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If there's a position on the floor where the Lakers have quality depth, it's power forward. When reigning Sixth Man of the Year Lamar Odom is the backup, clearly things are going well. Between L.O. and Pau Gasol, L.A. likely sports the league's best two-man rotation at the 4. Still, it wouldn't hurt for them to find a viable third PF for the roster, not so much to bolster the Gasol/Odom combo -- though someone to lighten the load is always welcome -- but as a hedge against injury, whether at the 4 or the 5.

The time Andrew Bynum spent sidelined last season proved pivotal, sucking heaps of energy from Gasol's legs and setting the table for what would eventually become a physical and mental meltdown in the postseason. While he has a chance to start next season healthier than virtually any in his career, Bynum still can't be counted on to stay that way. The Lakers have to assume he'll miss some games, meaning they clearly need a backup center more viable than Theo Ratliff proved last season. It also means a little more support at PF could constitute a reasonable use of roster space and resources, even while representing a lower rung on the priority ladder.

We've touched on the point guards, shooting guards and small forwards. As is always the case, it will be virtually impossible for the Lakers to land any of the pricier names available without a major discount or a sign-and-trade. Unlike other areas of need, though, attracting higher end talent, even players starving for rings, will be tougher because available playing time at power forward is so limited. A little positional flexibility-- meaning a guy who can shift between either the 4/5 or 4/3 -- would be a nice touch, helping open some options. Still, without serious structural changes to the current core, it's a tough sell.

So without further ado...

HEY, THESE GUYS ARE GOOD AND/OR WANT/DESERVE BIG ROLES! MEANING THEY WON'T BE IN L.A. NEXT SEASON, UNLESS THE LAKERS MAKE MAJOR CHANGES!

• David West (Unrestricted Free Agent, New Orleans)
• Carl Landry (UFA, New Orleans)
• Jeff Green (Restricted Free Agent, Boston)
• Glen Davis (UFA, Boston)
• Kenyon Martin (UFA, Denver)
• Kris Humphries (UFA, New Jersey)
• Chuck Hayes (UFA, Houston)

West is coming off serious knee surgery, but is a former All-Star and when healthy is clearly the best player on this list. Landry would never give up the opportunity to continue his habit of eviscerating the Lakers by actually signing with them. Davis isn't a starter, but remains a very valuable role player who is too good for the role the Lakers can offer. Green has been extended a $5.9 million qualifying offer by the Celtics, meaning he's already been priced out of L.A., not that he's an overwhelmingly attractive option, anyway. Martin is not a guy you want sitting on the bench, potentially becoming unsatisfied with his role. He played center in Houston because the Rockets didn't have any other options, but his size makes PF Hayes' natural spot. Either way, he was among the more underrated players in the NBA last season. Again, too good for what L.A. can give.

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With each passing day, the anticipation builds as to Phil Jackson's eventual successor. Despite a disappointing final season in L.A., PJ obviously leaves massive shoes to fill. The primary names reportedly in the hat include Brian Shaw (who also interviewed with the Warriors), Chuck Person, Mike Dunleavy, Rick Adelman, and Mike Brown, with perhaps even more to surface.

In an effort to compare two of the candidates, I gave a call to former Laker Josh Powell, who spent a season under Dunleavy with the Clippers before his two in purple and gold. Powell, who felt his time with Dunleavy helped prepare him for some occasionally important minutes during two title runs, offered thoughts on the very different systems of Dunleavy and Shaw (should he continue running Jackson's system as expected), plus the way the two communicate.

Powell, on the differences in the systems of Dunleavy and Jackson
"With Coach Dunleavy, he's more of [a deliberate] execution, in terms of slowing the game up and calling out more plays and just control from that standpoint. Which isn't a bad thing. It's just his method and his way of doing things, controlling the flow of the game.

"Phil has a different approach from the standpoint of he allows the players to be in much more control of what things are being run and executed out there on the court. Of course, during time outs or certain situations, he wants to come up with a play. But more so than not, he definitely puts that responsibility on the players."

On how long the differences between Dunleavy's and Jackson's systems took getting used to
"It didn't throw me for a loop. It's something to get used from that standpoint, because you're literally out there with the guys just calling and running through the plays. The triangle is a different offense, because it's not necessarily things that are called. It's just based on where the ball goes and things like that. We were just out there going with the flow. It was definitely great. I got used to it very quickly."

