Playoff Spot Still the Ultimate Goal

Win or lose tonight against the Toronto Raptors, the Lakers (21-19) will have completed the first half of the season over .500.

Coach Phil Jackson would have liked it to be closer to 10 games over .500, instead of one or three, but the team is still set up to reach that goal by season’s end.

“We’re still in a learning process as a basketball team, and I think we’re doing a good job staying abreast of what we’re trying to do, and that’s to get into the playoffs,” Jackson said after Saturday’s practice. “That’s our ultimate goal, and we have to remember what our goal is.

“We’d like to be 10 games over .500 and we’re not. [But] we’re sitting here in a position where if we can reach 10 over .500 by season’s end, we’ll be happy.”

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Jackson had planned to give the Lakers the day off, but after watching them get blitzed by the Phoenix Suns on Friday night -- a night after fumbling away the lead and game to the Sacramento Kings -- he decided they needed to get back on the court as quickly as possible.

“I thought they played depressed [against the Suns] after losing the game Thursday,” he said. “So I decided to let them come here and find the joy in playing ball, which is really their love and their passion. I thought it’d give them some endorphins to live with and carry them forward.”

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Forget the endorphins. Luke Walton said he needs a confidence boost to help him emerge from his slump.

The reserve forward, who made only one of four field-goal attempts in 13 minutes against the Suns, has watched his shooting percentage slip to a paltry 36%.

“I’ve just got to get my confidence back and start shooting the [darn] thing, instead of thinking about it as I’m catching the ball,” he said. “I’m getting plenty of good looks. I’ve just got to let muscle memory take over and shoot my shot.”

TONIGHT

vs. Toronto, 6:30, FSN West

Site -- Staples Center

Radio -- 570, 1330.

Records -- Lakers 21-19, Raptors 14-26.

Record vs. Raptors -- 1-0.

Update -- The Raptors, winners of six of their last 10, have received balanced scoring of late. During Friday night’s 121-113 triumph over the Seattle SuperSonics, they had five players in double figures, with forwards Chris Bosh (29 points) and Jalen Rose (28) leading the way. The Lakers’ next two games are at home, then they play the following seven on the road, beginning at Detroit a week from today against the powerful Pistons.