-- The Los Angeles Times' Mike Bresnahan highlights the Lakers' reaction to the Thunder acquiring Kendrick Perkins and veteran Charlotte center Nazr Mohammed.

-- The Times' Mark Heisler argues that the New York Knicks are far from a championship contender.

-- The Oklahoman's Jenni Carlson says Mohammed needs to be a leader for the Thunder.

-- NBA.com's Scott Howard-Cooper sees Oklahoma City and San Antonio as two examples that prove you don't have to be a big-market team to succeed.

-- The Orange County Register's Janis Carr explains how the time off during the All-Star break helped sharpen the Lakers' focus.

-- ESPN Los Angeles' Andy and Brian Kamenetzky speak with ESPN the Magazine's Chris Palmer in their latest podcast about the Lakers.

-- The Oklahoman's Darnell Mayberry highlights Perkins' comment that he dislikes "everything" about Lakers forward Pau Gasol.

-- The Oklahoman's John Rohde tells why Thunder guard Nate Robinson loves Sonic.

-- The Oklahoman's Berry Tramel says the Thunder shouldn't worry that Perkins will be out for two to three weeks.

-- The Boston Globe's Gary Washburn focuses on the questioning by the Lakers of the Celtics' decision to trade Perkins.

-- Silver Screen and Roll's Dexter Fishmore previews the Lakers-Thunder matchup.

Tweet of the Day: "Jerry Buss is on my commercial flight to OKC with what Charlie Sheen would refer to as "a smoking hottie ... Of course I noticed the 'smoking hottie' first and then identified the older gentleman holding her Louis Vuitton purse." -- ArashMarkazi (ESPN Los Angeles' Arash Markazi)

Reader Comment of the Day: "One of the best points of last nights game was that the effort really was there up and down the roster. You've also got to love a 33-to-6 assist-to-turnover ratio." -- Tax Analyst

-- Mark Medina
twitter.com/latmedina

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

Photo: Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is fouled by Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook at Staples Center, Feb. 21, 2011. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

Among the highlights of my conversation with the Oklahoman's Darnell Mayberry

-- Mayberry breaks down Oklahoma City's trade that sent Jeff Green, Nenad Krstic and the Clippers' 2012 first-round draft pick to the Boston Celtics for Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson.

-- Mayberry explains how the Thunder would match up with the Lakers in the NBA playoffs.

-- Mayberry explains why Oklahoma City has its hands full against the Lakers, especially considering that Perkins is not expected to play for another two to three weeks.

-- Mayberry predicts where the Thunder will finish in the Western Conference.

You can follow Mayberry's work at the Oklahoman's website and on Twitter.

-- Mark Medina
twitter.com/latmedina

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

This is the 27th post in a series that helps you get to know members of the L.A. Times Lakers blog community. Feel free to send submissions to mgmedin@gmail.com

Screen name: 63Footer

Full name: aka Waldo Zibaldo

Occupation: writer/producer/director (when they let me)

Age: Waaaaaay older than I ever thought I’d be

Gender: Male

Home: Los Angeles

Story behind your screen name: The distance of the overtime-sending Game 3 1970 Finals shot by Mr. Jerry West (after he won the previous game with two free throws and hit a 20-footer to tie up game 3 before this shot... the usual Mr. Clutch).

How I became a Lakers fan: I’m from LA, what else could I be? But my first definitive introduction Lakers fan experience was when I was 10 and my buddy and I went to a Kinney’s shoe store where Happy Hairston and (I think) Keith Erickson were signing autographs and giving away stuff. My friend and I got picked to help them call out the raffle numbers, which was the greatest, and then the final drawing was for tickets to a Lakers game. I called my friend’s number, and he called mine! His mom was freakin’ out: “Shhh, don’t say anything or they’ll think it’s rigged!” Even better, it turned out to be ball night at the game, so double win!

