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LAKERS_FAN89:
KOBE IS GOING 2 PLAY 2NIGHT FUCK YEAH....................
Shocking News... Kobe Bryant will play tonight!
Body: Bell tired of talking about Lakers series
By Jerry Brown
Tribune
Raja Bell is asked about it every day. In fact, it's a good day when he's only asked once. Raja Bell and Kobe Bryant. The playoffs. The war of words. The clothesline. The suspension. "It's unbelievable. I literally get asked constantly," Bell said. "I'll meet people, we'll start talking basketball and it takes about 10 seconds for it to come up.
"It's beyond old. It's really old. I'm starting to let people know it's not a topic I want to revisit."
Bell and Bryant meet up for the first time since the Suns won an epic, seven-game playoff series with the Lakers - with Bell's takedown the signature snapshot - tonight in Las Vegas. Both players will be in the lineup, but the game will be more about sharpening skills than renewing a rivalry. And Bell, for one, hopes it's a dead issue.
"I'm moving past it," he said. "I don't want something like that to define my career. If I look back at that as a bright spot, even though we won, I'll be disappointed. I want to help my team win a championship, not be the reason they don't. I was fortunate my guys went out and won without me."
But while the Suns were able to overcome a one-game suspension, beating Dallas with Bell out and then hobbled by a calf injury proved too much. Steve Nash has said he feels Phoenix could have won the series with a healthy Bell and Bell sheepishly concurs.
"No matter who (was injured), we were so low on healthy bodies that losing one more guy really made a difference," he said. "We won the first game, and we led at halftime in all the others. We needed everybody.
"That team with myself and Kurt healthy . . . I would take my chances. That's what has me so pumped about this year. We have more bullets."
THE LONG WAY HOME
The Suns' traveling party endured a brutally long trip home from Germany. With a fuel stop in Iceland, a customs stop in Detroit that took nearly three hours due to a communications mix-up and a strong headwind, it took almost 19 hours for the plane to reach Phoenix.
"I thought we'd never get home," forward Shawn Marion said.
Apparently, the wrong agency was contacted regarding customs in Detroit, and every piece of luggage and equipment had to be removed from the plane and searched. For a time, it appeared some of the wine and other spirit items would be seized, but everything was ironed out in time.
"When you're flying that far, the last thing you want to do is sit in an airport," forward Jumaine Jones said. "But it finally got ironed out."
BONUS SHOTS
The Suns, who played the Lakers and Clippers 14 times in the playoffs and 17 times in one 23-game stretch late last season, are getting a heavy dose of the two teams again. After playing the Lakers Sunday, they host the Clippers Tuesday at US Airways Center and play the Lakers again next Sunday in San Diego. . . .
The Suns open the regular season Oct. 31 in Los Angeles against the Lakers, then return four days later to play the Clippers in their home-away-from-home, Staples Center. . . .
Guard Marcus Banks missed Saturday's practice. A Las Vegas native, Banks flew home early to attend his grandmother's funeral. He is expected to play tonight, his first game back at Thomas & Mack Center since starring at UNLV (2001-03). . . .
Eric Piatkowski (sprained ankle) did not practice Saturday and will miss his third straight exhibition game tonight. Jumaine Jones (ankle) did practice, is improved and will likely play against the Lakers. . . .
D'Antoni on how guard Leandro Barbosa, who signed a five-year, $32 million contract extension over the summer, grew half an inch at age 23: "Maybe he was standing on his wallet when they measured him."
Suns vs. Lakers
When: 6:30 p.m. today
Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas
TV/Radio: None/KTAR (620 AM)
Doggystylin:
Am I the only one who isn't excited about Kobe playing? We all know what Kobe is capable of, he has nothing to prove. Why would he risk further injuring his knee and play so early? He should definitley sit out ATLEAST until the season opener if not more. He's way too important and his long term presence for the Lakers franchise is imperative.
Now_Im_Not_Banned:
Kobe isn't playing and the Lakers are faring just fine against the Phoenix Suns regular rotation! Players like Turiaf, Farmar, Shammond, Bynum, Green, Cook, etc. are getting most of the minuts on the Lakers as of now. The score is 47-52 Suns leading at the half...
Doggystylin:
I still don't understand why this nigga Mckie is still around and playing so much. Smush seems to have really improved his 3 point shooting.
Now_Im_Not_Banned:
--- Quote from: Sunset Shady on October 15, 2006, 07:55:40 PM ---I still don't understand why this nigga Mckie is still around and playing so much. Smush seems to have really improved his 3 point shooting.
--- End quote ---
LOL...They're just testin' him, probably to see if he can still contribute and to see who'd be more worthy of that last roster spot... him, Green, or Pinnock. Von Wafer looks to be way out of the picture at this point...PeACe
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