LOS ANGELES – Phil Jackson will acknowledge that most of his great teams from the past will hit a late-season lull before building toward the postseason. Perhaps with the return of Pau Gasol, Jackson’s team is starting its climb for this season.
After a three-week absence, Gasol helped the Lakers restore order to their triangle offense even though his numbers in 31 minutes weren’t overwhelming: 10 points, six rebounds and seven assists — padded by his great passing that helped put the game away in the final minutes.
Kobe Bryant (36 points, 13 rebounds , seven assists) played another outstanding all-around game, especially in the second half to put away the game twice – the second time coming after Jordan Farmar got careless with the ball and let Portland go on a 10-0 run with Bryant presumably done for the day.
A BECKHAM-LIKE SET PIECE
As this is the time of year when Jackson will start ramping up for the playoffs, the Lakers are fine-tuning out-of-bounds plays such as the one the Lakers ran in the first quarter to get Bryant an open left-side 3-pointer.
OUT OF LEFT FIELD
After Gasol made one of his two left-handed eight-foot hooks early in the game, Bryant made a nine-foot lefty hook late in the first quarter.
THE SAFE ZONE
The Lakers jacked up 27 3-point shots and made just five in their Feb. 29 loss in Portland – and Bryant didn’t think much of that approach. Even though the Lakers shot 3-pointers on three consecutive second-quarter halfcourt situations against Portland’s zone, they controlled their triggers and shot 8 of 17 from 3-point range for the game.
NEXT
Dallas at Lakers, 7:30 p.m. Friday, FSN, ESPN, KLAC/570.
