LAKERS -at- ROCKETS - 1/10 - Thoughts and :-(( ratings

 
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DancingBarry
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:13 am    Post subject: LAKERS -at- ROCKETS - 1/10 - Thoughts and :-(( ratings

Roadkill... The Lakers still need to remember they are playing in survival mode, trying to stay afloat while Lamar and Kwame heal. After a Dallas game where they played with a sense of urgency, they fell flat against the Grizzlies and late in the third, once again, against the Rockets.

On paper, this was one of those tough games to begin with -- the fifth game in seven nights and a back-to-back road game against a good team. They got a break that Yao wasn't playing. However, Dikembe Mutombo stepped up with a 19-board, 5-block game.

"It's amazing, just the way I'm playing," Mutombo said. "Even to myself, I'm sitting down like, 'Whoa, is Mutombo really playing like that?' I haven't seen myself jumping for a rebound like that for a while."... He's been talking in third person since his college days...what a nut, lol.

The Lakers took a hit from that pesky injury bug again, hopefully it's not too serious. Kobe tweaked his groin in the first half and had it tightly wrapped. After the game Kobe said the injury felt tight, but he'd be ready to play on Friday.

"The Rockets played good defense and Mutombo had some big blocks and we couldn't shoot the ball in the second half," Jackson said. "Our passing failed us and we didn't shoot the ball well." Pretty much sums it up.

The Lakers had just 14 assists and shot 34.2 percent (a horrid 3-18) from behind the arc. Some of that may be due to tired legs, some credit to the Rockets D, and some just plain horrible running of the offense. Defensively, bad match ups and fatigue looked like a factor as there were a lot of weak or non-existant rotations.


Kobe -- -- He tweaked his groin late in the first half and it is hard to say what affect that may have had since he rarely attacked after the first quarter. Some of that may have been due to foul trouble and not wanting to pick up another foul, but Kobe mostly looked for perimeter shots. He never got it going. He finished with 20 points on 6-18 shooting (0-3 from three), 6 boards and just 1 assist. He went to the locker room with a few minutes left in the game. "I will let it chill and I should be fine," he said of the injury. .He picked up a touch foul on the perimeter against TMac two minutes into the game. He attacked to his right and drained a pull up jumper at the FT line. With more than 7:30 left in the first quarter, Kobe was called for a charge attacking Battier to his right and had to sit. Back in to start the second, he knocked down two straight jumpers and was fouled on another for FTs, which he made. He drew FTs on a close charge/block call, he made both. He drew a holding foul on Battier, his third of the half, and he made one FT. He sank another FT when he drew an illegal D call. Near the end of the half, he missed a baseline jumper, a drive and then yapped to the refs after a third attempt while the Rockets took the advantage and hit a transition three. Horrible possession at the end of the half, dribbling the ball out and not getting a shot off when a double team came. Good job, though, not picking up that third foul playing all 12 minutes of the second quarter. He had 12 points on 3-7 shooting at the half. He sank a jumper from 17-feet out over Battier who was right on him. He worked off a Bynum pick and drained an elbow jumper. He missed a fade from the corner. To start the fourth, he missed a jumper. He missed a three. He threw an outlet too far ahead of Mo. He missed a three. He drew FTs and made both. He attacked and scored a layup (a rare attack in this game since the first quarter). He missed a jumper shortly later then sat early in the fourth down by 20.

Walton -- -- Luke seemed to be our only playmaker on the night, seemingly always making that extra pass in the offense whereas most everyone else was taking the quick jumper. He was effective in the first half, but didn't do much in the second. Luke led the Lakers in assists with 6 of the team's 14. He also scored 9 points on 3-9 shooting (0-1 from three), grabbed 3 boards and had a team-high 4 turnovers. He hit Bynum with an interior feed for a score. Poor pass in the interior trying to find Bynum again and it resulted in a transition score the other way. He missed a fade in the lane. He got space with his first step and banked in a one-hander. He missed a long fade over Mutombo. He posted up TMac, got him sealed and banked. He attacked TMac, facing up this time, and threw down a one-hand And-1 dunk over him, he made the FT. Nice set up from the post to Bynum in the lane for a layup. A rare sequence with Luke working the high-screen roll from the wing, he attacked off the pick and hit Cook for the open jumper. He had 7 points on 3-7 shooting and 5 assists in the first half. He quickly fed Cook who had Howard sealed for an easy jumphook. Good help D when Cook got burned, Luke came from the FT line to the baseline to block Howard and save it to a Laker. He drew FTs after beating TMac on a spin move, he made both. He attacked Mutombo with speed, airballed a layup as he took contact with no call, Phil got tossed on the other end yelling at the refs. He lost the handle on the pushout and it went right to Battier who turned it into break the other way. He was called for going over the back, then drew a charge on the other end to get the ball back.

