With their heads slumped, the Lakers walked off the court of Quicken Loans Arena with no reasons to stop staring at the ground.

The Lakers with their 104-99 loss Wednesday to the Cleveland Cavaliers concluded a seven-game trip at 4-3, marked their third consecutive defeat and erased any positive feelings coming out of their 4-0 start, including a signature victory over the Boston Celtics. The Lakers enter the All-Star break with plenty of things to correct, but with no practice time to do it. And those believing a few days off could help the team rest are forgetting that there are plenty of the festivities surrounding All-Star weekend in Los Angeles.

It's debatable that the Lakers' loss to Cleveland would have more significant long-term implications than their much-needed victory against Boston, but that's not how the Lakers should think right now. Having Quickens Loans Arena drop confetti after the league's worst team beat the two-time reigning champions should be humiliating enough. Knowing that this loss came after a similarly poor effort only two days ago in a double-digit loss to Charlotte should dent the pride even more. But for far too long, the Lakers have maintained too much of a big-picture perspective, knowing the end result really points to the team's health and ability to ratchet up the intensity once the playoffs start. But the Lakers so far are showing patterns that they're overlooking the small steps needed to evolve into a championship contender.

It was a little more than a month ago when the Lakers defeated the Cavaliers by 55 points, which marked the beginning of Cleveland's 26-game losing streak and gave the Lakers a refreshed attitude as they took pride in sharpening their habits regardless of the opponent they faced. That proved to be far from the case Wednesday as the Lakers committed 19 turnovers, allowing 17 fast-break points, conceded 50 points in the paint, allowed  reserve guard Ramon Sessions to set a season high in points (32) and Anthony Parker to tie a career high in assists (nine).

No Laker was immune from blame. Kobe Bryant's 17 points on eight-of-24 shooting, seven turnovers, four personal fouls and one technical provided signs that his flu is still bothering him, he's allowing frustration to affect his shot selection and his composure, and his inability to focus is leading to mistakes he normally doesn't bring. Andrew Bynum's six points on two-of-12 shooting entailed a missed opportunity for taking advantage of open looks two days after complaining about a lack of touches. Lamar Odom's six points on two-of-six shooting revealed a passivity on offense and defense that's been fairly minimnal in his most consistent season. And Ron Artest continued his disappearing act, with his one shot -- a miss -- showing he's not involving himself at all and his immediate postgame tweet highlighting his mix tape revealed poor prioritizing.

The lone highlights -- Pau Gasol's 30 points on eight-of-15 shooting, Derek Fisher's 19 points on eight-of-12 shooting and Shannon Brown's 15 points on seven-of-14 shooting -- kept the Lakers in a game that otherwise appeared lopsided. But they also contributed to the loss, including when the Lakers came back. After Fisher's three-pointer tied the score at 82-82 with 6:16 remaining in the game, the Cavaliers responded with a 9-0 run on sequences that defined the Lakers' poor play. Parker cut across the lane and received a pass from Sessions, but Gasol didn't mark out. Fisher forced a drive baseline and committed an offensive foul and then got knocked over on a down screen that set up Parker's wide-open three-pointer. A forced Fisher layup then led Sessions performing an up-and-under layup past Gasol. And a contested three-pointer from Brown and put-back from Odom led to Sessions driving through traffic once again. Bryant's contested three-pointer at the top of the key with the Lakers trailing 99-95 with 26 seconds remaining made the result all but official.

But this game wasn't lost in the fourth quarter. It was lost with a lack of effort and poor execution throughout the entire game. Whether it was Bryant picking up his second foul and then drawing a technical with only 5:37 left in the first quarter that sparked an 11-2 Cleveland run, Parker's uncontested jumper capping an 8-0 run to end the first half, Christian Eyenga blowing past Bryant and Gasol for a poster-type slam or the Cavaliers' 9-0 run in the fourth, the Lakers rarely appeared engaged in the game.

Perhaps a week-long frustration that spans All-Star weekend will build up within the team, prompting them to work harder. Perhaps their most embarrassing loss will provide the jump-start to the consistency the Lakers sorely lacked. Or perhaps things will remain the same. It's nearly impossible to predict how the Lakers will respond because they haven't shown a definitive pattern all season, a current problem that seems to have no end.

--Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, who made only eight of 24 shots from the field, elevates for a layup against Cavaliers guard Anthony Parker in the first half Wednesday night. Credit: Jason Miller / US Presswire

Cavaliers 104, Lakers 99 (final)

Really?

This was a Cavaliers team the Lakers beat by 55 points last month. This was a Cavaliers team that lost 26 consecutive games before they beat L.A.'s other team, the Clippers.

And this was a Cavaliers team with the worst record in the NBA.

Now they are the Cavaliers team that defeated the back-to-back NBA champion Lakers.

Really.

Pau Gasol had 30 points and 20 rebounds, but it did no good for the Lakers.

Kobe Bryant had 17 points, but he was just eight-for-24 shooting from the field, one for six from three-point range.

Bryant had 12 rebounds, but he also had seven turnovers.

