<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Hard as it might have been to believe on that July day when Kobe Bryant chose the Lakers over the Clippers, both of Los Angeles' NBA teams could find themselves counting pingpong balls at the end of the season. That would be the draft lottery, a possibility that had to be considered Tuesday night after the Lakers lost to the Clippers 110-101, the sendoff to a make-or-break, six-game trip that could determine if the Lakers make the playoffs. For the first time since 1996-97, the Clippers split the season series with the Lakers, leaving Bryant to dig deep into Bartlett's after his team fell apart in the second half and his 41-point game went for naught. "It is tough," Bryant said, "but to use a quote from Benjamin Franklin, 'We must all hang together or we will shortly all hang separately.' " Those words were written into history at the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. But after falling out of the Western Conference's eighth and final playoff spot, the Lakers are feeling the noose around their necks. "Our backs are against the wall," Lakers interim coach Frank Hamblen said. "Our schedule is a monster here on out. We'll see if we can stay together or if we fragment." The Lakers gave up 66 points in the second half - one short of their season high - including a 16-0 run early in the third quarter. They also watched as Lamar Odom was ejected for the second time against his former team. Odom's frustration spoke for the Lakers as a whole. After Chris Mihm was called for a foul trying to block Elton Brand from behind, Odom hurled the ball the length of the court and into the Staples Center seats. "You've got to grow up," Hamblen said. "We're counting on him."</div> Source
I also agree that it would be better for us to miss the playoffs. I really don't think we would get out of the 1st round, but the Laker/Kobe haters would never shut up...