Favorite Laker memory: I once put on a charity event, part of which was a celebrity b-ball game with some Lakers and some Clippers and a bunch of actors. At that time I was nowhere near famous (still am nowhere near), but I’d won some awards and I put on the event (with much help from many great people) ... which meant I got to play. On Magic’s team! I scored 8 points, two buckets off Magic assists. Then on a break, I faked the drive against Ron Harper, and passed to Magic –- assist! I gave an assist to Magic Johnson! Highlight of my b-ball life. Two plays later, I tried something similar but pulled up to shoot against an actor who shall remain nameless, and out of nowhere, Ron Harper gave a murderous block and almost took my head off. Heading back down the court he kinda looked back at me like: “Not on my watch.”

Most heartbreaking Lakers experience: You’d think it was ’69, but I barely remember that. No, it was ’89. The injuries. We HAD that, and then.... That’s why I will forever hate injuries for anyone.

Favorite current Lakers player: Right now, it would be Kobe, followed by LO.

Greatest all-time Laker: The Logo, the greatest postseason player to ever put on a jockstrap, but Magic and Kobe come in a close second with my favorite 6th man being a three-way tie between Coop, McAdoo and LO.

Last time you went to a game at Staples Center and at the Forum: I went to a TON of Forum games and actually stood once on The Spot of the 63-Foot shot. Beginning of this season was the last time I went to Staples (I have great friends).

Opposing team, player you dislike the most: I don’t hate much, as I love basketball, but I hate Lebron James’ attitude and wish someone would Scola him with extreme prejudice (“No harm, no foul.”). I also have no love for Kevin McHale or Moses “Fo’ Fo’ Fo’” Malone. And, of course, gotta hate the Celtics (with respect) or how can one call themselves a true Lakers fan?

Interactions with Lakers players: Not lately, but I played pickup games after summer league all during the ‘80’s & '90’s so I’ve played with or against a lot of ‘em over the years. Went to the Gail Goodrich/Elgin Baylor Basketball Camp when I was a kid and met a bunch of then-Lakers (watched Mel Counts blow a slam-dunk demonstration; poor Mel). Used to see Shaq and jabber with him at Smitty’s a lot, Wilt used to hang at our beach with his v-ball team and ran into him off and on (and even partied with him once, though I won’t get into details here). Used to drive by Jerry West’s house, which was right above my junior high, and see him washing his yellow Daytona and used to bump into Kareem for a while in Westwood for some reason. Oh, and used to play poker with Jim Buss (he was a so-so player, but had obviously deep pockets).

Most cherished piece of Lakers memorabilia I have: Nope, I haven’t a thing but memories, and they’re fading fast ‘cause of the vodka. And scotch. Never at the same time, of course.

Memorable stories about being a Lakers fan: Game 7, ’88 Finals, a friend’s season tickets (told you I had great friends) and 10 of us going crazy (four in the good seats, the others running down to us whenever they could). Big Game James was a monster! I couldn’t talk for a week afterwards. I will to this day deny going onto the floor before the game had ended. That’s my story, and I’m stickin’ to it.

--Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

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

Rarely does a game go by that Lakers guard Kobe Bryant isn't biting his jersey.

When he's thoroughly engaged in the game, as he usually seems to be, he's chewing on the jersey. When he's frustrated with an officials' call, Bryant lets his aggravation out on the referees by picking up technical fouls -- 11 thus far this season -- and by appearing to take a bite out of his jersey. And in the case of the Lakers' eventual 108-95 victory Friday over the Clippers, Bryant clenched his teeth into his uniform as a defense mechanism for the pain he felt after hurting the funny bone of his right elbow.

"It hurt like a mother . . . " said Bryant, who also described the elbow as "very sore."

Even so, Bryant spent halftime improving his range of motion and returned in the second half to score 18 of his 24 points in the third quarter, limiting his right hand other than when he shot the ball. Otherwise, he dribbled, passed and high-fived with his left hand. Images of Bryant's determination through injury is nothing new. The entire 2010 postseason focused on Bryant's relentlessness in coping with the sprained right knee that currently has very little cartilage, despite having off-season surgery. But to have a picture of Bryant's initial reaction after his elbow locked with Clippers guard Randy Foye is priceless.

