The Official Los Angeles Lakers thread

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Bryant's absence shows in defeat
The Lakers leader is sorely missed even though Odom does his best to rally the team vs. the Kings.

By KEVIN DING
The Orange County Register

LAS VEGAS – For weeks now, Kobe Bryant will find himself in various moments where he's standing around when he'd rather be playing some basketball for the Lakers.

And Bryant will reflexively do a quick series of knee bends, testing that right knee a little more to see if it feels any stronger.

The Lakers showed more Tuesday night than at any time all month the need for Bryant's return - as much for his leadership as his skill.

They were ragged at both ends for all the stretches against the Sacramento Kings' usual starters in what wound up a 96-91 exhibition loss for the Lakers.

Lamar Odom has vowed to be a more "mature" player and better team leader this season, hoping to use the misfortune of his infant son Jayden's death to stabilize him.

With "Baby J" written on his sneakers along with "Cathy" and "Grandma" to honor his late mother and grandmother, Odom tried to steady what was sinking against Sacramento.

In the first and third quarters, Odom was visibly reluctant to leave the game because he wanted to help refocus the team.

When he was in the game late in the first half and Andrew Bynum had a slow-developing, ill-advised shot blocked, Odom started attacking the basket to take over the game.

It didn't really change things.

And when Smush Parker forced a jumper and then inexplicably ran in to pressure after the rebound, allowing Mike Bibby to run free for an easy fastbreak basket, Odom was called for an unsportsmanlike-conduct technical foul because referee Mike Callahan said Odom threw the ball into the crowd.

Odom said to Callahan: "I didn't throw it in the stands. I hit it by mistake."

Lakers acting head coach Kurt Rambis had said Phil Jackson was unhappy with the way the Lakers started their exhibition loss to Phoenix on Sunday by "ignoring the offense."

After this game, Rambis laughed about how Jackson was sure to show up at practice today "red hot" about the poor play against Sacramento.

GAME NOTES

Aaron McKie's healthy training camp ended Tuesday night when he was hit with back spasms 1:14 into the game.

McKie, 34, had said he felt as strong as a year ago before he injured his knee and missed most of the season.

He'll be sent to a back specialist today.

Kwame Brown said his sore right shoulder was improved but wasn't quite ready for contact, so he didn't play.

Shammond Williams' abdominal injury that was aggravated Sunday night led him to sit out against the Kings.

Sasha Vujacic shook off a shaky first few minutes to play well in his first game back from a foot injury.

As much as Bibby seems to be annoyed when playing against Vujacic, the two exchanged smiles and shared a hug after the game.

Rambis benched the struggling Bynum just 56 seconds into the second half for Ronny Turiaf, who finished with a team-high 15 points and shook his foul-shooting slump by going 5 for 5.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

It's a Camp for Walking Wounded

By Mike Bresnahan, Times Staff Writer
October 18, 2006

LAS VEGAS — The Lakers avoided the injury bug last season, managing to navigate around the sprains, rips and tears that plagued many NBA teams.

Lamar Odom and Kobe Bryant sat out only two games, Bryant because of a suspension for elbowing Memphis forward Mike Miller. Of the starters, only Chris Mihm sat out significant time, and he was adequately replaced by Kwame Brown down the stretch.

Then came the off-season, and surgery for Bryant and Mihm, neither of whom have played in the exhibition season. Both are doubtful for games Thursday and Friday at Staples Center. There are only two exhibition games after that.

The laundry list goes on, leading to questions of chemistry and overall team health as time moves closer to the Oct. 31 opener against Phoenix.

Brown has sat out two games because of a sprained right shoulder. Sasha Vujacic sat out two games because of a strained muscle in his left foot. Vladimir Radmanovic has been bothered by a sprained ligament in his right hand and has made only seven of 27 shots (25.9%).

Aaron McKie left Tuesday night's exhibition in the first quarter because of back spasms and will see a doctor today. Shammond Williams has an abdominal strain and is listed as day to day. Von Wafer has a bruised left heel, hurting his already slim chances of making the team.

And, of course, Coach Phil Jackson has yet to return to full-time status because of hip-replacement surgery the day training camp opened.

Assistant coach Kurt Rambis, a member of four Lakers championship teams as a power forward in the 1980s, couldn't remember a training camp racked with so many injuries and recovery times.

"Not to the best of my memory, no," he said. "Any time players are out, they have a period where they're getting left behind. So the less time they spend on the injured list, the better off it is for them and for us."

