LA Lakers Look to Secure the Seventh Seed Behind Kobe

With a win Wednesday night against the Hornets, the Lakers will guarantee a first round date with the Suns. A loss, combined with a Sacramento victory tonight against Seattle at Arco means the Lakers will draw the Spurs. Just in case it is Phoenix (and considering the wall NO/OKC has hit, that's a likely proposition), Phil Jackson is already laying the motivational groundwork to stack a chip or twelve on every Laker's shoulder. Either way, L.A. will enter the playoffs as an underdog, a role that suits Kobe Bryant just fine. Having locked up his first scoring title and with a good shot at still more notable single season achievements, Kobe will enter the playoffs on a roll, but according to Phil, "the featured guy" against Phoenix is Kwame Brown. That means reduced minutes for Kobe.