You can take the latest photo caption contest in numerous directions. Use it as a springboard for discussion on how he fights through pain, concern over his health or add a few punchlines. If you ask me, Bryant isn't so much wincing in pain as he is hungry for free tacos after seeing Jack in the Box and son on the sideline at Staples Center.

--Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

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

Photo: Kobe Bryant reacts after sustaining a bruise to his right elbow while playing against the Clippers on Friday night at Staples Center. Bryant would leave the game but return for the third quarter, when he scored 18 of his 24 points in the 108-95 victory. Credit: Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times

Game stories

--The Times' Mike Bresnahan explains how Kobe Bryant overcame an injury to his funny bone on his right elbow in the Lakers' 108-95 victory Friday over the Clippers.

--The Orange County Register's Kevin Ding credits Bryant for playing through the pain.

--The Riverside Press Enterprise's David Lassen highlights Bryant's big third quarter. 

--The Daily Breeze's Elliott Teaford looks at the one-two punch Bryant and Pau Gasol provided.

Notebooks

--The Times' Bresnahan explains why Lakers Coach Phil Jackson is upset about New Orleans' trade that sent Marcus Thornton to Sacramento for Carl Landry.

--The Times' Lisa Dillman catches up with the newest additions to the Clipper family in Mo Williams and Jamario Moon.

--The Riverside Press Enterprise's Lassen highlights Williams' joke that the trade that sent him to the Clippers saved his marriage. 

--The Daily News' Teaford highlights Lamar Odom's belief that a Lakers-Clippers matchup isn't that big of a deal.

Sidebars

--The Times' Broderick Turner highlights Devin Ebanks' contributions

Columns

--The Times' Mark Heisler looks at the Lakers' four-game trip in two weeks that features game at San Antonio, Atlanta, Miami and Dallas.

--ESPN Los Angeles' Arash Markazi lauds Bryant's toughness. 

--Fox Sports' Billy Witz argues Bryant's near scare with his right elbow injury showed both how he can play through pain and that the Lakers' success rests on his health. 

Blogs

--ESPN Los Angeles' Brian Kamenetzky breaks down the Lakers' victory over the Clippers

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

--Clips Nation's Steve Perrin describes the Lakers-Clippers contest as Bryant's "funny bone game"

--Silver Screen and Roll's Dexter Fishmore details how Bryant's gritty performance. 

--Forum Blue and Gold's Darius Soriano looks at the matchup between Pau Gasol and Blake Griffin.

Tweet of the Day: "Lakers win, 108-95. I guess Kobe's funny bone should be the MVP. No. 24 had 24 points, 18 of them in the third quarter." -- Mike_Bresnahan (L.A. Times' Mike Bresnahan)

Reader Comment of the Day:"This year, getting outrebounded 45-39 at home, while giving up wide open 3's and not getting the benefit of the Free Throw scenario (Clips 25 FT, Lakers 16FT), would tell you it was another bad home loss. Not when Kobe Bryant and his Wolverine type pain threshold, amp up focus. 18 points in the third quarter, that took the Clippers heart and smothered it with determination. Throw in a super califragilisticexpealidocious efficient Pau and Drew. Only 6 turnovers. Timely defensive stops and the Lakers turned a dubious effort from one half into a determined victory, is the story of the 2nd half. And like everything else this season, this game wasn't the norm in the victory department. This is one where you had to dig deep or just give the ball to Kobe and let him work, either or is a good strategy." -- Sean

--Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

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

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson

Lakers forward Pau Gasol

---Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

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

Biting into his jersey, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant headed over toward the sideline.

It didn't appear he said anything to Lakers Coach Phil Jackson, but his body language told the whole story. Bryant limped toward Jackson and let out a simple hand gesture signaling to take him out of the game. Knowing it's rare that Bryant ever avoids playing through pain, Jackson asked zero questions and quickly walked two seats down to tell reserve guard Shannon Brown to enter the lineup with 3:03 remaining in the second quarter Friday against the Clippers. Less than a minute later, Bryant stood up from the bench and entered the locker room with team physical trainer Alex McKechnie following suit.

