Question of the Day: Will the Lakers and Bulls make the conference finals? [Updated]

Writers from around the Tribune Co. discuss the two-time defending NBA champion Lakers and the top-seeded Chicago Bulls, both of whom lost their conference semifinal openers Monday night. Check for more responses throughout the day, vote in the poll and feel free to weigh in with a comment of your own.

Ira Winderman, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Lakers? Yes. Bulls? No.

For the Lakers, this is nothing new, just typical of the drama on the way to the NBA Finals. It's not as if the Hornets had their number after the opener in the first round.

For the Bulls, though, there are other issues, from Derrick Rose's tender ankle to the reality that Atlanta simply has more options who can create their own offense.

The Lakers essentially did everything in their power to give away Game 1. Now is when Kobe gets angry and Pau steps forward.

Ponikarovsky helps Kings "recover," but will he help them move forward?

The Kings pursued Ilya Kovalchuk and were beaten out by the New Jersey Devils, though his contract was rejected by the NHL and is headed to an arbitration hearing that could put him back on the free-agent market.

The Kings made no offer to retain Alexander Frolov until they became desperate for goals and sniffed around him last week only to lose him to a one-year, $3-million contract with the New York Rangers. “Not an irrational response,” Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi acknowledged.

And so Plan C — as in “consolation” — came to pass Tuesday when the Kings signed left wing Alexei Ponikarovsky for one year at $3 million plus a $200,000 signing bonus.

This is a lateral step and not a leap forward, an emergence from limbo to grab the best second-tier player available and compensate for losing the frustrating but undeniably talented Frolov and his two 30-goal seasons.

Ponikarovsky, 30, has scored more than 20 goals in four of the last five seasons for some bad Toronto Maple Leafs teams. But given a reprieve when he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the trading deadline, he didn’t distinguish himself, scoring two goals in 16 regular-season games and one goal in 11 playoff games.

He’s not awful. You don’t score 20 goals in the NHL by being incompetent. Inconsistent? Yes. He scored six goals in 15 games in January and only two in his final 21 games.

Soft? So his reputation says despite his 6-foot-4, 220-pound build. But Lombardi likes his size enough to have pursued him at the trade deadline — and considered Ponikarovsky the best consolation prize 27 days into a free-agent market that was thin on forwards to begin with.

“So much time and energy went into this Kovalchuk thing that you’re exposed. Because it dragged on for so long and arguably has continued to drag on, we weren’t addressing other needs. It was impossible anyway,” Lombardi said. “And then you get into the problem that we are in a free-agency mode and everything is tied to this guy that you’re clearly telling the marketplace that everybody else is second fiddle.”

He said the Kings had “recovered” from losing Frolov by signing Ponikarovsky.

“Bringing back that M.O. was critical because the Kovalchuk thing was too much of an all-or-nothing scenario and I don’t think that was where we need to be,” Lombardi said.

“The loss of Frolov, that’s a hole. So you look at Fro and maybe he could have done more things but he’s still a good player. I wanted to bring back a player of that caliber and quite frankly it was only Fro and Ponikarovsky and that was it. There was a drop-off there in terms of getting size. . . .

“I think the deal works. It’s a one-year deal. If he performs we can extend him. And he should be motivated.”

Lombardi sees him as a support player who will help the core young players continue to progress.
“Those kids took a step and they need to take another step. But I don’t want to make the framework around them less,” he said. “We lost Frolov, [Randy] Jones, [Sean] O’Donnell. So the goal is to put around these kids a framework that still allows them to be successful but as I’ve always said, ‘It’s your team. Take control of this team,’ as they started to do last year.”

Lombardi said he’s not done yet. Adding a defenseman to replace O’Donnell and Jones is likely but the replacements could be determined by competition during training camp among the Kings’ defense prospects. If no one stands out, he might have to make a trade.

“It’s safe to say that I am looking at one other thing I’d like to try and do. However, our fall-back position is if we don’t find what I’m looking for I feel a lot better that we got at least the forward because I don’t see an option on the forward,” he said.

