Logic Lost in Laker Loss

The theme of the Laker season, too late to be called an aberration or a hiccup, continued to take root Sunday at Staples Center.

The Lakers can beat the best on any given day -- Detroit, San Antonio, Miami -- and lose to the rest, no matter their record or reasoning, regardless of the ensuing ridicule that awaits from fans after another clumsy loss.

The latest sample came against the Seattle SuperSonics, an underwhelming group that had been 9-22 on the road but was good enough to beat the Lakers, 120-113, killing any momentum brought home on the charter flight after Friday’s victory in San Antonio.

The defense was kind enough to allow seven SuperSonics to top their season scoring averages, and the Laker frontcourt took a hit as well, Chris Mihm leaving late in the game after sustaining a severely sprained right ankle. X-rays were negative, but he will be sidelined indefinitely, quite possibly a few weeks, a Laker official said.

There were other troubles, other holes left unpatched as the Lakers failed to gain Western Conference ground on sixth-place Memphis.

Kobe Bryant was out-fenced by old rival Ray Allen, scoring only 22 points in an eight-for-29 shooting effort. He was irascible and angry during the game, dressed quickly when it was over and left without speaking to reporters for the first time this season.

Kwame Brown retreated to his scoreless days, committing three turnovers, taking five rebounds and missing the one shot he took in 20 minutes.

Overriding all else was the Lakers’ confounding inability to beat the teams they should, the latest loss tossed on top of a heap that included Charlotte, Atlanta, Portland (twice) and Boston in the last two months.

Afterward, Laker Coach Phil Jackson leaned into the lectern in front of reporters and confirmed what had become obvious.

“It seems to be kind of an existing theme -- we just don’t get out minds wrapped around how and who we’re going to play,” he said.

Scoring wasn’t difficult for the Lakers, even with Bryant misfiring for a second consecutive game, his two-game shot chart looking as scattered and skewed as 23 for 62 would suggest.

Mihm had 20 points and 13 rebounds before leaving, Lamar Odom had 21 points and six assists, and Luke Walton scored 17 points on seven-for-seven shooting.

But the Laker defense that controlled San Antonio was nowhere to be found against Seattle, allowing 58.8%, a season high for a Laker foe.

The SuperSonics, normally the types to hang around the arc and fire at will from long range, had 26 dunks, layups and tip-ins.

“You can’t give up layups,” Odom said. “We all learn that in high school, college, whatever it may be. You can’t score, let them come back and get a layup. That’s the ABCs of basketball.”

Bryant had seen enough after Allen converted a late three-point play on a layup and a foul. Bryant grabbed the ball, slammed it onto the court, then threw it hard off the padded post behind the basket.

He was frustrated throughout the game, making only five of 16 shots by halftime and six of 22 after three quarters, all the while pleading with referees for foul calls on Allen’s in-your-shirt defense. Allen did his share of complaining as well, but finished with 19 points on eight-for-17 shooting, to go with 10 rebounds and five assists.

In the final minute, Bryant missed an off-balance three-point attempt on an inbounds play and, after tracking the rebound, missed an open three-pointer from the right side, unable to get the Lakers closer than 119-113.

Six seconds later, another Bryant three-point attempt missed everything but the bottom of the backboard.

“We couldn’t overcome a tough shooting night by Kobe,” Jackson said.

The Lakers also will have to get through significant time without Mihm, who writhed on the court after appearing to come down on Rashard Lewis’ foot with 48 seconds to play. Mihm was helped into the locker room by Ronny Turiaf and Andrew Bynum.

A Laker official later compared the severity of the injury to the sprained ankle that cost Bryant a month last season.

Said Odom: “To lose a game like that at home and to lose your starting center really hurts.”