ESPN

As was made abundantly clear Friday against the Rockets, the Lakers have pitched a tent in Strugglesville on the defensive side of the floor. Only twice in their last 11 games have they limited opponents to a points-per-possession figure lower than their season average for defensive efficiency, and those two were against New Orleans and New Jersey, both bottom third NBA offenses. So it's in this context that the Lakers, losers last night, nicked up with injuries, again fielding questions about the emotional maturity of their All-Star center, and playing their fourth game in five nights take the floor tonight against the still explosive Phoenix Suns.

One of the better teams in the conference since a 12-19 start, the Suns are fighting tooth and nail for a playoff berth and botched a huge game against the Nuggets Friday. A win would be huge, so they won't be doing L.A. any favors. To get a little more insight into the game, we hit up the rock-solid Michael Schwartz of TrueHoop's Valley of the Suns with a few Q's . . .

1. The Suns were 12-19 and left for dead a few weeks ago, but now are contending for a playoff spot. What has prompted the improvement?

Schwartz: Many things, but to me the biggest is that Phoenix once again boasts one of the league's elite offenses. Since the All-Star break (a few games after they dropped to 12-19), the Suns rank sixth in the NBA with a 106.8 offensive rating whereas before the break the offense was perfectly mediocre with a 100.2 offensive rating that ranked 16th. The offense has improved in large part because Channing Frye and Jared Dudley have scored much more effectively in the second half of the season.

Then there's the bench. Alvin Gentry really struggled to find a bench rotation that worked in the first half of the year, but almost to a man all of his reserves have been much better during the team's current16-8 run. Sebastian Telfair has solidified the backup point guard position, Robin Lopez finally looks healthy, Michael Redd has provided some much-needed scoring punch off the pine and Shannon Brown just looks much more comfortable now.

2. At age 59 (OK, 38), Steve Nash is averaging almost 54 percent from the floor, and still piling up big assist numbers. Have you seen any change in his game, or is it still a "same as it ever was" type thing?

Schwartz: It's really a "same as it ever was" type of thing. Occasionally you will see him run off a screen for a spot-up jumper, but for the most part he's doing the same things he's done the past seven years just with a different supporting cast. According to mySynergySports, 61 percent of his plays come as the pick-and-roll ball handler, which goes to show how often he’s running the same tried and true play that’s made him a future Hall of Famer.

I actually think one of the reasons his game has aged so well is because he’s essentially doing the same things that worked for him a decade ago, only now he’s that much smarter.

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EL SEGUNDO -- With just 18 games remaining in the regular season, the 30-18 Lakers have built a three-game lead over the Los Angeles Clippers for the No. 3 seeding in the West and sit only 2 1/2 games behind San Antonio for the No. 2 spot.

With the playoffs beginning in just about a month, talk of postseason seeding is picking up and the Lakers find themselves in the unique situation of a schedule that could either help them catch the Spurs quickly or, in a sense, double the separation between the two teams. From April 11-20, three of the six games the Lakers will play are against San Antonio, with two of the three coming on the road.

L.A. has yet to play the Spurs this season, but Lakers coach Mike Brown says he believes it's possible to track down his mentor, Gregg Popovich, and the boys in black and silver.

"It could happen," Brown said after the Lakers' film session and light practice Saturday.

As long as the Lakers keep the Clippers and Phoenix Suns at bay and win the Pacific Division, the worst they'll be seeded is No. 3. Brown isn't putting any pressure on the San Antonio pursuit.

"I never really put any goals like that on our team in terms of how many games we need to win or where we need to finish," Brown said. "Obviously it would be great to finish first if that happens, but I don’t think that was of the utmost importance for us because I felt the season was going to be wacky and I just wanted to be at our best at the end, wherever that was [in terms of seeding]. If we were at our best at the end, I really don’t care if we play at home or on somebody’s court, we’ll go get it done."

Still, the three games in 10 days against the Spurs should provide a mini playoff feel for both the Lakers players and coaching staff as the two teams make adjustments to each other from game to game.

"[It will be] a test, meaning that they’re a good basketball team and it will be fun to compete against them and they give you a feel based on how they defend and based on how they play offense of some things that you need to adjust to," Brown said. "But, in terms of us winning three games or them winning all three games, to me, that doesn’t mean much."

As far as that cushion in the standings the Lakers have been able to build by winning seven of their last nine games, it doesn't do much for Brown.

