Lakers’ Kobe Bryant to sit out last two preseason games

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Mark Medina

ONTARIO — Those in the Inland Empire and in Las Vegas hoping to catch a glimpse of Kobe Bryant are out of luck.

Bryant will miss the Lakers’ last two preseason games, including tonight against Portland in Ontario and against Sacramento on Friday in Las Vegas.

The Lakers says the 36-year-old Bryant have not suffered any injuries. But he will rest so he can feel fully charged for when the regular season starts next Tuesday against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center.

Lakers coach Byron Scott had originally planned to increase Bryant’s workload leading into the 2014-15 regular season. But Bryant logged a preseason-high 33 minutes in the Lakers’ 114-108 preseason loss on Tuesday to the Phoenix Suns in Anaheim.

Bryant averaged 19 points on 38.4 percent shooting and four assists in 26.7 minutes per game through six exhibition contests.

Meanwhile, Lakers center Jordan Hill remains a game-time decision after suffering a cervical strain in the team’s preseason loss on Tuesday to Phoenix. Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson will make his first appearance after missing the past five contests because of a strained left calf muscle.

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com

Kobe Bryant’s message to Julius Randle: “You ‘F’ this up, you’re a really big idiot”

Posted on October 19, 2014 by Mark Medina

Julius Randle, seen at a pre-draft workout in June, had 10 points and eight rebounds in a Lakers preseason game Monday. (Thomas R. Cordova/Staff Photographer)

The tough love and accountability hovered over Julius Randle throughout his childhood. He grew up in a single-parent household where his mom ensured he studied well enough to maintain straight A’s. Randle played for an AAU team named the Texas Titans that included comprehensive workshops involving media training, etiquette tips and Bible study. And Randle has clung to these mentors both for guidance through adversity and for staying grounded through success.

Yet, that strict upbringing hardly compares to what Kobe Bryant has offered the Lakers’ rookie all through training camp. Both Bryant and Lakers coach Byron Scott talked to Randle, saying he has the potential to become an NBA All-Star one day IF he mimics Bryant’s work ethic. If not? Randle will just become another forgotten NBA player.

“It means he can’t [bleep] it up.” Bryant explained in more vulgar terms following the Lakers’ 98-91 preseason victory over the Utah Jazz on Sunday at Staples Center.

Once the initial laughter from reporters around him subdued, Bryant then offered another punchline. This one came at the expense of ESPN recently ranking him as the NBA’s 40th best player after appearing in only six games last season because of overlapping injuries to his left Achilles tendon and left ankle.

“If you [bleep] this up, you’re a really big idiot,” Bryant said. “ESPN are idiots, but you’re really a big idiot if you manage to [bleep] this up.”
Continue reading “Kobe Bryant’s message to Julius Randle: “You ‘F’ this up, you’re a really big idiot”” »

Kobe Bryant, Byron Scott amused by ESPN’s 40th ranking

Posted on October 16, 2014 by Mark Medina

“Lakers host their annual Media Day in El Segundo, CA. Monday September 29, 2014. (Thomas R. Cordova-Daily Breeze/Press-Telegram)”

A smirk formed on Kobe Bryant’s face. Then, the Lakers star chuckled.

A panel of ESPN media members ranked Bryant as the 40th-best NBA player. If Bryant found his 25th ranking last year “silly” and “laughable,” which adjectives will the Lakers star use to express his disgust about his latest standing?

“I’ve known for a long time they’re a bunch of idiots,” Bryant said.

A smile widened on Byron Scott’s face. Then, the Lakers’ coach shook his head trying to process it all.

What does Scott make of Bryant’s ranking after professing his rookie year that he would soon become the NBA’s best player?

“I think he probably gets a kick out of it. I do too,” Scott said. “I would hate to be one of the guys who doubted him.”
Continue reading “Kobe Bryant, Byron Scott amused by ESPN’s 40th ranking” »

Byron Scott says Nick Young could return 4-6 weeks

Posted on October 5, 2014 by Mark Medina

Within a two-day span, Nick Young’s expected return time shortened by about two weeks.

After his agent anticipated Young missing the next six to eight weeks because of a torn ligament in his right thumb that will require surgery, Lakers coach Byron Scott said on Sunday that he has been told his absence would likely last anywhere between four to six weeks.

The Lakers will not know definitively until Young has surgery with Dr. Steven Shin of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic on Monday.

