Bresnahan's take on the Lakers

Staff writer Mike Bresnahan ties up some loose ends before Lakers playoff games.

Q&A of the day

Question: Do you know what Kenyon Martin was saying when he was trash talking with Kobe Bryant? Considering how Kobe was dominating the Nuggets -- especially Martin -- what could he possibly have to say to Kobe?

--Rommel Cinco, Ladera Ranch

Answer: I would have asked Martin after Sunday's practice, but he didn't stick around to talk to reporters. Neither did Carmelo Anthony. Or Allen Iverson. Or anybody else not named George Karl or Eduardo Najera.

Worst-case Lakers scenario

Allen Iverson, one of the most competitive players of his generation, takes offense to what happened in Game 3 and forces a Game 5 with a dazzling effort.

Best-case Lakers scenario

Half the Nuggets don't even come to the game and the other half, after holding a team meeting, decide to join the first half.

Your assistants, please

Assistant coach Kurt Rambis played on three Lakers teams that closed out 3-0 series leads with a Game 4 victory on the road. So, what's the secret?

"Part of it is understanding the mentality the other team is going to come with -- they're going to hold absolutely nothing back, so you've got to be able to weather that storm. At some point in time, when they realize that the situation is futile, they'll end up kind of rolling over, but you have to make that situation happen."

Final thought

Can Derek Fisher stop Deron Williams? Will Carlos Boozer and burly backup Paul Millsap be too physical for the Lakers' frontcourt? Who's going to guard Andrei Kirilienko? And who will score more off the bench -- Sasha Vujacic or Kyle Korver?