Space invaders

December 13th, 2007, 7:01 pm · Post a Comment · posted by KEVIN DING, OCREGISTER.COM

LOS ANGELES — The Lakers are having their first experience with the NBA’s new gimmick to offer more access for nationally televised games. The camera to be used for certain pregame, halftime and postgame footage was mounted in the locker-room corner above the team’s water cooler and bubble-gum bin. It faced, via direct line, Kobe Bryant’s locker.

“Pregame and halftime, a little bit different,” Phil Jackson said. “Postgame is a lot different, because there are a lot of things to be resolved sometimes in the moment. Some people need to be talked to; some people need to be just calmed down.

“So those situations are very integral. As I was telling the (TV) people who are running this, many times I’ve asked general managers and our support staff and our ball boys and our crack medical crew to all step out of the room, so it’s just the players and me. So it’s pretty hard to accept somebody inside that inner circle who is not inside your group.”

NBA head coaches are also asked to wear microphones and do one in-game interview. About getting the microphone attached to him before the game, Jackson said: “It’s like going into surgery, almost.”

The Lakers are on ESPN Friday night at Golden State, too.

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