Leadership Ends Up Hollow

There were crises aplenty in the five Laker seasons before this, but there was also leadership from the veterans that led to four NBA Finals appearances, three ending in Laker victories.

This year, Kobe Bryant tried to get his points across in practices and games, sometimes too forcefully for his teammates’ comfort level -- see Atkins, Chucky -- and there was a drop-off in voices beyond that.

Lamar Odom and Brian Grant asserted themselves at times but one was undermined by lack of on-court demeanor and the other by lack of minutes, Coach Frank Hamblen said Saturday.

Odom, the team’s top rebounder and second-leading scorer, “tried in his own way,” Hamblen said.

He fell a little short, deferring too much to Bryant and often displaying poor body language on the court, griping about foul calls or complaining when there were none. “We would like for Lamar to assert himself at times,” Hamblen said. “His actions on the floor, I guess. But that’s all part of the growing process.”

Grant and Vlade Divac might have helped had they played more. Divac has been out since back surgery in January, and Grant, bothered by tendinitis in his knees, has averaged 3.4 points in 16.2 minutes per game.

“Brian Grant’s played more in the past and been a leader and certainly Vlade has leadership abilities, so we didn’t really have those guys,” Hamblen said. “Even though Brian’s played, I kind of feel that he feels like maybe he isn’t playing enough or starting or whatever [and] that’s maybe hard for him to say things.”

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Odom did not travel on the three-game trip because of a strained left shoulder. ... Hamblen said Divac could be activated if he improves his conditioning: “I think we’d like to take a look at him,” he said.

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TONIGHT

at Memphis, 5, Channel 9

Site -- FedEx Forum.

Radio -- 570, 1330.

Records -- Lakers 33-39, Grizzlies 40-31.

Record vs. Grizzlies -- 0-2.

Update -- Memphis forward Pau Gasol has returned to form after sitting out almost two months because of painful swelling in his left foot. Gasol scored eight of his 20 points in the fourth quarter Friday to help the Grizzlies defeat the Milwaukee Bucks, 93-82.