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Now_Im_Not_Banned:
It's All About Defense at the Start of Laker Camp
By Mike Bresnahan, Times Staff Writer
October 4, 2006
The Lakers would just as soon forget their final three games of last season, which included a lot of Steve Nash, a little bit of Tim Thomas and then a lot more of Nash.
What was a cozy 3-1 lead dissipated quickly amid the revival of the Phoenix Suns, who ran rampant over the Lakers and averaged 120.3 points in the final three games of their first-round playoff series.
The Suns were a surge of offense against most teams last season, but Lakers coaches still forced themselves a few weeks ago to watch tape of their series. A sampling of what they saw: Nash continually blowing by Lakers guards and little or no help from the big men.
Fast forward to Tuesday, the first day of training camp, and the Lakers barely touched the triangle offense, centering instead on defense.
"We're basically doing the same things we tried to get across to the players last year, but we obviously fell and had great lapses throughout the season in games and in critical situations," said assistant coach Kurt Rambis, who will run the team during Phil Jackson's absence. "Hopefully our guys will understand that as soon as they go from offense that it's not a pat on the back and a sigh of relief — they're immediately into defense and they can turn that around to create some more offense for us."
Kobe Bryant, watching practice from a courtside massage table after a light individual workout, estimated that 85% to 90% of Tuesday's four-hour session was geared toward defense.
Bryant, for his part, was back on the all-defensive team last season after failing to make it there the year before. The Lakers as a whole also improved, rising to 15th in points allowed after plummeting to 27th in the league in 2004-05.
The offense, buoyed by Bryant's 35.4 point per game, rose to seventh overall, but the defense simply wasn't effective enough when it mattered.
"If we're going to make the playoffs and think about advancing and trying to beat some of the top teams in the league, my man [Bryant] is not going to get 81 three games in a row or nothing like that," forward Lamar Odom said. "We didn't win enough what I would call ugly games. If you watch the Detroits, they do a good job of that. The Miami Heat, even the Dallas Mavericks to get to the championship, that's what you've got to do. We've got to improve on winning ugly, and defense will help you."
Now_Im_Not_Banned:
Mihm Back In 2 Weeks Minimum
By Mike Bresnahan, Times Staff Writer
October 4, 2006
Center Chris Mihm ran for the first time since undergoing ankle surgery in July. Mihm, who logged about 10 minutes on a treadmill Tuesday, will be sidelined at least two more weeks.
Now_Im_Not_Banned:
Odom seeking to solidify role as team leader
By KEVIN DING
The Orange County Register
EL SEGUNDO - Lakers coach Phil Jackson said early last season he would observe Lamar Odom and make a determination whether Odom merited status as a team captain with Kobe Bryant. Jackson never gave Odom the official designation.
But Bryant began regularly waving to Odom and saying: "Come with me." So Odom became Bryant's regular partner at pregame meetings with referees and opposing captains.
This season, Odom is hoping to clarify his leadership position. Just as he did after his grandmother's death in 2003, Odom is attempting to take the grimness of his infant son's death June 28 as an impetus to grow more serious about his profession.
"I'm into this mature thing right now," Odom said Tuesday. "I'm as focused as ever."
Although Odom spent the last month of his offseason resuming his exercise program while in New York, the opening of Lakers training camp Tuesday was Odom's first time on the court since early July.
Kurt Rambis, the Lakers' acting coach while Jackson recovers from hip surgery, couldn't help but notice amid all the teaching and defensive drills that Odom was having a ball.
"I was happy to see Lamar smile," Rambis said. "He brought energy. He was vocal out there. You could see he was focused, wanting to do the right things, run the drills the right way and be more of a leader."
With Jackson away and Bryant on the sidelines in sandals because of July 13 knee surgery, Odom has increased stature on the court.
Bryant advised Odom during the summer to focus on holding his family together and not to worry about basketball, though it was likely to serve eventually as a mind cleanser.
"That's something we talked about," Bryant said. "Ever since we were kids, the game has always been a refuge."
Now_Im_Not_Banned:
Odom Finding Focus/Jackson on the Mend
11:28 PM PDT on Tuesday, October 3, 2006
By BRODERICK TURNER
The Press-Enterprise
Odom Matures
EL SEGUNDO - Sometime in early July, Lamar Odom played full-court basketball. It was the last time he played in a five-on-five game until Tuesday.
Odom has searched for some normalcy in his life since June, and he may have found a measure of it during the Lakers' first day of training camp practice.
His 6½-month-old son, Jayden, died from sudden infant death syndrome in his crib in June and Odom and his family have been in mourning since.
Basketball was the last thing on Odom's mind.
But he was back with his basketball family playing a game he considered briefly skipping this season.
Odom said he felt his timing coming back. He said his back was tight after the three-plus-hour practice and that he planned on taking an ice bath.
In many ways, as much as Odom needed his teammates there for him, they also needed Odom to be the leader since Kobe Bryant remains out recovering from right knee surgery.
"You know what's so funny, I guess from the career that I've had, from my personality to my off-the-court situation this summer, I think naturally that's going to come out," Odom said. "With him (Bryant) being here or without him, of course on the court, that's something that I'm looking forward to.
"It's kind of my personality anyway to be talkative and talk to everybody. Keep focused. I don't know. I'm into this mature thing right now, so I guess I'm trying to lead by example, as well as be myself. I'm really into the game. I'm focused as ever. So I definitely want to step into that role."
Odom even talked about how he had become unraveled mentally when officials made calls he disagreed with.
The loss of his son has made Odom take stock in himself.
"I promised to myself, I vowed to myself this year that when a referee makes a call to stay away from it so I can keep myself in the game mentally as well," Odom said.
Seeing Odom back to his old effervescent self was a welcome sight for the Lakers.
"I was happy to see Lamar smile," Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis said. "He brought energy. He was vocal out there. You could see that he was focused, wanting to do the right things, run the drills the right way, be more of a leader out there. But for him and all the things that he had to go through this summer, it was just good to see him smile and be out there on the court again."
Jackson on the Mend
Lakers coach Phil Jackson had successful right hip replacement surgery Tuesday and should be released from the hospital today.
Lakers public relations director John Black said Jackson had a 45-minute procedure and should be fully weight-bearing. Jackson will be re-evaluated next week and has no timetable for his return to the Lakers' training camp.
Black said Jackson, 61, has a non-cemented implant with a metal head and a highly cross-linked polyurethane cup.
Jackson had surgery at Centinela Hospital Medical Center and it was performed by Dr. Lawrence Dorr of the Arthritis Institute in Inglewood.
Jackson said at media day Monday that he plans on being ready to coach the Lakers on opening night, Oct. 31 against the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center, and that he hopes to coach in at least one exhibition game.
"I heard everything went well for him," said Bryant, who sat on the sideline during practice Tuesday. "Hopefully we'll have him back sooner rather than later."
Teddy Roosevelt:
^^That's good to here about Odom.
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