Bryant temporarily removed himself because of what the Lakers termed an ulnar nerve contusion in his right elbow, a medical description for Bryant essentially hurting his funny bone. But it turns out a halftime's worth of treatment and exercises that entailed stretching his range of motion proved all that he needed. Bryant returned in the second half and scored 18 of his 24 points in the third quarter en route to the Lakers' 108-95 victory Friday over the Clippers.

Factor in Pau Gasol's 22 points off mid-range jumpers and cuts to the lane. Praise Andrew Bynum for his engagement on both offense (nine points) and defense (two blocks). Note Brown overcoming a poor shooting night (10 points on a four of 14 clip) by filling in for Bryant's spot at shooting guard with energy plays. Highlight the bright future Devin Ebanks provided with two late-game alley oops that prompted Bryant to stand up and cheer and Jackson to grimace. And credit the Lakers' defense for holding the Clippers to 37.8% shooting. But it was Bryant's third-quarter effort that propelled the Lakers (41-19) to their third consecutive victory after the All-Star break. 

"I've been playing basketball since I was two," said Bryant, who described his right elbow as "very sore," but says he will play through it Sunday at Oklahoma City (36-21). "I can shoot the ball different ways. I don't have to shoot it like I normally shoot it. I can shorten it up. If I bend the elbow a little too much, that's when I feel it. I had to shorten it up a little bit and everything was fine."

--Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

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

After appearing in two practices free of contact following six weeks of rehab on his surgically repaired right knee, Lakers forward Matt Barnes will travel with the team on their two-game trip to Oklahoma City on Sunday and Minnesota on Tuesday.

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said Barnes will get in a full practice Monday and then participate in Tuesday's shootaround before Minnesota.

"It's good for him to be with the guys," Jackson said of Barnes.

Since Barnes had surgery on his right knee Jan. 11 after tearing his lateral mensicus in the Lakers' 101-97 victory Jan. 7 against the New Orleans Hornets, he avoided traveling with the team so he could concentrate on his rehab efforts. His progression has gone so well that he said after Thursday's practice he'd try to play at some point during the trip, a timetable Jackson said the training staff didn't support.

Even though the Lakers would largely welcome the energy he provided with 7.4 points and 4.8 rebounds in 20.8 minutes a game off the bench in 37 contests, Jackson said it wasn't necessary for the Lakers to rush him back into the lineup. Jackson reiterated that stance following the Lakers' 108-95 victory Friday over the Clippers, but softened a bit.

"We'll assess how the practice goes," Jackson said. "But the feeling is slim and little."

That leaves open the possibility that Barnes could return for Friday's game at Staples Center against Charlotte, but Jackson stressed, "We'll see how he does when we come back."

--Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

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

Photo: Matt Barnes. Credit: Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times

--Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

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

Lakers 108, Clippers 95 (final)

For the Lakers, the biggest moment of the game Friday night came when Kobe Bryant bruised his right elbow in the second quarter and went to the locker room before the half was over.

Bryant came out and scored 18 of his 24 points in the third quarter and then rested in the fourth.

He wasn't needed because the Lakers led by 18 points at the end of the third.

Bryant was 10-for-16 shooting from the field and he had five assists. He did most of his work in the third quarter wearing a purple sleeve on his right arm.

Pau Gasol had 22 points on eight-for-nine shooting in the win.

Blake Griffin had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers.

The Lakers have won three consecutive games, looking nothing like the team that lost three games in a row before the All-Star break.

RELATED:

Lakers-Clippers box score

Photos from Lakers-Clippers game

Lakers 85, Clippers 67 (end of third quarter)

The report after halftime was that Kobe Bryant had bruised the ulnar nerve of his right elbow.

That was the report.

But one couldn't tell by the way Bryant shot the ball in the third quarter.

