<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Got the shakes? Suffering from postseason withdrawal? Find yourself watching late-night reruns of '50s sitcoms? Surprise yourself by announcing a sudden urge to take polka lessons? Anything to take your mind off what is not happening. Ah, yes, these are difficult and very foreign times for Lakers fans. It is April, and no purple and gold blurs on hardwood. No TNT commentary about the Lakers' first-round victory over Houston or Portland. No marveling over last-second dramatics. Just an empty Staples Center. It's one thing for a glitzy arena to lose its postseason income and another for those who have followed L.A. into the playoffs the past 11 years like a birthright to experience a Lakers-less postseason cold turkey. They are experiencing the playoffs in Memphis. There is an exciting series happening in Denver. Heck, Washington and Chicago are facing off. They're even moving on in, dare we say, Miami. But not in Los Angeles. Not with the Lakers. Couldn't even wean the faithful with a first-round exit. The team that has been the dominant story in the NBA the past five years is sitting out. Experiencing what it's like to have an offseason in April. To be like the other guys. No marveling over Kobe Bryant's air time. No Earth-altering dunks by Shaquille O'Neal. No second-guessing Phil Jackson. It's dead air in Laker Land. Fans are reduced to getting worked up over a rumor Phil and Kobe might do lunch. Not exactly the same as four title appearances and three championships in five years. It's a world away from Shaq's eyes almost bulging from his head after a monster sky slam to help break the Trail Blazers' hearts. From Robert Horry sinking a killer 3-pointer to take the very life out of the Kings. Making it all the more painful for Lakers followers is Shaq and Horry can still be viewed in the playoffs. It's just that they play for the Heat and Spurs now. Might even wind up in the Finals together. It's just so cute. Fret not, Lakers lovers, you'll always have Derek Fisher's .04 in the memory bank. They can never take away three consecutive titles. There are other ex-Lakers still playing basketball. Gary Payton with the Celtics. Anthony Peeler with the Wizards. Eddie Jones with the Heat. Jannero Pargo with the Bulls. Even ex-Clippers Quentin Richardson (Suns), Andre Miller (Nuggets), Eric Piatkowski (Bulls), Brian Skinner (Kings) and Lorenzen Wright (Grizzlies) play on. Just not anyone who currently has Lakers scripted across their chests. What to do, what to do?</div> Source