"There’s still a ways to go," Brown said. "I think there’s starting to be some separation, but I think in the loss column it’s like two or three games. I think it’s still within shouting distance for everybody. I think when you start talking 6-7 games, maybe that’s a little bit different, but I still consider us all close."

Dave McMenamin covers the Lakers for ESPNLosAngeles.com. Follow him on Twitter.

That was ugly.

After, things got a little uglier, perhaps, as Kobe Bryant made it clear to management he believes they either need to trade Pau Gasol or make it clear he's not going anywhere. This in between thing? Not working well. Just one of the subjects of tonight's show...

A full 48 hours won't have passed since these teams battled in L.A., which means by definition very little has changed. In theory, the Lakers remain the superior team, even on the road that's doubled as a purple-and-gold Achilles' heel. However, familiarity doesn't prevent items to watch for. Here are three.

1. Marcin Gortat, roll-man extraordinaire

Marcin Gortat may not boast Amare Stoudemire's name recognition, but has nonetheless played at an All-Star level since arriving in Phoenix last season. Specifically, he's excelled in pick-and-roll sets, providing Steve Nash his best partner in crime since STAT bolted to the Big Apple. The Lakers experienced firsthand Friday how dangerous he can be working in tandem with the future Hall of Fame point guard. A nice chunk of his 21 points came while on the receiving end of a bounce feed from Nash, and I don't see why either would stray from what's buttered his bread. Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol and Troy Murphy must take greater responsibility to monitor Gortat's whereabouts at all times. The Polish Hammer roaming free like an organic farm-raised chicken is a dangerous thing.

2. Pau Gasol's shooting prowess and focus

Gasol's accumulated excellent February numbers, but his shot has been noticeably off. The Grammy trip featured three games at 45 percent or below, and home cooking against Atlanta yielded a 9-for-22 effort. But such trends would theoretically be impervious to a date with the Suns. A bad defensive team by any standard, Phoenix is particularly vulnerable preventing shots at the rim or 10-15 feet out, areas where Pau is often deadliest. Thus, it raises eyebrows to see him go 4-for-13 from the field, especially when the looks were often clean by his own admission. That his focus in general appeared scattered didn't help perceptions, either.

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The Los Angeles Lakers play the Phoenix Suns on Sunday for the second time in three days after scorching them 111-99 on Friday, scoring a season-high in points in the process. Blame the Suns' loss on L.A.'s home record, Kobe Bryant's penchant for scoring big points as payback for those consecutive playoff losses to Phoenix in 2006-07 or on Mike Brown's clockwork rotation that seems to have "stabilized," according to Bryant. Just don't blame it the loss on a lack of preparation by Phoenix's basketball operations department, however.

ESPNLA.com has acquired the Suns' scouting report drafted before Friday's game. The 52-page document provides a fascinating look at how an opponent perceives, and prepares to play, the Lakers.

The following is a breakdown of what the scouting report included, giving readers a look at what structure the information was organized in as well as providing quotes from the handout that describe how the Suns' staff views the Lakers.

*****

The cover page for the scouting report is basic, easy-to-consume information and statistics including the Lakers' rotation (beginning with the starters and continuing from Steve Blake through Luke Walton based on playing time) as well as what the Lakers' averages are in major offensive and defensive categories and where those averages rank in the league at large (e.g. In one table it says the Lakers' 92.5 points per game scoring average ranks 22nd in the league while in a table next to it you see that the Lakers' 90.4 points per game allowed ranks fourth in the league). There are three more specific statistical categories listed -- "3-point threats" (led by Andrew Goudelock's 43.2 percent), "who to foul" (topped by Troy Murphy's 50.0 percent) and "offensive rebounders" (with Andrew Bynum's 3.5 boards and Pau Gasol's 3.2 boards leading the list). The cover page also includes "suggested match-ups" (Steve Nash on Derek Fisher, Grant Hill on Bryant, etc.) and the results of their previous meetings this season (the Lakers beat the Suns 99-83 on Jan. 10).

*****

The cover page is followed by six pages of narrative breaking down the strengths and weaknesses of the Lakers' offense and defense in one- or two-sentence long observations that can be scanned through quickly (there are four pages on the Lakers' offense, one on the Lakers' defense and one recapping their first meeting in January). Some are statements. Some cite statistics. Some offer questions. Some remind the Suns players what happened against the Lakers in the past. They are all typed in capital letters, while some are underlined or put in bold for extra emphasis.

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Nothing like a game against the Suns to help Kobe Bryant break out of his shooting slump. As he typically does, Kobe torched Phoenix Friday night (38 points, 14-of-25 from the floor), leading the Lakers to a 12 point win at Staples.

