They’re on the road to happiness

Before the statement could become a question, a relaxed Phil Jackson smiled and tried to cut it off.

Still, despite his slight protest, the Lakers coach was asked the importance of starting this five-game trip off on a winning note.

After all, on a trip earlier this month the Lakers lost the first game and wound up losing all three games to Miami, Charlotte and Orlando.

Jackson sat on the scoreboard table after practice Thursday at the Ford Center and laughed at the question.

“Don’t start,” Jackson said, smiling.

Jackson admitted the Lakers are looking forward to playing the Thunder on Friday night, a team they are 3-0 against this season but haven’t faced since January.

The Thunder had a nine-game winning streak recently and has won seven of eight games at home.

The Lakers have won seven consecutive games, four of them on the road.

So, with stops left here, in Houston on Saturday, New Orleans on Monday and Atlanta next Wednesday, Jackson was asked again if beating the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday to start this trip was a good thing.

“Yes, it helps us. No doubt about it,” Jackson said. “It helps us out.”

Durant impresses

Even Jackson has been impressed with Thunder forward Kevin Durant.

“He’s a very unique player,” Jackson said. “He’s a very special player.”

The Lakers will see firsthand Friday night how much Durant has developed, and they know they will have their hands full.

Durant is second in the NBA in scoring, averaging 29.7 points a game, a tick behind league leader LeBron James (29.8). Against the Lakers this season, he has scored 30, 19 and 28 points.

Durant also is averaging 7.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists. He made the All-Star team in just his third season.

Durant has been compared to Hall of Famer George Gervin because of his lean body and smooth shooting stroke.

“He seems to have plenty of strength to play the game,” Jackson said of the 6-foot-9, 230-pound Durant. “That was a big concern with everybody, that he was too thin. He had to get a lot of strength. He certainly has plenty of strength. He runs the court, rebounds. He does a lot of things.”

Role play

Jordan Farmar’s role off the bench might change against the Thunder, whose starting point guard is Russell Westbrook, the 6-foot-3 former UCLA star. Jackson said that Westbrook likes to use his leaping ability to post up smaller guards.

So Jackson said the 6-2 Farmar might be a better fit to play against Thunder reserve guard Eric Maynor, with 6-4 Shannon Brown getting the first call against Westbrook.

“Westbrook wants to jump over people a lot of times in the lane,” Jackson said.

broderick.turner@latimes.com

twitter.com/BA_Turner