The Lakers' seven-game road trip wraps up this weekend with a pair of contests out east: first tonight in Charlotte, then on Sunday afternoon in Miami. In stark win-loss terms it hasn't been a calamity, but with the blown opportunity in Phoenix, injuries to Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol and the massacre last night in Boston, it's been far from a success. And in the meantime the Lakers have gained no ground in the playoff race, with time growing ever more scarce.

Tonight's one of those "not technically a must win but you'd damn well better win" games. The Bobcats are one of the worst opponents left on the Lakers' schedule, and if they can't bag the W tonight it's probably time to give up the playoff dream. Charlotte has lost five in a row and owns the dead stinking worst record in the NBA.

Our boy Ramon Sessions, though, is having a decent season though, so that's cool.