There were other things to like -- Matt Barnes continued his run of good play off the bench, posting 17 points and seven rebounds in 23:35 of burn -- and a few things less appealing, but in the end the Lakers earned their 18th win of the season, with another game against the Suns coming Sunday in the desert.

Among the talking points from tonight's show...

• Kobe's big night, and why the Suns popped up on the schedule at the perfect time.
• Bench production. Steve Blake may not post huge numbers, but ask Barnes about the weather, and he'll tell you how happy he is to have Blake back.
• Alvin Gentry called the Lakers a dangerous playoff team. Mike Brown and Bryant agreed. Are they right?

Inside the show are postgame clips from Mike Brown, and click below for more from Brown, Pau Gasol, and Barnes.

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The Lakers may have won by a dozen, and may have broken 100 (on 53 percent shooting!) for the first time since the Stone Age. But the victory doesn't necessarily leave a great taste in anybody's mouth. A double-digit lead was squandered down to the bone before eventually being built back up, and far more work than necessary was required against a tired, decidedly inferior opponent. At the end of the day, the Lakers notched the W, and maintained what has been a very strong home record. But this group just has a habit of provoking skepticism, even in the face of victory.

Here are five takeaways from the game.

1) Kobe Bryant owned the third quarter.
The night actually began in fairly unassuming fashion for The Mamba. Six shots were required for seven first-quarter points, and he turned the ball over twice. By halftime, he'd notched 14 points and appeared to have righted the ship, but an explosion didn't necessarily feel in the works. But if I've learned anything over the years, it's that an attempt to predict anything with Kobe is often an exercise in failure. To paraphrase Rowdy Roddy Piper, just when they think they know the answers, Bryant changes the questions.

Not that 24 going crazy over a 12 minute stretch is necessarily an unheard-of development, but this eruption nonetheless went from 0-60 in the blink of an eye.

Bryant's 18-point quarter was a "best of" showcase for his scoring prowess, which is always a treat for fans. Baby and long jumpers alike found bottom. A flyby was avoided at the rim, allowing him to convert a zippy feed inside from Pau Gasol at the rim. He backed down Jared Dudley in the lane, then spun, converting a reverse layup while absorbing contact. And then there was my favorite basket, a lefty hook shot launched between the circles after drifting left upon losing Grant Hill on a crossover. Absolutely gorgeous.

Even Kobe’s mishaps were spun into gold. An air-balled J landed in Gasol's hands, who proceeded to throw a no-look pass to set up Matt Barnes with an easy score at the rim. No harm, no foul. And as if to reassure us this roll was going to continue without a hitch, Bryant followed up that gaffe by drilling a transition three-ball after securing the rebound from a Marcin Gortat miss.

Bryant's third-quarter numbers -- 18 points on 8-for-12 shooting, three assists, four rebounds, a steal and zero turnovers -- helped push the lead to 20 late in the frame, and should have laid the foundation for a blowout victory. Unfortunately, as has been the case for this team throughout the season, easy living either ain't to their liking or consistently within their capabilities. That Kobe had to go to serious work to offset a fourth-quarter collapse against a (now) 12-19 visiting team is, on its best day, a disappointing development.

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Kobe Bryant does not like the Suns. So strong is his distaste and so deep his competitive nature, it wouldn't surprise me to learn Bryant resents the sun itself. The actual, rises in the east, sets in the west sun, like some sort of hoops vampire.

In Phoenix's first visit this season to Staples Center, Kobe dropped 48 points, shooting 18-of-31 from the floor. Another crack at the team he loves to hate could be the perfect elixir for his mini-shooting slump. In seven February games, Bryant is shooting only 37 percent and has seen statistical decline in just about every category.

Certainly the Suns are a ripe target, having lost three straight going into Staples for the first half of a weekend home-and-home. And with dates against Portland, Dallas and Oklahoma City on the docket this week, the Lakers would be wise not to let the Suns off the mat. To gain a little more insight into Friday's visitors, we hit up Ryan Weisert of TrueHoop's Valley of the Suns.

1. The last time these teams met, the Lakers won in a walk. What has changed for the Suns since that day?

Weisert: This is really a question of good news and bad news. The good news: Since that game against the Lakers, Steve Nash has taken on a larger scoring load and earned an All-Star spot. Marcin Gortat has recovered from his early-season thumb injury to become a legitimate low-post scorer and double-double machine. The bad news: The bench has not developed at all. None of the free-agent acquisitions have played well consistently, and coach Alvin Gentry has yet to find a reliable second unit. The Suns have lost 13 of their last 21 games primarily because they just aren’t deep enough talent-wise to compete.

