After playing 13 games in 26 days, the Lakers were ready for some rest. But is this much -- six days between the clinching game of the Western Conference Finals and Thursday's Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Staples Center -- too much?
Phil Jackson doesn't think so.
"No, not for us," he said after Sunday's practice, which was really a film session for everyone and a four-on-four workout for the reserves. Most of the starters -- Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Derek Fisher and Trevor Ariza --didn't get on the court. Neither did Lamar Odom, still dealing with an injured back.
"We really got banged up in these last two series," said Jackson, "and there are a number of guys who can really use the two days off. So we'll measure it out. We'll be ready."
Gasol, generally the forthright about his desire for some rest, displayed a bit less certitude about the break.
"Good or not," he said, "it is what it is. We've had situations where had days of rest, and then we were a little sluggish at the beginning of the series. Right now, we're in front of the NBA Finals, and there's no slacking or no slipping. We're ready to start, we're ready to play. We're going to get ourselves ready in these next days, and at the same time we're going to be able to recover from all the playing we've been doing in these last two series.
"We're excited. We're excited about what we're facing, who we're facing, and great things could come out of it."
Stating the obvious: A couple of the players were asked if there was any disappointment that they wouldn't get a chance to play Boston to avenge their title loss of a year ago.
"You already know what the answer to that is," said Derek Fisher. "It doesn't have who I played against on any of my rings. It just has 'World Champions.' That's it.
"I feel very good about the three I have, and if I can get a fourth one, I'll feel very good about that, as well."
Seconding that emotion was Luke Walton.
"We just want to win a championship," said Walton. "Obviously, you want to revenge yourself and beat Boston, but we haven't thought about it -- at least, I haven't thought about it at all. ... All that matters is that we win four before we lose four."
Gone, but not (quite) forgotten: Jackson was also asked how things changed with Vladimir Radmanovic -- still with the Lakers for both games with Orlando -- no longer on the squad.
"Well, we send him a telegram and say, hope you're having a good time on the beach," Jackson joked.
"Obviously, you know, Trevor (Ariza) has advanced as a player a lot. He's doing a really good job for us and it changes a little bit of what we do. We don't have as much of what you would consider a 3-point threat, but I think Trevor's really taken that spot well."
Brown suit: ESPN.com is reporting that guard Shannon Brown is being sued in civil court for what the website called a "sex-related incident" in Denver just prior to the trade sending Brown from Charlotte to the Lakers. Brown was served papers when the team was in Denver last week.
When asked Sunday about the suit, Brown had a very brief comment:"The truth is going to come out," he said. "I didn't do nothing. I'm innocent, and I'm just going to let it take its course."