Lakers Searching for Energy

The Lakers were built for the NBA playoffs, for series spread over weeks, not hours. It is a convenient alibi, though earned over the last two regular seasons, both of which led to parades and car flags and astonishing mayoral revelry.

How that explains a terrible trip through Texas, however, remained a mystery Thursday, when the Lakers gathered in El Segundo to prepare for tonight’s game against the Central Division-leading Detroit Pistons.

Coach Phil Jackson concluded there would be a practice, after an 18-point loss at San Antonio followed a 16-point loss at Dallas.

“We looked like we never played before,” forward Robert Horry said.

The Lakers flew half the night Wednesday and the Pistons played Thursday night at Phoenix, presenting a favorable opportunity to rest the team that insists it is fatigued after three games in three cities in four nights.

Instead, the starters lifted weights, took treatment on their bruises and performed other various light exercises (“An off-the-feet day,” guard Kobe Bryant said on his way out), the reserves played their standard game of four-on-four/rugby, and the big games keep coming.

“If we don’t come to play, bring some energy and play better defense, this is how we’re going to feel after games,” reserve guard Brian Shaw had said. “And I think guys are a little tired and a little beat up.”

After they play the surprising Pistons, the Lakers play at Sacramento on Sunday.

They play host to Cleveland on Tuesday night, play at Phoenix on Wednesday night, play Portland and San Antonio over a long weekend, then fly off for four East Coast games the week after.

In the meantime, center Shaquille O’Neal is experimenting with new sneakers and orthotic devices, Bryant’s game hit a sideways spell, and Jackson rode some front-liners--Bryant, Horry, Rick Fox and Derek Fisher--late into the Dallas blowout, perhaps setting up the San Antonio debacle.

After another season spent counting odd losses to some very poor basketball teams, Jackson had said he welcomed the attention-baiting games at the top of the Western Conference.

“I like it, but the real thing is, this all falls to the wayside when April 19, or whenever the season ends, and we start preparing for the playoffs,” he said. “What’s important to remember is it’s still that marathon race, and we’re now down to just a few runners out there in the top of the league.

“We have to remember we have to keep stride with them. We don’t want to bury ourselves in the process of trying to get too far ahead of ourselves.

“This team understands that, but also knows our placement is important.”

Jackson did not stay around after Thursday’s practice, making it a light day for everyone. That left the post-mortem to assistant Jim Cleamons, a defensive specialist who has seen the Lakers give up at least 102 points in five of seven games.

“The common thread was how fast they rushed the ball back at us,” Cleamons said of the games in Texas. “But that’s what [Dallas point guard Steve] Nash does. And San Antonio, they’ve been trying to up the tempo a little.”

It is a familiar offensive strategy against the sometimes plodding Lakers, and rookie Tony Parker pushed the Spurs’ break, a few times after made baskets or free throws.

“We need to play with a little more energy,” Cleamons said.

Tied with the first-place Sacramento Kings when they landed in Texas on Monday evening, the Lakers stand two losses back with 15 games to play. Two of those are against the Kings, and the Kings collapsed last season just in time for the Lakers to take home-court advantage through the conference semifinals.

So, the Laker players continue to talk calmly about another championship. If five consecutive wins and 12 in 14 games--the Laker trends heading into Texas--won them nothing, then consecutive defeats cost them nothing either.

“I think if there was anything we learned from our championship run, it’s that it’s not about emotion and it’s not about confidence,” Bryant said after the loss to the Spurs.

“It has everything to do with execution.”

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The Race for No. 1

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