Bresnahan’s Takes: Lakers win battle to stay out of Memphis

Mike Bresnahan covers the Lakers for The Times and ties up loose ends before all their playoff games. They begin the postseason Sunday against Denver.

I already feel like I’ve won the NBA Finals, ready to hoist a golden trophy over my head in celebration.

I’m in Los Angeles this weekend. Not Memphis.

It was the battle within the battle, Clippers writers and Lakers writers hoping to avoid one of the NBA’s least desirable cities.

The Clippers were supposed to pass the Lakers last weekend in a Staples Center doubleheader, but the Lakers overcame an 18-point deficit against Oklahoma City, making the Clippers’ victory later that night against New Orleans a lot less meaningful.

Sorry, Simers. Apologies to Clippers beat writer Broderick Turner. Enjoy Memphis!

Wasn’t that a TV show?

Apparently, Denver Nuggets rookie Kenneth Faried likes his nickname.

“When I went to the combine, everybody kept saying, ‘He’s an animal, he’s a man, he’s a beast,’ ” Fareid told the Denver Post. “So one of the guys from my agency came up with the name ‘Manimal’ because I play hard, I’m fearless, I don’t care who the person is who I’m facing and I am going to challenge him. I am going to box out, I’m going to rebound hard and be physical.”

Well, then.

I guess it’s better than Paunimal. Or Bynumal.

Q&A of the day

Question: Why didn’t anyone ask what the heck James Harden was doing so close to Metta World Peace seeing how he was emotionally charged after the dunk?

If the World Peace/Harden incident was a car accident the jury would have assigned a % blame to each party.

—Jerry N.

Answer: Yep. World Peace: 100%. Harden: 0%.

Final thought

The Lakers never lose the first game of the first round.

At home. Against an inferior team.

Never, never, nev--?

They lost to New Orleans in their playoff opener last season? By nine. At Staples Center.

I’ll still take the Lakers to win Sunday…. I think.

MORE

Lakers vs. Nuggets: How they match up

George Karl likes the Nuggets’ ‘teamness’

Nuggets won’t be out of their depth in series

Bresnahan’s Takes: Lakers win battle to stay out of Memphis