Smush -- -- Smush scored 11 of his 12 points in the first half, shooting 4-9, grabbing 3 boards and not tallying an assist to go with 2 turnovers. Rafer scored 20 on 8-19 shooting and had 4 assists. In a game like this where our playmaking is suffering, we could really use more of a traditional PG versus Smush's SG-type of game. Generally, though, ifyou have Kobe, LO, Luke and even Bynum, you are going to get your share of playmaking/passing. Smush got off to a good start. He hit a wing three with the shotclock low. He drained another three off the high pinch post. He attacked to his right, got contact on Mutombo and scored an And-1 high off the glass, he missed the FT. He missed a pull-up jumper. Good contest on Head to force an airball. He drained a stepback three. He drew a moving pick call trying on the other end. He had 11 points (3-4 shooting from the arc) in the first half. He disappeared in the second half. He drew FTs pulling up at the FT line, he made one. Weak pass out not paying attention to a trailer who picked it off in transition. He pulled up and missed a jumper.

Cook -- -- Your Rocket high scorer, Juwan Howard with 23 points on 10-20 shooting. The Rockets were isolating Howard against Cook early to try to get easy scores and/or Cook out of the game with fouls (meanwhile, we weren't using Cook on the offensive end early on). I hate to bring it up again, but we got killed without LO in there. Howard wouldn't have stood a chance against him, but instead of a liability, Howard becomes a huge asset in this one -- not getting challenged defensively and looking like an All Star on the offensive end. He was just a major difference maker in this game. It's no surprise that Howard led the Rockets with a +24. Cook scored 4 points on 2-5 shooting, had 4 fouls and grabbed 2 boards in 20 minutes. On to the action: Poor transition D, allowing Howard to get behind him for a score. He sank a baseline jumper off a drive and kick from Luke. He challenged a TMac shot at the end of the half and was called for a foul, but TMac looked like he tweaked his back and missed both FTs. He missed an elbow jumper. He sealed Howard and hit a short jumphook for his other score. Losing Kwame and LO, results in other player weaknesses getting more exposed due to bad matchups.

Bynum -- -- Bynum v. Mutombo. The youngest player in the league versus the oldest player. Let's go back to the Dallas game when Drew had to go up against Dampier and Diop. We had trouble controlling the boards in that game despite the win. Part of that was a lack of a rebounding PF to help Bynum, but another part was Bynum lack of strength. Dampier was able to bump or walk Bynum under the basket time and time again just as shots went up. Diop was able to hold ground and use his size well. Combine that with Drew coming out and having to challenge penetration, or an occasion lax block out and you have some trouble holding down the defensive glass. All of those same sort of factors came into play in this game as Deke got 7 offensive boards (as many as the entire Laker team). Strength, size and having to give up position to challenge once again all became issues. Bynum is not going to grow strong overnight. He's made a lot of strides, but when he looks at the tapes against some of these stronger/taller players, it will be very apparent to him that he has to keep building is power. He's come a long way in a short time, but still has a bit to go. The day will come... Young Bynum still managed a double-double, 11 points and 11 boards in 29 minutes. He did a decent job with his energy as opposed to those back-to-back games at the beginning of the year. So, his conditioning/effort appears to be improving a bit. (This five game/seven nights thing during the SPL had him dog tired back in July.) He scored a layup off an interior feed from Luke. After a long stint without getting the ball, he finally got a post touch, he sent it back out, reposted in the lane, got it back and powered a layup over Mutombo on the left side. He didn't box out Deke, gave up an offensive board, but challenged the penetration and secured the board. He took an offensive board and then back rimmed a short jumper. He missed a long jumphook over Mutombo. He worked on the low block, pinning Mutombo deep, pivoting a couple of times and hitting a short jumphook over him. He let TMac get around him when he showed on a pick and he effectively screened off the help D and TMac dunked. He powered in a layup over Deke, trying to finish strong on a feed from Luke. Decent first half, he had 8 points on 4-6 shooting and 6 boards. He tried to throwdown on Mutombo and was rejected (which tied Deke for Cap's all-time block numbers). He took a return feed off the pick and roll, got hit and kept his concentration to finish the And-1, he made the FT. He missed a bank shot from about 9 feet out. He tried to cram a one-hander over Mutombo instead of going for the short jumphook over him and he was sent packing (I like the intention -- because Drew is still learning to play above the rim -- but he doesn't have the power yet to do that type of dunk against that type of player and should have stuck with the finesse...get into the body and throw the jumphook). Overall, a good experience for Bynum tonight, something he can learn a little from. The instant gratification crowd, however, will just have to stay patient while he develops.

