While Lakers fans wait on pins and needles to see how their purple and gold fare in the coming weeks, the roster is trying to focus and stay positive.
Nash made some statements about his coaches yesterday. Mike D’Antoni has been given a lot of criticism this season over the state of his team. But Steve offered a different perspective, which comes to the defense of his head coach. Stating the bold team personalities, a slew of injuries, and other factors, Nash described this season as a “coach’s nightmare”:
“I wouldn’t say he’s happy with where we are, just because it’s been a coach’s nightmare in a lot of ways. You’ve had a lot of guys either injured for great stretches, unfamiliar with one another, no training camp to really get the necessary hours in and finding our balance and who we are as a team. So I know it’s disappointing for him and frustrating because he hasn’t been able to really have a full shot at it.”
Kobe Bryant also had some choice words to say about his relationship with Dwight Howard. Not everything has been smooth this season; both players have seen a few bumps in the road, especially when it came to their dominant relationships butting heads. Bryant has always been hard on teammates. This doesn’t always sit well with his comrades, and often times made Howard feel alienated this season. But rest assured, Bryant’s intentions are good:
“It’s like a relationship with your brother. I am trying to bring the best out of him.”
Five games remain for the Lakers season tonight in the quest for the 8th seed of the playoffs in the west. Los Angeles is currently tied in the loss column with the Jazz (41-37), but are 2-1 in their series with Utah. This means, in the case of a head-to-head tie breaker, the Lakers would lose the 8th seed to the Jazz. The Lakers need to win every game coming up. Here is a look at the two teams’ schedules:
| LAKERS | JAZZ |
| Hornets | Thunder |
| Trailblazers | Timberwolves |
| Warriors | Timberwolves |
| Spurs | Grizzlies |
| Rockets | N/A |
Both have more or less even matchups. The Lakers do have to play the Spurs, who have been amazing this season, and could be tough to beat. If L.A. cannot overcome San Antonio, they need to win all four of their next games and have the Jazz lose one game to get the 8th seed. If the Jazz win four and the Lakers win four, then the Lakers are out of the playoffs due to the tiebreaker. Ideally, the Jazz need to lose one game to keep the Lakers hopes alive.
The Lakers take on the New Orleans Hornets tonight at 7:30PM. The good news; Metta World Peace will be playing. It’s been less than two weeks since Metta had surgery, and it was announced that he would be out 4-6 weeks. Miraculously, Metta made it back much sooner and D’Antoni said Peace would play around 20 minutes tonight. The bad news; Steve Nash is out for tonight’s game and will most likely not play tomorrow. His hip and hamstring are still bothering him.
For more on the pregame report, click here.
New Orleans Hornets (27-50) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (40-37)
7:30 PM PST, April 9, 2013
Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
TV: TWC SN, NBATV
Radio: 710 ESPN (English) / 1330 ESPN (Spanish)
Hornets Projected Starting Line-up
PG: Greivis Vasquez
SG: Eric Gordon
SF: Al-Farouq Aminu
PF: Anthony Davis
C: Robin Lopez
Key Reserves: PF: Ryan Anderson, G: Xavier Henry, PF: Lou Amundson PG: Brian Roberts
Lakers Nation News
Lakers News: Earl Clark Involved In Car Accident Tuesday
Shootaround Report: Metta World Peace Will Play, Steve Nash Out
Kobe Bryant Talks About Lakers’ Playoff Chances Moving Forward
Nash on Lakers’ Season: ‘It’s Been a Coach’s Nightmare’
Lakers Game Preview: Zero Margin For Error Against the Hornets
NBA News: Kobe Bryant Has Fourth Highest Jersey Sales
Lakers News: Kobe Bryant States He Could Play Another 5 Years
Lakers Practice Videos: Metta World Peace, Kobe, Dwight Howard
Kobe On Dwight Howard: “I’m Trying To Bring Out The Best In Him”
Lakers News
Dead Legs, Few Options Put Lakers in a Corner [Silver Screen and Roll]
World Peace Will Play Against Hornets [Silver Screen and Roll]
A Silver Screen and Roll Refresher [Silver Screen and Roll]
Kobe Bryant Optimistic in Final Stretch [Lakers Index]
Live Chat: Will the Lakers Make The Playoffs? [LA Times]
The Latest News in the L.A. Sports World [Daily Download]
Lakers’ World Peace Expected to Play vs. Hornets [OC Register]
Metta World Peace Impresses [ESPN LA]
Nash Needs More Time [Rumor Central]
Lakers Need to Take Back to Back to Stand Chance of Moving Forward [LA Times]
Metta World Peace: I’ll Be in Lineup [ESPN LA]
Lakers Lack Direction, Whether D’Antoni’s or Kobe’s [OC Register]
Nash Says Lakers’ Season Has Been “Coach’s Nightmare.” Obviously[ProBasketballTalk]
Lakers’ Metta World Peace Will Play Tuesday, Steve Nash Will Not [Lakers Now]
No Time to Rest Kobe [ESPN Insider]
Preview: Lakers vs. New Orleans Hornets [LA Times]
Will the Lakers Make the Playoffs [ESPN LA]
Dwight Howard Thinks the Lakers Can Still Win a Championship [Lakers Now]
NBA News
NBA Standings 2012-2013 [ESPN]
Royce White Sitting Out D-League Playoffs? [Rumor Central]
Days of NBA Lives: Magic Johnson is a Master of Analysis [Ball Don’t Lie]
Gerald Wallace: ‘My confidence is totally gone’ [Yahoo! Sports]
NBA – Final Battles of the 2012-13 Season [ESPN]
NBA – Most Intriguing Free Agents in 2014 [ESPN]
NBA.com Playoff Picture [NBA.com]
Anthony, Pekovic Named Conference Players of Week [NBA.com]
NBA’s Closest Scoring Races [SI.com]
Tim Duncan’s Resurgence Fueling San Antonio Spurs’ Title-Worthy Defense [The Point Forward]
Joakim Noah Suffers Setback, Likely Out Tuesday vs. Raptors [ProBasketballTalk]
Favors Growing Up as Jazz Battle for Playoff Spot [Yahoo! Sports]
Josh Smith’s Status [ESPN Insider]
Watch ‘It’s not complicated’ Outtakes from Magic, Kareem, Bird [Lakers Now]
Ron Burkle Drops Out of Sacramento’s Bid to Keep Kings [ESPN]
Bass Stays Hot in Celtics’ Victory [Yahoo! Sports]
Fab Five Minus One? Jalen Rose Calls Out Chris Webber on Reunion [LA Times]
Surgery Officially Ends Love’s Season [ESPN Insider]