“Whether Ponikarovsky or Frolov, that was the first most important piece to me. I am looking at something but I don’t feel the urgency I felt because of looking at our reserve list where, you say, ‘Oh, that element isn’t there.’ ”

If the still-unscheduled arbitration hearing before the still-unchosen arbitrator puts Kovalchuk back on the market the Kings can pursue him and use some of the $13 million in salary cap space they have for next season. Their offer of $80 million over 15 years might have been approved because it didn’t taper off at the end as drastically as the Devils’ offer, which would have paid Kovalchuk $550,000 for each of the last five years.

In the meantime they have Ponikarovsky, a likable guy who said he feels comfortable here because he has family in Los Angeles. He said he’s happy to help on the power-play and penalty-killing units and is eager to use his size and creativity to boost the Kings’ production.

“I know they have a pretty young and fast and exciting team,” he said. “It’s a nice mix and I’m just going to try to bring my game and help the team win.”

And see if he can become more valuable than the usual consolation prize.
 

--Helene Elliott

Question of the Day: Will the Lakers three-peat? If not, who will stop them? [Updated]

 
Four reporters from the Tribune Co. weigh in on the topic. Check back throughout the day for more responses and feel free to leave a comment of your own.

Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel

Considering the NBA is about to undergo an extreme makeover, it is ludicrous to even try to handicap the 2010-11 championship race, let alone make any proclamations about a Lakers team that might not even have Phil Jackson leading the way.

That said, this hardly was a team of dominance this season, but rather one pushed to the ultimate limit in the ultimate game of the season. And even before the desperate scramble from a 3-2 Finals deficit, Kobe & Co. were being pushed to Game 6s against the Thunder and Suns.

No, let's first see where LeBron & Co. land.

Of course, should LeBron land with the Lakers in some sort of sign-and-trade, then there might not be a need for a debate, or 2010-11 season, at all.

[Updated at 12:20 p.m.:

K.C. Johnson, Chicago Tribune

The Lakers will repeat as long as Kobe Bryant draws a paycheck and Pau Gasol continues to supply his occasional bursts of magic.

And, no, this team isn't as dominant as those led by Magic. But with the Eastern Conference full of pretenders like the Orlando Magic and the Whatever LeBrons, that conference isn't ready. (The Celtics' Big Three made a valiant last gasp.) And the Suns' surprising advancement to this season's Western Conference finals shows how lacking the Lakers' substantive competition is.

Yes, this title was tougher. But Tim Duncan is a year older, the Oklahoma City Thunder are a year or two too young and Kobe lives for history. He should get it in the form of his second three-peat, matching his idol, good ol' MJ.]

[Updated at 1:30 p.m.:

Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel 

Get ready for a three-peat, Los Angeles. The Lakers should be considered the favorites to win a third consecutive NBA title next June, as long as Phil Jackson returns as head coach.

The nucleus of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom and Ron Artest is under contract for the 2010-11 season. Bynum should be healthy. Even if Derek Fisher retires, Mitch Kupchak should be able to find a point guard to fill the void.

The big question marks revolve around Jackson and LeBron James. Jackson steadies the Lakers, and without him the star-filled Lakers could lose sight of the team concept.

James adds another variable to the equation. If he joins Dwyane Wade in Miami, the Heat immediately would join the league’s elite and could cause the Lakers (and everyone else) headaches.

In the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder are the team of the future. But for one more year at least, the Lakers should be the class of the conference.]

Photo: Big men Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum embrace in the middle of the Lakers' celebration on the Staples Center court after an 83-79 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Question of the day: Who will win the NBA Finals? [Updated]

Four reporters from Tribune Co. weigh in on the topic. Check back throughout the day for more responses, and feel free to leave a comment of your own.

[Updated at 12:01 p.m.:

Baxter Holmes, Los Angeles Times

This question is tougher than calculus at Cal Tech – not that I’d know – when you consider the outside variables: the crowds, the emotions (rivalry and revenge factors both) and the health of key players.

I’d like to plead the 5th until after Game 1, but if pressed, I like the Celtics.

Ron Artest is a great defender, but Paul Pierce won't get caught with his pants down unless Artest’s hand is around his waistband. Andrew Bynum is a potential equalizer against the Celtics’ imposing front line, but even if his right knee is 2 1/2 ounces lighter after Monday, I’m not convinced he’s ready. There’s always Kobe, but he was there in 2008 too.

In the end, the Celtics are brutes, the Lakers are finesse. Brutes in seven.]

