"When the playoffs start, the title has to come through L.A. I don't care what your record is."
-- Kobe Bryant
While Kobe's comment was directed toward the Pacific-leading Sacramento Kings, whom the Lakers beat 97-96 on Sunday, it really was meant to serve notice to everyone in the league. It doesn't matter who finishes the regular season at the top of the standings, the Lakers believe the second season belongs to them.
Last year, L.A. lost five of eight from March 19 through April 1, then went on an eight-game winning streak to end the season, foreshadowing an unprecedented 15-1 postseason run. This season, the Lakers also stumbled in late March, getting blown out on consecutive nights by the Mavs and Spurs last week. But this time, Shaq, Kobe & Co. righted their ship in time to notch big wins over two division leaders (the Pistons and Kings) a few days later.
So if history is any indication, the Lakers are about to flip that switch again and get serious. And they'll have a perfect opportunity to continue spreading the word this weekend, as they take on the Trail Blazers on Friday and then face the Spurs on Sunday in the third game of an NBC triple-header.
"Shaq totally believes that when playoff time comes and he has more time to get ready and there's more emphasis on what we can do as a team, it's going to be a lot more difficult to beat us," head coach Phil Jackson said. "It's hard to convince these guys otherwise because they've been through it."
We don't really think Phil's trying all that hard.
Falling stars
The Eastern Conference lost three of its hottest commodities for varying lengths of time Friday, when Vince Carter announced he would have season-ending knee surgery, Allen Iverson broke a bone in his hand in the Sixers' win over the Celtics, and Tracy McGrady was carried off the court on a stretcher with back spasms. Iverson hopes to be back for the playoffs, provided Philly can get to the postseason with out him, and McGrady is listed as day-to-day.
Bad reputation
Just days after meeting with league officials to say he was being unfairly singled out by the referees, Kenyon Martin was called for yet another flagrant foul for elbowing Shareef Abdur-Rahim in New Jersey's win against Atlanta on Sunday. The Nets power forward will sit out his team's next two games, the sixth and seventh games he's missed this season because of suspensions.
Tough road ahead
After undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and missing 12 games, Michael Jordan returned to action last week. But his presence hasn't helped Washington get any closer to a playoff berth. The Wizards have gone 1-2 since MJ's return, and they're still 3 1/2 games behind the Pacers for the eighth and final spot in the East.
SWISH: New Jersey Nets
Overshadowed by Kenyon Martin's flagrant foul, the Nets set a franchise record with 10 consecutive home victories with their 116-102 win over the Hawks. And with Miami's loss to Boston on Monday, New Jersey clinched its first playoff berth in four years.
BRICK: Hornets' relocation committee
The league dealt Hornets owners and New Orleans city leaders a setback last week, giving them an April 3 deadline to sell 1,168 more club seats, complete paperwork on all 55 luxury-suite commitments, increase the number of multiyear sponsorships and complete agreements on radio and television rights.
SWISH: Ben Wallace
Detroit's Big Ben set an NBA season high and tied his career high with 28 rebounds against the Celtics on Sunday. Only three other players in franchise history -- Dennis Rodman, Bob Lanier and Happy Hairston -- have pulled down more rebounds in a game than Wallace, who also needs only 14 blocks to break Lanier's franchise mark of 247, set in 1973-74.
BRICK: Chris Webber
His missed jumper at the buzzer in the Kings' loss to the Lakers on Sunday isn't the only thing weighing on C-Webb's mind. According to an indictment against a former Michigan booster, Webber received about $280,000 from 1988-93, a period extending from his freshman year at Detroit Country Day high school through his sophomore season at Michigan.
SWISH: Rod Strickland
With 7,401 career assists, the Heat guard has passed Maurice Cheeks (7,392) to take over sixth place on the NBA's all-time assists list.
Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Clippers, Saturday, 10:30 ET The Jazz lead the Clippers by 2 1/2 games in the race for the final playoff spot in the West, and the teams will face each other twice in five nights, with the finale of their season series set for April 3 at the Delta Center. Utah has won 12 straight against L.A., including this season's two previous contests; the Clippers haven't won the season series since 1985-86.
L.A. Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs, Sunday, 5:30 ET It could be payback time. After being trounced by the Spurs at the Alamodome on Wednesday, the Lakers will be looking for a little revenge. And this game also could help determine home-court during the playoffs, as L.A. trails Sacramento by one-half game in the race for the league's best record, with San Antonio and Dallas one game behind the Lakers.
Michael Jordan has never missed the playoffs, but the Wizards' loss to the Raptors on Sunday took His Airness one step closer to ending that tradition. "It was a big game," Jordan said afterward. "I hope this game doesn't come back to haunt us when you talk about making the playoffs or not making the playoffs. It could very well."
Statistics are the game's great magnifying glass, revealing the worth of those hidden behind the league's biggest stars. Any suit in the stands can tell you that Kobe Bryant is a hell of a player, but Off the Glass says only the fantasy maven can tell you that Brent Barry is the reason Seattle is going to make the playoffs.
In response to last week's question -- "What should be the criteria for determining the league's Most Valuable Player?" -- most users who responded believed the award should go to the player whose successful team would be in the lottery without them. A sampling of the responses follows:
There should be two honors: MVP and Player of the Year. Player of the Year would be for that player (Shaq, probably) who is the best player in the NBA. MVP would be for the player whose team would most resemble the Chicago Bulls without him (Jason Kidd).
-- Chris Shepherd, Bloomington, Ind.
One word: "impact." On his own team and on the league. And who has a bigger impact on their team than Shaq? Put him on ANY team and it becomes an immediate contender.
-- Duane Iler, Ft. Worth, Texas
The MVP formula: points + rebounds + assists - felony arrests - illegitimate children - bad movies/rap albums. The player closest to a positive number should be MVP.
-- Matt Kennedy, Mission Viejo, Calif.
The MVP should be based on how a player affects the performance of the rest of the team. A good player shines, but a great player makes his teammates shine.
-- Jose Jonas M. Cochico III, Manila, Philippines
Who do opposing coaches and players fear the most? Shaq! Quit trying to give it to Kidd, Iverson, etc., for getting their teams to play above "expectations." MVP is the best player! Period!
-- Brett Housely, Spanaway, Wash.
This week's topic: Why aren't the Lakers as dominant in the regular season as they are in the playoffs?
Jennifer Cooper covers the NBA for CNNSI.com. "Week at a Glance" appears each Monday during the season.
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Michael Jordan has never missed the playoffs, but the Wizards' loss to the Raptors on Sunday took His Airness one step closer to ending that tradition. "It was a big game," Jordan said afterward. "I hope this game doesn't come back to haunt us when you talk about making the playoffs or not making the playoffs. It could very well."