Ramon Sessions, a reserve guard who saw increased minutes with Mo Williams injured, led the Cavaliers with 32 points and eight assists.

The Lakers trailed by as many as 12 ponits in the fourth quarter before they played hard, before they tried to make it a game.

RELATED:

Lakers-Cavaliers box score

Photos from Lakers-Cavaliers game

Who's better? Kobe Bryant vs. Michael Jordan

Cavaliers 74, Lakers 71  (end of third quarter)

The Lakers, losing to the worst team in basketball, had a scary moment in the third quarter when Shannon Brown went down hard, rolling in pain.

--Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

A visit from team owner Jerry Buss to the Lakers' practice facility during an inconsistent stretch understandably could send the signal that he's displeased with the team's direction and could make changes to the roster. But the intention actually proved to be the opposite.

Buss arrived at the Lakers' morning shootaround before the team's 89-88 loss Feb. 3 to the San Antonio Spurs with many stories surrounding the Lakers, including these in no particular order: Mitch Kupchak's acknowledgement he'd consider a trade, a disputed report that Ron Artest wanted the Lakers to ship him to another team, Jerry West's debatable assertion that the Lakers' age and inconsistency on defense would make it difficult to three-peat, the Lakers' 4-4 record in their last eight games and lack of a signature victory. Instead of being another voice among those questioning the state of the Lakers, Buss said instead that sought to provide reassurance.

"I tried by my presence to come at a time when I tried to make them feel real about that and that things aren't really that bad," Buss  said in an interview with 710 ESPN's Max Kellerman and Marcellus Wiley as part of the Lunch with the Legend series at Morton's Steakhouse in downtown L.A. "If things were really that bad, I would be there every day, every day, every day. I tried to give them a sense that things are not so bad and we're OK and we're going to win. I tried to calm the seas."

That included making small talk with some of the players. That included teasing Artest for not having lunch together for the last three weeks ("You should've called me"), possibly setting up Lakers rookie forward Devin Ebanks with a future girlfriend ("There's a very beautiful model called Ebanks and she related to you") and getting a medical update from Matt Barnes on his surgically repaired right knee ("Are you going to be back in time to do us some good?")

Buss interestingly left out conversations he had with Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson but relayed a few interesting anecdotes when prompted. On Bryant, Buss shared an incident that happened roughly six years ago where the two met at Buss' residence and he sensed Bryant was seeking a trade. "I remember him saying, 'Don't blame me. All I'm out here for is to win,'" Buss recalled Bryant saying. "I looked at him and our eyes met and I said to him, "You're not the only one Kobe. You know I want to win, maybe even more than you do.' From that time on, Kobe and I have been on I think on the same wavelength. I think it's true that everybody knows on that team that I want to win just like the Black Mamba."

After Buss took a playful dig at Jackson for dating his daughter and team executive vice president  Jeanie by saying "I tell him he can call me, Dad," he shared that most of his conversations with Jackson revolve around the books each of them are reading, with Buss currently scouring through "Unbroken," which details the life of Louis Zamperini, a former USC track Olympian and a World War II prisoner survivor.

Most of the hour-long interview centered around the biography rather than news items, such as Buss' views on a possible lockout, whether the Lakers need to make a trade or the organization's recently struck 20-year deal with Time Warner Cable. He also hurried over to an adjacent dining room afterward and wasn't made available for an interview. But it's safe to say Bussstill shared the same optimism that he did at the morning shootaround he visited two weeks ago.

"We've had such a long run," Buss said. "We've been to the Finals for three consecutive years. All of those extra games play into the middle of June. If you quit in April, it's not hard to imagine that with all that time off, you are ready to go in October. But when we play until the middle of June, October comes around too quick. So October, November, etc, the more times we're in the Finals, the more difficult to begin to prepare for the next Finals. But I think right about now, everybody senses that we have to get busy. This is going to be our time. The pride begins to set in, not the fatigue. The fatigue begins to float away and they say, 'Wait a minute. This is our championship. You're going to have to take it away from us until you call yourself champion.' "

Jerry Buss on recent visit to Lakers' shootaround

Jerry Buss on getting a PHD in Chemistry

Jerry Buss on how he purchased the Lakers

Jerry Buss on growing up in Wyoming

--Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Lakers owner Jerry Buss expressed optimism about the Lakers Wednesday to 710 ESPN at Morton's Steakhouse in downtown L.A. Credit: Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times

The Lakers responded in various ways following their double-digit loss to Charlotte.

Coach Phil Jackson maintained an even-keel attitude, as did Lamar Odom.  Kobe Bryant vowed he'd meet with the team to discuss the state of the Lakers. And center Andrew Bynum complained about a lack of opportunities in the post.

Just to clarify: This is the response the Lakers showed after their loss to Charlotte in the 2009-10 season. As far as their most recent loss to the Bobcats, the team appeared equally frustrated and calm. Bynum again complained about a lack of touches and minutes. Jackson appeared so disgusted that he talked to reporters for about 10 seconds but was kind enough to give the team Monday off. Bryant, meanwhile, avoided talking to the media altogether.

