LAKERS NOTEBOOK: LAKERS POINTING TO `THE FINAL RUN'.Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer MINNEAPOLIS - There was a brief moment, about a week ago, when the season didn't look so awful anymore, and Phil Jackson
Philip Douglas "Phil" Jackson (born September 17, 1945 in Deer Lodge, Montana) is the current coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, an American professional basketball team. allowed himself to indulge in a little optimism. The Lakers were the second-winningest team in the league since Jan. 1, and all things seemed possible again. Even, Jackson thought, a drive to the fourth seed in the West. Then they got routed in Chicago and Detroit, and by the time the Lakers arrived in Minneapolis early Thursday morning, the optimism had waned. With two games left on this road trip, and 19 left in the season, Jackson has scaled back his goals. ``For me, fifth or fourth (place) was a minimum that I really wanted to search for if we could go on a run. Now, it doesn't matter,'' he said. ``What matters is about momentum and getting everybody playing well and getting people healthy in the final run.'' The Lakers get another opportunity to gain ground in the standings tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves The Minnesota Timberwolves are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Their organization is a member of the National Basketball Association (NBA). , then wrap up the road trip Saturday at Milwaukee. They could restore hope very quickly with two victories, or inspire all-out panic should they get swept. ``We just know that we have confidence in what we can do,'' Jackson said. ``We believe in ourselves. You've got to have something to build on to make that a reality.'' General manager Mitch Kupchak Mitchell "Mitch" Kupchak (born May 24 1954 in Hicksville, New York) is a retired American basketball player and current general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers since the 2000-01 NBA season after predecessor Jerry West moved to the Memphis Grizzlies organization. isn't giving up on gaining the fourth seed and a round of homecourt advantage Noun 1. homecourt advantage - the advantage of playing on your home court in front of fans who are rooting for you advantage, vantage - the quality of having a superior or more favorable position; "the experience gave him the advantage over me" . ``I still think it's possible,'' he said, pointing to recent strings of losses by Minnesota and Portland. ``It seems like every day we do continue to get help. ... I think that's going to be the trend for the rest of the year, because the teams in the West are just going to keep knocking each other off.'' --Also: Kobe Bryant Kobe Bean Bryant (born July 23 1978) is an American All-Star shooting guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. had some swelling in his right knee but said he should be fine for tonight's game against the Timberwolves. He has been bothered by tendinitis in the knee all season and banged it in Wednesday's loss at Detroit. ... Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (pronounced "shak-KEEL") (born March 6, 1972 in Newark, New Jersey), frequently referred to simply as Shaq, is an American professional basketball player, generally regarded as one of the most dominant in the National Basketball Association (NBA). had appeared to regain his old dominance until playing listlessly list·less adj. Lacking energy or disinclined to exert effort; lethargic: reacted to the latest crisis with listless resignation. in the past two losses. ``We didn't communicate at all this morning, but he gave me thumbs up that he was OK,'' Jackson said. ``So I think he'll be fine.'' CAPTION(S): box Box: LAKERS vs. MINNESOTA - Howard Beck |
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