Lakers Lose to the Rockets

The Lakers lost another game among a slew of them, the latest effort noteworthy mainly because of who witnessed it in the front row of a mid-level suite at Staples Center.

A familiar face, characterized by its trademark soul patch and knowing grin, sat two seats away from Laker owner Jerry Buss as the Lakers continued to play out the string Thursday against the Houston Rockets.

Phil Jackson, making good on an invitation by Buss last fall to take in a Laker game, watched from well above the bench where he spent five seasons as coach.

What he saw was pretty much what characterized the Lakers this season -- a yielding defense and inconsistent offense. The result was a 114-100 loss to the Rockets in front of 18,212.

The Lakers, who will miss the playoffs for the first time since 1994, have lost 13 of 14 and have fallen to 11th in the Western Conference, half a game behind the Clippers.

Jackson’s reunion with the Lakers, though romantic in the eyes of many Laker followers, remains a remote concept. Buss and Jackson probably talked about a player or two on the Lakers, but there has not been a formal offer to Jackson, and there probably isn’t one coming.

“Purely a social meeting,” Laker spokesman John Black said of the get-together.

Bryant was asked afterward if he thinks Jackson will return.

“At this point it really doesn’t matter to me,” Bryant said. “We have our focus here, which is to play hard every game. I don’t want to get caught up in speculation of what might happen next season or in the off-season.”

Just the same, there was a sign unfurled among the wealthy seats near midcourt that said simply, “Come Back, Phil.”

Jackson and his agent, Todd Musburger, dined in Los Angeles on Wednesday night, probably strategizing about Jackson’s future and if it includes a return to basketball.

Jackson said last month it was a “50-50” proposition, and there will be numerous teams looking for a coach after the season, including the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks.

Jackson, flanked by two Staples Center security guards for part of Thursday night, did not comment, but others did.

Laker Coach Frank Hamblen was at Jackson’s side for three championship runs with the Lakers and two with the Chicago Bulls. He isn’t sure if Jackson would come back to the Lakers.

“Phil’s been a great closer throughout his career. I don’t know if he wants to be a fixer-upper,” Hamblen said. “He’s one of the all-time closers. If he was a reliever, he would certainly be in the baseball HOF.”

Are the Lakers categorized as fixer-uppers?

“I would think so,” Hamblen said. “We’re not in the playoffs.”

Jackson sat in the suite next to longtime girlfriend and Laker executive vice president Jeanie Buss. There wasn’t an overabundance of conversation or emotion between Jerry Buss and Jackson during the game, although Jackson appeared to be impressed by Bryant’s reverse dunk in the first quarter.

Bryant, back after sitting out a game because of a bruised muscle next to his right shin, had 19 points. Caron Butler had 24 points.

Bryant, who didn’t look or act completely healthy and had his right leg swathed in tape and pre-wrap, had 10 points in the first half on two-of-11 shooting as the Lakers trailed at halftime, 60-51.

On the night, Bryant made four of 19 shots.

“He hasn’t really done anything on the basketball floor for three days [until] he was at shoot-around today,” Hamblen said.

The Lakers were hurt again by poor defense, a common thread throughout the season.

The Rockets made 48.9% of their shots and the Lakers are 7-35 when giving up 100 or more points.

“We give up way too many points almost every night,” Hamblen said. “That means you aren’t going anywhere. If you don’t defend, you’re not going anywhere in this league.”