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson on Clippers

Among the highlights:

--Why Lakers Coach Phil Jackson isn't concerned about the team's game Friday against the Clippers

--Jackson makes very little of the team's two-game winning streak. "We're not very consistent yet."

--His reaction to the Pistons' Tracy McGrady, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Chris Wilcox missing morning shootaround, an absence The Detroit News reported was a "player protest" against John Kuester: I feel badly for John Kuester. I think it's a black eye for the league."

--Jackson expressed displeasure with the Sacramento Kings trading Carl Landry to the New Orleans Hornets for Marcus Thornton and cash. That's because all the NBA owners are responsible for the additional spike in salary since the league took ownership of the team in December when a sale of the franchise fell through. Said Jackson: "If New Orleans happens to win a championship, does everybody get a trophy?" For once, Jackson and Mavericks owner Mark Cuban are in agreement. 

--On Oklahoma City acquiring Kendrick Perkins from Boston: "They're different. We'll see if they're better. Their speed is going to change. They're going to be a bang, sock-em kind of team."

--Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

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

It's a soap opera that seemingly repeats the same storyline.

The Lakers enter a season with an abundant amount of expectations and talent, go through adversarial struggles that tests the patience of the fans, media and team alike and then end up as champions.

The formula sounds so trite and simple I couldn't help but notice the glaring similarities between the commentary expressed on the 2002 and 2010 Laker championship DVDs. But please don't buy this narrative.

Yes, it's tempting to simplify the Lakers' inconsistent play as the team's deciding whether to flip the switch because there's so much data to support it. The Lakers under Coach Phil Jackson have won five NBA championships since 2000 after going through ups-and-downs of the regular season. There's a clear discrepancy in the regular season record before and after the All-Star break in four of those five championship teams, including 1999-2000 (37-11, 30-4), 2000-01 (31-16, 25-10), 2001-02 (33-13, 25-11) and 2008-09 (42-10, 23-7). And the Lakers have a strong postseason record in all five of those championship seasons: 2000 (15-8), 2001 (15-1), 2002 (15-4), 2009 (16-7) and 2010 (16-7).

But that doesn't mean anything.

"There's all sorts of things that go into it," Jackson said. "It's not just, 'OK, now we're back 100%.' We've done this before. We know the next game can be a game that we're not proud of if we don't play as well. It's about consistently building a game and having that ability to be purposeful in what we're trying to do."

 That's not to discount that the Lakers have shown at times an unwillingness to show up for games against both sub.-500 opponents (Memphis, Milwaukee) and elite teams (Miami, San Antonio). That's not to overlook the fact the Lakers ratchet up their intensity when the postseason nears in work ethic, practice times and overall focus. And that's not to downplay the Lakers' ongoing arrogance that they can turn things around if they simply believe it's necessary.

It might be hard to say that in the land of Hollywood, but that script is not only cliched and boring, it's inaccurate. Below the jump are a few things that explain for better and worse how the Lakers' inconsistency has involved factors beyond flipping or not flipping a switch.

As Lakers guard Derek Fisher stood center stage at the Beverly Hilton on Thursday for the annual L.A. Sports Awards, play-by-play announcer Joel Meyers made a quick remark to the team's co-captain.

"Let's keep doing this."

Fisher was just about to accept two awards from the L.A. Sports Council: one honoring the Lakers' 16th championship as the top sports moment of the year, and the sportsman of the year honor. He is the third consecutive Laker to win the award, following Pau Gasol (2010) and Kobe Bryant (2009). The award prompted Fisher to wax nostalgic about his relationship with the city and his involvement with the Lakers' youth foundation.  But Fisher also recognized the Lakers' ability to win.

"Every season is filled with different stories and reasons why teams do well and teams win a championship or not," Fisher said. "There are lots of things that we can all pick apart as to why a team was successful or not. For our team the last couple of seasons, our teams have had some ups and downs and we had moments where even amongst ourselves, we continued to question, 'Can we take this to where we want to go?' And that's to the top of the NBA. So even currently as we go through the ups and downs of another regular season, we make an attempt to a fourth consecutive trip to the NBA Finals and third consecutive NBA championship, there isn't anything more important to our group than that one thing and that one goal."