Radmanovic -- -- Vlad went scoreless on three attempts in 19 minutes. They need him to somehow find that stroke of his to make surviving a little easier. He did manage to pull down 5 boards in that time, which is a nice change of pace. He and Mo teamed up for a turnover as Vlad left the post, while Mo passed it to where Vlad had been (a couple of Tri newbies at their worst). Vlad threw a bounce entry off Kobe's shins. Good D on Howard on one stand, staying tight on a jumper and forcing a miss. He got burned by Battier for a layup. He didn't hustle back to Howard on a pick and pop. He missed a three. Phil then sat him down, opting to go small. Back in for garbage time, he faked a three, attacked from the perimeter and dished to Mo for a layup. He missed a late three.

Turiaf -- -- Seemed like a frustrating night for Ronny. He didn't get any calls and was getting pushed around a bit and he didn't score on one attempt. He did grab 7 boards in 19 minutes and blocked a couple of shots. He gave up an offensive putback, losing position. Good D deflecting a pass to Vlad as he tried to recover to his man on the pick and roll. Howard cleared out Turiaf with an off arm and scored an And-1, should have been an offensive foul. He got dunked on by Head. He got pushed on the defensive end under the hoop and yelled at the refs for the no call.

Evans -- 8) -- Kind of a similar game minute-wise for Mo as last night, except the shots weren't dropping. He got in early with Kobe's foul trouble and then got some extended garbage time run late. At the end of the night he finished with 10 points on 4-12 shooting. Off an inbounds pass, he turned and hit with his left from a couple feet away over Mutombo (tough shot). He came off a Bynum screen and pulled up for a 17-footer at the elbow and knocked it down. He yanked down a Kobe miss and powered back up for a dunk. He missed a pull-up jumper. He got blocked trying to throwdown and wanted the foul. He drew a couple of FTs and made both. Vlad drove and dished to him for a layup.

Farmar -- -- He played 19 minutes and scored 11 points (9 of which came in garbage time). He shot 2-5 from the floor and 7-7 from the line (I could have sworn he missed one, guess not). He traveled on an attack in the lane. Pretty post move to lose Lucas, he faked a turnaround and stepped through to scoop up a layup (I want to see more of him in the post against his man...when he goes against bigger players he's got that elevating turnaround, now the step-through...very nice). He got swatted under the hoop when he took a pass and attempted to get a shot up. He was drilled on a three attempt right in front of a ref with no call. He slammed on the breaks to lose his man and then swished a17-footer from the elbow. He drew an illegal D getting ready to attack and made the FT. He drew FTs on a few late plays (drives and perimeter fouls).

Vujacic -- -- He got his first run late in the third quarter, a key moment in the game actually. He came in with the Rocket lead at 6 and it doubled to 12 shortly later as Sasha missed two threes, then got blown past by his man easily for two layups. He then sat back down to start the fourth and returned later for garbage time, but we never recovered from that stretch of ball late in the third. Sasha didn't score in three attempts.

Phil -- -- Angry Phil. It's been a while since I recall him getting tossed. Last I recall was a slow stroll he took off the court against the Jazz a long time ago -- could just be that I only remember that because he did it with style. About this one: "It was one of those situations when one of our guys drove to the basket and got knocked into the first row of seats," Jackson said. "I really don't want to talk about it. It's not worth it."... With the Lakers trailing by 6 late in the third, Phil went to a Bynum, Luke, Kobe, Sasha, Smush linup. He then swapped out Bynum for Turiaf. The Lakers trailed shortly later by 12 points when Phil got tossed arguing the non-call against Luke and a non-call against Kobe on a play earlier probably played into it. We were sinking at that point and didn't recover... The team survived 7:30 minutes of the first quarter without Kobe, who was in foul trouble. Phil started Kobe in the second quarter and got 12 minutes without him picking up his third foul... The Lakers wanted to go into the post more in the second half to work the ball inside-out. Our offense made a token effort, then just looked lost and lifeless... The Lakers once again had a good night at the line, making 22-25, 88 percent. They had made 31-34 in the last game, 91.2 percent. Good to see that part of the game coming to life... We lost the offensive glass battle 16-7 in this game and the battle of the break 16-4...
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TheMitchell05
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 1:26 am    Post subject:

Thanks again DB. Just wondering, on tough back to back losses, is it much more frustrating writing these up?
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 1:28 am    Post subject:

Thanks DB. Good summary.
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 1:39 am    Post subject:

TheMitchell05 wrote:
Thanks again DB. Just wondering, on tough back to back losses, is it much more frustrating writing these up?


