Lakers still best in West

Not long ago, at the All-Star break, the Los Angeles Lakers looked poised to repeat as NBA champions.

Now the Lakers, though the Western Conference's No. 1 seed, are limping toward the playoffs, which begin Saturday. They have lost 11 times since the All-Star break.

Panic is striking Southern California, where fans have gone from expecting a coronation to wondering if the Lakers will get their act together in time.

Coach Phil Jackson has acknowledged that none of his previous 10 title teams struggled this badly down the stretch.

But does anyone seriously think the Lakers won't reach at least the NBA Finals?

The Dallas Mavericks are the likely No. 2 seed in the West, but it's hard to imagine them advancing to the Finals. Who else is there? Denver? Utah? Phoenix? Really?

And if the Lakers reach the Finals, the only Eastern Conference teams with a legitimate chance of beating them are the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic.

But Cleveland is the city of sports heartbreak. And Orlando has won just one game in two Finals appearances, that coming in last season's 4-1 win by L.A.

So cheer up, Lakers fans. That coronation might still happen.

■ CHEATING THE FANS? -- With the Cavaliers simply counting down the days until the playoffs, LeBron James is sitting out and resting.

The Cavs aren't complaining. They would rather have James ready for the postseason and certainly don't want to offend the soon-to-be free agent.

But James and Cleveland are insulting their fans, who pay big bucks to watch him.

Fanhouse writer Tim Povtak pointed out that Michael Jordan played full seasons even when the Chicago Bulls had meaningless late-season games.

Povtak said James' decision has cost him the writer's Most Valuable Player vote. That's extreme, but someone should send James and the Cavs a message.

■ MEYER AND THE MEDIA -- Florida football coach Urban Meyer made a fool of himself last month by going ballistic on an Orlando Sentinel reporter, who was guilty of accurately quoting a Gators player.

On Sunday in Augusta, Ga., two reporters were waiting to enter a media-only area at Amen Corner to cover the final round of the Masters. The area was full, which is common.

Then three people left -- Meyer and his family.

As The Florida Times-Union's Garry Smits wrote, "Perhaps (Meyer) wouldn't mind a few Florida beat writers kicking back in his office when practice starts in August."

■ UGLY TRUTH -- When asked this week about Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger putting himself in compromising situations, Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw offered some sage advice: Stay out of bars and nightclubs.

It can be a thrill, Bradshaw said Monday at his annual golf tournament in Shreveport, La., "to walk into a bar with beautiful women and have them just fill your ego up" because of "who you are."

"Because I'm not that attractive," Bradshaw added, "and neither is Ben."

COMPILED BY MARK ANDERSON
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL