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I'm fairly sure the Lakers haven't kicked off an opening round playoff series on anything but a Sunday since Eisenhower patrolled the Oval Office, so everyone was pretty sure they would, once again, start this year's postseason on Sunday. Today, the NBA released its schedule for Game 1's across the league, and it's official:

The Lakers will play Game 1 Sunday at Staples, against either Denver or Dallas.

It'll be a big day for L.A. hoops, as the Clips will also kick off their playoff run Sunday against Memphis, location to be determined pending the result of tonight's game between the Grizzlies and Orlando. If Memphis wins, they get the Western Conference's fourth seed and will host Game 1. In other Western Conference news, Saturday's games will include San Antonio hosting Utah, and the Thunder welcoming either the Nuggets or Mavs.

The day has been dominated by bad news for the Lakers, starting with an ankle injury for Matt Barnes and moving on to a seven-game suspension for Metta World Peace. At least they can end it with something positive.

Tuesday night in Atlanta, the Hawks knocked off the Clippers 109-102, giving the Lakers the Pacific Division title, locking them into the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs, and making Thursday's game in Sacramento irrelevant to anyone not in a Las Vegas sportsbook or calculating draft lottery odds for the Kings.

This is a good thing, removing any need for starters to play big, or even little, minutes. Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, and Pau Gasol should have early nights, if they dress at all. Perhaps coach Mike Brown will elect to give key starters a little bit of burn, allowing him to see different floor combinations that might be needed in the playoffs with Barnes potentially hobbled and World Peace out. Either way, not actually having to win the game is a great luxury.

As for a first-round opponent, it will either be Dallas or Denver. The Nuggets control their own destiny, but either team remains a legitimate possibility.

Newton's third law contends that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Using that principle as a guide, Metta World Peace met the side of James Harden's head on Sunday with a fairly vicious elbow, laying out the likely NBA Sixth Man of the Year and earning himself an ejection. In other words, a powerful force of action. Tuesday, the league office met that action with one of its own, announcing that MWP will be suspended for seven games.

Does this truly constitute an "equal" reaction? Hard to say, as the science of comparing 'bows and penalties is similarly murky to that of apples and oranges. But the penalty was no joke, which was to be expected. Between the act itself, the way MWP squared off against Serge Ibaka afterward and his long list of previous transgressions (including last season's playoffs against Dallas), a wrist slap felt unlikely. And MWP didn't deserve to be let off easily. This was extremely dangerous, dirty and unwarranted, a sucker punch with an elbow. Harden could have been seriously hurt, and a strong reaction was necessary to create a future deterrent.

Since Sunday's incident, I've heard Los Angeles Lakers fans on the blog, on Twitter and on radio say Harden got what he deserved because he "talks trash to Kobe Bryant" and "was making contact with Metta." Respectfully, either rationale is ridiculous. The "contact" initiated by the Oklahoma City Thunder guard was what I often refer to as "getting in place to receive an inbound pass." Were Harden looking to instigate or irritate, he'd have hit MWP with some actual force, rather than meander into him at a glacial speed. And second, yapping throughout a game isn't grounds for an elbow that could result in having your jaw wired shut. This isn't a street fight. You don't go clocking dudes because they got in your face or talked smack. Everyone in the NBA is a paid professional, and in the case of Metta, a rather handsomely paid one.

There are boundaries, and everybody knows them. Admitting the painfully obvious -- Metta's actions were irrefutably wrong -- doesn't make you any less loyal to the Lakers or even to Metta himself. It just makes you sound like you possess a shred of objectivity.

As for matters concerning basketball, Metta's ban puts the Lakers in a bind. Offensively, he has experienced an April rebirth, particularly during Bryant's absence. Whether as a scorer or facilitator, an outside shot and comfort zone has been discovered after nearly a season's worth of physical and mental struggles. The Lakers may be stockpiling scorers these days, but they can never have enough sources of scoring, especially with Ramon Sessions currently in a funk. Plus, World Peace has a knack for hitting big shots. That Kobe has consistently passed to Metta late in fourth quarters isn't only because the dude's always left open. That ability to come through in crunch time will be missed.

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Nothing like a lopsided loss to get the Laker Nation a-chatterin'. Plenty of questions tossed our way, including those about Kobe Bryant's time table for a return, how well the Lakers match up in a potential series against San Antonio and the odds of Ramon Sessions returning next season.

Here's a link to the transcript.

Also, as a reminder, if you haven't had a chance to read Dave McMenamin's two part Q and A with Jim Buss, do so. (Part 1 here, Part 2 here.) It's well worth your time.

It wasn't always pretty -- actually, it rarely was -- but the Lakers nonetheless pulled out a 112-108 overtime win over the Dallas Mavericks Sunday afternoon at Staples. The team hunkered down and ragained control of the contest after a sluggish start, and consistent with their victorious ways short Kobe Bryant, a group effort ruled the day. Andrew Bynum (playing with an upper-respiratory illness), Pau Gasol, Matt Barnes, Metta World Peace and Ramon Sessions all reached double figures. Defensively, everyone who stepped on the floor chipped in his two cents. As a team, they clamped down in the second half (44 points allowed in Q's three and four) and kept the Mavs off the line.

We hit on their strong games, and more, including how the Lakers managed to win when three big cogs (Gasol, Bynum, and MWP) weren't models of efficiency, what happens when Bryant returns, and whether the Lakers are actually peaking heading into the postseason. If so, who gets the credit?



Good clips in the show from Mike Brown and Gasol. Click below for more from the head coach, Gasol, and Ramon Sessions.

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I've said it many times. In a season in which consistency has been as rare as a four-leaf clover discovered on top of a copy of Superman No. 1, there's been one solid trend for the Lakers. Opponents regarded with contempt on a personal level receive their best efforts, as evidenced by a 3-0 clip against the defending champs. The players on hand, whether Derek Fisher, Ramon Sessions, Brendan Haywood or Delonte West, have changed, but the Lakers' vibe has been metronome-steady. Kobe Bryant might not be available Sunday, and Lamar Odom absolutely won't, but I expect that intensity to be maintained. Particularly in light of Friday's rather promising win over the Nuggets.

To discuss the matchup, I had an IM conversation with Jeff Caplan, who covers the Mavs for ESPN Dallas. Below is the transcript.

Andy Kamenetzky: From a psychological standpoint, what does Odom's departure do for Dallas?

Jeff Caplan: The first thing is it removes daily frustration and exasperation from the locker room. His behavior was such that I believe players questioned his commitment, and have for some time. Mark Cuban and Rick Carlisle were as patient as possible, believing at some point he would turn things around and contribute. Finally, Cuban saw zero desire emanating from Odom and pulled the plug. The Mavs thrived with an all-for-one mentality last season and now can get back to that.

AK: Even acknowledging Odom's disengagement and poor play, has he been a convenient scapegoat at all for Dallas' underwhelming season?

JC: Absolutely. For evidence that it wasn't just Lamar, just look at Thursday night at Golden State. The Mavs were up 19 in the first half, then allowed the Warriors to cut it to three early in the fourth before turning it on again. That's a staple of this team this year: No lead is safe. That's mostly due to an offense ranking around 20th all year in scoring average and field goal percentage. But I don't think anyone within the organization has said, "It's all Lamar's fault" or "Now that he's gone, we're about to roll." I think there's now just more of a workmanlike mentality, with players going about their business. This is mostly a drama-free locker room led by Dirk Nowitzki, who is unlike any superstar I've ever been around.

The big question is will Shawn Marion have anyone to defend? What's Kobe's status with the shin and is anybody getting worried?

