Bernucca: Lakers aren’t only team with serious issues

TRILLION WATCH: Another spectacular week for the zero heroes. Ronnie Brewer, Jonas Valanciunas and Aron Baynes all had 2 trillions. Xavier Henry had a 3 trillion, as did Chris Johnson of Memphis and Chris Johnson of Minnesota. And leading the way with 4 trillions were Oklahoma City guard Eric Maynor vs. Golden State on Wednesday and Portland forward Joel Freeland at Houston on Friday. Consolation prizes go to Chicago’s Jimmy Butler, who ruined a perfectly awful 13 trillion with a missed jumper Friday at Utah, and Brooklyn rookie Mirza Teletovic, who had nothing but three airballs in a four-minute stint Wednesday at Detroit.

GAME OF THE WEEK: Miami at Oklahoma City, Feb. 14. For those who love this game, a Valentine’s Day gift to take us into the All-Star break. The Heat have won the last five meetings between the clubs, a streak that started with Game 2 of the NBA Finals a year ago when LeBron James got a very favorable late no-call against Kevin Durant.

GAME OF THE WEAK: Washington at Detroit, Feb. 13. Yeah, we know both clubs have been playing better of late. That doesn’t mean this one is worth watching.

TWO MINUTES: The Pacers must have thought they were time-warped back into the 2011-12 lockout season. A makeup game against the Bulls on Monday began a stretch of three games in three nights – and they won all three by double digits, taking down Chicago and Atlanta at home before winning at Philadelphia. “Our tanks were on E, but our team is a very, very mentally tough team. And we proved it tonight,” coach Frank Vogel said after beating the Sixers. The schedule finally caught up to Indiana two nights later vs. Toronto, when it held a four-point lead with 10.7 seconds left in regulation but could not hold on, losing at home for the first time since Dec. 7. It should be noted that the Pacers play just two road games until March 8 – Feb. 23 at Detroit and March 1 at Toronto – and should get back Danny Granger during that stretch. There also has been some chatter that they are interested in J.J. Redick, who would be a dangerous upgrade over Lance Stephenson at backup shooting guard. The
Pacers are a combined 5-1 vs. New York, Chicago and Miami. … In Friday night’s Clippers-Heat boxscore, Ray Allen was listed as DNP-cold. Was that describing his shooting? In five games this month, Allen is shooting 4-of-28 overall and 1-of-12 from the arc. Included in that run is a 27-minute donut vs. Indiana, just the third of his career but the second this season – both against the Pacers. … On Thursday vs. the Lakers, Celtics forward Kevin Garnett became just the 16th player in NBA history to eclipse 25,000 points. Asked about it afterward, Garnett said, “Some day when I’m rocking in a rocking chair having a cigar and thinking what I’ve done, I’m sure it’ll make some sense to me.” I have a hard time envisioning Garnett sitting, let alone in a rocking chair and smoking a cigar. As long as he stays healthy, Garnett will pass Jerry West (25,192) and Reggie Miller (25,279) in March. … When they dropped 140 on the Warriors on Tuesday, the Rockets shot 23-of-51 on 2-pointers – and 23-of-40 on 3-pointers, tying the NBA record for threes in a game. Nine different players made shots from the arc, and every one shot at least 50 percent. … While with Cleveland earlier this season, Jeremy Pargo filled in nicely for an injured Kyrie Irving by dropping a career-high 28 points in a win over Philadelphia. That may have left an impression on the Sixers, who signed him to a 10-day deal this week when he became a victim of roster limits and was waived by the Cavaliers, who added two players in their deal with the Grizzlies. Backup point guard has been an issue all season for the Sixers, who have tried journeyman Royal Ivey and Shelvin Mack and rookie Maalik Wayns without much consistency, even giving the point to Evan Turner when overworked All-Star Jrue Holiday needs a rest. Pargo wasted no time making a case for the job, collecting 12 points and six assists in 29 energetic minutes off the bench in Saturday’s win over Charlotte. … Asked if there was any danger in their game at league-worst Charlotte, Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni cracked, “If they play the national anthem, we’re in danger.” The Lakers fell behind by 20 points before rallying for a win. … Bucks center Joel Przybilla played Wednesday for first time since Dec. 19 and looked it. In three minutes, he had three fouls, a turnover and nothing else. … As the trading deadline approaches, the Clippers have a huge chip in point guard Eric Bledsoe, who had several big games in the absence of Chris Paul on the team’s recent road trip. Bledsoe went for 23-10-7 at Boston, 17-9 at Washington and a career-high 27 with six boards and six steals at Orlando. “He’s learning to be a starting point guard,” teammate DeAndre Jordan said. However, Paul is the starting point guard, the Clippers are committed to locking him up with a max deal this summer, and savvy Chauncey Billups figures to get the backup point man minutes in the postseason. The 23-year-old Bledsoe has shown that his caddie days are over, but he makes just $1.7 million, so finding equal value will be difficult. Further compounding matters is that LA’s greatest need is probably a 4-5 who can score, which are in short supply. .., Since losing in five games in the 2011 West finals, Oklahoma City is 10-1 vs. Dallas.

Trivia Answer: Rimas Kurtinaitis in 1989. … Happy 64th Birthday, James “Captain Late” Silas. … Royce White reports to Rio Grande Valley today. Oh goody.

Chris Bernucca is the deputy editor of SheridanHoops.com. His columns appear Monday during the season. You can follow him on Twitter.