–Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

–Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

–Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said Golden State Warriors Monte Ellis has a good chance to finish as the league’s leading scorer. “If he has a healthy year and they keep the same type of system they want to run continuous throughout the year and is successful, he’s going to be up there,” Jackson said of Ellis, who’s currently second in the NBA in scoring, averaging 30.5 points per game and remains impressed with his first step and shooting stroke. “He’s got a great scoring knack. Jackson said the team’s size and quickness will present the two biggest keys to limit him.

–Jackson said Warriors Coach Keith Smart has kept similar philosophies to his predecessor, Don Nelson, but that the team runs more sets.

–Golden State guard Stephen Curry will sit out tonight’s game because of a sprained left ankle. Jackson said Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Shannon Brown, Matt Barnes and Ron Artest will share duties guarding Ellis.

Jackson acknowledged his difficulty in getting up for early regular-season games when defending a title. “You just have to get out there and get your wind … when you’re a player and you look up and realize it’s not November yet and we’re already into the season, sometimes it really looks long.

Jackson, whose parents were both ministers, said he couldn’t recall what costumes he wore growing during Halloween and remembered observing All Saint’s Day. Jackson also said that ever since he began coaching the Lakers in 1999, he’s had few trick-or-treaters. “My youngest daughter was here and bought all this candy in anticipation and not one person showed up.”