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As I said to ESPN Dallas' Jeff Caplan in today's "What to Watch," nothing has focused these Los Angeles Lakers more throughout this season than genuine animosity toward a particular opponent. Now 3-0 against the team that ended their title run last season, I think we can all agree, the Lakers regard the Dallas Mavericks with, as Jules Winfield said in "Pulp Fiction," "great vengeance and furious anger." There's simply no limit to the pleasure taken in whipping these dudes. Apparently, the key to a deep playoff run is manufacturing grudges against the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies. Here are the four takeaways from the game:

1. Ramon Sessions made a serious case to enter the starting lineup.

After watching Steve Blake go seven scoreless minutes with one assist to his name, Sessions checked into the game, then wasted little time stealing the show. He first entered the box score with a 3-pointer created off the dribble, working beyond the scouting report would define as his range. A few minutes later, he assisted four-of-five consecutive Lakers buckets on as many possessions, the other basket a 22-footer drilled by the man of the hour. As the half commenced, more of the same continued. The ball was moved with purpose. The rim was attacked with authority. A give-and-go handoff from Troy Murphy was cashed in the lane. The newbie looked exceptionally comfortable and in complete control as he closed the half with 12 points (on a 5-of-6 clip), four rebounds and seven assists. Aside from a couple of fourth-quarter possessions over-dribbled into trouble, the second half was essentially a Xerox of what happened before intermission.

Lakers coach Mike Brown has been noncommittal about moving his new point guard into the starting lineup, and normally, this wouldn't be a big issue to me one way or the other. As I've often said, who starts is an overrated talking point, whereas minutes and who finishes games are really what matters. But in the case of Sessions vs. Blake, I'll make an exception to my credo. Brown needs to make this move ASAP for a few reasons. Ultimately, this job will be Sessions', unless his coach has absolutely lost his mind. So you might as well pull the trigger on the inevitable. The more reps with the starters, the quicker he'll become acclimated to the way Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum play. Once that happens, he can make life considerably easier for the big three for as many possessions as possible, which was the whole point of acquiring him in the first place.

Plus, delaying the move does no favors for Blake. He's playing like a guy expecting to lose his gig, which appears to be preventing any comfort level whatsoever with the first five. Blake had been quarterbacking the second unit well before Sessions' arrival, and developed a very nice chemistry with Bynum and Matt Barnes. Let the Terp play what's really his proper role, and my guess is he'll look a heck of a lot better.

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For the Lakers, a two-game losing streak threatens to dampen the good vibes since the acquisition of new point guard Ramon Sessions, plus swelling hopes for home-court advantage throughout much of the playoffs. For the Mavericks, a four-game winning streak could signal stability after an inconsistent, sometimes turbulent season. Will either team find its path interrupted? We'll see, but after Lakers losses to shorthanded Jazz and Rockets squads, Brendan Haywood and Delonte West being definitely out for the Mavs, plus the possibility of Shawn Marion missing the game, doesn't feel like asset. Any scenario offering the Lakers an excuse to dial back their execution and focus feels dangerous, especially on the road.

For a look at what may lie ahead, I had an instant message conversation with Jeff Caplan, who covers the Mavs for ESPN Dallas. Below is the transcript.

Andy Kamenetzky: So what's the latest on Marion? He's always a key factor in defending Kobe Bryant.

JC: Marion indeed has been terrific against Kobe this year, limiting him to 14.5 points a game, which is like half his league-leading average, and below 30 percent from the field. His left knee has been sore for weeks, but finally forced him out. It was examined Monday and no structural damage was found. I suspect he plays against L.A., but don't hold me to that.



How do you think the Lakers will be different with Ramon Sessions?

AK: In theory, they'll be running more pick-and-roll, and there's a legitimate threat beyond Kobe at the wing to attack the rim. He's also the fastest point guard since Jordan Farmar, but with a bigger role on the horizon. So in other words, very different, and there will be adjustments for everyone involved. Sessions has to learn the playbook and where his teammates like the ball. Sessions' teammates must get used to his speed, and working with a player not named "Kobe" who keeps the rock in his hands so often. (In particular, the Mamba, who hasn't played with a guard this ball dominant since Nick Van Exel.) And most importantly, Brown must figure out the best ways to mesh his new acquisition, a test for a coach not known for offensive creativity. But with everyone cooperating, it's a marriage that should be tremendously beneficial.