Ira Winderman, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Lakers in six, because it's not 2008 anymore.

Because this time Ron Artest is in place to defend Paul Pierce.

Because this time Andrew Bynum is at least ambulatory to help offset some of Boston's inside physicality.

Because this time Pau Gasol can be cast at power forward instead of at center.

Because this time Vladimir Radmanovic won't be in the starting lineup, or anywhere within sight.

Because this time Lamar Odom again can play as a sixth man.

Because this time the Celtics do not have a perimeter stopper of the pedigree of James Posey (with Tony Allen less than a poor imitation).

Because this time the Lakers have home-court advantage, meaning even if the Celtics split the first two, they would have to sweep at home to close it out at the Garden.

Brian Schmitz, Orlando Sentinel

The NBA and its TV partners would surely love to have this royal retro couple -- Lakers and Celtics -- play a best-of-17 series instead of a best-of-seven.

Stretch this baby out until the NFL camps open or until one of Kevin Garnett's body parts falls off defending Pau Gasol.

I'm taking the Lakers in seven for the repeat and for revenge (Boston beat L.A. in '08), but only after under going intense counseling.

I mean, do you know hard it is to trust a Lakers team that is counting on loose cannon Ron Artest to help it win a ring?

This is the ultimate test to remind you just how great Kobe Bryant is.

He's won without Shaq, and he'll win with Artest.

Photo: Ron Artest is guarded by Celtics forward Paul Pierce in February. Credit: Lori Shepler / Associated Press

Pau Gasol makes All-Star team, Andrew Bynum and Chris Kaman don't

Lakers forward Pau Gasol is in the NBA All-Star game, but center Andrew Bynum is out, and so is the Clippers center Chris Kaman.

Gasol will join Kobe Bryant at the All-Star game on Feb. 14, the second time in as many seasons that Gasol was selected to play for the Western Conference team, according to a league source who was not allowed to speak publicly.

Bynum, however, did not make the All-Star team after averaging 15.8 points and 8.4 rebounds a game. He started off strong, collecting double-doubles in eight of his first nine games but then endured a stretch of 23 consecutive games without a double-double.

The rest of the All-Star reserves will be announced today on TNT at 4 p.m. Pacific time.

Gasol, 29, was selected despite missing 17 games because of two hamstring injuries. When he played, he averaged a sturdy 17.6 points and 11 rebounds. He averaged 18.9 points and 9.6 rebounds last season.

Bynum, 22, had been playing better lately, including a 27-point, 12-rebound effort Wednesday against Indiana, but the coaches’ ballots already had been submitted.

The 30 head coaches chose All-Star reserves by voting for seven players in their conference, including two guards, two forwards, a center and two other players regardless of position. Coaches were not allowed to vote for players on their own team.

Kobe Bryant, Lakers tops in NBA sales

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant maintained his top spot for the most popular jersey in the NBA, according to a report today by the NBA.

Lakers forward Pau Gasol was ranked 10th in the NBA.

Cleveland forward LeBron James, whose Cavaliers team will host the Lakers on Thursday night, had the second-most-popular jersey in the league.

The Lakers were the most popular team in the NBA, one spot ahead of the Boston Celtics.

The rankings are based on sales at the NBA Store in New York and NBAStore.com since the start of this season.

-- Broderick Turner

Photo: Kobe Bryant takes a bite out of his jersey during the Dec. 29, 2009, game against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center. Credit: Andrew Gombert / EPA

Lakers forward Pau Gasol to receive Sportsman of the Year award

Lakers forward Pau Gasol will receive the 2009 Sportsman of the Year award at the fifth annual LA Sports Awards, which will be held Friday, Feb. 19 at the JW Marriott at L.A. Live.

The LA Sports Awards are presented annually by the Los Angeles Sports Council to celebrate the greatest moments of the year in sports in the Los Angeles/Orange County area. The Sportsman award is given to the local male athlete whose performance and character best exemplified the ideals of sportsmanship during the calendar year.

The awards show will be televised on FSN Prime Ticket at a date and time to be announced soon.

-- Houston Mitchell

Lakers vs. Spurs: In-game report

Spurs 105, Lakers 85 (final)

The Lakers' fourth consecutive road loss was painful enough.

It was the loss of Kobe Bryantto back spasms that inflicted the most pain on the Lakers in a loss to the Spurs.

