Harris Growing Tired of Defending 15-7 Start

Panic has set in with the Lakers.

Check that. Panic has set in around the Lakers.

Hasn’t it?

“I’ve never been on the defensive much more in my life,” Coach Del Harris said Sunday, noting an uneven complaint-to-compliment ratio, considering his team is 15-7 and has won 10 of its last 14. “For a team barely behind the teams getting all the accolades.

“Obviously we’re not the only team that gets beat by Toronto and Charlotte. I was led to believe that at one time.”

Sarcasm noted.

Sensitivity noted.

“I find myself having to defend this crummy team everywhere I go,” Harris said.

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The end is in sight for the Lakers’ brutal stretch of schedule, at least the machine-gun part. Four games a week for the first six weeks--every Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday without interruption--makes a final appearance.

They’re at Sacramento on Tuesday, home to Indiana on Wednesday, home to Portland on Friday, and then off for three days before starting a three-game trip. That will be the first time the Lakers have consecutive days off all season.

This comes as the Lakers are 5-0 on the first night of back-to-backs and 0-5 on the second.

“Before we’re judged on back-to-backs, I’d like someone else to also be playing on a back-to-back,” Harris said.