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From Houston — Yawn. What? This column is starting? Oh, well, OK, whatever.

In Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals Sunday, the Lakers . . . sigh . . . shrug . . . hmmm.

I'm sorry, I just don't feel like it today.

I know you're expecting a full column effort, but the Lakers' opponent was only the devastated Houston Rockets, so why should I have to work hard to write about them?

Why should I put passion into describing a game that the Lakers didn't show passion in playing?

They took the day off, so why can't I?

The Lakers lost, 99-87, after trailing by as many as 29 points to a team playing without Yao Ming or a prayer.

The Lakers lost as if they didn't care that the series was now two games apiece. The Lakers lost as if they know they can turn it on this week and still survive.

Good point. I'll write better columns then. This one, like them, I'm sitting out.

Usually, I type 900 words, but, in the spirit of a team that fell behind 19-4 before breaking a sweat, I'm giving you less than half of that.

I'm giving you what Trevor Ariza gave you on the first play of the game, with a halfhearted toss that ended up in the hands of Ron Artest, who stormed down for a layup that gave the Rockets a lead they never lost.

I'm giving you carelussness. I'm giving what the Lakers' defense gave you on the final play of the third quarter, when Artest threw a half-court alley-oop pass to the 6-foot Aaron Brooks, who laughably scored in the most embarrassing Lakers surrender of many postseasons.

I'm giving you sloppeness. At this point in the column, I know I should be writing quotes and reactions from players. But acquiring that stuff takes effort, an effort that I can expend when the series gets more serious, but not now, why now?

Phil Jackson said he was thrilled to get one win in Houston, an amazing quote from the coach of a supposedly championship-caliber team, but he's the boss.

So, me too, I'm thrilled I wrote one full story in Houston, and now I'm packing it in, saving it for later, see you back in Los Angeles.

You want intensity in every postseason column, read the Cleveland and Denver writers.

magic1fan wrote:we can all sit here and rag on this team but the fact is sometimes people don't have it. they came out flat but that happens. the only thing that matters is if we win the series. each series is different. just because we are struggling now,does not mean we are going to struggle the next round or the finals. it was one game just like games 1-3.

JimMurray wrote:What angers me the most is that games like this are an indictment on Kobe. How do you go 7-17 with 15 points in a game like this, when you're team is looking for something, anything to spark some kind of fight from under their ass. This is the kind of game that we need Kobe to go off. Even if his shot isn't falling, at least bring the intensity somewhere else, pick up a T, block a shot, force a T, get to the hole. ZERO free throws? Really? I mean is he tired? Does he just not care anymore?

I've supported this guy his entire career, and all of that was predicated on the fact that once we got to this point, best supporting cast in the league, NBA Playoffs, that Kobe was going to be locked in and do the things that legends do. It's just not there. It wasn't there in 04' against Detroit, I'll give him a pass for last year against Boston because the team was there before they were supposed to be, but if he somehow manages to screw it up with this team, he's simply not what he's appeared to be.

He's TMAC times Vince Carter on Steroids, a competent fake to Jordans legacy, however ultimately a fraud. One of the best of all time to be sure, but not in the heir we thought he would be as we watched him grow.

I'm sorry, but Kobe doesn't get a pass for game 4, not from me, not anymore. There is absolutely no excuse for yesterday. For it to be game 4 of the Western Semi's and watch Kobe let the entire team not give a eff,.......who is this guy really?

magic1fan wrote:
well it seems to me you pumped yourself up for nothing. right now we don't have the best supporting cast in the league,we haven't had it since the seventh game of the season. give me a break with all this kobe is a fraud garbage. he had a bad game. his leadership was weak,but that in no way makes him a fraud. show me a player in the history of the game that has not had a bad game? this team is still a great team,no wonder kobe said fans in la panic. this is getting ridiculous.

JimMurray wrote:

magic1fan wrote:
well it seems to me you pumped yourself up for nothing. right now we don't have the best supporting cast in the league,we haven't had it since the seventh game of the season. give me a break with all this kobe is a fraud garbage. he had a bad game. his leadership was weak,but that in no way makes him a fraud. show me a player in the history of the game that has not had a bad game? this team is still a great team,no wonder kobe said fans in la panic. this is getting ridiculous.

Name one superstar player in the NBA with a better supporting cast than kobe.

*Crickets*

Go ahead, I'll wait.

*Crickets*

While you continue to look for that, let me just point out that this isn't just one bad game. I don't question him as a player, he's a great player, no question about it. But you hit it on the head; his leadership is what's in question, thats pretty much all I was saying. Obviously he's going to have bad games, but what is he going to do during those bad games to get his team going. Thats what matters.

magic1fan wrote:

JimMurray wrote:

magic1fan wrote:
well it seems to me you pumped yourself up for nothing. right now we don't have the best supporting cast in the league,we haven't had it since the seventh game of the season. give me a break with all this kobe is a fraud garbage. he had a bad game. his leadership was weak,but that in no way makes him a fraud. show me a player in the history of the game that has not had a bad game? this team is still a great team,no wonder kobe said fans in la panic. this is getting ridiculous.

Name one superstar player in the NBA with a better supporting cast than kobe.

*Crickets*

Go ahead, I'll wait.

*Crickets*

While you continue to look for that, let me just point out that this isn't just one bad game. I don't question him as a player, he's a great player, no question about it. But you hit it on the head; his leadership is what's in question, thats pretty much all I was saying. Obviously he's going to have bad games, but what is he going to do during those bad games to get his team going. Thats what matters.

you don't have to agree but i will say that right now lebron and melo have better supporting casts. their's are better because they perorm night in and night out. both of their supporting casts play defense and hustle no matter what lebron and melo do. those guys accept their roles,and play them every night. our talent looks nice on paper,but farmar has been weak. bynum hasn't been the same. sasha has been trash. as we seen yesterday even without yao it seems we needed kobe to have a big game because no one else took the ball and did anything with it.