Lakers News: Team Embracing the Challenge of Making the Playoffs

It seems as if the Lakers are in a definite better place than they were a few weeks ago. Yes, they are playing better, winning the last 11 of 16 games and are creeping up on the Houston Rockets and the Utah Jazz in the standings. Maybe more importantly, the team’s attitude has changed a bit, as they seem to be on the same page. They are approaching the challenge of making the late push for the playoffs head on. In fact, some are even calling this challenge “fun.”

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After practice yesterday Steve Nash, Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant were asked to share their mindset of the challenge to make the playoffs. Per Dave McMenamin, Nash stated:

“It’s going to be a tough ride trying to get into the playoffs, but that’s going to make it fun,” Nash said after practice Wednesday. “Let’s try to overcome the odds and try to get back in there and see if we can scare some people.”

Scaring other teams might be new for the Lakers this season, but fans hope for that to happen. Dwight Howard shared his feelings on the challenge, saying:

“This is the best life we could ever have,” Howard said. “So there’s no need for us to be mad. We’re not happy we’re in the position we’re in, but we still have a great life. Regardless of what happens tomorrow or the next day, we’re all blessed and we got to live one day at a time and have fun.”

Kobe Bryant added that this challenge had provided a good test for the team to rise together and face the challenge as a team. Bryant remarked:

“I think everybody is a little edgy and we want to turn things around,” Bryant said. “We want to get to a point where we’re in the postseason and can make some noise.”

“I’m just naturally like that,” Bryant said. “I think this type of situation brings it out of all of us a little bit more and hopefully will get us to another level.”

In Kobe’s dictionary, “edgy” is a synonym for Nash and Dwight’s “fun.” In a very Kobe kind of way, he then added:

 “It will be much more fun when we’re in the postseason,” Bryant said with a smirk.

The Lakers continue their “fun” tonight against the struggling Minnesota Timberwolves in Los Angeles. The Lakers received some help from the Rockets and the Jazz last night as they both lost. The Lakers are now two and a half games behind Houston for that eighth spot.