Frank Hamblen

This is it —- Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The Lakers and the Celtics. The NBA's two most dominant and historic franchises playing for the right to be named champions. Both teams know what's at stake when the Lakers and their hated rival Boston lace up their sneakers for the final time in the 2009-10 season at Staples Center on Thursday night. "I think our guys know the importance of Game 7," Lakers assistant coach Frank Hamblen said after the team's final practice of the season Wednesday.

This is it —- Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The Lakers and the Celtics. The NBA's two most dominant and historic franchises playing for the right to be named champions. Both teams know what's at stake when the Lakers and their hated rival Boston lace up their sneakers for the final time in the 2009-10 season at Staples Center on Thursday night. "I think our guys know the importance of Game 7," Lakers assistant coach Frank Hamblen said after the team's final practice of the season Wednesday.

His team has won the first two games in the NBA Western Conference playoffs, winning both games at Staples Center, yet Lakers assistant coach Frank Hamblen said "it's our turn to change a little." Huh? "Yeah, we're up 2-0," Hamblen said. "But still, we're going into a place that's hard to win. Their fans really get into the game. It's loud. It's fun, though." The Jazz is one of the best teams in the NBA at home and its fans are some of the loudest and nastiest in the league.

Reporting from Boston -- Lakers assistant coach Frank Hamblen stood outside his team's coaches' office Sunday night after Game 2 of the NBA Finals, his game notes in a folder tucked under his arm, as player after player solemnly eased his way out of a quiet locker room. The Lakers had just lost, 103-94, to the Celtics, and in the process lost home-court advantage as the best-of-seven series that is knotted at 1-1 shifted to Boston for Games 3, 4 and 5. Hamblen, in charge of putting the Lakers' game plan together against the Celtics, was emphatic when he described what the Finals now have become.

They are the three amigos now, having become that way after one of their foursome departed over the summer to run his own show. There hasn't been any more pressure put on the shoulders of Lakers assistant coaches Jim Cleamons , Frank Hamblen and Brian Shaw since Kurt Rambis left them and became the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, the job duties for Cleamons, Hamblen and Shaw have increased, but it's not as though they haven't been faced with this before.

'If you score your age in this league, I don't see why there's any reason to quit.' Frank Hamblen, Laker coach, on retiring Indiana Pacer guard Reggie Miller's 39 points last week against the Lakers

Milwaukee Buck Coach Frank Hamblen said Jeff Grayer, Larry Krystkowiak and Frank Brickowski will be fined after missing a team flight to Minneapolis because they were eating at an airport restaurant.

Two NBA coaches were fired and one was kicked upstairs. Fired were Paul Westhead, whose racehorse offensive style resulted in the Denver Nuggets' two worst seasons, and Frank Hamblen, whose Milwaukee Bucks had their worst season in 13 years. Cotton Fitzsimmons, credited with turning the Phoenix Suns into one of the NBA's best in his four seasons, said he will stop coaching and rejoin the Suns' front office.

Now what? Well, the Lakers and Celtics will review Game 1 of the NBA Finals and look for ways to fix what they didn't like. Yes, even the Lakers, who approach Game 2 on Sunday with some trepidation. " The Celtics just want one game here," Lakers assistant coach Frank Hamblen said after practice Friday. "So this is the game they are looking to steal. It's up to our guys to hold home court." Hamblen is in charge of putting the game plan together for the Lakers against the Celtics.

It's not as though the Lakers' assistant coaches have a portal, accessible only through a cubbyhole in El Segundo, winding into the mind of head Coach Phil Jackson. It only seems that way sometimes. That's perfectly natural when a coaching staff has been together, for the most part, through two franchises (Chicago and Los Angeles), power struggles, championship runs and an earthquake or two. Lakers assistant Frank Hamblen laughed a bit when he was asked whether he often knew what Jackson was going to say before he said it. "We've been together quite a long time," he said.

Traditionally, Lakers assistant coach Frank Hamblen said, Game No. 2 in the playoffs has the potential to be the trap game. The Lakers lead the best-of-seven series against the Utah Jazz, 1-0, and play Game 2 Tuesday at Staples Center. But Hamblen, in charge of putting the Lakers' game plan together against the Jazz, doesn't want his team to be comfortable, even if the Lakers are playing at home. Why? "I think the visiting team has a better comfort level [for Game 2]

They are the three amigos now, having become that way after one of their foursome departed over the summer to run his own show. There hasn't been any more pressure put on the shoulders of Lakers assistant coaches Jim Cleamons , Frank Hamblen and Brian Shaw since Kurt Rambis left them and became the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, the job duties for Cleamons, Hamblen and Shaw have increased, but it's not as though they haven't been faced with this before.

His team has won the first two games in the NBA Western Conference playoffs, winning both games at Staples Center, yet Lakers assistant coach Frank Hamblen said "it's our turn to change a little." Huh? "Yeah, we're up 2-0," Hamblen said. "But still, we're going into a place that's hard to win. Their fans really get into the game. It's loud. It's fun, though." The Jazz is one of the best teams in the NBA at home and its fans are some of the loudest and nastiest in the league.

The Lakers made it official Monday, announcing that Frank Hamblen, Kurt Rambis and Brian Shaw would remain with the team as assistants to Coach Phil Jackson. Longtime members of the organization, Hamblen, Rambis and Shaw -- assistants last season -- had been expected to join Jackson on the sideline in his second stint with the franchise. Hamblen, also interim coach in the second half of the 2004-05 season, has served six seasons as a Laker assistant, five under Jackson.

Kobe Bryant and Co. tried their best to put a positive spin on a forgettable season Wednesday, but Coach Frank Hamblen had a different view after the Lakers' first practice since they were eliminated from the playoff race. "When you change a team as dramatically as we did [and] I'm not an expert, but I thought it would be tough for us to make the playoffs," Hamblen said about the Lakers, who have eight games left, including tonight's against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center.

Veteran assistant Frank Hamblen does not know whether he's just a two-game fill-in for Coach Rudy Tomjanovich or whether he might take over the Lakers for the remainder of the season. Either way, Hamblen, who is in his 35th year as a professional coach, said that he was ready. "I've probably seen about all of it," said Hamblen, 57, of his experiences in the NBA, which have included stints at Milwaukee, Chicago and the Lakers. "Whatever happens ... happens. You just try and do the job."

On his 58th birthday Saturday, the head coach of America's most glamorous sports franchise showed up at the team's practice facility in the usual glamorous manner. He drove his Toyota past the head coach's spot and into the general parking lot with the other hockey moms. He avoided the head coach's office and plopped down in one reserved for assistants. He didn't turn on a cellphone that has received five voice-mail messages all season. "And two of those were for somebody named Ruth," he said.

Kobe Bryant and Co. tried their best to put a positive spin on a forgettable season Wednesday, but Coach Frank Hamblen had a different view after the Lakers' first practice since they were eliminated from the playoff race. "When you change a team as dramatically as we did [and] I'm not an expert, but I thought it would be tough for us to make the playoffs," Hamblen said about the Lakers, who have eight games left, including tonight's against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center.