Iverson surprisingly praises Lakers fans

DENVER -- Did Allen Iverson really compare Lakers fans to traditionally more vocal ones in Sacramento and Utah?

Indeed he did, not long after the Nuggets where dropped by the Lakers in the first two games of their first-round series.

He apparently expected to see only latte-sipping, script-writing spectators. He stood corrected.

“You play here and you play in Utah, Sacramento, places like that, home court advantage means a lot,” Iverson said. “It’s tough enough to beat these guys anyways.”

The Lakers’ next two games are at Staples Center, either against Utah or Houston, on dates to be determined.

Kobe Bryant smiled when told what Iverson said.

“Really? Nice. I love hearing that,” he said. “L.A. fans have always had the reputation in the past sometimes of being real laid-back and not really getting into it like a Sacramento or Utah or something like that. That’s what we want to have here in this city, a team that you feel like you can get behind and something where they can come to the game and just let loose, get nuts and go crazy.”

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It might go something like this: Hola, Pau. Hello, Kobe.

Or it might be a little less friendly when Pau Gasol and Bryant face each other while wearing different uniforms.

The U.S. and Spain have been placed in the same pool for the Beijing Olympics, meaning the teams will square off in the preliminary round. The U.S. begins Group B play against China and will also face Angola and two more teams to be determined.

“Pau and I were talking smack to each other [already],” Bryant said. “Let the fun begin. I’m looking forward to it, as Pau is and as everybody is.”

Spain won the world championship last year even though Gasol was sidelined for the final game because of a broken left foot. The U.S. won the bronze medal. The U.S. also won a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics.

“Obviously, Kobe’s got a lot of expectations going in there. I do too,” Gasol said. “One of my goals is definitely getting an Olympic medal before I’m done with my career.”

Group A consists of Russia, Lithuania, defending Olympic champion Argentina, Iran and Australia. One more team will be added.

The top four teams from the two pools advance to the quarterfinals.

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Andrew Bynum finished 13th in the voting for the league’s most improved player award, which was announced Monday. Orlando forward Hedo Turkoglu won the award and Memphis forward Rudy Gay finished second.

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mike.bresnahan@latimes.com