Young spent Sunday’s practice working on dribbling drills with his left hand and challenging forward Xavier Henry to a foul shooting contest. That entailed Young (left) and Henry (right) shooting with their non-shooting hand. Henry has also stayed sidelined for the past week because of back spasms while also rehabbing his surgically repaired right knee.

“Nothing full court and nothing with running,” Scott said about Henry’s work. “He’s still having a little bit of stiffness. We want to see if we can get that going in the next few days before we get him out there.”
Continue reading “Byron Scott says Nick Young could return 4-6 weeks” »

Lakers depth chart breakdown: Kobe Bryant

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Mark Medina

Memphis Grizzlies’ Tony Allen (9) defends Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Memphis, Tenn., Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

Below is the first in a series previewing the story lines surrounding each player on the Lakers’ roster for the 2014-15 season. This post focuses on Lakers guard Kobe Bryant.

1. How will Bryant play following two major injuries? Whether they continue their fall toward mediocrity or quickly climb back to championship prominence, the Lakers’ 2014-15 season will still become a must-see event for partly one significant reason. Seeing how Bryant charts his comeback will become intriguing regardless of what scenario happens. If he becomes the elite player that once won five NBA championships and climbed up to fourth place on the league’s all-time scoring list, Bryant will further cement his legacy in overcoming injuries and finding ways to innovate his game. If he become a shell of himself, frustration could emerge out of Bryant’s inability to figure things out as strongly as he once could.

So what scenario will play out? A huge variable, of course, depends on if Bryant can still healthy. But the other variable also hinges on how well Bryant adjusts his game. The overriding consensus suggests Bryant’s strong fundamentals with his footwork and post play can offset any diminished athleticism, enough for Lakers coach Byron Scott to believe Bryant will average 20-something points per game. Yet, to what degree will that be enough in ensuring Bryant stays an elite player?

Even though Bryant has had a full 10 months thus far to recover from a knee injury, how much time of on-court play will he need to shed off any rust? Though Bryant has other tools in his offensive repertoire, how much will any diminished athleticism reduce his threat against a defender? Even if he has taken his time healing his left Achilles and left knee and traveled to Germany for another innovative procedure, how much more vulnerable will Bryant become in his 36-year-old body further breaking down? To make things more complicated, how will this all play out through a grinding 82-game NBA season?

No one truly knows the answer. Hence, why Bryant’s comeback season will remain compelling to watch.
Continue reading “Lakers depth chart breakdown: Kobe Bryant” »

Byron Scott photo gallery

Posted on September 11, 2014 by Mark Medina

“New Lakers head coach Byron Scott at the Lakers training faciltiy in El Segundo, CA on Tuesday, September 9, 2014. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze)”

You read about Lakers coach Byron Scott preaching about wanting to win an NBA championship even if hefty challenges await. You read about Scott stressing he will stay firm in limiting Kobe Bryant’s minutes, both to maximize his productivity and ensure long-term health. You read about Scott’s tentative starting lineup that currently favors the Lakers’ veteran players. You read about Scott’s revelation that Xavier Henry might be limited during training camp because of his left wrist and right knee have not fully healed since having surgery four months ago. You read about Scott nearly finalizing the rest of his coaching staff.

But pictures always tell a 1,000 words. And in the case of LANG’s photo gallery of Scott’s exclusive interview at the Lakers’ practice facility in El Segundo, plenty of images tell various stories.

Lakers’ Byron Scott believes he can hold firm on limiting Kobe Bryant’s minutes

Lakers’ Byron Scott tentatively penciling in veterans as starters

Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com

Lakers’ Byron Scott believes he can hold firm on limiting Kobe Bryant’s minutes

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Mark Medina

The smile widened as Byron Scott talked about Kobe Bryant. Scott’s eyes lit up as he recalled mentoring Bryant his rookie year during the 1996-97 season, sensing then that Bryant was already “something special” with his strongly developed game, unmatched work ethic and inquisitive curiosity about NBA history. Scott gushed about Bryant organizing informal workouts this summer with a handful of teammates.

Underneath all of those positive vibes revealed Scott’s unrelenting optimism on how Bryant will actually perform in the 2014-15 season. Scott chuckled at all the doubt surrounding Bryant, who lasted only six games last season because of overlapping left Achilles and left ankle injuries.

“I see a guy who’s going to average 20 something points a game, will have a great year and have a lot of people eating crow,” Scott said Tuesday in a wide-ranging interview with this newspaper. “I’m glad people are saying [otherwise]. Keep adding it. It motivates him that much more. It makes my job easier.”

