While Los Angeles Laker fans may not be enjoying the fact that their squad is on the outside looking in and in danger of missing the playoffs for just the fifth time since moving to L.A., some Lakers seem to be relishing the experience.
"I think you got some veterans on the team that enjoy this time," Steve Nash told ESPN after practice on Wednesday. "Let's enjoy being the underdogs. Let's enjoy the pressure, let's welcome it and let's embrace it and allow it to elevate our process and elevate our progress.
"It's going to be a tough ride trying to get into the playoffs, but that's going to make it fun. Let's try to overcome the odds and try to get back in there and see if we can scare some people."
Dwight Howard, who has been under intense scrutiny all season and recently took his share of the blame for the team's troubles, also took a glass-half-full approach.
"This is the best life we could ever have," Howard said. "So there's no need for us to be mad. We're not happy we're in the position we're in, but we still have a great life. Regardless of what happens tomorrow or the next day, we're all blessed and we got to live one day at a time and have fun."
Kobe Bryant, who recently guaranteed Lakers would make the playoffs, took a slightly different stance.
"I think everybody is a little edgy, and we want to turn things around," Bryant said. "We want to get to a point where we're in the postseason and can make some noise.
"It will be much more fun when we're in the postseason," he added.
The Lakers currently sit two and a half games back of the Houston Rockets, but Dwight Howard insists the team isn't scoreboard watching.
"I don't watch TV," said Howard. "I just know that we have to win every game we play."
Added Nash: "Maybe it's because I've played a long time, but I really don't follow the scoreboard. I just try to worry about getting ready to go and try to worry about our team. If we win the majority of our games coming in here, get hot, we got a chance."
-Natalie Venegas