Bryant first suffered the injury at the end of the first quarter, returned to play in the second and third, but left before the fourth quarter. He went to the locker room and never returned. He didn't take a shot in the third quarter.

The Lakers play the Mavericks at Dallas on Wednesday night in a back-to-back game, not knowing whether Bryant will be able to play.

Bryant already was playing with an avulsion fracture in his right index finger. Now he has the back problem.

The Lakers didn't have Pau Gasol (strained left hamstring) again, but got Luke Walton back after he missed eight weeks with a pinched nerve in his back.

The Lakers fell down by 22 points in the third, but got to within six points in the fourth before faltering.

Andrew Bynum led the Lakers with 23 points and eight rebounds. Bryant finished with 16 points. 

Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 25 points and 13 rebounds.

 

Spurs 75, Lakers 63 (third quarter)

The Lakers came out in the third quarter and forgot about playing any defense.

As a result, they fell into a 22-point hole.

It didn't help matters that Kobe Bryant left late in the period and went to the locker room with back spasms.

Bryant didn't score or take a shot in the quarter.

Still, the Lakers made a push in the third behind the play of Ron Artest and Andrew Bynum.

Artest had 10 points in the third, bulling his way to the basket.

Bynum had eight points in the third.

Spurs 53, Lakers 41 (halftime)

Kobe Bryant started the second quarter despite having left the game late in the first to go to the Lakers' locker room because he suffered back spasms. Bryant didn't move very well, looking exactly like someone experiencing back pain.

He scored 16 points in the first half on seven-for-10 shooting.

Andrew Bynum had 11 points in the first half.

The Lakers did not shoot particularly well, making 44.7% of their shots. And they  couldn't stop the Spurs, allowing them to make 55.8% in the first half,.

Tim Duncan had 17 points on eight-for-12 shooting.

 

Spurs 27, Lakers 23 (first quarter)

Right after Kobe Bryant made a basket over Manu Ginobili late in the first quarter, Bryant grabbed his back and limped down court.

Bryant went to the Lakers' locker room when the team called a timeout with 3:04 left in the first.

The Lakers were leading, 19-17, when Bryant left.

Bryant had scored nine points on four-for-six shooting in the first.

This was a better-looking Bryant than the one who had made just 24 of 88 shots (27.2%) in his previous three games.

The Lakers were outscored, 10-4, in the rest of the quarter after Bryant left.

Pregame

Lakers forward-center Pau Gasol will miss tonight's game against San Antonio because of a strained left hamstring but he might return Friday against the Clippers, Coach Phil Jackson said.

"He's kind of earmarked the Clipper game as one that he thinks he can come back on," Jackson said Tuesday.

Will Gasol possibly play Wednesday against Dallas?

"We would only wish," Jackson said wistfully.

Gasol will miss his fifth consecutive game tonight against the Spurs. He missed 11 games earlier this season because of a strained right hamstring. He is averaging 16.8 points and 11.5 rebounds a game.

Forward Luke Walton has been activated after being sidelined eight weeks because of a pinched nerve in his back. He will play tonight only if Adam Morrison continues to feel the effects of flu-like symptoms, Jackson said.

-- Mike Bresnahan 

Photo: Pau Gasol. Credit: Jason Redmond / Associated Press

Lakers ready for Texas trip

The Lakers know they will have their hands full with a two-game trip through Texas.

They begin the trip with a game in San Antonio on Tuesday night at the AT&T Center. It's the first time the Lakers and Spurs have played this season.

Then the Lakers play the Mavericks in Dallas on Wednesday night in a back-to-back game. The Lakers and Mavericks have played twice this season, both games at Staples Center, ending in a split.

The Lakers are listing Pau Gasol, who has been out with a strained left hamstring, doubtful for the Spurs' game.

Gasol worked out on the treadmill but didn't practice. Gasol is going on the trip.

Luke Walton practiced and looked pretty good.

Ron Artest, who experienced some dizziness after a fall on the court during Sunday night's game, practiced on Monday.

-- Broderick Turner

Photo: Pau Gasol watches from the bench during the Lakers' 88-79 victory over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday. Credit: Jason Redmond / Associated Press

Lakers vs. Clippers: In-game report

Clippers 102, Lakers 91 (final)

The last time the Lakers lost to the Clippers was April of 2007, a span of nine consecutive games.