The Lakers have clearly been down this path before, with poor regular-season performances adding frustration to a fan base expecting at least a reasonable effort and at most leaving some questioning whether L.A. is championship caliber. The  Lakers' 2009-10 season featured a happy ending, but the way the team responded to its 98-83 loss March 5 to the Bobcats wasn't exactly a model concept to follow. Instead, it just illustrates how the maddening unpredictably and inconsistency the Lakers provide are neither a definitive answer on whether they're locked in at a championship level or if they're doomed to unravel.

The Lakers (38-18) have an easy chance to rebound Wednesday against Cleveland (9-46), which owns the league's worst record. But last year's performance following the loss to the Bobcats brings up some points to ponder. First here are some differences. The Lakers owned the West's best record by a comfortable margin last season even through their inconsistency. The Lakers this season are currently 8½ games behind the San Antonio Spurs (46-9) and one game behind the Dallas Mavericks (38-16) for the top spots in the West. The loss to the Bobcats came in March last year instead of just before the All-Star break. And the Lakers' 4-7 record in their last 11 games partly pointed to the sidelining of Bynum for his strained left Achilles and limiting Bryant because of a sprained right knee, two concerns that trumped needing wins considering that the Lakers owned the Western Conference's best record.

But the way the Lakers responded after their loss to Charlotte last year showed the same maddening consistency as they demonstrated on their seven-day trip, with a 4-0 start followed by double-digit losses. On paper, the Lakers won their next seven games, perhaps signifying things had turned around. Far from it. The Lakers needed Bryant to make a game-winner against Toronto. They displayed improved effort but had inconsistent execution against Phoenix. They committed 24 turnovers against Golden State. They had a second-quarter letdown that featured one point from the bench against Sacramento. And they also blew third- and fourth-quarter leads to Minnesota and Washington, respectively. All in all it was an effort that entailed only one victory against an above-.500 opponent, leading Jackson to challenge the team to go undefeated on its five-game trip.

They instead responded with a 2-3 trip for all the same reasons. It appeared the Lakers had turned things around with a balanced effort against Utah, but the Lakers laid an Easter egg two days later against San Antonio because of poor team chemistry. The Lakers may have improved their urgency, most notably in the past three games. By the time the Lakers reached that point, they threw away their goal in compiling 60 wins and worried solely about staying healthy.

So as the Lakers move forward, don't be surprised if they follow the same path. This by no means excuses their attitude. They frankly roll the dice too often and feel further validated when things work out. But for better and worse, this is how the Lakers operate, leaving fans split with frustration, concern and optimism on what the end result looks like.

-- Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Lakers guard Kobe Bryant works in the post against Bobcats forward Stephen Jackson in the first half Monday night. Credit: Sam Sharpe / US Presswire

--The Times' Bill Plaschke criticizes the Lakers' 20-year deal with Time Warner Cable.

--The Times' Lance Pugmire and Joe Flint detail the logistics behind the new cable deal.

--The Times' Kevin Baxter explains how the Lakers have expanded their Latino fanbase.

--The Times' Mike Bresnahan detail the Lakers' frustration after double-digit losses to Orlando and Charlotte.

--Fox Sports ranks the Lakers at No. 6

--Pro Basketball Talk's Kurt Helin analyzes the Lakers' cable deal.

--ESPN Los Angeles' Andy Kamenetzky wonders if Kobe Bryant should've sat out against the Bobcats because of his flu.

--Sports Illustrated's Britt Robson argues no one will know if the Lakers are actually trying until the second round of the playoffs.

--Sports Illustrated's Michael Rosenberg looks at how poorly the Cavaliers have played.

--The Daily News' Elliott Teaford explains how the Lakers are trying to get their act together.

--Lakers.com's Mike Trudell details Steve Blake's routine on the road.

--The Orange County Register's Mark Whicker looks at how the Lakers had gone through inconsistent patches last season.

--Silver Screen and Roll's DexterFishmore argues Phil Jackson took the night off against Charlotte.

--Forum Blue and Gold's Darius Soriano argues the Lakers need rest.

Tweet of the Day: "TOMORROW 10AM EST MY FIRST MIXTAPE RELEASE. "WHO ARE YOU" NAS FEAT. XIN XIN (SHIN SHIN) AND RON ARTEST SIRIUS 40 XM 67 HIPHOPNATION" -- RONARTESTCOM (Lakers forward Ron Artest)

Reader Comment of the Day: "We used to discuss the fans at Staples when it comes to across the board increases. There could be a lockout between the owners and players, what about the fans? Who represents them? Nobody in the media give any credit to the fans who are the one responsible for paying salaries and the ROI of the owners. Well, BSPN and soon Time Warner are part of the problems, just follow the money and explains why we should get too emotional, too passionate about professional basketball. Someday in the future, we need "Campaign Egypt" in NBA, lock all these greedy forces from owners to players and media who milked at fans in general with poor entertainment with cheating refs. and manufactured news." -- Edwin Gueco

--Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Bobcats guard Gerald Henderson tries to holds his ground against Lakers guard Kobe Bryant in the first half Monday night. Credit: Chris Keane / Reuters

No longer will Jerry West's image be immortalized only in the NBA logo. At 6 p.m. Thursday outside Staples Center, it will also show up in the form of a statue.

