Inside the Lakers

Champs again? And again? And again?

2009-11-20T20:52:34Z

In case you missed it late Thursday, here's what TNT's Charles Barkley had to say about the Lakers after their victory over the Chicago Bulls: "I said that this team could actually win the next three or four championships, I thought that three years ago. They are going to be tough to be beat because they aren't missing anything. You usually say this team needs this or this team needs that. They've got it all, they can take (Pau) Gasol and (Andrew) Bynum off the team and they would still be the favorite to win the NBA Championship. Now with those guys together with Ron Artest they are going to take a lot of wear and tear off Kobe (Bryant). They are going to be tough to beat four out of seven times."

Bynum sprains right ankle

2009-11-20T06:59:31Z

Andrew Bynum said he sprained his right ankle when he picked up his fourth foul against Brad Miller in the third quarter. Bynum didn't believe it was serious, but said he'd know more in the morning when he goes for treatment.

He was walking on his own after the game.

``Hopefully things aren't too bad,'' Bynum said. ``I'm going to get some therapy in the morning.''

Lakers 108, Bulls 93

2009-11-20T06:11:04Z

So much for the theory that Pau Gasol would be rusty after missing the first 11 games of the season with a hamstring injury.

The Spaniard came back Thursday night and looked like he hadn't missed a beat, scoring 24 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in 35 minutes of work.

Before the game, Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he thought Gasol would play about 25 minutes, but it could be more or less depending on how he handled the workload. While Gasol looked a bit winded at times, he played very well.

Other news of the night:

--Kobe Bryant moving to second on the all-time Lakers scoring list, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the second half.

--Andrew Bynum playing only 24 minutes with Gasol's return. He finished with 11 points and eight rebounds.

--Lakers move to 9-3 on the season.

Halftime: Lakers 53, Bulls 42

2009-11-20T04:49:38Z

Pau Gasol scored 14 points on 6-for-11 shooting and also grabbed five rebounds in his first 17 minutes of the season tonight against Chicago. He hardly looked as if he had been sidelined for five-plus weeks because of a strained right hamstring. Kobe Bryant scored 13 points on 4-for-14 shooting. John Salmons led Chicago with 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting.

Walton update

2009-11-20T01:09:18Z

Luke Walton underwent a procedure called a facet rhizotomy on Wednesday. The procedure seeks to turn off the pain signals sent from the injured part of the back (the facet) to the brain. The pain relief can typically lasts months or years. Walton suffered a pinched nerve in his back and was initially said to be out at least six weeks.

Fisher's analysis

2009-11-18T23:34:50Z

Derek Fisher offered a series of pretty honest opinions about the Lakers after Monday's practice. Forgive me for not posting it sooner. Sometimes I get sidetracked. Anyway, here's all of what Fisher had to say earlier this week:

"We're not really that concerned about guys making shots, ultimately. But we're concerned about the lack of execution that comes if a pass is kicked out of a double team or just coming down and not really seeming like we're that into our the offensive set or any kind of a flow. The coaches and players are confident we will make shots. We're just kind of locked into throwing the ball down to Kobe (Bryant) or throwing the ball to Andrew (Bynum). Even though those guys have success at times, there's been an in-and-out flow for everybody else. Ron (Artest) has had some moments, then hasn't. I've had some moments, haven't. Sasha has hit some shots, then sometimes he hasn't. That's kind of gone all the way around the whole team.

]]> "As we improve our execution, I think you'll find we'll have six, seven, eight guys playing in the flow, (with the) ball moving well. Guys aren't necessarily getting a lot of shots, but they will be of a higher quality. Everybody will feel involved and you'll see more of a team game. So far, the Phoenix game was the closest we've come to that this season. Even in that game we had some stretches were we were too focused on throwing the ball into guys (in the post). The ball has to move for us to be successful.

"We don't like it (losing). We definitely didn't go to any parties, but we're keeping it in perspective. We understand where we are in the season and we understand for us to achieve our goals we're going to have to get better. Sometimes, in order to get better, you have to suffer through some things. some ups and downs. That's where the emotion comes from when you finally do win it, because you remember games like (Sunday) or at Denver or at home against Dallas. You remember those specific nights when you pop the champagne in June.