Blowouts are miserable. Taking notes when you are down 20 points and guys look like they are going through the motions just to finish out the game for a quarter...not fun, unless we get to see someone who doesn't play much. If it's a close loss, you can really disect some key things.
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8750
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 1:45 am    Post subject:

thanks, DB...
these players are finding new meanings to the word "soft"... that's our greatest problem: not only the injuries or the refs, but embarassing lack of character...
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 1:48 am    Post subject:

I guess the 5 games in 7 days with two starters out finally caught up with the Lakers - with one of the side effects being a (hopefully) minor injury to Kobe.

IMO - these past games have shown the strengths and weaknesses of this edition of the team

STRENTHS
** Phil and the Coaching Staff
** Kobe
** Youth
** Athletic Abilities Over Last Season

WEAKNESSES
** Lack of many people that can create on their own
** Athletic ability compared to other teams
** Cook's inability to defend / inconsistent offense
** Smush' inconsistencies
** Youth/Inexperience
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 2:28 am    Post subject:

I don't read your game reviews but I'll say thanks. I personally would rather see a blowout than a 1 pt. loss in 3ple OT... but that's just me
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 2:29 am    Post subject:

DancingBarry wrote:
TheMitchell05 wrote:
Thanks again DB. Just wondering, on tough back to back losses, is it much more frustrating writing these up?


Blowouts are miserable. Taking notes when you are down 20 points and guys look like they are going through the motions just to finish out the game for a quarter...not fun, unless we get to see someone who doesn't play much. If it's a close loss, you can really disect some key things.


I don't know how the heck you do it. It's like you're busting your ass while you watch the Lakers allow a lay-up fest at their end of the court...I don't know how it doesn't drive you nuts putting forth that kind of effort...when the guys on the floor are completely screwing around like they have for large portions of the last couple games.
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:09 am    Post subject:

Hope we get back on track next game.
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 7:13 am    Post subject:

DancingBarry wrote:
TheMitchell05 wrote:
Thanks again DB. Just wondering, on tough back to back losses, is it much more frustrating writing these up?


Blowouts are miserable. Taking notes when you are down 20 points and guys look like they are going through the motions just to finish out the game for a quarter...not fun, unless we get to see someone who doesn't play much. If it's a close loss, you can really disect some key things.


Thanks DB, I applaud you for not only finishing watching the game but also taking notes like this so we can read up on the game. I stopped watching the game in the fourth quarter and was just listening.
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 7:19 am    Post subject:

this is why i dont like conceding games just because we have a game the following night. there is no guarantee that we will win the 2nd game. Phil conceded the Memphis game by sitting Kobe the whole 4th qtr and we still lost against Houston. What was the point?
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 8:31 am    Post subject:

Nice recap. Only saw a couple minutes of the second quarter. I couldn't catch it on sportscenter so I just waited for the LA times this morning. Unfortunate Kobe pulled something, we don't need anymore injuries.
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 8:35 am    Post subject:

I understood Phil's frustration. It became a hackfest in the third quarter. Still, our guys should have countered better. They started settling for outside shots, and when they came inside, they were trying to shoot quickly/over Mutumbo.

These are the types of games where I think Smush can step up and make a difference ... although he wasn't getting any calls either, when he went inside. Still ... Evans and Smush need to learn to get inside and take it into the body of the shotblocker, or get him up in the air with an up-fake ... FORCE the refs to give you the contact.

Man, we got NO calls last night.
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 9:31 am    Post subject:

Quote:
He tried to cram a one-hander over Mutombo instead of going for the short jumphook over him and he was sent packing (I like the intention -- because Drew is still learning to play above the rim -- but he doesn't have the power yet to do that type of dunk against that type of player and should have stuck with the finesse...get into the body and throw the jumphook). Overall, a good experience for Bynum tonight, something he can learn a little from. The instant gratification crowd, however, will just have to stay patient while he develops.


I'm glad someone on this board gets it. Mutumbo would rather have Andrew trying to dunk it on him instead of going to his jumphook.
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 9:42 am    Post subject:

Thanks DB.

