Tag Archives: Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe Bryant shoots 1 of 9 in first half against Miami, which leads Lakers 44-34

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Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Lakers, NBA.com

 

Considering the Miami Heat bolted to an 18-0 lead over the Lakers on Tuesday night at Staples Center, the Lakers did well to trail by just 10 points (44-34) at the halftime break.

Kobe Bryant is playing after resting the previous two games and three of the past four. He scored six points with four rebounds and four assists in the half, but he shot just 1 of 9 from the field.

Overall, the Lakers shot 25.5 percent (12 of 47) and just 11.1 percent (1 of 9) from 3-point range.

Hassan Whiteside led Miami with 11 first-half points.

Byron Scott still not biting when baited about Magic Johnson’s hope that Lakers lose all their games

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Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson/Photo by Associated Press

 

Try as they might, reporters still haven’t been able to get coach Byron Scott to express any anger toward Lakers great Magic Johnson, who this week said he wants the Lakers to lose every game so they can get the highest possible pick in the draft next year.

“I got a good kick out of it because I know him; if he was on the court, there is no way in the world he would concede a basketball game,” Scott said Thursday after practice. “That’s how competitive he is. So, again, that’s why it makes me laugh.”

Jim Hill, sports anchor for CBS, kept trying, asking Scott if it irritated him.

“It really didn’t,” Scott said. “Like I said, these guys (beat reporters) asked me and I started smiling and, really, inside just laughing about it. So, no, it didn’t irritate me at all.”

 

Byron Scott talks about what Jeremy Lin must do to thrive in reserve role

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Jeremy Lin

Jeremy Lin/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Lakers, NBA.com

 

Power forward Carlos Boozer and point guard Jeremy Lin were removed from the starting lineup two games ago. Boozer has responded well with 12 points on 6 of 12 shooting in a loss to New Orleans on Sunday and 15 points on 6 of 13 shooting Tuesday in a win over Sacramento.

Lin has suffered. He had just three points on 1 of 5 shooting against New Orleans and three points on 1 of 5 shooting against Sacramento. He did have four assists in each game.

“He has to be aggressive, but you’ve gotta be smart,” coach Byron Scott said, when asked what Lin needs to do to thrive. “As a point guard, he has to understand the situations, he has to understand the guys he’s playing with, who needs a shot, when they need a shot, who’s hot and things like that. But still have an aggressive mind-set. I think right now that’s the one or two things that he’s struggling with.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s as a starter or as a reserve, those are the things he has to implement into his game.”