L.A. Standings No Big Deal to Bryant

If Kobe Bryant, who flirted with the idea of joining the Clippers as a free agent last summer, has a problem with the Lakers finishing behind their Staples Center neighbors in the standings, he didn’t show it after Wednesday’s practice.

“What do you want, a cookie?” Bryant said when asked about that possibility. The Lakers (34-44) trail the Clippers (35-43) by one game with four remaining.

Even if the Lakers do finish behind the Clippers, Bryant said, “Look at their track record and look at our track record.... For us, we play for championships and this year has been a down year for us. Hopefully, next year will be a little brighter for us.”

Coach Frank Hamblen summed up this season’s battle of Los Angeles like this: “Us being out of the playoffs and being under .500, I don’t see it as that big of a deal, best team in L.A.? But you’re a losing team? ... It really comes down to two teams that had tough years with injuries.”

*

Lamar Odom, who wasn’t at practice Wednesday, plans to take a couple of days before making a decision on whether to have surgery to repair torn tissue in his left shoulder.

With the surgery, Odom probably would be sidelined for four months.

“If he does indeed have it, he’ll miss a significant amount of the summer, which is a time that most guys work on their game and that could be a setback for him individually,” Hamblen said. “But he played last summer with the Olympic stuff, so it might be a blessing for him to have some time off.”

*

Despite the absence of Vlade Divac (back stiffness), Brian Grant (stomach) and Sasha Vujacic (sore throat), the Lakers had a spirited workout at their HealthSouth practice facility, highlighted by a late-scrimmage dunk by Bryant over Luke Walton.

“It’s easy to pack it up when you so called ‘don’t have anything to play for,’ ” Caron Butler said about the Lakers, who play Sacramento on Friday. “We’re playing for our pride. We’re playing for the fans of L.A.”

Although Divac did not practice, he spoke to reporters and said that if he’s unable to return with the Lakers next season, he’ll not only retire from the NBA but also international competition.

*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

*--* Battle for Los Angeles With four games to go, the Clippers lead the Lakers for the top spot in Los Angeles: W L Pct. GB Clippers 35 43 449 -- Lakers 34 44 436 1

*--*

*--* REMAINING GAMES Clippers Lakers Fri. at Phoenix Fri. vs. Sacramento Sat. vs. New Orleans Sun. vs. Dallas Mon. at Houston Mon. at Golden State Wed. at New Orleans Wed. at Portland

*--*