we had all the winners this weekend. For next week

DEN 28 BALT 16

NE 32 HOU 22

SF 27 GB 20

SEA 20 ATL 17

Including wild Card games.

The Lakers are going to have trouble making the playoffs.
Even a slight improvement in their performance could determine whether the
Lakeshow makes the playoffs. First of all, let’s note that the Lakers have not
played that badly: They have played 2.4 ppg better than average. How can this
level of play be improved?

First we note two important facts:

1. 
The Lakers have played (957 minutes) 11.4 ppg better than average with
Metta and Kobe in.

2. With at least one of Kobe and
Metta out (584 minutes) the Lakers have played a horrible 12 ppg worse than
average.

The key issue is how to better rest the key guys.  The following strategies have been
successful.

1. With Kobe out in 48 minutes the following has played 28
ppg better than average: Meeks, Metta, Jamison, Duhon or Morris  and Gasol or Howard. I also think Nash for Meeks
or Duhon would work well here.

2. With Metta out the following has played in 40 minutes 36
ppg better than average:  Howard, Kobe,
Meeks, and 2 of Jamison, Hill, Duhon and Nash.

I think the moral here is Jamison does not deserve so many
DNP’s!