Before Jackson went under the knife, he said he hoped Bryant would return within a week or two. It hasn't happened. He has taken part in scrimmages, but no games.

"It's always better for him to play as much as possible," Rambis said. "The sooner he can get back, the better, but again, it's going back to the injury. We're not going to push the injury. We want him to come back healthy and be ready to play, and also in shape and condition to play."

Bryant will return, eventually, and the Lakers hope the adjustment period is short. After all, 15 of their first 20 games are at Staples Center, and a 16th is a "road" game against the Clippers.

-

The Lakers lost for the second time in three nights in Las Vegas, falling to the Sacramento Kings, 96-91, in a sloppy exhibition at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Jackson did not travel for the trip, but Rambis predicted he would be "red hot" at today's practice after watching the game on TV.

"Some of it might be contributed to the number of days we spent in Las Vegas," Rambis said. "I let them know that this is still training camp, it's still preseason. Guys are still fighting for starting jobs, time, positions on this team, so nothing is solidified for people. For them to take a night off, it wasn't the right thing to do."

The Lakers' younger players struggled throughout.

Devin Green made one of seven shots and J.R. Pinnock made two of seven. Jordan Farmar had five points on two-of-seven shooting and had three assists offset by five turnovers. Andrew Bynum had four points and two turnovers in 15 minutes.

[Juronimo]

Still no games seen.

Nik & Co. how are we playing? Expecially the new players..

Yesterday's game was sloppy as hell but they got it going in the second half. Here are my player assessments after 3 games.

Lamar Odom: They've kept his minutes down but he's looked good while out there. I honestly think he needs more minutes to get in game shape. His explosiveness that he had at the end of last season is gone completely. He needs the minutes to get in game shape.

Radman: Shot is still off, but he's played hard while on the court. He's more athletic than I thought he was and can take the ball to the hole. He's been making a concerted effort on D and rebounding which is nice to see. Once his hand heals, he'll hit those shots. I think it was a good pickup for us.

Cook: Shooting great, D still poor but he's trying, he just lacks the strenght and lateral quickness to keep up with people. He did take it inside a couple of times which is good to see.

Smush: Shooting lights out, but his D is shaky and he is still getting rattled way too easy. There was one play at the end of the first half where Bibby shot a 3 and missed and Smush just watched Bibby grab the rebound and shoot again. That kind of lackadasical attitude is inexcusable. Sometimes I question his desire while out on the court. He needs to get that together or else Farmar and Sasha will take his minutes. He needs to put much more effort on D than he is.

Bynum: He seems a little more coordinated than last year but I honestly don't see why people think he's going to be another Shaq/Duncan. He needs a whole lot of work just to get to average. He needs to put more effort into running up and down the court and establishing low post position.

Turiaf: He's playing like a man possessed. I'm more than impressed by how good he is. Great on D, on the boards, and he has a decent offensive game. Once he develops a mid range J and improves his free throws, there's no reason why he couldn't start. He's the best Laker off the bench by far. Plus he wants to be like Rodman.

Luke: His offensive game is coming along nicely, he has way more confidence then I've ever seen from him. He still needs to work on his D.

Farmar: I've got nothing but good things to say, this guy is going to be a star. He has "it". This guy is Nick Van Exel with better D. Once he develops his J, he'll be unstoppable. He just has a knack for the game, for finding the open man and his D is tenacious. Every time the Lakers bring him in, they go on a run. He does get a little hyper at times but once he settles down, look out. He's the Lakers second best guard behind #24.

Sasha: You can tell he's worked on his game and his confidence is increasing. He has more confidence in his shot than he has in the past. He still needs to work on his lateral footwork on D and his ballhandling. I see him as playing more of a shooting guard role this season to give Kobe a break every now and then. I was pretty hard on him last season, it's obvious he's trying to improve and you have to give him credit for that.

Evans: Honestly so far I'm not terribly impressed. He's OK at defense, has no offense to speak of. I'd rather have Sasha *gulp* out there.

Pinnock: Not impressesed either, I don't think he's ready for the NBA.

Green: Plenty of energy, but his decision making is off, so is his jumper. He needs to work on both if he wants to make it in the league.

McKie: Waste of half the MLE. Now he has another injury. Great.

Kwame: hurt

Mihm: hurt

Kobe: hurt

A bunch of other people: hurt

[Stone Cold is Bout It, Bout It]

D.Green played like shit last night on both ends,so did Mo, Lakers look so bad when they were both out there....Lakers didn't come back until Sasha started playing in the 2nd half with Farmar....Farmar + Sasha + Turif = GREAT Defensive Line-up...that's when the Lakers came back when they were on the court together....

Back to D.Green...He looked so bad in the last 5 minutes of the game...he must of made like 5 or 6 mistakes that cost the Lakers the Game...

And Smush Had 2 stupid moments that pissed me off....

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Bad News for McKie's Back

11:52 PM PDT on Tuesday, October 17, 2006
By BRODERICK TURNER
The Press-Enterprise
 
LAS VEGAS - Aaron McKie started his first game of the NBA exhibition season, but he didn't last long. He suffered back spasms 1:21 into the game and quickly asked to come out of the game.

He was taken to the locker room during the first quarter and didn't come back out to finish watching the Lakers lose a 96-91 game to the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night at Thomas & Mack Center.

McKie will see a back specialist today when the team returns to Los Angeles.

He has been battling back problems much of training camp and was forced to sit out several practices.

"It's worse" this time, McKie said.

McKie missed 50 games last season because of slight tear of his left quadriceps.

Many wondered if he would be healthy enough to play this season.

If not, there has been speculation that the Lakers might have to eat his $2.5 million contract if he can't go, or is beat out by a younger guard, or can't be traded.

McKie said he'll see the doctor today and then see what happens.

Shammond Williams Joins Hurting

Shammond Williams became the latest Laker unable to play because of an injury. Williams missed Tuesday night's game with a strained abdominal muscle and is listed as day-to-day.

He joined Kobe Bryant (right knee surgery), Chris Mihm (right ankle surgery) and Kwame Brown (sore right shoulder) as players who couldn't play.
 

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

LOL. You people need to stop judging these players on PRE-SEASON games...They were obviously all playing sloppy last night. Turiaf will be good, but best player off the bench? He won't even be the first power forward off the bench this season...These are pre-season games, the players will take time to adjust...

Anyone who saw any Summer League games this year KNOWS why Bynum is gunna be something special in the league...Give him 20 minutes a game even NOW, as under-developed as he is, and he'll average 10, 7, and 2. Just wait a few years, he's still 18! PATIENCE. Same goes for Devin Green, he along with Farmar and Bynum DOMINATED the Summer League games. JR Pinnock too, to a lesser extent. But there's no reason why Devin Green won't be a good role player in this league, he just needs to improve his jump shot. Maurice Evans will be better once the season begins and everything settles in...Do you guys remember the season he had in Sacramento, before Flip Saunders decided not to use him? Dude is gunna be solid at both ends. Just have patience...PeACe

[LAKERS_FAN89]

do yall foo know when season start?

[Teddy Roosevelt]

do yall foo know when season start?

Check my sig.

[WC Iz Active]

do yall foo know when season start?

no disrespect homie but its hard to look at you as a "real fan" when you dont even know when the season starts.

[LAKERS_FAN89]

do yall foo know when season start?

Check my sig.

nice

[LAKERS_FAN89]

do yall foo know when season start?

no disrespect homie but its hard to look at you as a "real fan" when you dont even know when the season starts.

look dawg i been looking to c and shit i watch the sports news i did it heard nothing..so that why i ask in here cause i know somebody know u feel me dawg..L'UP

[WC Iz Active]

do yall foo know when season start?

no disrespect homie but its hard to look at you as a "real fan" when you dont even know when the season starts.

look dawg i been looking to c and shit i watch the sports news i did it heard nothing..so that why i ask in here cause i know somebody know u feel me dawg..L'UP

I feel ya, and again like I said no disrespect.  Hell I probably should focus less on the NBA and worry about more important shit lol so maybe its a good thing you dont know when the season starts and its a bad thing that I do lol.

[LAKERS_FAN89]

do yall foo know when season start?

no disrespect homie but its hard to look at you as a "real fan" when you dont even know when the season starts.

look dawg i been looking to c and shit i watch the sports news i did it heard nothing..so that why i ask in here cause i know somebody know u feel me dawg..L'UP

I feel ya, and again like I said no disrespect.  Hell I probably should focus less on the NBA and worry about more important shit lol so maybe its a good thing you dont know when the season starts and its a bad thing that I do lol.

lol maybe..but i love basketball so i need to know and shit....lol but yeah u might have a point there

[Antonio_]

Cool. Thanx for the replies guys. I'm happy Sasha is starting to play better. I'm a friend of him.

[LAKERS_FAN89]

Cool. Thanx for the replies guys. I'm happy Sasha is starting to play better. I'm a friend of him.

is that right