"It's all a part of getting better and growing. We understand that, but at the same time it's something we don't plan on doing again. If we can only lose three games the rest of the year, we'd be fine with that. We know that's not going to happen. The better teams learn from games like that (losses against Houston and Denver). ... We'll just figure it out and keep playing. The great thing about this business is you have another game Tuesday, another game Thursday, another game Sunday. You just keep figuring it out.

"Right now, we're not even close (to playing at a high level), but because we're so talented we find ways to win games. But we could easily be 6-4 or whatever. We've had a couple of overtime games. We have a long way to go and we understand that and we're going to, hopefully, get healthy. We'll get Pau (Gasol) back in there and that will help a lot."

Gasol will play (definitely, maybe)

2009-11-18T21:45:43Z

Pau Gasol said today he would play Thursday against the Chicago Bulls. Probably. Maybe. But not definitely.

"I don't know about definitely," said Gasol, who missed the Lakers' first 11 games because of a strained hamstring. He expects to make his season debut Thursday. Again, unless something kooky happens between today and Thursday. He went through practice without suffering a setback.

"I felt great today," Gasol said. "I don't want to jinx it, but everything felt great today. I don't see any reason why I wouldn't be able to play (Thursday). I want to play. I've been wanting to play since Day 1. It wasn't ready. The muscle wasn't healed."

Coach Phil Jackson said Gasol would start and Lamar Odom would return to the bench.

Lakers 106, Pistons 93

2009-11-18T07:15:12Z

Kobe Bryant killed the losing streak. He scored 40 points for the 100th time in his career, making 17 of 29 shots while playing 39 minutes, 13 seconds with a nagging groin injury. He made a no-look, back-to-the-basket layup over Kwame Brown that seemed to be a perfect summary on his night. He wouldn't be denied in helping the Lakers avoid their first three-game losing streak since January 2008. Andrew Bynum scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for his eighth double-double. He had only 13 shots, making seven, however. Shannon Brown had 12 points and Jordan Farmar had 10 in reserve roles. Will Bynum, no relation to Andrew, scored 24 points to lead Detroit, and Ben Gordon had 18. Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince sat out because of injuries.

Halftime: Lakers 57, Pistons 42

2009-11-18T05:05:09Z

Kobe Bryant showed no signs of the groin strain that slowed him to a crawl in Sunday's loss to the Houston Rockets. He scored a team-leading 21 points on 9-for-15 shooting in the first half. Andrew Bynum added seven points and seven rebounds against the undersized Pistons. Jordan Farmar added seven points in a reserve role. Ben Gordon led the Pistons with 11 points, but was no match for Bryant. Also, at halftime, injured Lakers forward Luke Walton said he had no idea how he suffered a pinched nerve in his back. He said it had been bothering him for about a week or so. He is expected to sit out six weeks.

UPDATED: Walton had this to say about his injury, "I want to get back as soon as possible. Last time (during a similar injury during training camp), they wanted me out longer, but as soon as the back started feeling good again, I was begging them to start playing again. They did and, obviously, it wasn't a mistake. I wasn't ready yet."

Pregame report

2009-11-18T03:07:05Z

Here are a few observations from Phil Jackson before tonight's game against Detroit.

On Kobe Bryant's injury: "I thought he was possibly going to be out for some of this week. He's been struggling with this for a while, but he wanted to practice (Monday), he wanted to get into the rhythm of things and see how it felt. We have to watch his time off the court as jealously as we do on the court. We don't want him to sit and stiffen up during the course of the game. He wouldn't do that (take a game off to mend). I think an 82-game season has much meaning for him and winning an individual scoring championship. That's something (he) really relishes. He knows if he can do it."

On more playing time for Adam Morrison with Luke Walton out with a back injury: "We don't feel like we're depleted at all. We feel like we're kind of overloaded at that position. Ron (Artest) is a (small forward). Kobe plays a lot at (small forward). This is a team (Detroit) that plays three guards with (Rodney) Stuckey, (Will) Bynum and (Ben) Gordon. We don't feel like we'll be at a deficit at al in this game. We're hoping to give Adam some minutes. Luke hasn't had a lot to start the season, but we want Adam to have a chance to get out there and prove himself."