Derek Fisher on Lakers

 The ceremony illustrated how the Lakers' stake in winning largely influences the rest of the city. The ceremony featured special tributes to the late John Wooden, but the Lakers' championship eclipsed his passing as the year's top moment. Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena won the coach of the year award, but he remarked, "I'd like to thank [Lakers coach] Phil Jackson for stepping out this year for this award." Figure skater Evan Lysacek shared that the work ethic of unnamed Lakers helped inspire him to win the gold medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics. And Jerry Buss' induction to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and Lamar Odom's role in the 2010 FIBA World Championships were considered the third and eighth top moments, respectively.

"Even when we've had our bad days and those nights when we haven't looked like a quote-unquote championship team, we all still came back into the locker room and continued to band together as brothers and to push ourselves into the best team we can be," Fisher told the audience. "We recognize in terms of expectations. There isn't anything less this city expects of us, which is to be champions. That's what we strive to be every single night. I pledge to you on behalf of my team with this award that we'll give everything that we have."

Derek Fisher on winning 2011 sportsman of the year

 Note: The Times' Clippers beat writer, Lisa Dillman, will be hosting a live chat at 3 p.m. Expect plenty of questions about the Clippers trading Baron Davis, Blake Griffin's dunks and the state of the team. Considering the Clippers play the Lakers on Friday night, feel free to join in and throw in some questions about the game as well.

-- Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

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

--The Times' Mike Bresnahan talks to Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak about why he decided not to make a trade.

--NBA.com's Fran Blinebury argues that the Thunder acquiring Kendrick Perkins alters the landscape in the West.

--Orange County Register's Kevin Ding looks at how Kobe Bryant continues to push Pau Gasol.

--ESPN Boston's Chris Forsberg details the emotional reaction from the Celtics over trading Perkins.

Lakers forward Ron Artest appeared recently on MSNBC with Rep. Grace Napolitano to discuss mental health issues.

--ESPN Los Angeles' Andy Kamenetzky breaks down how the trade deadline affected the Lakers.

--NBA.com's Shaun Powell believes the Celtics made a tremendous risk dealing Perkins.

--The Boston Globe's Bob Ryan credits the Celtics' moves.

--Yahoo! Sports' Marc Spears argues the Thunder will be a stronger threat to the Lakers with the trades they made.

--The Daily Breeze's Elliott Teaford reports Portland Coach Nate McMillan might be an option to replace Lakers Coach Phil Jackson next season.

--ESPN.com's Bill Simmons remains conflicted about Boston trading Perkins.

--Sports Illustrated's Ian Thomsen wonders if the Celtics will struggle more without Perkins.

--Lakers.com's Mike Trudell details Thursday's practice.

--The Orange County Register's Mark Whicker wonders if Bryant's game has dropped off.

--Silver Screen and Roll's Actuarially Sound looks at the Lakers' defensive inconsistencies.

Tweet of the Day: "is the trade deadline over?? crazy moves.. Im still here" -- RONARTESTCOM (Lakers forward Ron Artest)

Reader Comment of the Day:" I'm not all that interested in how the trades around the league will all shake out. All I care about is that WE are healthy and peaking at the right time. This is all about the Lakers, and how we take care of our own business." -- justanothermambafan

-- Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

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

Photo: Lakers players (from left to right) Lamar Odom, Kobe Bryant, Luke Walton and Andrew Bynum share a laugh during the Lakers' 120-91 victory over Utah on Jan. 25. The Lakers did not make any trade deadline deals on Thursday. Credit: Kirby Lee / U.S. Presswire

If the Lakers had their own Hall of Fame, which players would you select for induction? That is the basis for our next series of polls, in which we ask our readers to vote on who is most worthy of this honor. We will break down the history of the team by position, nominating those who spent at least three seasons with the team as a starter and played well in their tenure with the Lakers.

