"He rejoined his teammates on the court Saturday, the only Lakers' regular who didn't have a part Friday in the team's latest loss.

That's because Ron Artest beat the rush, contributing ahead of time, flagrantly fouling the face of one of the Mavericks late in Game 2, resulting in his immediate disqualification and subsequent one-game dismissal.

Rest assured, Lakers fans, Artest is not the least bit rusty, though, returning very much in form. Repeatedly asked where he watched Game 3, he repeatedly answered, "Ah, I forgot."

So the Lakers are intact again, if not completely whole as they attempt to do something not even this most accomplished of franchises has ever done.

Win a best-of-7 series when trailing three games to none? The Lakers are the 99th NBA team to be down 3-0. Each of the previous 98 lost the series.

So, for the two-time defending champions, the end is now within an arm's reach. And we don't mean one of Lamar Odom's arms; we mean one of J.J. Barea's.

"Just play together, that's all we have to do," Artest said. "Just together, together. That's the main thing. So the impact is going to be together."

Interesting answer from the guy whose actions pulled him away from the team. Artest apparently didn't apologize to his fellow Lakers, either, also interesting for a guy generally regarded as a beloved teammate.

But that's Artest, who will rarely do or say anything that isn't interesting, odd or, on some level, just baffling."