2. Gortat doesn't get a ton of publicity but has put up very solid numbers this season. Where does he rank among the league's crop of centers? How will he match up with Bynum in the middle?


Weisert: Gortat is definitely a top-10 center in the league and has the ability to be top 5. He is clearly behind Dwight Howard, but I think he is in the same class as Andrew Bynum, Al Jefferson, Greg Monroe and Marc Gasol. As the Suns leave their run-and-gun style behind and commit more to their half-court offense, Gortat’s scoring numbers and usage rate will increase and get him more recognition around the league. The matchup with Bynum should be a battle. Andrew’s size and shot-blocking definitely give him an edge, but Marcin’s ability to score with either hand and mobility on pick-and-rolls will make Bynum work hard on the defensive end.

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The Lakers, rather quietly, have put together wins in seven of their last nine games, running their record to 7-4 following a 99-83 win over the Phoenix Suns Tuesday night at Staples.

Among the highlights: Pau Gasol finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds, then spearheaded a killer defensive effort down the stretch, as the Lakers closed on a 16-1 run. Luke Walton came out of storage to play 26 important minutes, chipping in six points, eight rebounds, and three assists.

From there, it was all about Kobe Bryant. 48 points, on 18-of-31 shooting. 13 trips to the line, and yet another reminder of how much he loves sticking it to the Phoenix Suns. Needless to say, after tackling some of the issues above, we get into Kobe's prodigious night.

In-show video clips from Bryant and Mike Brown.



That is not a flattering screen grab.

Postgame vid below, from Bryant, Brown, Pau Gasol, and Walton.

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Don't look now, but the Lakers have quietly won seven of nine after starting the season 0-2, following a 16 point win over Phoenix Tuesday at Staples.

There was much to like on a night where the Lakers had a few things stacked against them.

Here are six takeaways...

1. Leaning on Kobe Bryant this much has to stop (though watching him be leaned on can make for serious entertainment).

Kobe started the game on fire, working from all his comfort spots to light up the board with 17 points in the first quarter, hitting eight of his first 11 shots. He was effective in the mid-post, then working on the perimeter with catch-and-shoot opportunities. As the game went along, the looks generally got harder, with more looks in isolation, and some of the choices weren't so choice. But down the stretch he was extremely effective and overall it's virtually impossible to dispute the efficiency of Kobe's 48-point night, a league-high for the season. 18-of-31 from the floor, with a tidy 12-of-13 from the line.

It was a spectacular display of offensive skill.

Spry as Bryant looked-- mileage, bum wrist, etc. notwithstanding-- it's not a healthy way to proceed. First, expecting/relying on him to produce like this for another 55 games is basketball suicide. It'll wear Kobe out before the playoffs arrive, and equally important will stunt the development of the team's offense. The Lakers have to find other ways to consistently generate offense, and make sure they don't get lulled into the (understandably easy) trap of always looking towards him. Mike Brown and Co. have a great feel now of how to put Kobe in position to succeed, and now they have to figure it out for everyone else.

Great game from Bryant -- one hopefully not replicated too often during the season.

POSTGAME UPDATE: Our bosses in Bristol will be pleased to know Kobe noticed this summer's extensive NBA Rank project. "Not bad for the seventh best player in the league," Bryant said of his game.

2. Luke Walton gave quality minutes.

With Josh McRoberts (toe), Troy Murphy (stomach bug) and Jason Kapono (welcoming newborn twins into the world) unavailable, the Lakers dusted off Walton for more minutes than he's played in a long, long time. April 13, 2010 against Sacramento to be exact -- another game where players sat (Kobe, Bynum) or were limited by injury (Jordan Farmar). Given the rust, Walton acquitted himself well. He was active on the glass, sustaining a few trips with good work on the offensive boards, including a key offensive rebound with three minutes to go, setting up a nice lob from Matt Barnes to Bryant and effectively icing the game. Add to that a few nice passes and even a good defensive play or two, and he becomes one of the team's bigger stars, context considered.

He doesn't get many chances, and on a night where the Lakers needed some support, Walton was able to provide it. Final line: 26:21 of PT, six points, eight rebounds, three assists.