This will be the third Lakers statue outside Staples Center, joining those of Magic Johnson and Chick Hearn. There are also statues depicting hockey player Wayne Gretzky and boxer Oscar De La Hoya. Johnson's statue was dedicated during the NBA All-Star game in Los Angeles in 2004, while Hearn's statue was unveiled last season.

The ceremony, which begins at 5 p.m, will be open to the  public and will feature speeches from West, members of his family and  teammates, colleagues and friends highlighting a storied career with the Lakers. During his playing career with the Lakers from 1960-1974, West led the team to an NBA championship in 1972, was a 14-time All-Star, a 10-time All-NBA selection and won the 1969 Finals MVP award, though the Lakers lost that series to the Boston Celtics. He also retired as the Lakers' all-time leading scorer with 25,192 points before Kobe Bryant eclipsed that mark last season. Then as general manager beginning in the 1982-83 season, West helped build seven championship Lakers teams, earned NBA executive-of-the-year honors in 1995 and brought in key pieces, such as Shaquille O'Neal and Bryant, that laid the foundation for the Lakers' three-peat from 2000-2002.

The statue will weigh 1,500 pounds and will be nearly 14 feet tall, with a granite pedestal. If West's remarks to The Times last week prove anything, it's that most of his comments during the ceremony will downplay his contributions. 

"I never did anything in my life for recognition," West said at Malibu Beach, where he was promoting the Northern Trust Open golf tournament, for which he is executive director. "A lot of people who were around would probably say that, even some connected with the Lakers. But that's not what I work for. I work because it was the love of my life. It was a thing that allowed me the opportunity to have an education and more importantly in basketball let me have a career."

It probably will also be filled with laments that West won only one NBA championship and never beat the  Celtics in the Finals.

"For all the times we came [so] close, I really felt in some respects that we let the city down because it was so supportive," West said. "When I see today what's being accomplished over the years when Jerry Buss has owned the Lakers, it's really been remarkable to see that transformation and to see the admiration the fans have for this franchise. I had a small part in that. I'm very grateful to have been part of that."

--Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Here's at least one consolation for Pau Gasol's drop in play in December and Steve Blake's season-wide shooting inconsistency.

At least it's not going to affect their role in helping out with Hoops for St. Jude, an initiative that contributes funding to one of the world's premier pediatric cancer research centers. In years past, St. Jude would receive various donations for every point that participating NBA players scored. For the 2010-2011 campaign, however, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital accepted straight $20,000 donations, according to a hospital spokesman, alleviating players' concerns that injuries, shooting streaks or defenses could determine for better or worse the amount they helped.

Gasol and Blake renewed their involvement from last year with the hospital, which recently teamed up with the NBA Cares program. The two visited St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis during their seven-day road trip for reasons explained in a video put together by the hospital that go beyond photo opportunities.

"It's very humbling for me," said Gasol, who attended medical school at the University of Barcelona, viewed a spinal surgery last summer and had parents volunteer at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. "I have a great attachment to medicine and great connection to medicine with my own family and it's my own passion. It's always very special to come here and get a smile out of the kids, talk to them and see how they're doing."

"You want to give back and help in any way you can," said Blake, who played for Denver Nuggets Coach George Karl, whom he remained close to when Karl was diagnosed last season with throat and neck cancer. "You want to be here for these families."

-- Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

The Lakers took Tuesday off, the practice that had been scheduled just a voluntary workout.

There was no media availability, so there was no chance to see who showed up for the session.

But after back-to-back drubbings, it probably wouldn't have been a bad idea for the entire team to at least get a workout in -- even for a tired team that just played four games in five nights.

The Lakers lost to the Orlando Magic on Sunday by 14 points and then were road kill for the Charlotte Bobcats Monday night during a 20-point beat-down.

The Lakers will finish their seven-game, 13-day trip Wednesday against the 9-46 Cleveland Cavaliers, the team with the worst record in the NBA.

"We're not playing well," Pau Gasol said after Monday night's loss. "We've got to get off this way of playing right now that we just did against Orlando and here tonight [in Charlotte]. We have to finish off the trip well in Cleveland."

-- Broderick Turner in Cleveland

Hitting the links used to be Jerry West's escape, a worthy outlet to unleash his competitive drive without the surrounding attention that accompanied the Lakers star.

Now it's his way of providing thanks for all that adulation, using his role as executive director of the Northern Trust Open for the second consecutive year to help donate to causes dear to him. The tournament, which begins Thursday at Riviera Country Club, raised $1.5 million for 65 L.A. charities last year, and will continue allowing military personnel and their families to attend the event for free, an initiative dear to West's heart. After all, he still feels the anguish over his brother, David, dying in the Korean War.

