Lakers' Jackson empathizes with Heat

MIAMI -- It has come to this: Even Phil Jackson is offering a sympathetic word to the reeling Miami Heat.

The coach of the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers has taken plenty of jabs at the Heat in recent months, over everything from how this roster was put together, Erik Spoelstra's job security, and this week the already-infamous episode dubbed "Crygate." So Wednesday, with the Heat in a five-game losing streak, Jackson stood on their home floor and had ample opportunity to poke Miami again.

He went the other way instead. "From what I've heard, this team feels like they're being looked at to lose, or they've been hoped at to lose," Jackson said before the Lakers practiced for their Thursday game in Miami. "I know locally that can't stand true, but nationally, if that's the case, it's a burden to carry. And then those games that are dramatic become bigger than they really should be." That certainly seems to be the case around Miami these days.

Not even two weeks ago, the Heat were in a virtual tie with Boston for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Miami hasn't won since, falling to third in the East, 41/2 games behind the Celtics and two games behind the Chicago Bulls.

So Wednesday's practice wasn't about licking wounds, Spoelstra said. The Heat needed to simply get back to work.

"Less talk, more action," Spoelstra said.