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Now_Im_Not_Banned:
Lakers remaining in guarded condition
BY ROSS SILER, Staff Writer
10/05/2006 10:45:37 PM PDT
EL SEGUNDO - About the only thing Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis can say with respect to the ball-handing guards competing in training camp is that everything will be sorted out by opening night Oct. 31.
The Lakers have four such guards in Smush Parker, Sasha Vujacic, Shammond Williams and Jordan Farmar, and only 48 minutes to divide each game between them.
Parker started all 82 games last season and established himself in the league after failing to stick with three previous teams.
Vujacic, meanwhile, averaged 17.7 minutes off the bench and knocked down 9 of 15 3-pointers in the playoffs.
Williams has the most experience of the four, having played for six NBA teams before spending the last two seasons in Europe. And Farmar is the team's first-round draft pick who impressed during summer-league play.
"We're going to let them (sort) that out for themselves," Rambis said. "If they're playing well, they'll deserve and earn time. If they're not, then situations will have to be adjusted, whether that's the D-League or moving players on."
Parker was back on the court Thursday after sitting out practice the day before with a sprained shoulder. He spent the off-season working on his
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mid-range game and trying to forget about his playoff slump against Phoenix.
"We're going to be a better team this year because of it," said Parker, who missed 22 of 26 3-pointers in the first-round series, "and I'm going to be a better player because of my experience last year."
Vujacic worked out in the mountains outside of Belgrade, Serbia, for part of the summer and weighed in for training camp at 205 pounds, up from 193 as a skinny rookie two years ago.
But Vujacic will find competition in Williams. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak approached Williams' agent about signing him before last season but the two sides couldn't work out a deal. Williams led FC Barcelona to the Euroleague Final Four.
Williams is a career 36.3 percent 3-point shooter and can defend small guards. He has spent the early days of training camp picking up the triangle offense.
"What I've been taking pride in is trying to create shots for other people," Williams said. "I feel confident that I'm capable of doing that, getting people in position where they can get open shots."
Feeling better: Rambis said he heard from Jeanie Buss that coach Phil Jackson is walking with a cane and doing well after undergoing hip-replacement surgery Tuesday.
Jackson also was described as being "more upright" by Buss.
"Now he's like 7-foot-5," Rambis said, jokingly.
Now_Im_Not_Banned:
Still New Kid on This Block
Broderick Turner
10:00 PM PDT on Thursday, October 5, 2006
EL SEGUNDO - When Von Wafer drove to the basket and had his shot rejected by Andrew Bynum, Kwame Brown yelled, "Yeah 'Drew, get that (shot)!"
If Bynum is to find a steady role with the Lakers this season, defense likely will be his ticket.
Bynum won't turn 19 until Oct. 27, and his body still is developing, but he has grown an inch to 7-foot-1 and has the long arms to be a good shot-blocker.
"I'm playing defense a lot better, which I think surprised a lot of people," Bynum said after practice Thursday. "My offense, I'm working on that, but I'm just focused on playing defense and getting rebounds, and I'm doing that pretty well."
Bynum didn't play much last year as a rookie, but that could all change early this season.
Chris Mihm had right ankle surgery in July, hasn't been able to practice and has no timetable for his return. That could leave Bynum backing up Brown at center.
"I knew Chris had his surgery in late summer, so I prepared for the back-up center role," Bynum said.
Kobe Bryant walked past Bynum, grabbed his biceps and joked, "Look at that boy. He's eating all my pancakes. He's getting bigger."
Actually, 15 pounds bigger.
"I lost a lot of baby fat and then gained some muscle," Bynum said. "I feel stronger. My initial off-the-block, as far as getting up and down the court, is better from all the squats I was doing. I'm able to contest shots that I couldn't get to last year."
Now_Im_Not_Banned:
New Ball? Who Cares?
For the first time in 35 years, the NBA has introduced a new basketball, and it has caused an outcry from many players. But not in Lakersland.
Bryant and Lamar Odom both noticed the difference between the old leather ball and the new microfiber composite ball, and both like the old ball better. The new ball apparently is especially slippery, and even more so when wet.
But Bryant and Odom grew up playing on the playgrounds and don't see what the big deal is.
"It's just a ball," Bryant said. "Growing up, I played with all kinds of balls. I rolled up tape and used tape as a basketball. I played with a sock. I think I can play with this one."
Odom said it's possible that an early-season game will be lost because a player loses his grip on a slick ball. But he wasn't too worried.
"For guys like me who had to play in the park and shovel snow (and) played with a handball, a tennis ball," Odom said, "it doesn't make a difference."
Vegasmac25:
damn if you thought Kwame had butter fingers now imagine with this new ball....j/k.
Stone Cold is Bout It, Bout It:
4 more days :banana_trippin:
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