They Might Still Have Back-to-Backs to Wall

The key to the Lakers winning NBA titles back to back to back could prove to be their ability to win games back to back.

In the race for the best record in the Western Conference and postseason home-court advantage, the Lakers were tied with the Dallas Mavericks, half a game behind the Sacramento Kings, heading into Thursday.

The Lakers have 22 games left, five of those preceded by a game the day before.

That is a problem. The Lakers have faltered this season in the second of back-to-back games. Wednesday’s night’s loss to the Jazz in Utah, after a game against the New Jersey Nets at Staples Center the night before, left the Lakers 6-8 in those second games.

Playing at a higher altitude, the Lakers showed their fatigue Wednesday in the second half. Kobe Bryant got the unwanted spotlight by going 0 for 9 from the field in the final two quarters after making seven of 10 in the first half.

His difficulties were a microcosm of a team fade. After shooting 50% in the first half, the Lakers shot only 35.9% in the last 24 minutes. And those season-high 24 turnovers didn’t help.

Still remaining on the grueling back-to-back schedule are the Clippers preceded by a game in Oakland, the Spurs in San Antonio after a game in Dallas, the Suns in Phoenix preceded by Cleveland at Staples Center, the Nets in New Jersey preceded by a game in Washington, and the SuperSonics at Staples Center after a game in Portland.

“Maybe fatigue was a factor,” Laker Coach Phil Jackson said of Wednesday’s loss. “They [the Jazz] set an incredible pace at which we had to play basketball.”

The Lakers are already taking orders for their third annual summer camp.

There will be two sessions for boys ages 9-18 at UC Santa Barbara, July 7-11 and July 12-16. Cost is $375-$520. Call 310-426-6055 or e-mail camps@la-lakers.com.

The Lakers don’t play until Sunday, when they play host to the New York Knicks at Staples Center.