It's part of an event-filled week for West, whose statue will be unveiled Thursday at Staples Center for his contributions as the Lakers' second all-time leading scorer, bringing the organization its first championship in 1972 and assembling enough talent to secure seven NBA championships as the Lakers' general manager. And for all the accolades he's received this past year, including induction into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, West wants to return the favor. Through the Tickets for Charity program, the Northern Trust Open will donate 80% of the proceeds to the Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce and 20% to other local charities.

"The city has been awfully good to me," West said of his role with the Northern Trust Open, tickets for which will cost $30 a day and $80 for the week. "I've always felt at a certain age in your life, your life has to change. Mine has changed. I'm in a different place in my life."

That entails becoming consumed with a tournament he hopes to return to higher relevancy on the PGA tour. That effort included endless meetings with business leaders and golfers to spark interest in the tournament, resulting in 38 of the 50 top money-winners participating in last year's Northern Trust Open, including two-time defending champion Phil Mickelson. He will return to the field again, representing 21 of the 30 top money-winners giving it a go this year.

The effort has also yielded challenges. The Northern Trust Open couldn't attract Tiger Woods for the fifth consecutive year. Northern Trust Open General Manager Mike Bone said the tournament wants to increase its charitable giving from $1.5 million to between $6 million and $7 million. And weather forecasts call for showers the entire week. 

"We have one of the best fields and I've seen more enthusiasm for the players meeting the executive director than the other way around," said Bone . "He has his name and reputation and he's putting it on the line for this tournament."

West also has put his competitive instincts on the line. As part of the Play for L.A. campaign, West visited various iconic sites in Los Angeles, including Surfrider Beach in Malibu on Friday, where he two-putted on a ramp off a lifeguard tower. Even if the main motivation entails raising money for the L.A. Chamber of Commerce, the competitive fire hasn't simmered.

"We've always said this is one of the hardest games there is," West said. "It was devised by the devil, by the way. It takes incredible discipline to play this game."

And with West's own discipline, he's taking the necessary steps in creating more buzz around the tournament.

Said West: "I'm hopeful that this event will grow more and more so we can raise significantly more money to give to these local charities and people who have been so supportive of the golf tournament."

--Mark Medina

mgmedin@gmail.com

--Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

We will have a chat at 10:30 a.m. today so bring your questions!

Game stories

--The Times' Mike Bresnahan criticizes the Lakers' effort in their 109-89 loss Monday to the Charlotte Bobcats.

--The Charlotte Observer's Ron Green Jr. explains why the Bobcats have the Lakers' number.

--The Daily News' Elliott Teaford notes the Lakers' regression.

---The Orange County Register's Mark Whicker notices the Lakers' loss to Charlotte left them speechless.

Notebooks

--The Daily News' Teaford highlights Lamar Odom's complaints about the team's effort.

--The Orange County Register's Whicker notes Derek Fisher's belief that the grinding schedule has affected the Lakers' fatigue level.

--NBA.com's Derek S. Smith highlights a few nuggets from the Lakers-Bobcats game.

Sidebars

--The Times' Broderick Turner highlights Andrew Bynum's gripes about lacking of playing time and touches.

--The Times' Joe Flint details the 20-year-deal between the Lakers and Time Warner Cable.

--The Charlotte Observer's Scott Fowler highlights the Bobcats' dominance over the Lakers. Fowler also argues Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant were "sore losers" for Jackson's Twitter-length comments to the media and Bryant avoiding reporters altogether.

--The Daily News' Tom Hoffarth also focuses on the Lakers' deal with Time Warner Cable.

--ESPN Los Angeles' Dave McMenamin focuses on the message Jackson may have sent with his short post-game press conference. McMenamin also explains why Jackson has no desire to work for Michael Jordan with the Charlotte Bobcats.

--Fox Sports' Billy Witz details the Lakers' state of embarrassment.

--Sports Illustrated's Lee Jenkins assesses in the video below whether the Lakers are in trouble.

Blogs

--ESPN Los Angeles' Brian Kamenetzky breaks down the Lakers' loss to the Bobcats.

--Lakers.com's Mike Trudell details the Lakers' loss in a running diary.

--Silver Screen and Roll's DexterFishmore argues the Lakers couldn't have put together any worse of an effort against Charlotte.

Tweet of the Day: "I think Lakers would trade always losing in Charlotte for the ring count - but in February, fans want blood" -- EricPincus (Hoops World's Eric Pincus)

Reader Comment of the Day: "To all non-believers here, the Lakers will be there when it counts. That has been their history in the last three years. Still, it does not support the way their manage their games during the season. Nobody will be angry if we saw EFFORTS to win out there but it is what it is. It is like in school, you can easily pinpoint the super student who has penchant for cramming and will only study during Finals, the rest of the year he will just bum around." -- Edwin Gueco

--Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Lakers guard Kobe Bryant works in the post against Bobcats forward Stephen Jackson in the first half Monday night. Credit: Sam Sharpe / US Presswire

1. The Lakers should feel embarrassed for their 109-89 loss Monday to the Charlotte Bobcats, but this games demonstrates the need for perspective

 In the words of The Simpsons' Comic Book Guy, this was the "worst Lakers loss.....ever." Or at least for the season. I'll get into the nuts and bolts in latter categories on why the Lakers' eighth loss in the last 10 games against Charlotte fits that description. But let's first establish a few things on what this game actually means.

