Excuse train rolling out of L.A.

Phil Jackson is already up to his whining ways. With the Celtics-Lakers tilt on Christmas day still over a week away, Jackson is already greasing the wheels of the excuse-mobile. From the Examiner: (http://www.examiner.com/x-955-Los-Angeles-Lakers-Examiner~y2008m12d14-Phil-Jackson-worried-about-matchup-with-Celtics) "It's a gimmicky game. We get back at 2 o'clock or 3 o'clock in the morning, and to have practice on the 24th is almost unfair after four games in five days. Preparing for the game is even difficult for us. Obviously, we have something to draw from last June, but that's...six months out."I agree, to an extent, that it is somewhat of a gimmicky game. Games in December don't necessarily matter much come playoff time. Yes, it can be used as a barometer, but too much can happen between December and June. However, making excuses 10 days before tip-off is pretty weak, even for Phil Jackson. As if the Lakers are the only ones who are subjected to a 4-in-5 stretch during the season. Regardless, I could care less. Beating the Lakers in June (if it comes to that) is just a tad more important than beating them in December.