Lakers vs Trail Blazers Preview 03/16/07
Preview: Portland at L.A. Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson had a day he'd probably like to forget on Thursday.One day after drawing a hefty fine from the NBA, Jackson will look to help his team end a seven-game losing streak as they host the
Portland Trail Blazers on Friday. Jackson and the Lakers were each fined $50,000 on Thursday after Jackson said the league was conducting a "witch hunt" against
Kobe Bryant. Bryant has recently received two one-game suspensions for striking players in the face after taking a shot. The league retroactively assessed Bryant with a flagrant foul for an elbow to Philadelphia's
Kyle Korver last week, a play that didn't even draw a foul.
"I thought you only get fined for criticizing the officiating," Jackson said. "They're the sacred cows. But I find out somebody else has a sacred cow somewhere else." Later on Thursday, Los Angeles extended its losing streak with a blowout 113-86 loss to the
Denver Nuggets. The seven-game losing streak is the first in Jackson's 16-year coaching career. Bryant had a team-high 25 points for the Lakers, who have dropped 13 of their last 16 and fallen into a tie with the Nuggets for sixth place in the Western Conference.
Luke Walton played for the first time since Jan. 26 after sitting out with a sprained right ankle and had 13 points in just over 29 minutes.
Lamar Odom, who had been nursing a torn labrum in his left shoulder, played for the first time since March 2 and had nine points in more than 32 minutes, but went scoreless in the second half.
"Luke Walton ran out of gas and Lamar Odom is just not ready to play," Jackson said.
Brian Cook sat out with an ankle injury and is expected to miss two more games. "With Lamar back, we saw flashes of what we're capable of in the first half," Bryant said. "We just have to build on that and understand that that's the team we want to make noise with in the playoffs. We have to build with what we have here, and Luke and Lamar need to get in basketball shape. "When that happens we'll feel pretty good."
The Trail Blazers (26-38) have dropped six of their last eight, including Wednesday's 87-75 loss to the
Detroit Pistons.
Zach Randolph had 21 points and 11 rebounds for his 35th double-double. "Is it painful? Yes, it's painful to lose. But I think the last two games shows us where we are," said coach Nate McMillan, whose team was coming off a 107-99 loss at Denver. "We're a team that is developing and has a ways to go to get that type of talent and have those types of players out on the floor who are poised and mature and experienced and talented."
LaMarcus Aldridge had 14 points and 10 rebounds and
Brandon Roy added 15 points for the Blazers, who are just three games behind
Golden State for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West despite their sub-.500 record. "I think we have a shot (at the playoffs) mathematically, but teams are playing good," Roy said. "I think we're really seeing where we're at right now."
NBA Future:
Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant His upside is out of this world ... This kid is not even begining to scratch the surface of his potential ... Looking at him you see his frame is going to fill out in 3-4 years ... Very fluid athlete with explosiveness ... He plays hard and is still learning the game ...
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