POSTGAME UPDATE: Brown, not surprisingly, had nice things to say about Walton's game. "Walton was phenominal. He hadn't played since Sacramento. You talk about a pro's pro, he's kept himself ready, his number was called, and he stepped in and ahd a whale of a game for us. You talk about eight rebounds, five of those offensive rebounds, six points and three assists, you know he was very good for us in the 26 minutes he played, especially having not played for a long time."

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Steve Nash insists he's not asking for a trade now, and won't in the weeks ahead. As long as he's still in Phoenix, the Suns will at least bear some resemblance to those truly high-end teams of years past.

Except any similarities aren't particularly meaningful anymore. Last year, Phoenix finished six games out of a playoff spot at 40-42, and in a highly competitive Western Conference this year's edition is again only a fringe contender for the postseason. They enter Tuesday's game at Staples Center a .500 team, and rising too far above that mark will likely be a tall order.

Rising to the level of an entertaining team? That's more manageable. Once again, it goes back to Nash. When he's right physically, he's still brilliant and the Suns can be fun to watch.

As of today, he appears to be right. To gain more insight into the two-time MVP and his teammates ahead of tonight's game, we hit up Michael Schwartz of Valley of the Suns, part of the TrueHoop network. (For my answers to his questions, click here.)

1. In the early going, the Suns have flipped their typical script. The offense has been pretty average, but the defense is in the top third in the league. What accounts for those numbers? Are they likely to stick?

Schwartz: Well, the biggest reason is small sample size, as the Suns played well enough offensively last week to improve to 12th in offensive as well as defensive efficiency. In particular during their last two victories over Portland and Milwaukee the Suns raced out in transition, nailed jump shots and seemed to finally get their mojo back.

Before the Suns rediscovered their offensive rhythm, players pleaded that they were just missing shots they normally make. Channing Frye in particular knocked down just four of his first 23 3-pointers and then drilled all four on Sunday. Combined with Steve Nash playing hurt, the Suns transformed into an anemic offensive crew.

I still don’t think they are as good as the Suns offenses of yesteryear that annually led the league in efficiency being that they are without a go-to scorer and rely so much on Nash, but there’s no reason to think this isn’t a top-10 offense.

The Suns hired Elston Turner to be their defensive coordinator and thus far he has made a difference with a defense that features more ball pressure and traps than the Suns have used in the past, as my colleague Mike Schmitz explains, with the ultimate goal being to force contested mid-range jumpers. I see the defense eventually drifting to the middle of the pack.

2. How has former Laker Shannon Brown fit in? What is his role with the Suns?

MS: It’s been a bit of a struggle to become accustomed to the Suns’ more open system, where he’s not only allowed but required to shoot the ball whenever he has an opening. He’s compared it to going back to his pre-NBA days when he felt he could score without even thinking about it.

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The 2011 NBA Draft is Thursday afternoon (4 p.m. PT, ESPN). We've spent scads of time taking stock of where the Lakers stand heading into draft day, and now aim to catch up on the rest of the Western Conference.

Today, the Pacific Division...

Los Angeles Lakers

2010-11: 57-25, lost in second round 4-0 (on the odd chance you forgot) to Dallas.

Picks: 41, 46, 56, 58 (Round 2).

Where They Stand: Uncharacteristically uncertain. The Lakers certainly have more questions this offseason than anything faced in the last two. With four second round picks, making significant additions through the draft to a roster still designed to win now is, to say the least, unrealistic. G.M. Mitch Kupchak has said he just hopes to find a player able to stick on the roster. An admirable goal.

As a team, though, the Lakers have plenty of needs, including outside shooting, point guard production, center depth, speed/athleticism, and another shot creator.

Projections (Round 2): Chad Ford, ESPN.com (Insider required)- Nolan Smith (SG, Duke), Malcolm Thomas (PF, San Diego State), DeAndre Liggins (SG, Kentucky), Julyan Stone (SG, UTEP). DraftExpress- Shelvin Mack (PG, Butler), Jordan Williams (C, Maryland), Jereme Richmond (SF, Illinois), Greg Smith (C, Fresno State).


Phoenix Suns

2011-12: 40-42, missed playoffs

Picks: 13 (Round 1).

PODCAST
Andy and Brian talk with David Thorpe (ESPN.com's Scout's Inc.) about what the Lakers can do in the second round of the draft. Plus, a look at the hot rumor (Pau for Kevin Love/#2 pick) and the vocal stylings of Dirk Nowitzki Podcast

Where They Stand: Limbo. A surprising run to the Western Conference Finals two seasons ago faded from memory this year, as the Suns finished below .500 and in the lottery. Steve Nash is entering the final year of his contract, while Grant Hill is a free agent. At 34 years old, Vince Carter, acquired in December's big deal with Orlando, is a shell of the shell of himself, and reportedly will be bought out.

