Chris Carlson / AP

The Suns' Steve Nash is able to get a pass around the Lakers' Lamar Odom during Phoenix's 122-112 win Thursday.

Their post defense suffers from a lack of intimidating personnel. When they sent Shaq to Miami, the Lakers got rid of the NBA’s leading paint deterrent. Now that a void has been created down low, someone needs to step up and fill it. But Chris Mihm isn’t Shaq. Neither is Brown or Odom or Brian Cook. None of those fellows has the mindset to challenge attackers to the basket.

As a result, the Lakers get what they got Thursday, when Phoenix scored 66 points at halftime while shooting 54 percent.

“We got caught in a lot of screen and rolls,” Jackson explained. “(Phoenix point guard Steve) Nash is a master at what he does.

“They ended up getting layups. That was a big difference.”

Leave it to the Zen Master to put a happy face on a loss. And in one sense, maybe he has good reason. The Lakers won an overtime game in Denver Wednesday night, then flew home to play a rested Phoenix club. Despite their defensive flaws, they made a game of it, charging back from 17 points down with just over eight minutes remaining to within three points with 2:11 left before the Suns pulled away for good.

Slide show   NBA style A look at how players are complying, or not, with the new dress code enacted by commissioner David Stern.

Yet he pointed out that his Lakers are relatively new to each other, and many are new to him. He’s right. But the club will seem eerily similar to the haggard one of a year ago if it doesn’t tighten up its defense.

“We didn’t take them out of their comfort zone,” Devean George said of the Suns. “But it’s no time to panic. You want to win your season opener at home. But we’ll be fine.”

Parker is a quiet, upbeat kid who probably has the best perspective on all this. He has bounced around the basketball planet, with stints in the developmental league and Europe as well as in the NBA with Cleveland, Detroit, Phoenix and now L.A. “We haven’t been together very long,” he said. “It’ll take some time for our offense and defense to come together. But we’re looking good. The future is very promising.”

He’s right. All they have to do is stop the layup line.

More news

Jim Rogash / Getty Images

Not in his house

Rajon Rondo had 18 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds and the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 85-75 in Game 7 on Saturday night to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.

CSN: Rondo's big-game DNA shines  |  Highlights

CSN: You may not see it from start to finish, but when the game — or in this case, postseason life — is on the line, you see just how good Rajon Rondo can be.

Headlines

• Label

CSN: 76ers impressive, but Collins wants more

CSN: Game 7 means 'fighting for your jersey'

CSN: Surgery ends season for Celtics' Bradley

James, Heat start tuning for East finals

SportsTalk: Do Heat actually want Celtics?

PBT: Spoelstra fined $25K for criticizing officials

PBT: Knicks give Woodson multiyear extension

Thunder, Spurs ready to finally settle West's best