Lakers are hot but they still lack that spark

The record denied it. The talent refuted it. The crowd tried to ignore it.

Then the Lakers took the floor and lived it.

Phil Jackson's pregame quote became a breathing, backpedaling reality Tuesday night, a collection of anonymous New York Knicks running his team from Spike Lee to Chris Rock and all celebrities in between.

Sitting under the basket, $22-million loser Stephon Marbury was more aggressive with his Blackberry.

Sitting courtside, there was more defense played by Vanessa Hudgens on Zac Efron.

Wearing gold, the Lakers were red-faced and heavy-lidded and extremely fortunate to escape with a 116-114 victory over a gimmick team that shouldn't have had a squirting flower of a chance.

"Speedball," Jackson described the Knicks' style before the game.

Nearly turned out to be Murder Ball.

The Lakers trailed most of the game, sometimes by as many as 15, and eventually won only because their guests finally lost their legs.

They won with everyone wondering again, where are their heads?

Even with Pau Gasol out with strep throat, the Lakers shouldn't have needed a Trevor Ariza ally-oop layup with 1:03 left to take the lead for good.

The only time they dominated was in the final moments, when the scoreboard showed alternating shots of a growling Jack Nicholson and a preening Spike Lee, loud cheers followed by huge boos.

If only the Lakers had more of Nicholson's grumpiness or Lee's brashness.

If only they were the team that began the season with the league's best defense, not allowing 100 points until the eighth game, bragging about how they were the new Boston.

Well, Boston held these Knicks to 101 points. Detroit held them to 96. Cleveland held them to 82.

Jackson was right. The Lakers have lost that spark. What happened? After hearing his quote, I looked for reason.

I found Kobe. I found Fish. I found the schedule. I found the kids.

I also found a guy who thinks this is all poppycock.

"You have to lighten up a little bit," said Knicks Coach Mike D'Antoni. "They're pretty good."

Pretty good, but not Boston or Cleveland good.

Why not?

Here's what I found.

Kobe Bryant Hasn't Pushed Them Yet.

This is a team whose pulse can be directly measured by Bryant's heart rate, and so far, by all reports, Bryant has rarely raised his voice.