It's not healthy to view this through a sky-is-falling prism, pointing out that the Lakers need to trade their lineup or that the defending champions' chances to three-peat are already doomed. The Lakers had just gone through a 4-0 start to their seven-game trip and are less than a week removed from defeating the Boston Celtics in what served as their most impressive win of the season. But that's exactly the same reason why the Lakers and their fans shouldn't be as equally dismissive either, citing the Lakers' boredom and fatigue, Kobe Bryant's illness or other factors to shrug off this loss. What's more egregious isn't necessarily that the Lakers didn't bring a full effort, it's that this game perfectly captures how the Lakers address their preparation, effort and games in a situational manner.

The Lakers began the season 8-0 because of their adrenaline rush of defending a second consecutive championship, newcomers wanting to fit in and the new season sparking renewed enthusiasm. As soon as adversity hit, however, the Lakers maintained an even-keel attitude but developed shortcuts in their development, ranging from cutting corners on defense, forgoing the proper way to run the triangle offense and taking little pride in mastering the nuances of the game. Last week, with anxiety over the Lakers' play at an all-time high because of their inconsistency at home and inability to beat elite teams, the Lakers stormed out to a 4-0 start to this trip only to stumble to two consecutive double-digit losses. It's only human to allow complacency and fatigue to cause adverse play, but those excuses shouldn't fly. Whether the Lakers respond with a severe beat-down Wednesday at Cleveland or allow the league's worst team to embarrass them, the Lakers should be well aware that any string of progress can quickly turn the other way if they don't continue fine-tuning their execution.

2. Bryant's illness severely affected his play

 Unless Bryant can't walk, he'll play. That's why it wasn't surprising that his missing the morning shootaround because of "aches" and "chills" did very little to convince Bryant to sit out. But there's no doubt the symptoms affected his play, ranging from his poor lift that contributed to a 20-point night on eight-of-20 shooting, little energy that led to his lazy defense on Gerald Wallace (20 points) and Gerald Henderson (18 points), and his poor concentration that contributed to his five turnovers. It's fair to say that Bryant should've sat out this one, but interestingly enough, he took pride in competing in a game nobody else had much interest in playing. Some examples: Bryant showed aggressiveness in weaving through traffic, but his missed drive resulted in Wallace converting an alley-oop on the other end. Bryant remained open on a wide-open three-pointer in the third quarter, but little lift resulted in the shot barely hitting off the front rim. A third-quarter pull-up jumper featured the same low lift that hit off the back rim.  And at the beginning of the third quarter, Henderson beat Bryant off one-dribble and drove to the rack at the 

--Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Bobcats 109, Lakers 89 (final)

The Lakers were in Charlotte to face the Bobcats, which usually is a bad thing.

This time it was really bad.

The Lakers lost to Charlotte for the eighth time in the last 10 meetings, and Monday's 20-point margin of defeat was their biggest ever against the Bobcats. The worst previously had been 15 points.

It was the third consecutive loss in Charlotte for the Lakers, who last won here on Feb. 11, 2008.

Kobe Bryant, who missed the shoot-around earlier Monday because of chills and body aches, finished with 20 points on eight-for-20 shooting.

But whomever he defended seemed to have his way. Starter Gerald Wallace scored 20 points on nine-for-16 shooting. He was one of the players Bryant defended. Reserve Gerald Henderson had 16 points on six-for-nine shooting. Bryant also guarded him at times.

Then again, no one on the Lakers played much defense. The Bobcats shot 51.2% from the field.

The Lakers shot 43.8% from the field and made only three of 19 three-point attempts.

The Lakers now are 4-2 on this seven-game trip that ends Wednesday night in Cleveland.

RELATED:

Lakers-Bobcats photos

Lakers-Bobcats box score

All Things Lakers database

Bobcats 78, Lakers 60 (end of third quarter)

The Lakers got their butts kicked by the Bobcats in the third quarter.

The Lakers got run off the court, giving up 29 points in the quarter while scoring only 17.

Even Kwame Brown, the former Lakers center, got into the act for Bobcats, scoring twice in helping the Bobcats open an 18-point lead entering the fourth.

A three-pointer by Gerald Wallace before the third-quarter buzzer gave the Bobcats their big lead.

Wallace has 20 points through three quarters.

Bobcats 49, Lakers 43 (end of first half)

It was clear that Kobe Bryant wasn't himself.

He missed the shootaround earlier in the day with chills and body aches.

Bryant started and scored nine first-half points, but he was only four for 13 from the field. He shot two airballs. He also had four turnovers.

The Lakers have reached a 20-year deal with Time Warner Cable tobroadcast their games on two new regional sports networks in HD, including the nation's first Spanish-language regional sports network.

The deal, announced Monday, will take effect at the beginning of the 2012-2013 NBA season and will include all the locally available preseason, regular-season and postseason games, said Time Warner spokesperson Nathalie Burgos.

