Los Angeles Lakers On The Brink Of Eliminating The Utah Jazz From 2013 NBA Playoff Competition

Two of my favorite NBA teams are jockeying for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot, and on April 14th, 2013, one of them moved to the brink of deciding the issue. The Los Angeles Lakers, despite the loss of Kobe Bryant to an Achilles tear for anywhere from six to nine months, rose up and shot down the heavily-favored San Antonio Spurs 91-86 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The Lakers were fueled by Dwight Howard, who had had 26 points and 17 rebounds, Steve Blake, who scored 23 points, and Paul Gasol, who hauled down 16 rebounds. As a result, the Lakers now have a 44-37 record, while the Utah Jazz remain at 42-38.

Which one has the better chance of making the playoffs? If the Lakers defeat the Houston Rockets in L.A. on April 17th, then they finish 45-37 and are in, regardless of how the Jazz do tonight. But if the Lakers lose, then the Utah Jazz must win both remaining games to finish at 44-38. The Jazz have the tougher task because their last two games are on the road, against Minnesota (a probable win) on April 15th and Memphis on April 17th (a probable loss). The Jazz are only 12-27 on the road this season so far. Of course, if the Jazz lose to the T-Wolves tonight, the Lakers are in. But if both teams finish with the same record, Utah goes to the playoffs because they won the season series against the Lakers, two games to one.

The Jazz basically shot themselves in the foot this season. At one point during the season, they were 31-24 and seemed a certainty to make the playoffs. Then they endured a 3-12 stretch which dropped them to 34-36. Meanwhile, the Lakers, who had started out slow at 17-25, began a 19-7 stretch which elevated them to 36-32 and put them back in the playoff hunt. Although the Jazz subsequently rallied and have now won eight of their last 10, the Lakers have also remained hot. So they are in the position of having to win two games on the road just to stay in the chase, but require help from Houston. The Jazz do not totally control their own destiny.

The reward? To face the number one seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. This may be a dubious reward, because the Thunder have streaked to a 59-21 record and have the inside track to lock in the number one seed. Both Utah and the Lakers have 1-3 records against the Thunder this year, so it appears that whichever team gets in will bow out to the Thunder in the first round, perhaps in as few as five games. Even if Kobe Bryant was available, the Thunder would still take the Lakers, although it might take six games to do it. Basically, the Lakers and the Jazz are jockeying for the honor of serving as cannon fodder for the Thunder in the first round.

My prediction is that the Lakers will make it in, simply because I can't see Utah defeating the Memphis Grizzlies in Memphis.

Update: On April 15th, the Jazz beat Minnesota 96-80. So now it all boils down to Wednesday. The Jazz must beat the Grizzlies in Memphis AND the Rockets must beat the Lakers in L.A. for the Jazz to make the playoffs.

Update #2: On April 17th, as expected, Memphis ripped the Jazz 86-70, as the Grizzlies turned on the heat in the third quarter. So Utah is out, and the Lakers are in.

Human Rights Campaign Gets Campy Because They Think Lakers Superstar Kobe Bryant Called A Referee A "Faggot"

The self-appointed gay rights watchdog Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has called upon Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant to apologize for allegedly calling a referee a "fucking faggot" during an April 12th, 2011 game between the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs in Los Angeles. They cite as anecdotal evidence the fact that TNT play-by-play announcer Steve Kerr apparently reacted, announcing on the air that TNT "might want to take the camera off him right now, for the children watching". As additional evidence, HRC cites a statement by English rugby star Ben Cohen, described as a straight ally who is a staunch supporter of LGBT equality, in which Cohen condemns Bryant as well.

HRC issued the following statement:

“What a disgrace for Kobe Bryant to use such horribly offensive and distasteful language, especially when millions of people are watching. Hopefully Mr. Bryant will recognize that as a person with such fame and influence, the use of such language not only offends millions of LGBT people around the world, but also perpetuates a culture of discrimination and hate that all of us, most notably Mr. Bryant, should be working to eradicate. Bryant and the Lakers have a responsibility to speak up on this issue immediately. America is watching.”

Another gay-rights watchdog has joined the hunt. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has contacted the Lakers and is demanding disciplinary action. Outsports, a LGBT sports website, wants Bryant suspended for one playoff game.

But did Kobe Bryant actually use the word "faggot"? Watch the video below; you'll see it at the 0:35 minute point:

http://youtu.be/t84p7mcK2Pk



It looks like it, but one cannot be absolutely sure. He could have said the phrase "fucking fake". It is also quite possible that Steve Kerr was cautioning the television audience because of the use of the word "fucking". And why does it really matter, anyway; such words are used in the heat of battle. Kobe Bryant has a reputation for being foul-mouthed, but no one has called him out for taking the name of the Lord in vain.

The L.A. Times reports that Bryant expressed public regret over the incident, saying "what I said last night should not be taken literally. My actions were out of frustration during the heat of the game, period. The words expressed do NOT reflect my feelings towards the gay and lesbian communities and were NOT meant to offend anyone." But HRC doesn't think that's good enough because it creates one of those legendary "teachable moments"; presumably, they want him to go on the pro-gay trail and "atone" for his actions. I'm sure HRC wouldn't be too upset if Kobe Bryant shoveled some money at them, either.

Why is Kobe Bryant so upset over a technical foul? Because it's his 15th of the season, and if he reaches 16, he'll face a one-game suspension from the league. But he won't serve the suspension until the first game of the 2011-12 season, because technical foul totals are reset when the playoffs begin. So he won't be suspended during the playoffs, which means he over-reacted.

Update: CNN now reports that the NBA has fined Kobe Bryant $100,000 for "offensive and inexcusable" comments he made during Tuesday night's game. Bryant also personally apologized to HRC President Joe Solomonese. GLAAD has issued a statement supporting the NBA's decision.

Public Reaction: Comments posted to the TMZ story are distinctly unsupportive of HRC.

Posted at 7:58 AM on Apr 13, 2011 by MAXny:
WOW!!! As a proud, proud gay man I DO NOT find it offensive. The Human Rihts Campaign DOESN'T speak for all LGBT persons. Stop making a mountain out of a molehill. There are much bigger problems in the world, than Kobe saying, f*ggot. Stop crying, man up, bitches.

Posted at 8:06 AM on Apr 13, 2011 by Bigeasy:
Stupid made up organization trying to become known over a non-issue. That ref didn't see what Kobe said and I'm sure even the players next to him couldn't hear it. So basically Kobe is being criticized for someone reading his lips and guessing what he said. Get over it.

Posted at 8:09 AM on Apr 13, 2011 by onedollarbill:
Jesus, people need to get the sand out of their collective vagina. So what... Kobe was pissed and said something off color in the moment. I'm sure there is not a person here that hasn't said something insensitive, racist, or other when pissed driving on the freeway. The only reason this is even "news" is that it's coming from someone on TV. The country and its political correctness is one in a long list of things that is wrong.

Posted at 8:11 AM on Apr 13, 2011 by Grace:
I am offended with his use of the f***k word just as much as the next word. Bad language is never acceptable when referring to ANYONE!

Grace makes an interesting point. Why wasn't HRC offended by the use of the OTHER f-word?