On whether Dunleavy's playbook is as thick as rumored
"He definitely has a large playbook and at the same time, everything is all with numbers. So that took a while to getting used to. But once you get used to the sets and everything, that's pretty much easy. Just like any other offense, once you start going through it, it becomes second nature. It's nothing."

On how long it would take for the Lakers, especially those who've been in the triangle for years, to get used to a more conventional system
"I'm sure it'll be tough, because you have an offense that basically dictates itself from the standpoint of its continuous movement. Nothing stops one other thing. And when you go to a [more conventional] set, if that option runs out, then you gotta be creative, you know? You're going from something that's continuous to now, you have to call a play. You run through that play. The first option doesn't work. The second option doesn't work. 'Oh, no. What do you do?' You gotta be creative, from that standpoint.

"Either way, that organization, they're very talented with the group of guys that they have. I'm sure that they'll find a way to make it where that group is successful.

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As part of our look ahead at the Lakers' projected roster next season, we continue to work our way from the bottom to the top of the rotation. Next up...

Player
Theo Ratliff

Salary
$854,389

Role For The Lakers In 2010-2011
It's not easy being a third string player on a championship team. You work very hard, but the payoff rarely arrives in tangible form. You're told to remain mentally ready, but the odds favor remaining physically stagnant. You don't have to like sparse playing time (nor should you, really), but you have to accept it.

From mid-2008 through 2010, D.J. Mbenga played this role at center for the Lakers. On the whole, he did an admirable job staying focused, working hard for little acclaim and performing well when called up upon. But over the course of last season, the job constraints began to wear on Mbenga, who felt he could be on the floor more often. During the Finals against Boston, Phil Jackson noted how Josh Powell (another third stringer) remained sharp during these long stints without PT, but Mbenga had allowed his mind to wander. Not so coincidentally, Adam Morrison was suddenly activated for a game in favor of D.J., despite Andrew Bynum's balky knee and Ammo's last bit of run coming in approximately 1997. A message was clearly sent. It may very well have been received, but during his exit interview, Mbenga reiterated his desire to get more run, making a split feel even more imminent.

It could be argued Mbenga has an inflated sense of skill. During the sporadic occasions of extended run, the returns were mixed and often increasingly diminished the longer he remained on the court. He also remains unsigned, and a landing spot is hard to predict. Nonetheless, D.J.'s desire to grow as a player is understandable and admirable. Unfortunately, it doesn't mesh with what is needed.

Enter Theo Ratliff, who strikes me as the best of both worlds in this setup.

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Friday evening, the Lakers kick off their Summer League season in Las Vegas.

Because it would be virtually impossible to be otherwise, this year's squad will be more interesting than last season's edition, which included Adam Morrison and a bunch of guys obscure enough to make Google pull a hammy. The 2010 roster, however, includes both of this year's second rounders in Devin Ebanks and Derrick Caracter, at least one of which (Ebanks) seems likely to make the team. With a good showing in Vegas and again in training camp, both certainly could be around opening night.

In short, where last year there were none, this summer roster spots are potentially for grabs.

After Ebanks and Caracter, some interesting names will suit up for the sort-of-purple and gold, the most recognizable being Gerald Green and D.J. Strawberry. Drafted out of high school with the 18th pick by the Celtics in '05, Green impressed with his raw athleticism but was nonetheless shipped to Minnesota in the Kevin Garnett deal and has since been hampered by underdeveloped basketball skills and attitude issues (other than that, Mrs. Lincoln...). Strawberry, son of former MLB star Darryl Strawberry, was a second round pick of the Suns back in '07, but rarely played before eventually being released.

He's since popped up in the D-League and in Italy.

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Less than a week into the official start of the NBA's offseason carnival, the Lakers already have positive outcomes for two top summer priorities: Phil Jackson is coming back, and the Lakers have, short of something totally unexpected, made their big free agent/player acquisition of the summer, agreeing to terms with guard Steve Blake. He'll likely back up Derek Fisher- assuming Fish returns (see below) -- but whether a starter or reserve should play significant minutes, strengthen the backcourt, and provide badly needed outside shooting.

The Lakers have hoped for the past couple seasons to limit Fisher's minutes, particularly during the regular season, but none of their other PG's stepped up to take those minutes. Blake solves that problem.