Speaking of marriages (Obligatory Khloe joke alert!!!), what's the latest with "As Lamar Odom turns?"

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Kobe Bryant did what he could following Wednesday's win over Minnesota to diffuse any talk of bad blood between himself and Miami's Dwyane Wade -- at this point, do I need to explain what I'm referring to? -- ahead of Sunday's game. Clearly his words of moderation never reached Matt Barnes.

The Lakers forward said last night he saw the foul Wade put on Kobe in the All-Star Game as part of a pattern in which opposing teams are allowed to push the Lakers around without fear of consequences, in part because "me and [Metta World Peace] act like we're going to do stuff, and get flagrant fouls called on us. Hopefully they'll let us play. If they're going to let the league play physical, they need to start letting our team play physical."

Barnes, who said he views Metta as the team's true enforcer (not unreasonably) and himself as the enforcer's "sidekick" later reiterated his point. "If they're gonna let our star players continue to get beat up," he said, referencing not just the Wade foul but the one delivered by Brendan Haywood to Pau Gasol Feb. 22 in Dallas, "we're going to have to step up."

Barnes' comments reflect the sort of "us against the world" language coming out of the locker room meeting the players had 10 or so days ago, and it's anyone's guess how this sort of talk might play out on the floor, whether in Sunday's game against the Heat or any of the other 30 left on the slate. The Lakers don't have much margin for error against the league's best teams and can't afford to do anything stupid during games -- something Mike Brown would be wise to emphasize -- but given the style of play they've adopted (by virtue of coaching style and necessity) whatever adds even the slightest sense of hesitation in the minds of opposing players could help.

Not sure the talk qualifies, but a couple clean-but-hard fouls for people to watch on tape might.

Via ESPN Dallas' Jeff Caplan, Lamar Odom, who didn't play Wednesday when the Lakers beat the Mavs in Dallas, did not report back to the team Monday.Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle gave no timetable for Odom's return.

"Lamar is not here today," he said Monday. "He is still dealing with a family matter and the hope is he'll join us soon, and we'll update you when there's an update."

It's a stone cold lock the Mavs won't bring back Odom next season, but there has even been some water cooler/sports talk radio speculation they might even buy him out this year. Carlisle gave no indication that was the case, but that the idea sounds plausible indicates just how much Odom has struggled. I suspect Dallas holds on to him, because a) Mark Cuban would owe Odom money anyway, b) he might land on a rival, and c) the potential good he'd do for the Mavs if he improves is too valuable. They've waited this long, and might as well see it through.

If Dallas did pull the trigger on a buyout, talk of a return to Los Angeles would be rampant, but given Odom left town I'd be surprised if the Lakers showed much interest.

They need help, but I suspect that ship has sailed.

Wednesday night in Dallas, the Lakers did a lot that'll typically bring a loss on the road. Too many turnovers (17), too many offensive rebounds (21) allowed, too many free throws missed (13), to name the three biggest, and Kobe Bryant had a rough game, to boot. But thanks to an otherwise solid effort defensively and good work from Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Derek Fisher, they managed to win anyway.

And a big win it was. We hit all the high points on tonight's edition of Lakers Late Night. Among them...

• Are games like this a bad omen for Kobe (and therefore the Lakers) as Mike Brown struggles to manage his minutes?
• Strong efforts from Gasol and Bynum. Are concerns about Pau's play a little overwrought, rumors and headlines notwithstanding?
• Fisher blew up, with 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting. Is there hope of decent production going forward?
• Thoughts on Thursday's game in Oklahoma City.

Style points do not matter on the road, particularly when the road team enters the game with a 5-11 record in someone else's building. So while the Los Angeles Lakers made things a lot -- and I mean a lot -- closer than they needed to be, not just in the final minute but throughout the game, they still emerged with a massive win Wednesday night in Dallas.

With a first-half capping game in Oklahoma City Thursday night, the Lakers needed a victory to help erase Sunday's completely unnecessary loss in Phoenix. Behind Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Derek Fisher (yes, that Derek Fisher), they got it.

Here are six takeaways...

