There ” s really no barometer, no [precedent] for training physically, for recovery”.
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As we’ve talked about with LeBron James, Kobe and his preps-to-pros ilk are genuinely working in “uncharted territory”.
During the first half, there were many productive qualities of the Lakers’ play. I knew it was going to be his hip. He didn’t impress too much in the summer league (against weaker talent), so there were tons of eyes on him for his first preseason affair. We’re not comparing players, only mileage.
It begs the question of how Bryant would grade the group as a whole after last year’s debacle. “I’m looking forward to it. It makes you just that much more hungry”. Jordan’s 1995 return came 21 months after his final game, before he moved on to three more championship runs before retiring again following the 1997-98 season. His to-do list, for simplicity’s sake, ends there.
RUSSELL HURT: Russell, the second overall pick from Ohio State, went down in the paint with 7:42 left in the quarter after stepping in front of Rudy Gobert as Utah’s center went to the basket. Make no mistake, he can still play defense and post up with his strength.
One can expect Burks to average around 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Byron Scott on the other hand, seemed content with what Kobe showed.
“This is uncharted territory”, Bryant said via USA Today.
“It’s just getting the timing”, said Bryant, whose past three seasons have all been cut short by injury.
The second technical happened after Roy Hibbert approached Booker following that previous incident.
And after this season? Give Kobe his farewell tour this year and then put the onus on him to decide whether to retire a Laker or hang on and be forced to wear another uniform.
“It didn’t bother me at all”, he said.
The Los Angeles Lakers are back from Hawaii and will continue the preseason hosting the Toronto Raptors at the Staples Center this Thursday.
Bryant also clarified that his footwork is getting better and better and he didn’t feel any fatigue. He shot a lot, and he was really, truly bad in spite of those nice box score lines. Kobe isn’t his vintage self anymore and his ego doesn’t allow him to accept that which has been a big factor is turning the Lakers from a once free agent destination to now a keep away zone. We’ll have to get through 2015-16 first, though.
The 2014-15 season was a tough one for the Lakers. With Kobe on the bench, the load fell to the rest of the squad, and all eyes were on Los Angeles’ newest addition, rookie point guard D’Angelo Russell.
Rather than take the loss hard, Bryant felt great after the game.
Having a defensive specialist like Roy Hibbert could be the next block in the Lakers’ rebuild.
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“(My legs) feel stronger”, Bryant said. Bryant in a statement via bleacherreport clearly stated that he would be playing for the pre-season. Until the Lakers prove otherwise – “basketball” don’t matter. “Just fluid in his movements”. The teams had played a preseason game two days earlier and Booker was reportedly barking at Hibbert in that game.
