Lakers Suddenly Look a Lot Like the Clippers

The noise and the excitement were chilling, one playoff victory in Phoenix throwing an old-time playoff charge into a Staples Center crowd, which seemed to think they were watching greatness in the making.

The Dodgers won a playoff game two years ago too, which goes to show you any one can win a playoff game. How about two -- like the Clippers?

4:47 p.m.: Arrived to find the Laker Girls practicing. I didn’t think I’d find Devean George. One of the Laker Girls had “Love Pink” in block letters across her behind. Remember, I’m paid to report what I see.

6:25: Jackson says his 2000 Laker championship ring is “cumbersome.” He’s always got an excuse when it comes to wearing a ring. Right, Jeanie?

7:45: The noise for a Laker game is amazing when everyone arrives on time.

7:48: Luke Walton commits a flagrant foul, setting the tone, and I’d love to hear what his old man is saying on ESPN. In fact I wish Bill Walton did the broadcast on all Laker games. He’s got more Chick in him than any one I know.

8:01: Denzel Washington is talking to CBS’ Jim Hill, and blocking my view. Too bad Salma Hayek has no idea who Hill is.

8:50: Lakers lead by five at the half, Bryant has six points, and do you people really like Kobe Bryant, the team player?

9:38 Another dull quarter with two points from Bryant. Walton, Lamar Odom, Kwame Brown and Smush Parker all have more points than Bryant. That’s entertainment?

10:06: Lakers by four with little more than a minute to play, Shawn Marion has an open three and gags. Again. Lakers win, and pull even with the Clippers.

That’s how far the Lakers have come so far.

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SO HOW does Michael Ornstein go from a guy standing before a judge pleading guilty to his part in defrauding the NFL of $350,000 to orchestrating Reggie Bush’s future?

And how does Joel Segal go from being an agent suspended for one year by the NFL Players Assn. for using an assumed name and giving money to a Florida State player to representing Bush?

How did Ornstein work himself into position to spend so much time with Bush -- including hiring him as a paid intern -- without objections from Pete Carroll?

More importantly, what was Carroll thinking when he helped Ornstein select Segal? If he was trying to help Bush, then why didn’t he do his homework? What was the point of trying to help Bush -- if he wasn’t going to do his homework?

Initially, Ornstein interviewed seven agents, whittled that group to three and then those familiar with the process said Carroll interrupted, wanting a role in determining who would be Bush’s agent. The interviewing began anew with Ornstein, Carroll and the Bush family meeting agents, and Segal emerging on top.

Carroll was working in the NFL as an assistant coach at the same time Segal and Ornstein were working in the league, and given his NFL connections, a few phone calls to check up on Segal and Ornstein might have been educational -- if he wasn’t already aware of their backgrounds.

Segal’s infraction dates to 1993, and resulted in a one-year suspension from his duties as an NFL agent in 1997, and the maximum fine of $5,000. You would think most college coaches would slap a life-time ban on anyone suspended for passing money to college players.

I’m sure Segal learned his lesson, but I’d like to know the assumed name Segal used when breaking the rules just to make sure it wasn’t “Jordan Traver Uttal,” the name on the false ID flashed by USC quarterback Mark Sanchez, who was arrested this week. I’d feel a lot better if I knew Segal wasn’t already working on Sanchez.

Ornstein, a former Raider official, admitted to “submitting fraudulent invoices for goods the NFL never received” while working for NFL Properties.

He received five years’ probation, six months at a halfway house, a $30,000 fine and had to pay $160,340 in restitution. Now he has the qualifications to be a Raider fan.

On a bright note, I’d imagine someone will give Segal or Ornstein some kind of “comeback of the year” award. If Bush has to give back the Heisman, maybe they can melt it down for the comeback trophy.

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PRE-DRAFT chatter suggests Matt Leinart’s stock has dropped, and he could fall as far as the 10th pick.

Leinart had been projected as high as No. 1, but Texas signed Mario Williams and gave him a $26.5 million signing bonus.

The Nos. 2 and 3 selections are probably due $22 million each in signing bonuses, while the 10th player in the first round will get around $11 million, which wouldn’t exactly qualify Leinart for “poor old Matt” status.

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WHAT KIND of odds would you have gotten three months ago predicting Bush and Leinart would drop in the draft, and the reason wouldn’t be Vince Young?

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IT WAS announced this week that his peers had selected Elgin Baylor “GM of the year,” presumably because Mike Dunleavy was ineligible.

In keeping with the “Curse of Elgin Baylor,” the Clippers lost after the announcement.

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TODAY’S LAST word comes in an e-mail from Sherry Stern:

“The guy behind me the other night at the Angels game told me you should be shot. I told him you are funny and he was appalled that I would say that. But I think I persuaded him you shouldn’t be shot.”

That’s odd, because Dwyre usually sits in the press box.