ESPN Los Angeles' Dave McMenamin has a must-read Q&A with Lakers executive Jim Buss on a wide range of topics, including how his relationship with Kobe Bryant has improved, how the new collective bargaining agreement severely hurts the Lakers, and more.
Game stories
--The Times' Ben Bolch examines how different the Lakers looked in their split series against the Spurs.
--The Orange County Register's Kevin Ding says the Lakers looked too predictable without Kobe Bryant in the lineup.
--The Daily News' Elliott Teaford explains how the Lakers took one step back against the Spurs.
Notebooks
--The Times' Bolch details Devin Ebanks' fluctuating role this season.
--The Orange County Register's Ding explains Mike Brown's philosophy on resting players.
--The Daily News' Teaford says it's unlikely Bryant will play Wednesday at Golden State.
Columns
--The Times' Bill Plaschke contends that the Lakers' loss to San Antonio reconfirms that they can't win without Bryant.
--ESPN Los Angeles' Ramona Shelburne also argues that the Lakers need Bryant back soon.
--Fox Sports West's Joe McDonnell wonders if the Spurs exposed how the Lakers would fare without Bryant.
Blogs
--ESPN Los Angeles' Brian Kamenetzky breaks down the Lakers' loss to San Antonio.
--Ball Don't Lie's Kelly Dwyer isn't all that impressed with Buss' answers to ESPN Los Angeles' McMenamin.
--Pro Basketball Talk's Kurt Helin wonders how Ramon Sessions will handle negotiations this off-season considering that he plans to opt out of his player option.
--Sports Illustrated's Zach Lowe explains how the Spurs pairing of Tim Duncan and Tiago Splitter has hurt San Antonio more than it's helped them.
--Lakers.com's Mike Trudell provides a running diary of the Lakers-Spurs game.
--Silver Screen and Roll's C.A. Clark believes both Lakers-Spurs games were outliers.
Tweet of the Day: "I would totally fire Coach Kobe after that loss. Either that or make him suit up and play." -- ArashMarkazi (ESPN Los Angeles' Arash Markazi)