“The Buss family is thrilled to join forces with Time Warner Cable in building the TV home for Lakers fans," Lakers owner Jerry Buss said in a statement. “Time Warner Cable has been producing quality sports programming for over a decade and the Lakers have been producing championship seasons for even longer. I am particularly proud of being part of the first ever Spanish-language RSN in the country. Together I’m confident we will delight our fans.”

The Lakers have had their locally televised games broadcast by KCAL Channel 9 for road games and Fox Sports West showcasing the home games. The Time Warner cable networks will be available to all providers in Southern California, Nevada and Hawaii. Burgos said the network plans to iron out logistics, such as plans for other original Lakers programming, assembling the on-air talent and launching a Lakers-specific website in "the next couple of months."

"This long-term agreement represents a huge win for all Lakers fans, providing destination channels, more content and more platforms for the Lakers, one of the premier brands in professional sports today," Time Warner Cable Chairman and CEO Glenn Britt said in a statement.

--Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Kobe Bryant, who missed the Lakers' morning shootaround because of chills and aches, will play Monday night against the Charlotte Bobcats, a team representative said.

Bryant was seen walking into the locker room before the game with his workout gear on.

Bryant and the Lakers are playing their sixth game on their seven-game trip that concludes in Cleveland on Wednesday.

The Lakers are 4-1 on the trip, losing in Orlando on Sunday. 

Bryant hasn't missed a game this season, averaging 25.4 points in 55 games.

Broderick Turner, reporting from Charlotte, N.C.

On paper, it appeared the Lakers have survived the hard portion of their seven-game trip.

They have a 4-1 record, with three victories over teams that appear headed to the playoffs. One of the victories came against the Boston Celtics, which gave the Lakes a split in the season series and a rare victory against one of the NBA's elite teams.

The Lakers are well aware that Monday's game against the Charlotte Bobcats (23-31) won't be easy, considering the Lakers have lost to them seven out of the last nine games played against them. The reasons? There are plenty.

Poor effort

All of the Lakers' meetings with the 5-year-old Bobcats took place from late December to early March, a stretch of the season in which it's easy for the Lakers to appear bored and lackadaisical. Many of these losses left the Lakers fuming.

The Lakers' 98-83 on March 5, 2010 at Charlotte prompted Kobe Bryant to call a players-only meeting, an effort that eventually was part of the team's first three-game losing streak since acquiring Pau Gasolin February 2008. The Lakers' 108-95 loss on March 26, 2008 left Coach Phil Jackson so disgusted that he didn't take questions from reporters after the game, guard Derek Fisherdebated whether it was the season's worst loss and Bryant drew double technicals after the team trailed by double digits for most of the game, were outrebounded, 50-42, and allowed Charlotte to go 11 of 24 from three-point range.

There were plenty of reasons why the Lakers acted so upset, particularly because it's common for them to coast during the dog days of the NBA season. The Lakers' 94-84 loss April, 1, 2009 at Charlotte sparked Jackson to suggest referees favored the hometown because the Lakers shot ony six free throws to the Bobcats' 22. They couldn't keep pace with the league's second-lowest scoring offense and shot only 39.2% from the field. The Lakers' 117-110 double overtime loss Jan. 28, 2009 to Charlotte featured the Lakers' looking ahead to their 10-day trip. And the Lakers' 112-102 loss Feb. 3, 2006, marked the first-time the then-second-year franchise ever led from start to finish without relinquishing the lead.

The Lakers had health issues

This very well could be an issue again today since Bryant remains a game-time decision after missing the morning shootaround because of aches and chills. The Lakers have had health and injury problems against this team. For one, the Lakers believe their 94-84 loss April 1, 2009 pointed to fatigue since the game came on the 12th day of a 13-day trip in which they had won the first four games. It could be a factor  again since the Lakers will be playing their sixth-game of a seven-game, 12-day trip. There have also been injury considerations. In the Lakers' Jan. 28, 2009 loss, Trevor Ariza suffered a concussion in the first half and Sasha Vujacic remained sidelined because of a sore left ankle, two injuries that need to be measured with Charlotte forward Gerald Wallace needing medical attention after Andrew Bynum earned a flagrant foul for knocking Wallace down with a forearm shove.

Lakers forward Lamar Odom sat out of the Lakers' 112-102 loss on Feb. 4, 2006 because of torn rib cartilage. He also didn't feel fully sound when he returned in the Lakers' 106-97 loss to the Bobcats on Jan. 26, 2007 from a month-long absence because of a sprained right knee. And the Lakers' 98-83 loss on March 5, 2010 featured a wide array of injuries, including Bryant (fractured right index finger) Shannon Brown (sprained right thumb), Jordan Farmar(sprained ligament in left hand), Odom and Ron Artest (finger) and absences to Vujacic (right shoulder) and Luke Walton (pinched nerve in lower back).

Bobcats made key plays late in the game

The Lakers shouldn't use health as an excuse, however. There were plenty of games the Bobcats simply executed better, particularly in late-game situations.

