Live discussion: Are the Lakers back on the right path?

Join Times Lakers writer Mike Bresnahan and Clippers writer Brad Turner as they discuss their respective teams in a live discussion today at 11:30 a.m. You can watch and participate by submitting questions for them while the discussion is taking place.

The Lakers are on a winning streak, renewing optimism among Lakers fans. As Bresnahan wrote earlier this week:

“Amazing what victories can do for a team.

“They were enough for Dwight Howard to give a glowing update of his relationship with Kobe Bryant.

“I’m happy that me and Kobe are getting on the same page. In order for us to win, me and him have to always be together on the same page,” he said after Lakers practice Monday. “We have to really lead this team. That’s the key right there.”

To think that five days earlier there were harsh words from Bryant to Howard at the Lakers’ clear-the-air meeting in Memphis.

“It’s always been a process. It wasn’t easy,” Howard said. “Two big dogs and we bump heads, but instead of us bumping heads we can both do things to lead this team. Offensively, he’s going to lead our team and defensively is my job.”

“Howard even seemed to accept his second-star status two days after saying it was important to keep feeding the post players to prevent them from becoming “grumpy.”

“We all know Kobe’s the first option and whoever scores after that, it doesn’t matter. At the defensive end is where I take the lead and make sure other guys are accountable and make sure that I’m doing my job being active,” Howard said. “All of us have had to adjust. We talked about it. When most guys are stars, they’re stubborn sometimes. They want things to go their way and they want to take the shot and do this and that. But at the end of the day, we want to win. We have to take ourselves out of the picture and realize what we’re playing for.”

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