Jazz support dwindles

Staff writer Mike Bresnahan ties up some loose ends on days of Lakers playoff games:

Save the jet fuel

Will the Utah Jazz even make it out here for tonight’s game?

Kurt Kragthorpe of the Salt Lake Tribune didn’t think so.

“So the Jazz’s schedule is now in focus: Locker clean-out Tuesday, fabulous vacations and roster upheaval all summer, training camp in late September,” he wrote. “That’s what a 108-94 loss in Game 4 of this playoff series will do for you.”

Coach Jerry Sloan canceled Sunday’s practice a few minutes after Game 4, which was viewed as nothing short of shocking by Utah media members.

Hey, why take the chance of being hobbled by a sprained ankle while walking the inviting, white Bahamian sands?

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Q&A; of the day

Question: (Sent about 19 seconds after Game 3 ended) “Please write a homer article on how Kobe Bryant is the best player in this history of mankind. LOL. Explain why anybody would EVER put faith or money on this guy or his team. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a guy brick and fail this many times and still have a strong reputation. I WISH Michael Jordan played like this for the Bulls because he’d have ZERO championships. [Bryant’s] not even as good as Brandon Roy anymore.”

--Allen Lee

Answer: Not really a question in that e-mail, but I’ll provide one. Wish you hadn’t hit the send button on that one, Allen?

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Best-case Lakers scenario

Andrew Bynum plays more than seven minutes. Jordan Farmar plays, period. Lakers marketing guru Tim Harris begins brainstorming in-game promotions for the next round.

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Worst-case Lakers scenario

A return trip to SLC. No further explanation needed.

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Final thought

Ron Artest vs. Kobe Bryant: Should be interesting, especially after their bizarre trash-talking episode last month. Can Bynum rediscover some of his game against Yao Ming? I’m guessing yes, to a certain degree. I know one thing, though. The Lakers sure are glad they won’t be facing Portland.

Or maybe. . . .

Bynum will rediscover some of his game against Portland’s twin toughies (Joel Przybilla and Greg Oden), but the Lakers will still struggle up at Portland. Lakers in six, maybe seven, in the next round.