Staff writer Mike Bresnahan ties up some loose ends before Lakers playoff games.
Q&A of the day
Question: I was wondering if you have any ideas regarding what the Lakers are planning to do in the off-season. For some strange reason, I'd fancy seeing Kwame Brown again. Any chance the Lakers sign Kwame, for the veterans' minimum, perhaps?
--Justin Chan
Answer: No.
Worst-case Lakers scenario
There really isn't anything dreary on the Lakers' horizon. If they lose tonight, they return to San Antonio and try it again. And if that fails, they come back to L.A. for Game 7. And if that fails, then, well, they'll have experienced a worst-case scenario to top all worst-case scenarios.
Best-case Lakers scenario
Win tonight and get ready for several days of Magic-Bird highlights. Or several days of Magic-Isiah highlights.
How to finish
Brian Shaw secured a place in Lakers playoff history when his banked three-pointer against Portland in the 2000 Western Conference finals ignited a remarkable Game 7 comeback and propelled the franchise toward a three-championship run. Shaw, now a Lakers assistant coach, has some suggestions for tonight's possible close-out game. "You have to come out with that intensity, and even more so because the Spurs are the defending champions," he said. "It's like in boxing, you can't just fight the champion to a draw. You've got to, like, beat him down and take it from him. That's the mentality you have to have."
Final thought
It's tough to pick against the Lakers tonight. They're at home. Momentum is firmly on their side. The West will be won.
