Morning briefing

Hem lines lead to punch lines

Lakers executive vice president Jeanie Buss and her significant other, Coach Phil Jackson, were members of a panel at the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission’s fourth annual Basketball 101 seminar at Staples Center on Wednesday night.

Moderator Bill Macdonald took written questions from the audience, and one asked if the reason the Lakers lost to the Boston Celtics, 110-91, on Dec. 30 was because the Lakers wore throwback 1980s short shorts.

Said Buss: “If you want to blame that loss on the shorts instead of the coach, that’s fine with me.”

Trivia time

How many points did Kobe Bryant score in that loss to the Celtics?

Other views

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, another member of the Basketball 101 panel, said of the short shorts: “When we wore them, it was no big deal. But now they look risque.”

Said panelist Michael Cooper: “We won five championships wearing those shorts, so I loved them.”

Big target

Fans and coaches alike have been frustrated with the Lakers’ Kwame Brown. That’s because, though quick and athletic, the 6-foot-11 forward-center who was the overall No. 1 pick in the 2001 NBA draft by the Washington Wizards, has not consistently played up to his potential.

Abdul-Jabbar, now a Lakers special assistant coach, was asked if he was able to convey to Brown the fundamentals of playing center.

“It’s hard to get through to him,” said Abdul-Jabbar, who passed off the question to Jackson.

Said the coach: “I’ve called him a knucklehead from time to time. You’ve got to lead him to water, then force him to drink.”

Added Jackson: “I’ve told him, ‘When Kobe shoots, you’ve got to go get the rebound.’ ”

Baskets and eggs

Bryant’s penchant for sometimes shooting too much came up during the panel discussions and Jackson was asked why the Lakers’ star takes more shots in some games than others.

As an example, it was pointed out that Bryant took 44 shots against Seattle on Monday night, making 21.

“He sees when his teammates are not being aggressive and feels that he has to fill the gap,” Jackson said. “It’s a case of what comes first, the chicken or the egg?”

Phil’s philosophy

Jackson was also asked why, when the momentum switches and an opponent is making a run, he doesn’t call time out or make some substitutions.

The coach said he would when a game is on the road, but he had a reason for not doing so at home.

“It’s something of a punishment,” he said. “The fans at home games will begin to boo the players, and that might help motivate them.”

Hooked

Abdul-Jabbar was asked why no player since him has developed a sky hook. In reading the question, Macdonald called it the “most unstoppable shot in NBA history.”

“It’s not that sexy,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “Young players would see Dr. J [Julius Erving] and Michael Jordan and would just want to dunk or shoot three-pointers.”

Trivia answer

Bryant, making only six of 25 shots, had 22 points against Boston. Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 33.

And finally

During a discussion of NBA players with disabilities, Buss mentioned that the Denver Nuggets’ Kenyon Martin has a stuttering problem. Jackson interrupted to say he has Tourette’s syndrome.

“No, it’s a stuttering problem,” Buss said emphatically, settling the disagreement.

“Ah, just like at home,” Macdonald said.

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