<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Lakers assembled for practice Monday without their coach and their leading scorer, an ever-decreasing group enmeshed in an ever-increasing scramble for the final three Western Conference playoff spots. Coach Rudy Tomjanovich is characterized as day to day because of a stomach virus, and Kobe Bryant remains week to week because of a sprained ankle. "It's not like they're going to let us postpone a game or anything," forward Lamar Odom said. "Just got to keep playing." Assistant coach Frank Hamblen, the designated head coach against Charlotte and possibly again tonight against the Portland Trail Blazers, talked to Tomjanovich on Monday and said he sounded better. Now 4-4 without Bryant, the Lakers are involved with four other teams for the West's final three playoff spots. February seems a bit early to mention playoffs, but the impression that the Lakers don't care about the standings could be put to rest when Hamblen noted that Sunday's victory over the expansion Charlotte Bobcats was also important because Minnesota and Houston, two of the teams in the playoff battle, had lost.</div> Source
This upcoming road trip is going to be huge for us, if we can come away with a .500 record on it, then we are in good shape.
Of course its thougher. New coach means new tactics, its kinda like starting from scratch. its gonna be very hard and if we dont make the playoffs it wont be such a disappointment for me cause of this.