1. Pau Gasol again did damage to the narrative that he has been struggling of late.

I'm not saying Gasol has been outstanding all season, because I don't think that's the case. I have high expectations for the guy, and he hasn't been as consistent or efficient as he's capable. But the way people have talked about him over the past week, you'd think he was Eddy Curry. Wednesday night, he exorcised some playoff demons from last spring, coming out red hot. In one way, shape or form, Gasol accounted for each of L.A.'s first 12 points, hitting four shots and delivering a couple buckets for Bynum.

On the block, he twice used the left hand for buckets on sweet moves, first losing Dirk Nowitzki, then Brendan Haywood. He finished the first half with 16 points. Opportunities were a little tougher to come by in the second half and he was part of L.A.'s parade of missed free throws late, but in the fourth Gasol still came up with a big tip off a Kobe Bryant miss and converted a tough lob from Bryant with a little more than a minute to play.

He finished the night with 24 points on 11-of-18 shooting, plus nine rebounds four assists and three steals. It was a reminder that, while he's certainly got a few things on his mind, the on-court product has been solid, particularly this month.

2. Kobe Bryant struggled.

The legs weren't there, nor was the lift or the handle. And with it, Bryant also seemed a little tired mentally. The shot selection was off, the D spotty, as was the decision-making. Add in a healthy dose of Shawn Marion on the defensive end for Dallas, and it's not hard to see why he finished the third quarter with only nine points on 3-of-11 from the floor, and his three assists undercut by five turnovers. Anger at his work through the first three added a little life in the fourth -- Kobe made two very nice passes in the final minutes -- but the final line was still ugly: 4-of-15 from the floor, only 5-of-9 from the line, plus seven turnovers against four assists. It's the sort of game, particularly early, I had in mind when writing this.

For the month, Bryant's field goal percentage is hovering around 40 percent, and only twice has he been above 50.

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When last we saw these teams, on MLK Day, an "NBA Finals Game 7" atmosphere was anticipated. After all, it was the first meeting between the teams since the eventual champion Mavericks turned the Lakers' three-peat run into a car crash. What we got instead was an "NBA Finals Game 7" score (i.e., low). Both squads struggled mightily from the floor, and Derek Fisher's trey with three seconds remaining spared the teams the potential embarrassment of overtime without reaching 80.

To prepare for the rematch, Jeff Caplan, who covers the Mavericks for ESPN Dallas, and I had a conversation breaking down both teams. Below is the transcript.

Andy Kamenetzky: After a slow start, the Mavericks have turned a corner. What's changed since the early struggles?

Jeff Caplan: Defense. Believe it or not this a defense-first outfit. They've really absorbed Rick Carlisle's "system" and no matter who is out with injuries and who is playing, the offense might dip, but the defense has been consistently good. The Mavs are first in opponent field goal percentage, fourth in scoring defense and, before Sunday's loss at New York, top six in defending points in the paint.

AK: And all without Tyson Chandler. Was the fret over his absence overwrought?

JC: I don't think we'll really know until the playoffs. Brendan Haywood has played well and Carlisle is really using three centers with Ian Mahinmi and Brandan Wright. Mahinmi has gone south lately while Wright has shown promise. However, Chandler brought so much emotion and fire, both on the court and in the locker room, and that's a quality this team just didn't have in years past. So, yes, Chandler's absence has been overblown because the Mavs have surprisingly gotten good performances from their centers and the defense overall has been very good. But in the heat of the playoffs, the Mavs might miss Chandler's overall package.

AK: Is safe to assume Dirk is back?

JC: He certainly is getting there. He had a terrific stretch of six games or so, then his shooting tailed off again ... and now he's shooting lights out.

Kobe called out management after yet another road loss at Phoenix on Sunday. What is the chemistry like on this team? You get the sense that Kobe is unhappy.

