<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Even if the Lakers were in the playoff picture, as opposed to trailing the Denver Nuggets by six games with three weeks left in the season, the upcoming stretch of schedule might have finished them off regardless. The Lakers will play the first of 10 consecutive games against teams with winning records beginning tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center. No other NBA team has as many such games remaining. With the Lakers having played 17 of their past 26 games on the road and finally having brought a losing streak to an end at eight games Tuesday, all interim coach Frank Hamblen could say was, "It's just kind of the way it is." "We know it's going to be a tough deal," he added. "We've been through a tough ordeal already with the schedule, so that's the way it is." The game against the Timberwolves will afford the Lakers their first chance to play the role of spoiler that Hamblen talked about again Wednesday. Minnesota is 2 games behind Denver for the eighth and final playoff spot.</div> Source