Only consider what they did with the Lakers. So, don't be upset that Karl Malone isn't a nominee: Obviously, Malone is a Hall of Famer, but he was only on the Lakers one season and would not be a Lakers Hall of Famer.

We start with the guards. To make the Hall of Fame, players must be named on 75% of the ballots. Before the ballot, there are links to each player's bio and stats on our new All Things Lakers database.

The nominees at guard:

Lucius Allen
Kobe Bryant
Michael Cooper
Arnold Ferrin
Derek Fisher
Gail Goodrich
Bob Harrison
Rod Hundley
Tony Jaros
Magic Johnson
Eddie Jones
Slick Leonard
Slater Martin
Norm Nixon
Anthony Peeler
Pat Riley
Pep Saul
Byron Scott
Frank Selvy
Brian Shaw
Sedale Threatt
Nick Van Exel
Jerry West

-- Houston Mitchell

Even through all the injury uncertainty, the Lakers have maintained a long and steadfast view that they shouldn't trade center Andrew Bynum for one reason.

Size. It's an advantage few teams have in the NBA and it's a huge reason why the Lakers have been through three consecutive Finals appearances. Heck, even when Bynum played a limited role during the Finals against Boston last season because of torn cartilage in his right knee, he altered and blocked shots, intimidated players from driving into the lane, provided close shots and rebounds, and gave an occasional breather to Pau Gasol.

It's debatable in these parts whether that perspective is correct. Size has played an instrumental part of the Lakers' consecutive championships. But there's the continuing uncertainty whether they'll truly get the investment in return. The latter mind-set is something the Celtics showed when they traded center Kendrick Perkins and backup guard Nate Robinson to the Oklahoma City Thunder for forward Jeff Green and center Nenad Krstic. The reasons for the Celtics' breaking up their 2008 championship roster mostly points to the fact that Perkins recently turned down a long-term contract and would become a free agent after this season. Still the Celtics are barely a season removed from Coach Doc Rivers' downplaying the Lakers' 2010 title because Perkins tore the medial collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee, causing him to miss the final three quarters of Game 6 and all of Game 7. "They still have not beaten our starting five," Rivers said of Boston, which in ironic fashion secured the 2008 NBA Finals while the Lakers featured an absent Andrew Bynum and a limited Trevor Ariza.

So how does this change Boston moving forward?

"I can't speculate about that," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. "They know what they want." But he did throw in a tongue-in-cheek dig: "They go down as never having lost a playoff series."

This at least becomes clear: Rivers can't lament Perkins' absence should the Lakers beat the Celtics in the Finals. The Lakers have their own issues, though they've softened since putting together a two-game winning streak. But this remains clear: The Lakers would match up much better against the Celtics in the NBA Finals without Perkins in the lineup. He may have been limited in the Lakers' 109-96 loss Jan. 31 to the Celtics, posting two points, six rebounds, four fouls and three turnovers in 27 minutes. Perkins also couldn't match Bynum in the Lakers' 92-86 victory Feb. 10 in points, scoring 12 to Bynum's 16. And Boston still stayed the top team in the Eastern Conference despite his absence until the first Lakers-Celtics matchup.

But as the Lakers and Celtics very well know, the playoffs area different story. Perkins provided a valuable presence for Boston because he is a capable defender. Of course, the Celtics still have size with Krstic, Shaquille O'Neal and Jermaine O'Neal, while Kevin Garnett and Glen Davis will continue their usual role at power forward. Lakers Hall of Famer Magic Johnson tweeted, "Look out for Shaq-he'll be big in the play-offs for the C's." And The Sporting News and Pro Basketball Talk's Kurt Helin explain in  detail the big-picture implications the Celtics considered when making this move.

