Portland Remains a Thorn in the Lakers Side

The Lakers suffered their worst loss this season, 111-94 to the Portland Trail Blazers at Rose Garden, and to make matters worse they could lose Ariza and Odom to suspensions after Ariza committed a flagrant foul. The loss was the seventh by the Lakers in Portland and it was also their most one-sided loss this season. During the third quarter Trevor Ariza was ejected after laying out Portland guard Rudy Fernandez on a fastbreak layup attempt. Lamar Odom stepped away from the bench toward the jumble and could face suspension as a result. Sasha Vujacic also stepped off the bench, although he didn’t get as close as Odom. Ariza was assessed a Type 2 flagrant foul and could face further disciplicary action from the NBA in addition to automatic ejection; it looked as is Ariza tried to throw a punch possibly at Portland guard Brandon Roy. The Trail Blazers said Fernandez sustained a soft-tissue injury to his upper chest and side area.

The Lakers certainly didn’t anticipate starting their string of 10 away games out of 13 left in the regular season like this, and things may get worse if they show up in Houston without an extra player or two (or possibly three, as Lakers forward Josh Powell also picked up a technical foul). Lakers’ Coach Phil Jackson told the L.A. Times, “Trevor went for the ball. That;s obviosuly going to be called a flagrant foul, but he went to get the ball and that’s what you do when you’re a player. It’s just unfortunate.” Regarding the suspension, Ariza told the Times, “I hope it doesn’t happen … I wasn’t trying to hurt anybody or do anything like that.” And although TV replays showed otherwise, Odom denied stepping off the bench: “I stayed on the bench. I stood up, but I stood right there. I didn’t go nowhere. They’ll see it and see I didn’t go anywhere.” The Lakers are now preparing for back-to-back road games against Houston and San Antonio.

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