By JOHN NADEL, AP Sports Writer 56 minutes ago
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP)—The Los Angeles Lakers planned a players-only gathering Friday night to have dinner and watch Game 6 of the Houston-Utah first-round playoff series.
They had more than a passing interest, since the Jazz or Rockets will be their opponent in the second round. But they figured to have a good time no matter who won.
“We let loose, relax, enjoy each other’s company,” Lamar Odom said after a light practice Friday.
“We’re going to have a good time, hang out together,” Jordan Farmar said.
Odom said he received a text message Thursday night informing him of the gathering.
“We’re going to go to some restaurant,” he said. “We’ve got a couple funny guys who keep guys loose. We have some personalities.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Who was picking up the tab?
“Hopefully the MVP,” Odom replied, loud enough for Kobe Bryant to hear and eliciting a protest.
Odom recently told a story on his Web site about a team dinner before the first-round series against Denver in which Bryant treated his teammates.
“As soon as he picked up the bill, we all started chanting, ‘MVP, MVP, MVP!” Odom said.
Bryant, who hears the “MVP, MVP” chant on a regular basis at Staples Center and sometimes at visiting arenas as well, appears to be the leading candidate for his first Most Valuable Player award, expected to be presented next week.
Utah took a 3-2 lead into Game 6 with Houston, and the Lakers were mindful that a victory by the Jazz would mean Game 1 of the second-round series would be played Sunday at Staples Center—six days after Los Angeles completed its first-round sweep of the Nuggets.
