.
On a night when Derek Fisher didn't score and played just 18 minutes because of early foul trouble trying to guard Deron Williams, Farmar stepped up with 11 points in 21 minutes.
