Changes Possible but Crisis Denied

Panic may be setting in around greater Los Angeles, but not in El Segundo, where the Lakers practice.

Sure, they are stinging from Wednesday’s 95-90 loss to the Clippers. They don’t like their recent trend of falling to teams with losing records, either.

But now is not the time to go into crisis mode.

“If we could put our finger on it, I don’t think we would ever lose,” Kobe Bryant said.

San Antonio should present some motivation to a team that needs it. Despite the absence of Shaquille O’Neal, who was finishing up his three-game suspension for swinging at Chicago’s Brad Miller, the Lakers embarrassed the Spurs, 98-81, last week at the Alamodome.

Another trend is this: In the three games the Lakers have played after losing two in a row this season, they’ve won by an average of 28 points. They have not lost three in a row in Phil Jackson’s two-plus seasons as coach.

Jackson may be ready to shake things up. On Thursday, he didn’t rule out any lineup or rotation changes.

“It’s a challenge and the challenge is we’ve been playing .500 ball since about the middle of December,” Jackson said.

“We had the great start. Right now, we’re not a great team.”

*

TONIGHT

vs. San Antonio, 7:30

Fox Sports Net

Site--Staples Center.

Radio--KLAC (570).

Records--Lakers 28-11, Spurs 28-12.

Record vs. Spurs--1-0.

Update--Tim Duncan had 20 points, 15 rebounds and four blocked shots against the Lakers last Saturday but made only nine of 21 shots without O’Neal in the middle. The Spurs are also in the doldrums, having gone 8-8 after starting the season 20-4.

Tickets--(800) 462-2849.

Eric Stephens