Two massive items crossed off the offseason to-do list, but the Lakers can't quite ball up the paper and toss it in the trash. (Or, even better, the recycling bin. Every little bit counts ... ) There is still some work to be done.

1. Get Fisher signed.

For all the early hand-wringing, the process of bringing Fisher back has barely started, and there's no reason to believe it will end without a new deal for Fish in L.A. Mitch Kupchak expressed again last week the desire to get a contract done, and an expectation it'll happen reasonably fast. Fisher wants to come back, and while other contending teams would love to have his leadership, no team is going to swoop in with the proverbial -- as opposed to the literal -- offer he can't refuse.

I'd be surprised if this took longer than a week, 10 days tops.

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Reports ESPNLA.com's Dave McMenamin:

The Lakers have opened discussions with free-agent swingman Mike Miller although no contract has been offered, a source close to the situation said Thursday... Miller earned $9.8 million last season and would need to take a significant paycut to join the Lakers, but it could be worth it to him to erase a pitiful postseason resume. It would be similar to his former teammate in Memphis, Pau Gasol before he was traded to L.A.. Miller's teams are 5-22 in the playoffs in his career, the 6-8 shooter never having made it out of the first round in six appearances.

Miller, an unrestricted free agent, would provide bench scoring and a consistent outside presence the Lakers badly need. He can shoot off the catch or on the move, is able to put the ball on the floor, and has solid court vision as a passer. Plus, he's a great rebounder at his position, always a bonus. Basically, Miller is a very good player who has been put in a state of mini-limbo since being traded out of Memphis in '08 as part of the O.J. Mayo deal on draft night. But on paper, at least, he seems like an awfully nice fit.

The Lakers can't offer him any more than a full mid-level exception ($5.8 million for up to five years), likely less than Miller can earn on the open market, but he has expressed a desire to play for a contender. It's hard to get more contender-y than the two-time defending champions.

McMenamin delivers some other nuggets (really, go back and click on the link at the top of the post) of interest to Lakers loyalists:

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Over the last two seasons, Josh Powell hasn't played heavy minutes, but has made a positive impression on coaches and teammates, understandably so. Powell is hard-working, competitive in practice, and a positive influence in the locker room. He managed to carve out an important role in the culture of the team, something not easily done by players outside of the regular rotation. But more than anything, people appreciate Powell because he takes nothing about his career for granted, having played in Russia, Italy, the D-League, and four NBA teams in three seasons before catching on with the Lakers.

It's impossible not to respect the work required for Powell to earn and keep a place in the NBA. His is a tough role, where minutes are inconsistent but performance is expected when they come and the natural, competitive desire for more playing time has to be balanced with the need for professionalism and team chemistry.

As you'll see in the video, he'd like to remain a Laker. So would his teammates, but won't be that simple. Money has been a front-burner issue for the Lakers for a while, as they've cut costs around the organization and in the payroll whenever possible (trading Chris Mihm, flipping Vlad Radmanovic (not just about money, but not not about money), replacing Ronny Turiaf with Powell, etc.) while spending huge amounts on their high-end players.

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Do not expect Thursday's 2010 NBA Draft to cement a Threepeat.

Do not use words and expressions like "replace," "compensate for," or "fill a hole." Certainly don't use the "R" word (rotation).

These are not things picks 43 and 58 can do for a team searching for their third straight title. Even bad teams often have little space for second rounders. On good ones, they frequently don't make the roster or are stashed in Europe until further notice, sometimes never heard from again. There are the occasional DuJuan Blair types who make an impact on a playoff squad, or even a Wes Matthews, who wasn't even drafted. But they are the exception, not the rule.

This isn't the ranting of an NBA maverick. While he's not exactly prone to fits of exuberance, Mitch Kupchak didn't undersell things when asked Wednesday if the Lakers could fill any needs with either pick. “Probably not," he said. "We have 43, and we have 58, and history tells us it’s not likely that the 43rd player makes your team, and if he does [he’s not likely] to play a role next year. 58, those guys don’t typically don’t make your team, but we hope to get lucky.”

Unfortunately, due to long-standing rivalries, drafting a leprechaun is not an option, though Marcus Thornton, drafted 43rd last year by Miami and traded to New Orleans, shows good players can still be available around that point in the draft. Thornton averaged 14.5 points a night, shooting a respectable 45 percent from the floor and providing one of the only bright spots in an otherwise miserable season for the Hornets. Other potentially productive players taken in the general vicinity of pick 43 last year include Blair (San Antonio, 37), Sam Young (Memphis, 36), Jonas Jerebko (Detroit, 39), and Chase Budinger (44, Houston).