For what was supposed to be a cross-down rivalry, a rivalry in which both teams share Staples Center, it had been lopsided in recent years, all in favor of the Lakers.

But the Lakers were unable to keep control of the Clippers, who built a 15-point lead and rolled in for their third straight win in their home game at Staples Center.

The Lakers tied the score twice, at 81-81 and 83-83, but never could get over the hump.

The Lakers began the game not playing with energy, with enough effort, and it cost them in the end in a back-to-back game.

They looked  liked a tired team, a team that is not sharp right now.

Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 33 points, but he was just 10-for-30 from the field. He also had eight assists.

The Clippers had five players score in double-figures, led by Baron Davis' 25 points and 10 assists.

The Lakers fell to 28-7, but they still have the best record in the NBA.

Next up for the Lakers are the Trail Blazers in Portland, a place where the Lakers have lost nine consecutive games.

Clippers 79, Lakers 73 (third quarter)

During one sretch in the third quarter, Kobe Bryant scored 14 consecutive points for the Lakers

The Lakers had fallen into a 15-point hole in the third and Bryant seemed bent on bringing the Lakers by all by himself.

He certainly did his part, scoring 17 points in the third.

When Shannon Brown made a three-pointer off a pass from a double-teamed Bryant, the Lakers had pulled to within 75-71.

Now it was a game.

Clippers 52, Lakers 43 (halftime)

The Lakers didn't share the basketball very much in the first half.

And as a result, the Lakers shot the ball poorly.

The Lakers had just eight assists in the first half. Clippers guard Baron Davis had seven, one less than the entire Lakers' team.

The Lakers shot just 34.1% from the field, which was another poor shooting night for them.

The Clippers made 46.8% of their shots.

Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 12 points, but he was only three of 13 from the field.

Late in the second quarter, Shannon Brown tried to go one-on-one against Baron Davis.

But Davis blocked Brown's shot, forcing the Lakers into a 24-second violation.

Now remember that Brown has tremendous leaping ability, but this time Davis got the best of him.

Both Davis and Brown laughed at the play.

 

Lakers 26, Clippers 25 (first quarter)

One of the more interesting matchups was between centers Andrew Bynum and Chris Kaman.

Bynum and Kaman have aspirations of making the All-Star team.

They went at each other in the first quarter.

Bynum had eight points on four-for-10 shooting and five rebounds in the quarter for the Lakers.

Kaman countered with six points on two-for-six shooting and five rebounds for the Clippers.

The Lakers have defeated the Clippers nine consecutive games, and if it's up to Coach Phil Jackson, that streak will extend to 10.

But Jackson knows that the Clippers have the talent to give them problems.

"I think we started out the season saying this is a team that has a shot at making the playoffs, for sure," Jackson said. "They're talented enough to do so."

With that in mind, Jackson wants his team to be ready for a tough game against the Clippers in their home game at Staples Center Wednesday night.

Jackson was hopeful that Ron Artest, who played his first game Tuesday night after missing the previous five with a concussion, has a better outing.

Jackson also said that Lamar Odom, who has been suffering from intestinal flu symptoms, still wasn't feeling that well on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Pau Gasol, who missed his second consecutive game with a strained left hamstring, had a workout that left the Lakers impressed.

"He worked pain-free," Jackson said. "So, that's nice to know."

-- Broderick Turner

Pau Gasol has mild-to-moderate left hamstring strain

Lakers forward Pau Gasol sustained a mild to moderate strain in his left hamstring, according to an MRI exam Monday morning.

He is doubtful tomorrow against Houston (in other words: he ain't playing) and is day-to-day after that, according to the Lakers.

Gasol was seen by team doctor Steve Lombardo a day after being able to play only seven minutes against Dallas.

Gasol missed the first 11 games of the season because of a strained hamstring in his right leg. He was averaging 17.3 points, 12 rebounds and 3.5 assists before Sunday's game.

If Ron Artest returns to the lineup after missing five games because of a concussion, the Lakers' starting front court against Houston will almost surely be Artest, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom, assuming Odom's intestinal issues have cleared by tomorrow. (Odom missed practice today because of stomach problems. Artest practiced without any complaints.).

--Mike Bresnahan