On the lack of motion in the triangle offense: "We've been pretty stagnant. We've had Kobe posting up on one side and Andrew on the other with three on the outside and two inside instead of the overload in the triangle like we usually play."

On Pau Gasol's status: "We're just going one day at a time. He came back after a practice yesterday and performed in the shootaround (this morning). He said he's fine. We're thinking tomorrow he'll have a practice. He'll work out tonight (during the game). We'll go one day at a time, but he's hoping he can play Thursday. I asked him if he could play tonight, actually. He said, 'Well, I'm not ready yet. I don't feel ready yet.' So, we're still waiting for him to feel totally comfortable with where he is."

Walton out six weeks

2009-11-17T03:26:29Z

Luke Walton has a pinched nerve in his back that will sideline him for at least six weeks, the Lakers announced tonight. Walton did not play in Sunday's loss to the Houston Rockets and did not practice this afternoon. He was examined by Dr. Robert Watkins. Walton had a sore back that kept him from playing several exhibition games last month. It's not immediately clear whether this injury is related to the previous one.

Expect Adam Morrison to get a few extra minutes while Walton is sidelined. Morrison doesn't have the knowledge of the Lakers' triangle offense that Walton has, but Coach Phil Jackson doesn't have many options at present. Jackson could play Josh Powell more at small forward. But with Pau Gasol out for at least one more game because of a hamstring injury, Jackson needs Powell to serve as Lamar Odom's backup at power forward.

Is Bynum getting the ball enough?

2009-11-17T00:00:19Z

Andrew Bynum scored 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting in Sunday's loss to the Houston Rockets. He had 19 points on 8-for-13 shooting in Friday's loss to the Denver Nuggets. He also had 26 points on 13-for-18 shooting in Thursday's victory over the Phoenix Suns. Overall, he's averaging 20.8 points on 59.6 percent shooting. So, the question is, why isn't he getting more shots? Just throwing it out there for discussion.

Practice report

2009-11-16T22:14:52Z

Here are a few tidbits from today's practice:

Kobe Bryant practiced with his teammates and reported no lingering trouble from the groin strain that slowed him down in Sunday's loss to the Houston Rockets. He said he's increased his medical treatments and plans to play Tuesday against Detroit Pistons.

Pau Gasol also practiced with his teammates and said his injured right hamstring was much improved. He doubted he could play against the Pistons, but didn't rule out playing Thursday against the Chicago Bulls.

Coach Phil Jackson harped on the Lakers' inability to outhustle the Rockets for rebounds and loose balls. After watching an offensive rebound get away from the starters during a scrimmage, he bellowed, "That's what hurt us last night. Go get the ball."

Rockets 101, Lakers 91

2009-11-16T05:57:30Z

So, what troubled you the most about the Lakers' second consecutive loss? The fact that they shot 33.3 percent in the second half? The fact that they were outrebounded by a whopping 60-38 by game's end? The fact that Andrew Bynum got only three shots in the second half and 12 for the game? The fact that Kobe Bryant tried to play through a groin strain and scored 18 points on 5-for-20 shooting? The fact that Houston's David Andersen went unguarded for most of the game and scored 19 points? The fact that the Rockets' Aaron Brooks scored a career-high 33 points? Or was there something else?

Halftime: Lakers 54, Rockets 52

2009-11-16T03:45:24Z

Trevor Ariza received his championship ring tonight, joined by his 19-month-old son, Taj, at center court. Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher presented Ariza with his ring and a sellout crowd of 18,997 saluted him with a standing ovation. Then the game started and Ariza struggled. He missed his first nine shots before sinking a 3-pointer late in the half. He had four points by halftime. Aaron Brooks led the Rockets with 15 piotns. Andrew Bynum led the Lakers with 14 points and six rebounds, and Ron Artest had 13 points. Kobe Bryant had 10 points on 4-for-13 shooting.