Lakers Fall on Sales List

After a three-year reign as the NBA’s top team in merchandise sales, the Lakers have fallen to third behind Miami and New York, according to figures released by the league.

The Heat surged to the top behind the popularity of Dwyane Wade, who leads all players in individual jersey sales. Wade was followed by Allen Iverson, LeBron James, Stephon Marbury, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.

The league based its information on merchandise sales at the NBA Store in New York and at NBAstore.com since the start of the exhibition season.

The latest figures on Bryant’s jersey represented no movement either way: He was the fifth-highest seller at the end of last season.

No other Laker was among the top 25 in individual jersey sales.

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Lost among the satisfaction of a 5-1 trip is the reality of heading back home, where a 4-5 record at Staples Center awaits the Lakers.

There are games against Washington, Houston and Dallas before another trip begins.

“The season’s not over,” Lamar Odom said, temporarily interrupting the fulfillment of a 94-79 victory Wednesday against Memphis.

“We want to keep playing well. Next game at home, we want to play better than we played this game. There’s still a long way to go. Can’t stop here.”

The Lakers are 8-5 on the road.

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It came a little early, but Laker Coach Phil Jackson was asked his first question about “matching up” against O’Neal on Dec. 25.

Jackson answered literally.

“I’m not old enough to play him,” he said. “I’ll send somebody else out there to do that work.”

Jackson then spoke of the Hack-a-Shaq defense, perhaps sending out a preview of what’s to come if the score is close toward the end of the game.

“Shaq has always blamed me for the Shaq attack defense,” Jackson said. “He said I started it all, which is not true. In Chicago, we had what we’d call the three-headed monster, but we never did the Shaq attack on him.”