AK: If Kobe's not truly "unhappy," he's definitely "unhappy-adjacent." As for chemistry, I think guys get along, but on the court and mentally, there's much to be desired. They're struggling to score, which turns basketball into a grind-it-out chore and often a joyless drag. It also doesn't help that, in my opinion, the entire team is waiting for a trade to happen. There's a collective vibe of expected disbandment, which doesn't help in terms of jelling. I get the feeling guys are having a hard time buying into the idea of growing as a group.

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It wasn't much fun to watch, not until the end at least, but when it was over the Lakers had a three point win. Better to describe it that way than give the final score, because 73-70 just isn't appropriate for an NBA game.

This is what you get when two teams have played a combined 29 games over the course of about 22 days.

On tonight's show, we:

• Break down a big fourth quarter for Derek Fisher. Not just because of that game winning 3-pointer, but the stuff coming before.
• Get inside another tough night for the Lakers offense. Via postgame interviews, Fisher and Mike Brown explain why things simply aren't functioning the way they'd like. Because games have come so fast, the Lakers haven't had any full contact pratices since the start of the year. They're learning and installing on the fly, quite often during games. Obviously, it ain't ideal.
• Pau Gasol had a tough night offensively, but played a huge role on Dirk Nowitzki at the other end. Through comments from Brown and Gasol, we examine Pau's work Monday against Dallas, and also the massive transition he's facing from last season to now.

More postgame video below, from Brown, Andrew Bynum, Kobe Bryant, and Gasol...

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Another night when the NBA might have to resconsider the whole "I love this game!" theme it has run with over the years, but once again on their home floor, the Los Angeles Lakers managed to win.

L.A. runs its record to 10-5, with tough games at Miami and Orlando upcoming.

Here are seven takeaways ...

1. The Lakers finished with one 3-pointer, but it was a very, very important one.

Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle did everything he's supposed to do. The ball was inbounded high on the floor to Kobe Bryant, matched up against Shawn Marion. Jason Terry quickly came over to double. Bryant made the pass back to the right wing to Derek Fisher.

Say what you will about Fisher and his place in this league (and you have said a lot), if there's a spot you want him on that wall, where you need him on that wall, this is it. Lakers fans have seen this movie before, and it's a good one. Fisher's triple capped an outstanding fourth quarter for the old man. Nine points on 3-for-4 shooting, plus a pair of free throws and a critical steal.

Don't ignore the whole one 3-pointer thing, though. It's indicative of an outside shooting problem that isn't getting better.

2. Kobe Bryant had a bad game offensively, the Lakers won anyway.

After four straight 40-plus games, it's fair to forgive Kobe an off shooting night. Just 7-for-22, only one free throw attempt, and seven assists (nice!) against four turnovers (less nice). Many of the shots weren't much different than those he's made on other nights, but overall the shot chart did change. Via ESPN Stats & Information, only three of Bryant's 22 shots came within 10 feet, for four points. During the previous four games, he had scored 77 of his 172 points inside 10 feet, free throws included. To his credit, Bryant did little forcing offensively and when the time came had three dimes in the fourth, including the critical dish to help win the game. I certainly don't recommend this strategy (73 points!) any more than relying on Kobe to do all the heavy lifting, but had Bryant struggled mightily and the Lakers had their doors blown off, it would have been worse.

The Lakers have a long way to go on that side of the ball. Bryant didn't get much help from Pau Gasol, who finished with eight points and didn't have a field goal in the second half (though he did contribute -- see below). Andrew Bynum did his part, and Fisher came up big down the stretch.

But 73 points is 73 points.

3. Andrew Bynum had a good night against the double team.

When Carlisle elected to guard him man up, primarily with Brendan Haywood, Bynum dominated. His position was consistently deep on the block, using both the left and right hands to convert. He moved well without the ball, converting a nice alley-oop pass from Josh McRoberts, and diving to the rim after a nice two-man sequence between Bryant and Gasol forced Bynum's man away in help. But more than anything, the positive takeaway from his 17-point, 15-rebound night wasn't in how he scored, but what he did recognizing the double-team. It started early, when in the first quarter he found himself triple-teamed on the left block, spun baseline and threaded a nice bounce pass to Jason Kapono in the corner for a long jumper.

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