<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">PHOENIX -- The inevitable is just that, and so the Lakers have had several weeks to come to grips with the reality that will be eliminated from playoff contention sooner rather than later. "Every man in here is dealing with that on his own terms," forward Brian Grant said. "I'm not going to sit here and say we as a whole are saying, 'Well, OK, the season's done.' I'm not saying any one person in here is saying that, either. "We all know that we've got nine games left, and no matter what, this is your job." The end could come as soon as tonight, when the Lakers will finish their three-game trip with a game against the Western Conference-leading Phoenix Suns. A loss to Phoenix combined with a Denver victory over Memphis would eliminate the Lakers. The Lakers (33-40) would become only the seventh team in NBA history to go from playing in the Finals one season to missing the playoffs the next. It also would end their league-leading 10-year run of postseason appearances. Help needed: After losing 11 of their past 12 games, the Lakers are starting to make a habit of flying in reinforcements on this trip, the latest being center Vlade Divac, who has played only 37 minutes all season. If Chris Mihm's sprained ankle doesn't improve, Divac will be activated and Mihm will head to the injured list. Divac, underwent surgery Jan. 6 to repair a herniated disc in his back. His return was targeted for the first week of April, and the Lakers are in desperate need for a center after Mihm was injured Saturday night. Mystery man: It took one of the worst first halves of the season for rookie guard Sasha Vujacic finally to get an extended run Sunday against Memphis. Vujacic finished with 10 points, hit two 3-pointers and fouled out in 24 minutes of action.</div> Source