From a depth standpoint last year's draft was considered far superior to this year's, obviously a huge factor. 2008 offered some decent choices, but by second round of the '07 draft was something of a wasteland. It varies year-to-year, but pickings are generally slim by the time 43 rolls around.

But even if the Lakers don't hit the second round lottery, the '10 draft will be a change from last season's for the simple reason L.A.'s picks aren't automatically up for auction. Kupchak indicated the Lakers plan on, at the very least, using the 43rd pick for themselves. Last year, there was no room for a rookie who likely wouldn't contribute. This year, it's a possibility. By rule a team needs to field 13 players on the roster. The Lakers have only Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Luke Walton, Sasha Vujacic, Ron Artest, and Lamar Odom under contract next season. Shannon Brown, who has a player option for next year, has repeatedly expressed interest in coming back, but still seems likely to opt out of his contract and give the market a look-see.

All things being equal, Brown's preference seems to be staying in L.A., but in the free agent process all things are rarely equal. It's certainly possible he could be offered something, whether in years or dollars, with which the Lakers can't/won't compete.

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What, you think it's a little too soon to look ahead? Still basking in the glow of Thursday's win? C'mon, it's been three days already. Quit living in the past!

I kid. Starting with Monday's parade and a week of exit interviews, we'll have plenty of opportunities to reflect and celebrate another title run. But the offseason is indeed upon us, and with it a whole host of issues ready to play themselves out over the coming weeks and months.

Here's a look at 10 of the biggest questions facing the Lakers this summer.

1. So... seriously, Phil Jackson is coming back, right?

Is there any other outcome at this point? Any lingering inclination from some inside the organization Jackson may not be worth the money he commands or that the team had tuned him out were squashed with a second straight Larry O. Jackson isn't going to coach in another city, and so all standing between P.J. and a run for a staggering fourth three-peat is an incident free trip to the doctor's office and a negotiation with Dr. Buss that, like Lamar Odom's last summer, has no suitable outcome for either party but a signed contract.

2. What about Derek Fisher?

Here's another situation where both parties are better off with each other. Fisher has more value to the Lakers than any other team in the league. His role in the locker room, as a balance to Kobe Bryant, an on-floor professor emeritus of the offense, and so on serve needs very specific to the Lakers. Meanwhile, Fisher isn't going to find a place where he'll a) win, and b) have a reasonably sized role in the rotation if he leaves L.A. Other teams around the league would value him more for his leadership than skills, and the best squads already have their leaders. Fish won't leave just to mentor younger players on a middling team, even for a little more money.

If Jackson is back, Fisher is back. If Jackson isn't back, which he will be, Fisher is still probably back.

3. Well, even if Fish returns, they'll need some help at the guard spot, right? Who can they get?

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"I know this game is the biggest game, because it could change the whole series either way."

These sentiments were shared by Andrew Bynum during Saturday's practice, after the second postseason procedure draining his knee. Bynum wanted to avoid another session under the needle, but excess swelling left him with no choice.

Perceptive cat, that Andrew Bynum.

I have a strong hunch tonight's game will swing the series, for a multitude of reasons.

1) For starters, there are precedents at play. According to Peter Newman (ESPN Stats & Information), teams with the home-court advantage in the 2-3-2 format and a 3-2 lead heading home have notched a 9-0 record in the Finals. A win tonight doesn't guarantee anything, but the scenario would become instantly daunting for Boston: The Celtics would have to win two in a row in L.A., where the Lakers have only lost once during the postseason and haven't lost back-to-back this season. Yikes.

On the flip side, history makes Boston a 66.7 percent fave to win it all up 3-2, even without the benefit of the Garden, Dancing Gino and the Dropkick Murphys. It's just hard winning two in a row in the playoffs, much less with your back against the wall. By definition, 33.3 percent odds means the Lakers' quest wouldn't be impossible, but I'll take the historical stone lock, thank you very much.