But Boston is surely taking a huge risk. Shaq has been frequently limited with an inflamed Achilles' tendon that the Boston Globe's Julian Benbow reports is "showing no signs of improving." Jermaine O'Neal remains sidelined from right knee surgery. And who knows how well Krstic will fit in? With the 2010 NBA Finals presenting a competitive series that hinged on two evenly matched teams looking for any edge possible, the Lakers just gained an advantage without Perkins there should they meet again. This time, however, Rivers can't lament his absence.

"That's right," Jackson said, smiling.

But the Lakers shouldn't be smiling too much because Oklahoma City instantly becomes a tougher opponent for them should they meet in the playoffs. Kobe Bryant expressed uncertainty on what Perkins' role will entail with the Thunder. But should Perkinsprovide the same role with the Thunder as he did with the Celtics, the Lakers are in for one tough series. They already had their hands full dealing with the youth and athleticism that the likes of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibakabring in the open court. If the Thunder are able to strike a balance between using that athleticism and finding production from Perkins when other teams slow down the pace, the Lakers should be in for one tough test.

It's good the Lakers stood pat and made no moves before the trading deadline. They already have the distinguishable skills they need in Bryant's scoring and the size Gasol and Bynum bring. But as the Lakers learned today, one playoff opponent just became stronger at the expense of another.

--Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

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

Photo: Lakers center Andrew Bynum and Boston center Kendrick Perkins battle for possession during the first quarter Thursday night. Credit: Charles Krupa / Associated Press

Throughout his rehabilitation process, Lakers forward Matt Barnes has understood the fine line between pushing up the intensity toward healing his surgically repaired right knee and putting himself at further risk.

But his might be one of those times when his desire to come back quickly has gotten the best of him. After Barnes told reporters he hoped to return to the court either Sunday at Oklahoma City or Tuesday at Minnesota, Lakers Coach Phil Jackson made it clear the team's medical staff doesn't support Barnes' timetable. 

"I appreciate his intensity and his wanting to come back, but I'll talk to Matt tomorrow about it," Jackson said. "I haven't really talked to him about it yet. I'd hate to say anything, but we're still saying, 'Let's be patient.' We're not in dire need now."

Well, maybe at least compared with last week, when the Lakers entered the All-Star break with a three-game losing streak and lost to the league's worst team, Cleveland. The Lakers have reeled off two consecutive victories and enter Friday's game against the Clippers with performances that revealed to guard Kobe Bryant that "the team that won championships the last two years is still somewhere around here."

Still, the Lakers (40-19) trail San Antonio (47-10) by eight games and Dallas (41-16) by two games, while maintaining only a 2 1/2 game lead over Oklahoma City (36-20) for the third spot in the Western Conference. Jackson said Barnes needs to have a full practice before any further assessments.

"I think I need to be out there more than they need me out there," said Barnes, who's averaged 7.4 points on 47.4% shooting and 4.8 rebounds in 20.8 minutes per game in 37 contests. "It's been a while, man, and we started off the last home stretch well, and I just want to get back in and do anything I can to help the team win.”

-- Mark Medina
Twitter.com/latmedina

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

It's official.

The Lakers didn't make any moves before Thursday's trade deadline.

After finding no palatable deals to be made, the Lakers hope the league's largest payroll ($91 million) will be strong enough to deliver a third consecutive championship.

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said the team was not close to doing anything "of significance" before the trade deadline.

"I do like the roster as it is and they certainly deserve a chance to defend their title," Kupchak said Thursday afternoon.

The Lakers have until next Tuesday to add a veteran waived by another team, though it doesn't appear there will be many players getting cut over the next few days.

"We are going to pay attention [to any waived players]," Kupchak said. "Typically, the guys that get waived are veterans on bad teams in the last year of a deal and they go their general manager and beg to be released."

The Lakers' next game is a designated home contest Friday against the new look Clippers, who traded Baron Davis to Cleveland for Mo Williams.

-Mike Bresnahan

Photo: Lakers guard Shannon Brown, center, gets a hug from Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom, in the second half of their game against the Atlanta Hawks Tuesday. Lakers won 104-80. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Gallardo.