The supporting cast has some quality in it. Marcin Gortat was a major score in the Orlando trade, quickly overtaking Robin Lopez in the starting lineup and becoming one of the most productive centers in the NBA. Channing Frye didn't quite meet his lofty shooting stats of 2009-10, but still hit nearly 40 percent of his triples. Plenty of teams would love to have a guy like Jared Dudley.

Role players, though, won't be enough to again lift the Suns to the elite. They need serious help on the glass, landing near the bottom of the league in rebounding on both sides of the floor. Where in previous seasons the Suns were bad more by reputation than actual output defensively, this season they were genuinely lacking, finishing 25th in efficiency. Contrary to their reputation, with a hole at shooting guard and a decision to make on Aaron Brooks, the Suns could find themselves in need of scoring, as well. Certainly an upgrade at the two is required.

Projections: Ford- Tristan Thompson (PF, Texas). DraftExpress- Thompson.

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For Lamar Odom, the emotions immediately following a 139-137 triple overtime win over the Suns were bittersweet. On one hand, he was happy with the outcome , and for the most part, his performance was excellent. On the other hand, Odom committed a critical -- and avoidable -- shooting foul against Channing Frye behind the arc with 1.1 seconds left in the first bonus period. Frye drained all three freebies to force a 121-121 tie and force another five (and by extension, 10) minutes of play.

Even in the face of victory, LO couldn't get past placing his team in such jeopardy.

"I will remember the foul call," said Odom afterward. "I always tell you guys basketball is a humbling experience. Because I can think about throughout the game, ‘Yeah, I’m playing good. I’m having a good one.’ And then, right before you know it, I’m the dope."

Had the Lakers dropped Tuesday's contest, I'm certain Lamar would have said afterward to put loss squarely on his shoulders. I know because I've heard Odom express those sentiments on several occasions after a loss featuring his mistake. It doesn't matter if, similar to his showing against Phoenix, the error was a low point among considerably more highs. Lamar won't just volunteer to take the hit. He demands that burden, almost without fail.

Talking with Odom after the game, he shared how this self-critical tendency stretches back to his earliest days playing ball.

"It's funny," reminisced the lefty. "Before I got to college, I remember playing early, when you're just playing for your neighborhood, I've always played on a good team. I've always been on a winning team, a team where I didn't mind being a fall guy for a play or what have you. Just to kind of keep everything balanced out."

It's a habit separating Odom from everyone else on the Lakers.

This isn't to suggest the roster lacks consistent accountability. Back-to-back championships aren't achieved through a lack of collective onus and this isn't a team shying away from responsibilities. Still, I've never heard anybody else make such a definitive declaration after a game: Put it on me. (The closest comparison is Ron Artest telling the media during an introductory press conference to blame him if the Lakers didn't repeat.) A player's finger is never so consistently and publicly pointed in his own direction as Lamar's.

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For those unable to attend live, the Xerox has arrived. Topics included highlights and lowlights of last night's triple OT instant classic, Lamar Odom's credentials for Sixth Man of the Year (Kobe Bryant cast his vote), and whether the Lakers are actually playing too intensely for their own good at the moment. My, how the times have changed.

Here's the link.

Lamar Odom was arguably the player of the game for the Lakers, but as Brian noted in the postgame analysis, the foul he committed against Channing Frye with 1.1 seconds left in the first overtime was a doozy. Despite the victorious outcome and the "instant classic" vibe, when asked what he'll remember about this game in 5-10 years, LO immediately cited that personal:

"I will remember the foul call. I always tell you guys basketball is a humbling experience. Because I can think about throughout the game, ‘Yeah, I’m playing good. I’m having a good one.’ And then, right before you know it, I’m the dope. You know what I'm saying?"

Odom then talked about the difficulty of shaking off such a mistake and keeping his head in the game:

"We always talk about being humbled as a player. It’s something I always tell my wife. It’s a little difficult to understand the whole mentality of a sportsman. We get humbled in front, not just the people in the arena [but] the people at home [watching on TV]. I’m talking about millions of people. Sometimes it can be hard to shake off, but you have to. That’s what makes us tough. We love to compete. We love the odds against us as sportsmen."


Click below the jump for videos of Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest, Pau Gasol and Matt Barnes.

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