Should we be surprised by what Kobe Bryant does anymore?
Think about the circumstances. Let's start with the fact that Bryant
is 34 years old and has logged more than 50,000 minutes on his
basketball odometer. Then throw in the circus that brought a
melodramatic, fit-for-Hollywood coaching change and a learning curve
that comes with establishing two vastly different offenses.
Then you look at the surrounding personnel. Bryant is playing next to
two centers -- a new one with a balky back and an old one mired in a
constant state of confusion. Darius Morris,
he of a 7.2 career player efficiency rating, is his starting point
guard -- his third one of the season. And to make matters worse, Bryant
just played through a nasty flu that made him look like this before Wednesday's tipoff against the Pacers.
And yet, through it all, Kobe Bryant is off to the most efficient season of his 16-year career. Really.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Kobe Bryant calls out Pau Gasol
LOS ANGELES -- For the second time in five games, Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol watched the final minutes of the fourth quarter from the sidelines. Kobe Bryant says Gasol has to take it into his own hands to change that.
"Put your big-boy pants on," Bryant said after the Lakers' 113-103 loss to the Orlando Magic on Sunday that dropped the team's record to 8-9. "Just adjust. Just adjust. You can't whine about it. You can't complain about it."
"I don't get irritated," Gasol said of the benching. "I like to be out there. It's upsetting for me as a player but I won't allow it to irritate me."
It was the second time the benching occurred with Gasol's family in the building. The first time came against Marc Gasol and the Memphis Grizzlies and Gasol's father and younger brother, Adria, were at Staples Center for the game Sunday.
"Put your big-boy pants on," Bryant said after the Lakers' 113-103 loss to the Orlando Magic on Sunday that dropped the team's record to 8-9. "Just adjust. Just adjust. You can't whine about it. You can't complain about it."
“ Put your big-boy pants on. Just adjust. Just adjust. You can't whine about it. You can't complain about it.Gasol was subbed out with 6:07 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Lakers up 84-83. Orlando outscored L.A. 30-19 the rest of the way. Gasol ended his night with 11 points of 4-for-11 shooting, seven rebounds, two assists and a block in 29 minutes.
” -- Kobe Bryant on Pau Gasol's struggles
"I don't get irritated," Gasol said of the benching. "I like to be out there. It's upsetting for me as a player but I won't allow it to irritate me."
It was the second time the benching occurred with Gasol's family in the building. The first time came against Marc Gasol and the Memphis Grizzlies and Gasol's father and younger brother, Adria, were at Staples Center for the game Sunday.
Rip Hamilton has torn plantar fascia
CHICAGO -- Rip Hamilton has a torn plantar fascia in his left foot, an MRI revealed Sunday.
Hamilton injured the foot in the third quarter of the Chicago Bulls' win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night.
The team said Hamilton would return the court "as his symptoms permit."
The injury occurred with just under three minutes left in the third quarter. Hamilton had to be helped off the floor by teammates Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng and was putting no weight on the foot.
"I felt something pop," Hamilton admitted after the game.
After sitting out of 38 games last season because of various injuries, Hamilton was understandably worried about the diagnosis.
"Just the simple fact that there was nobody around," he said of the play in which the injury occurred. "They always say the worst injuries are when nobody's around and you didn't fall down on nobody's foot or anything like that so it's just one of them things that when it happened it scared me. When I felt it I didn't want to put no pressure on it, but it wasn't a whole lot of pain. That's why it was so freaky to me."
Despite that, Hamilton did return to Saturday night's game, hitting three of four free throws in the final 20 seconds to clinch the 93-88 victory.
Hamilton injured the foot in the third quarter of the Chicago Bulls' win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night.
The team said Hamilton would return the court "as his symptoms permit."
The injury occurred with just under three minutes left in the third quarter. Hamilton had to be helped off the floor by teammates Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng and was putting no weight on the foot.
"I felt something pop," Hamilton admitted after the game.
After sitting out of 38 games last season because of various injuries, Hamilton was understandably worried about the diagnosis.
"Just the simple fact that there was nobody around," he said of the play in which the injury occurred. "They always say the worst injuries are when nobody's around and you didn't fall down on nobody's foot or anything like that so it's just one of them things that when it happened it scared me. When I felt it I didn't want to put no pressure on it, but it wasn't a whole lot of pain. That's why it was so freaky to me."
Despite that, Hamilton did return to Saturday night's game, hitting three of four free throws in the final 20 seconds to clinch the 93-88 victory.
Charlotte may want Hornets name
If the Hornets nickname becomes available, Charlotte might be interested in getting it back.
The Hornets moved to New Orleans from Charlotte in 2002, and when Tom Benson bought the team earlier this year he said that he would like to change the name to something more fitting of Louisiana. Before Wednesday's game, his wife, Gayle, reiterated that idea and added that the franchise also would like to change the team colors from teal and purple to red, gold and navy blue.
Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan was asked if he'd be interested in bringing the Hornets name back to Charlotte.
"It's definitely an interest down the road, but right now it's the New Orleans Hornets," Jordan told the Charlotte Observer. "We would definitely entertain the opportunity. That's as much as we can say right now. We've heard the community ask the question, and we would listen."