Yet, Scott’s job as the Lakers coach will hardly be easy. He will oversee a team that finished last season with the worst record in L.A. franchise history. Scott will have to bolster a defense that finished 29th in points allowed (109.2), 24th in defensive field goal percentage (46.8) and 30th in fast-break points allowed (16.7). And Scott will also have to put his strong relationship with Bryant to good use, finding the right balance in leaning on Bryant’s expertise and skillset without overly taxing his 36-year-old body.

Scott reported Bryant as fully healthy from his left knee injury and looked impressed with his offseason workouts. Yet, Scott said he will have to limit Bryant. He will probably sit out in the second practice of the three two-a-day sessions Scott tentatively has scheduled once training camp begins in three weeks. Bryant will likely skip select regular-season practices so he can receive additional rest and treatment. Scott also conceded the possibility that Bryant will either miss the second night of back-to-back games, or face reduced minutes the first game so he can play the following night.

“The key is our communication,” Scott said. “Kobe knows me pretty well and I know him pretty well. I know how stubborn he is. He knows how stubborn I am. There’s going to be times we’re butting heads. But it’s all because we want to win. But I also don’t want to play a guy like Kobe in game 58 just to get that win and then risk his health for game 82 when we have a chance to go into the playoffs. I have to be real smart that I stick to my guns as far as minutes are concerned even if it costs us a game or two.”
Continue reading “Lakers’ Byron Scott believes he can hold firm on limiting Kobe Bryant’s minutes” »

Kobe Bryant featured in NBA Live 15 trailer

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Mark Medina

So much for all the talk that Kobe Bryant will play conservatively this season in hopes to delay Father Time. The NBA Live 15 trailer that was released on Tuesday showcases Bryant where he is aggressively driving to the basket. Bryant then makes a sweeping underhanded left-handed layup while drawing contact from his defenders, the kind of difficult shot that Bryant has continuously perfected.

Yet, the conventional wisdom suggested Bryant would play differently after playing in only six games last season because of overlapping injuries to his left Achilles tendon and left ankle, Bryant will play heavily in the post where he can showcase his fundamentals. With the help of Lakers coach Byron Scott, Bryant will play far fewer minutes than the 38 minutes he had averaged in the two previous seasons before his injuries. Bryant will also become more of a facilitator both to ensure a balanced offense and to ease the burden.

Perhaps.

Yet, Bryant may become both determined to score by attacking the basket. Both to prove he still has plenty left in the tank and to help his team win.

Kobe Bryant concedes he will have to offset diminished athleticism

Los Angeles Lakers bring in free agent forward Michael Beasley for a workout

Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com

Kobe Bryant concedes he will have to offset diminished athleticism

Posted on August 26, 2014 by Mark Medina

Grab a seat and gather around Kobe Bryant. The Lakers’ star will answer any question posed by any of his fans in China. Really, anything.

Bryant held a fireside chat recently during his promotional Nike tour in that region, touching on everything. His mental focus. How he stays motivated. What moves he works on during the offseason. How he keeps his confidence. And, of course, how will he play in the 2013-14 season after appearing in only six games last year because of injuries to his left Achilles and left knee.

“I can say I want to be able to jump as high as I used to. I want to be as fast as I used to. But no; I don’t jump as high as I used to,” Bryant said. “That’s okay. I’m not as fast as I used to be. That’s okay, too. I’ll figure out another way to do it.”

Continue reading “Kobe Bryant concedes he will have to offset diminished athleticism” »

Trailer for Kobe Bryant Showtime documentary released

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Mark Medina

Kobe Bryant’s quest for greatness always entailed having a few indistinguishable qualities. His unmatched drive. His ultra competitiveness. His willingness and ability to overcome too many injuries to count. His pursuit in adding new wrinkles to his game.

But as Bryant suggests in the trailer for his upcoming Showtime Documentary, taking such a journey entailed many bumpy roads. The documentary will likely go into more detail on such challenges. Those could range anywhere from entering the NBA fresh out of his school, his conflicts with Shaquille O’Neal, finessing his demanding leadership style, managing how he shoots a high volume of shots without hurting the team concept and proving he can withstand a full season after playing in only six games last year because of injuries to his left Achilles tendon and left knee.

As Bryant mentions in the trailer, however, he has vowed to continue to push. It has made him the player he is today, a five-time NBA champion and fourth time all-time leading scorer. And, he believes, it will be the only formula in ensuring his last chapter of an otherwise storied career features a happy ending.

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