Kobe Bryant guaranteed the Lakers will make the playoffs, but to do that, the Lakers need Dwight Howard to stop sulking and whining. They need him to play like a franchise center.

Since, the All-Star break, the Lakers are 2-0, but they have a long way to go to get to that 8th or 7th playoff spot. Here is what Dwight Howard had to say about his role in making that happen.

“I’m not going to sit up here and say, ‘No, we’re not going to make it,’ ” Howard said. “We got to have faith, and if we don’t, we’re not going to make it, but I believe that we’re going to turn this around and we’re going to be great.”

Lakers are 3 1/2 games back of the 8th spot and will need to continue to be hot, while other teams falter. It isn’t impossible, but they are going to need a lot of help.