Lakers Practice Report: 12/07/09

As a coach known for taking care of his veterans, Phil Jackson stayed true to form on Monday morning as only those playing more limited minutes in games (and those receiving treatment) had the mandate to show up at L.A.’s practice facility.

After the workout, Jackson confirmed his general happiness with how his team is playing after the 20-point rout of Phoenix on Sunday night, but failed to make any grand conclusions about the defending champs.

“There are too many things that can happen,” he said. “We’re (only 20 percent) through the season.”

To be precise, the Lakers have played 19-of-82 games (23.2 percent), or nearly a fourth of the way through.

Suns Head Coach Alvin Gentry, however, has in two losses totaling 39 points seen enough for some very high praise.

“We’ve played the other teams*,” Gentry said. “I think they’re by far the best team.”
Phoenix has beaten Boston and lost to Orlando and Cleveland.

Nine straight wins, eight of which came by double-digits, and the fact that L.A. seems only to have improved after being the best team in 2008-09 makes that a tough statement with which to argue.

Jackson, of course, still sees areas for the Lakers to improve.

“Defensively we have some minor things that have to improve, that’s just the work, the work, the work,” he said. “Hustle, closing lanes, things like that that we have to do.”

The head coach did concede that he thinks the team has done things “pretty well” defensively, but simply would like to see it happen more consistently.

Consistent, however, is a word that can be applied to the defense of Ron Artest, who was again strong during his five-steal, 15-point, five-assist performance against Phoenix.

“It was fun to watch,” Jackson concluded. “He had a (good) shooting night which we like to see, he had some steals that were great I think he ignited us at the end of the last third quarter ... It changed the game.”

The Lakers will have a full practice on Tuesday afternoon, then convene Wednesday morning for shootaround in preparation for the Utah Jazz.