2) There's also a psychological element here. Beyond any good vibes heading home to close out, foreign territory is avoided. For all the "been there, done that" on this crew's résumé, it has developed very little experience digging out of a hole. During the Pau Gasol era, only two series fell behind the eight ball at any point: The 0-1 start to the 2009 Western Conference semifinals, a series more difficult than necessary but truly jeopardized. And of course, the 2008 Finals against the Celtics, 0-2 out of the game and returning to Boston with the Lakers down 3-2.

Need I remind everyone how that turned out?

I'm not saying the Lakers aren't up for beating adversity, but I'd rather speculate that outcome than learn it firsthand.

3) There's another pressing reason it's imperative the Lakers take care of business, and it's all about a kid gutting out discomfort from a torn meniscus. Tonight's the Lakers' best chance at getting the most from Andrew Bynum.

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After the Suns finally got on the board last Monday, much of the chatter centered around the Lakers' poor reaction to Phoenix going zone. Without question, the Lakers' response to the defense left something to be desired. But as Fleetwood Mac famously said, yesterday's gone, as is the element of surprise. The Lakers spent Tuesday's practice working against this scheme, so I'm expecting more readiness. With that in mind, here are five "non-zone" items worth watching in tonight's game:

1) Amare Stoudemire's 42 points were an eye-popping explosion. Amare tying his career playoff-high went above and beyond my expectations. Still, what truly caught my attention wasn't the slew of points, but the way they piled up. From the Suns' second possession onward, when Amare beat Pau Gasol off the dribble and earned a trip to the line courtesy of Andrew Bynum, a marked increase in aggressiveness was displayed.

Despite reliability from mid-range, Stoudemire barely worked his jumper, popping just four shots from 15 feet or further. Instead, Stoudemire was largely fed on by the move by Steve Nash or simply attacked the rim. These strong moves seemed to catch the Lakers flat-footed (literally), as Bynum and Lamar Odom morphed into bench-bound whistle magnets and Gasol tuckered out picking up the slack. I can't imagine why STAT would abandon this approach, so the Laker bigs should anticipate Amare in motion. Be prepared to move your feet while defending and rotate purposefully while helping. Defend without fouling.

(On a similar note, no excuse for being caught off guard again by Robin Lopez's prominence as an offensive option. Fool me once, shame one you. Fool me twice... well, you know the drill. Beware The Fropez!)

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At the NBA level, the zone defense is a funny thing. It can be effective, but to use it in big chunks is generally seen as an admission a team can't guard the opposition man-to-man.

The Lakers shot over 57 percent in both Games 1 and 2, then 58 percent in the first quarter Sunday night in Game 3, generally against man D. Fair to say the Suns were ready to do some admitting.

Suns coach Alvin Gentry tried to get his guys in the zone by going zone. As much zone as you'll see a team play in a big game against an elite team. At times it worked well, namely a second quarter in which the Lakers scored only 15 points and turned it over six times, in others the Lakers picked it apart. Bottom line, though, against the Lakers a zone defense is essentially a challenge. Phoenix ceded control, and put the onus on the Lakers. Show some discipline, move without the ball, and you'll score. Don't, and you won't.

In the third quarter, the Lakers seemingly adjusted and tore up the Suns, shooting 60 percent en route to 37 points, cutting a seven point deficit to two. There were the sort of long jumpers a zone will encourage, but the Lakers also did damage in the soft spots of the defense. They got Pau Gasol to elbow, they sent cutters through the lane and to the bucket. Kobe Bryant had four assists, Gasol eight points. L.A. took nine free throws in 12 minutes after managing only three in the first half. It seemed as if every additional moment Phoenix before Gentry went back to more traditional defensive sets was manna from heaven.

But then the fourth quarter happened, and it all went down the drain as a toxic combination of turnovers and missed jumpers ultimately cost L.A. Game 3.

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Two of my favorite quotes from the playoffs thus far:

"Who said our backs against the wall? It's a 2-2 series. What the hell is going on around here?"
-Kobe Bryant

"We have a game tomorrow night at 7:30 at Staples Center and that's a fact. Nothing changes. I'll be there. Kobe will be there. Pau (Gasol) will be there. All our guys. And we'll give it a go."
-Derek Fisher

Both were comments made in reference to the idea of the Lakers being on the ropes during this series against the Thunder, a series which has no doubt provided some difficulties for the defending champs.