Good write-up on Bynum. Part of the problem with the instant gratification crowd is that Bynum is over-hyped, which leads to many here getting frustrated. Andrew has a bright future, and he's as well as could be expected under the circumstances. But some here read the over-the-top commentary of a few posters, and then vent when they don't see Bynum producing 20/10 or dunking every shot.

The loss of this game is more directly attributable to Lamar being out. The Laker PF production was a grand total of 4 points, 7 rebounds, 25% shooting, while Juwan Howard tallied 23/11 on 50% shooting. Those stats won't be lost on Phil, his staff and the front office.
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:02 am    Post subject:

Quote:
Good write-up on Bynum. Part of the problem with the instant gratification crowd is that Bynum is over-hyped, which leads to many here getting frustrated. Andrew has a bright future, and he's as well as could be expected under the circumstances. But some here read the over-the-top commentary of a few posters, and then vent when they don't see Bynum producing 20/10 or dunking every shot.

Noone is more overhyped on this board than Kwame Brown.

Bynum's averaging 12.4 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 2.6 bpg in Kwame's minutes the last 5 games.

I don't know what people expect, but that is more than what any other Center can do on this team and more importantly it is excellent for a 19 year old.
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:02 am    Post subject:

Thanks DB!

Excellent breakdown as always!

LO and Kwame were missed last night.
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:14 am    Post subject:

Watching the Houston broadcast, Drexler kept on going on about Smush's defense, even calling him a stellar defender. Smushed then proceeded to get torched for the entire game, like he does every game.

Probably the funniest thing I have heard in weeks.
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 11:05 am    Post subject:

CorkyTomjanovich wrote:
Watching the Houston broadcast, Drexler kept on going on about Smush's defense, even calling him a stellar defender. Smushed then proceeded to get torched for the entire game, like he does every game.

Probably the funniest thing I have heard in weeks.
I'm sorry, who out there was playing defense last night? I didn't see anybody.
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:04 pm    Post subject:

karlmalonefan wrote:
CorkyTomjanovich wrote:
Watching the Houston broadcast, Drexler kept on going on about Smush's defense, even calling him a stellar defender. Smushed then proceeded to get torched for the entire game, like he does every game.

Probably the funniest thing I have heard in weeks.
I'm sorry, who out there was playing defense last night? I didn't see anybody.



What is your point? the point is Drexler was calling Smush a great defender when he really is a terrible defender.
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:39 pm    Post subject:

CorkyTomjanovich wrote:
karlmalonefan wrote:
CorkyTomjanovich wrote:
Watching the Houston broadcast, Drexler kept on going on about Smush's defense, even calling him a stellar defender. Smushed then proceeded to get torched for the entire game, like he does every game.

Probably the funniest thing I have heard in weeks.
I'm sorry, who out there was playing defense last night? I didn't see anybody.



What is your point? the point is Drexler was calling Smush a great defender when he really is a terrible defender.
My point is he's an average defender at best, but when the rest of the team isn't playing defense either, it can make him look worse than he really is.
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:19 pm    Post subject: Re: LAKERS -at- ROCKETS - 1/10 - Thoughts and :-(( ratings

DB thanks for the update///

I like reading your post even knowling the carnage on this road trip:

Great summary as usual
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:54 pm    Post subject:

It's sink or swim time... We either find the winning formula, again, or we continue to sink... I knew that there was a good chance, that we would find ourselves in this situation, at the beginning of the season... All it took was a couple of our starting bigmen to go down.

We are very soft, at the 5, and in the paint. Bynum has nothing to be ashamed of. Andrew is still learning. Some of us had hopes, that Andrew would continue to astound us, with his precocious progress... Now, we see the lack of experience coming to the fore. I've been too depressed, and numb, with this last game.

With Kobe questionable, we should get that energy team going, off the bench. We just have to gut it out, and play the best team ball possible. We can't start thinking like a losing team. Every Laker should just concentrate on their job, and execution. Erase all negative thoughts.
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 12:22 am    Post subject:

L.A. Times wrote:
Phil: "So, if it's going to affect his play that much, then it's probably better that he doesn't play. But if he's OK and he can play at 90% or 85%, then good."

Bryant was clearly limited in Wednesday night's game against the Rockets after suffering the injury in the second quarter. He shied away from driving the lane, concentrating on perimeter shots. His mobility on defense was also limited.

"It's feeling OK," Bryant said Thursday at the team's El Segundo training facility. "It's sore. It's not any more sore than it was [Wednesday] night, so it's OK."

Bryant conceded the injury had affected his game.

So will he be ready to go tonight?

"I should be."
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