In what marked the longest game in the franchises's existence, Charlotte's 113-124 triple-overtime victory over the Lakers on Dec. 29, 2006 featured Derek Anderson hitting three consecutive free throws in the final minute, drawing an offensive foul on Bryant that caused him to foul out and Emeka Okafur recording his first 20-20 game of his career. The Lakers' 117-100 double-overtime loss on Jan. 28, 2009 also featured Bryant fouling out, Boris Diaw making a late-game three-pointer to tie the game at 103-103 and the Bobcats outscoring the Lakers, 14-7, in the second overtime.

--Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Bobcats guard Stephen Jackson tries to spin away from the steal attempt of Lakers guard Kobe Bryant during the Lakers' 98-83 loss last season to the Charlotte Bobcats. Credit: Jeff Siner/McClatchy-Tribune.

Photo: Charlotte point guard Raymond Felton gets past Lakers point guard Derek Fisher for a shot down the middle of the lane during the Lakers' 98-83 loss last season to the Charlotte Bobcats.. Credit: Jeff Siner/McClatchy-Tribune.

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant missed Monday's shootaround with "aches and chills," a team spokesman said.

The spokesman said Bryant will be a "game-time" decision for Monday night's game against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena.

The Lakers have lost seven of their last nine games against the Bobcats.

It was such a telling stat that Bryant said on Sunday, after the Lakers lost to Orlando, that L.A. had not won in Charlotte in five years. The fact is that the Lakers last won in Charlotte, N.C., on Feb.11, 2008 -- a 106-97 victory. But the Lakers have lost four of their last five games in Charlotte.

Bryant didn't have one of his better shooting games against the Magic, making just eight of 18 shots, finishing with 17 points. But he appeared fine after the game.

-- Broderick Turner in Charlotte, N.C.

Photo: Kobe Bryant, right, sits with Andrew Bynum on the bench during Sunday's game in Orlando Magic. Credit: Kim Klement / US Presswire

In what's become a yearly ritual for the Lakers, they can count on two things happening in February.

They leave the comfortable settings at Staples Center to make way for the Grammy's for an extended trip. Then they realize they're happy they've logged all those flights and hotel stays because it's provided a significant turning point for the team's development. The Lakers (38-17) may not be thinking those thoughts right now as they enter Monday's game at Charlotte (23-31) after a 89-75 loss Sunday to the Orlando Magic. But it's safe to say the Lakers are in much better shape after a 4-1 start to their seven-game trip than when they left Staples Center last week losing three of their past four games and their 19-8 home record already eclipsing the number of losses at Staples Center they compiled during the 2009-10 season.

"The best thing for them to do is get out of town and get away from you guys," Lakers Hall of Famer Jerry West said recently. "You do bug them. It's frankly like a soap opera."

But it's safe to say the Lakers paid at least some attention to the soap opera going on with the Grammy's Sunday night, ranging from Lady Gaga's arrival in a giant egg, the likes of Eminem, Dr. Dre and Rihanna performing together and Justin Bieber losing to Esperanza Spalding for best new artist. That's because several of the Lakers have connections some of the nominees.

Kobe Bryant: He planned to shoot Bieber a text message minutes after the Lakers' 117-89 victory Nov. 21 against the Golden State Warriors. That's because Bieber had just won numerous honors at the 2010 American Music Awards that took place at Nokia Theater across the street, including favorite male artist, favorite Album: My World 2.0, breakthrough artist of the year and artist of the year. Apparently, Bryant also gave advice to the young pop star. “Kobe is a good guy and he told me not to take any crap from anybody,” Bieber recently told Fox News.

Jeanie Buss: Bieber apparently has some hefty pull with the Lakers organization. How else to explain Buss' willingness to allow Bieber to wear Phil Jackson's 2010 championship ring during the Lakers' season opener? Bryant isn't just tight with Bieber. Kanye West, whose single, "Power" was nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance, recently worked with Bryant in a recent Nike commercial.

Ron Artest: As soon as Artest signed last off-season to a five-year deal worth $33 million, he demonstrated his tremendous confidence that the Lakers would win another championship. He recorded a rap song produced by Dre, which was released after the 2010 title, and performed it at numerous L.A. post-Lakers championship parties. Apparently it's caught some buzz. In addition to Artest receiving a shout out on Snoop Dogg's Purp & Yellow, he, Matt Barnes and Shannon Brown appeared in the music video. That's why it shouldn't be a stretch to believe Artest hoped Snoop's work with Katy Perry on California Girls would win Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals, an honor that ultimately went to Herbie Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Seal, Konono Nº1, Jeff Beck and Oumou Sangaré for their work on "Imagine."

Shannon Brown: Had it not been for the Lakers playing in Orlando, it's likely Brown would've showed up to the award show. His newly wedded wife, Monica, was nominated for Best R&B Album ("Still Standing) and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance ("Everything to Me"), two nominations that didn't make the cut. Still, the two could've at least celebrate in style after Brown appeared in Monica's music video.

---Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Justin Bieber has frequently attended Lakers games, wore Phil Jackson's championship ring and received advice from Kobe Bryant. Credit: Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times