As Kobe correctly noted, "backs against the wall" is a little dramatic to label a situation involving a team tied at two games apiece in a best of seven series, with two-thirds of the remaining games on their home court. Along those lines, I asked Fish if fans and media sometimes forget a title run is in fact supposed to be hard. Yes, (the royal) we do, but as the point guard noted, players can as well.

"I think we're all guilty if it. I'm definitely not pointing fingers outside of even our own locker room. I think sometimes we take for granted how difficult this is and what we're trying to do. Even to just win a championship is a difficult thing to do. To then come back and do it again, and have to do it in a way where all the other variables have changed. Different teams. Different personnel. Different time of year. Injuries. Different things that come into play each single season. To go out and think that you can just kind of replicate this process that you went through before, I think we just take it for granted."

"You have to try to remind yourself to keep it all in perspective. We've done a pretty good job of it. That's what we need to do now. Just stay focused on where we are now. Don't get frustrated with what should have happened. Or could have happened. Don't concern ourselves with what can happen later on."

Like Fisher said, the only thing set in stone is a game will be played tomorrow. If utilized correctly, it can become a part of setting in stone the Lakers' advancement to the Western Conference semi-finals.

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I just wanted to take a quick sec and make sure the Land O' Lakers readership is aware of a terrific piece about Josh Powell written by ESPNLA.com's Dave McMenamin. It's a very detailed look at Powell's difficult career path, which has featured a stint in Russia, little job security and non-stop effort despite typically sparse court time. Since landing with the Lakers, the deep reserve has emerged as a very unique "lead by example" presence for the team. And as McMenamin notes, he's also got the respect and friendship of Kobe Bryant going for him:

When the Lakers had an air-it-out meeting earlier this season after starting a three-game road trip with losses to Miami and Charlotte, reporters entered the gym and Bryant was alone at one end, isolated from the rest of the team. Powell was the one Lakers player to go over and chat with the visibly frustrated Bryant and he was also one of the last two players, along with Fisher, to stay in the gym and discuss the state of the team while the rest of the players put their headphones on and filed out to the bus.

"Josh's perspective is so different than a lot of us and I think that's very good for our team. A lot of his experiences personally and professionally have put him in a place where he doesn't fear challenges, adversity, tough situations," Fisher said.

It's that perspective that gives Powell the confidence to offer constructive criticism of the team, without fear about losing playing time, something that is motivation for many bench players to keep quiet.

Brian and I have always praised the professionalism of guys like Powell and D.J. Mbenga, who consistently stay ready despite their number being infrequently called. Shannon Brown displayed this characteristic last season, which earned him an unexpected spot in the rotation. We both enjoy when players of their ass-busting ilk are somehow rewarded, whether through increased PT, a long-term contract (which Powell would certainly love) or through recognition of their often interesting personal stories.

This article does JP justice.

The Lakers officially began their title defense on October 27 with a ring ceremony and a game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Oodles of pomp, circumstance and promise! Tonight, the campaign is book-ended against those same Clippers, but the vibe couldn't be any different. Literally and figuratively, the Lakers are limping into the playoffs. Win or lose, there will be a vibe more "lamb" than "lion" as the curtain drops on the regular season.

Then again, it's the appropriate way to put a bow on their 82 contests, considering how oddly anticlimactic this entire year has felt. From start to finish, and on several levels. Mind you, there's still chance to go out on one hell of a bang by reacquainting themselves with Lawrence O'Brien. But with one final chapter still in formative stages, we take a look at the other plot points failing to meet the hype.

THE HYPE: 72 Wins
Besides a repeat, what would be the best way to top a championship season? By tying or beating the 72-win platinum standard established by the 1996 Chicago Bulls, a squad also coached by none other than Phil Jackson. The media tossed around "72" as a possibility and the young, filter-free Andrew Bynum lobbied to make it a team goal.

THE ANTI-CLIMATIC RESULT
Need further proof of just how monumental 72-10 is? The Lakers' first 27 games, mostly at home, wrapped up at a scorching 23-4 clip... which put them off the pace. "72" is just a brutal height to set, much less scale. But honestly, the real roadblock wasn't the task's Herculean nature. It was the Lakers simply not being good enough. Heck, they even failed to maintain their own smaller piece of history: The "Pau Era" streak is dead! Long live the "Pau Era" streak.

(If it's any consolation, 'Sheed shot off his mouth about Boston winning 72, and they came up even shorter. Couldn't have happened to a nicer team, right?)

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