The Hornets moved to New Orleans from Charlotte in 2002, and when Tom Benson bought the team earlier this year he said that he would like to change the name to something more fitting of Louisiana. Before Wednesday's game, his wife, Gayle, reiterated that idea and added that the franchise also would like to change the team colors from teal and purple to red, gold and navy blue.
Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan was asked if he'd be interested in bringing the Hornets name back to Charlotte.
"It's definitely an interest down the road, but right now it's the New Orleans Hornets," Jordan told the Charlotte Observer. "We would definitely entertain the opportunity. That's as much as we can say right now. We've heard the community ask the question, and we would listen."
Ricky Rubio feels good after practice
MINNEAPOLIS -- At one point in his first real practice in nine months, Ricky Rubio zipped a pass through defender Josh Howard's legs to an open teammate.
It may take some time for his surgically repaired left knee to get back up to speed, but the instincts and court vision that made him such a crucial part of the resurgent Minnesota Timberwolves haven't gone anywhere, as far as coach Rick Adelman is concerned.
Rubio
Rubio practiced on Sunday for the first time this season and said his
knee responded well. There is still no timetable for his first game,
and Rubio is trying to be patient to make sure that he is completely
ready when he does return after the first major injury of his career.
"After a long time, I'm on the court again," Rubio said. "It felt pretty good to start knowing my teammates again."
The Timberwolves have been banged up all season and Kevin Love (illness), Malcolm Lee (groin) and Andrei Kirilenko
(back spasms) all missed practice on Sunday. Getting Rubio back
sometime soon would be a huge lift to a team that has managed to hang
around .500 even with all the absences.
It may take some time for his surgically repaired left knee to get back up to speed, but the instincts and court vision that made him such a crucial part of the resurgent Minnesota Timberwolves haven't gone anywhere, as far as coach Rick Adelman is concerned.
"After a long time, I'm on the court again," Rubio said. "It felt pretty good to start knowing my teammates again."
The Timberwolves have been banged up all season and Kevin Love (illness), Malcolm Lee (groin) and Andrei Kirilenko
(back spasms) all missed practice on Sunday. Getting Rubio back
sometime soon would be a huge lift to a team that has managed to hang
around .500 even with all the absences.
Nets say Brook Lopez day to day
NEW YORK -- Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez
underwent a precautionary MRI on his right foot on Monday in New York,
which came back negative, the team announced. Lopez is listed as day to
day.
The Nets have yet to make it official, but given that Lopez didn't practice Monday -- and coach Avery Johnson wants him to practice before he plays -- he is expected to miss Tuesday night's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
"We'll see how he moves around and continues to progress," Johnson said, "But at some point, he'll have to practice before we stick him in a game."
Asked if Lopez would be ready for Friday night's game against the Golden State Warriors, Johnson replied, "We don't have a sense yet. Let's just see how he progresses."
The Nets have yet to make it official, but given that Lopez didn't practice Monday -- and coach Avery Johnson wants him to practice before he plays -- he is expected to miss Tuesday night's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
"We'll see how he moves around and continues to progress," Johnson said, "But at some point, he'll have to practice before we stick him in a game."
Asked if Lopez would be ready for Friday night's game against the Golden State Warriors, Johnson replied, "We don't have a sense yet. Let's just see how he progresses."
Gregg Popovich 'disappointed' by fine
SAN ANTONIO -- Gregg Popovich said Saturday night he doesn't know if the San Antonio Spurs will appeal a $250,000 fine from the NBA for sending his star players home to rest instead of playing them against the Miami Heat.
Speaking publicly for the first time since NBA commissioner David Stern handed down the stiff penalty Friday, the Spurs coach and team president said he was "disappointed" in the decision.
"What I do from my perspective is from a coaching perspective," said Popovich before the Spurs defeated the Grizzlies 99-95 in overtime on Saturday night. "And I think the league operates from a business perspective. And I think that's reflective in the action that they took."
Rather than play Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili -- three of the NBA's biggest names -- against LeBron James and Miami in a nationally televised game Thursday night, Popovich put them on a plane and sent them home. It came at the end of a six-game road trip and after the Spurs had played five times in seven days.
Swingman Danny Green was also put on that early flight to San Antonio. Popovich justified his decision in Miami by saying he didn't want to subject Green and his aging Big Three to so much wear and tear this early in the season.
Speaking publicly for the first time since NBA commissioner David Stern handed down the stiff penalty Friday, the Spurs coach and team president said he was "disappointed" in the decision.
"What I do from my perspective is from a coaching perspective," said Popovich before the Spurs defeated the Grizzlies 99-95 in overtime on Saturday night. "And I think the league operates from a business perspective. And I think that's reflective in the action that they took."
Rather than play Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili -- three of the NBA's biggest names -- against LeBron James and Miami in a nationally televised game Thursday night, Popovich put them on a plane and sent them home. It came at the end of a six-game road trip and after the Spurs had played five times in seven days.
Swingman Danny Green was also put on that early flight to San Antonio. Popovich justified his decision in Miami by saying he didn't want to subject Green and his aging Big Three to so much wear and tear this early in the season.
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