Kobes Game Looking Forward

[wildturkey]

He looks good so far. But he was also starting to look good coming off his achilles injury when the knee injury happened. Due to his age, the reality is we're basically in the Derrick Rose zone with him meaning he can play well but you're not really comfortable until you actually see him make it through the season. Basically, root like hell cuz he's looking good but never uncross your fingers.

 

[trojanfan12]

He looks good so far. But he was also starting to look good coming off his achilles injury when the knee injury happened. Due to his age, the reality is we're basically in the Derrick Rose zone with him meaning he can play well but you're not really comfortable until you actually see him make it through the season. Basically, root like hell cuz he's looking good but never uncross your fingers.

 

[Retroram52]

Yep. I agree that this team is going to come together with a different attitude about defense and their year together with Kobe healthy and maybe even Nash. I see us surprising alot of people this year and I'll be there for the majority of the games.

 

[Vitamike]

Kobe, even playing as little as 30 min (due to his age) is going to be a game changer. Add a young, aggressive PF in Randle and a feisty PG in Lin and we have a much better team than most people think.

And let's not forget Boozer! I just think Scott somehow gets Randle and Boozer on the court for extended minutes together.

Could get interesting SD11!

 

[lakersrule]

He looks good so far. But he was also starting to look good coming off his achilles injury when the knee injury happened. Due to his age, the reality is we're basically in the Derrick Rose zone with him meaning he can play well but you're not really comfortable until you actually see him make it through the season. Basically, root like hell cuz he's looking good but never uncross your fingers.

Yeah, I agree with keeping the fingers crossed, similar to when Bynum was with the Lakers. The exception with Bynum being my fingers were crossed every time he jumped hoping he would land without injury!

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

All indications, from Mitch and company raving how good he looks when he's been in El Segundo, from these videos, and from Kobe himself, point to Kobe currently being strong and healthy. And there is still a lot of time before training camps open.

What I like is that his been working out a lot with Swaggy P during this off season.

 

[lakersrule]

Here's some good stuff from Father Vitti. Our resident physio expert Retro should enjoy the interview.


The Trainer's Take | Los Angeles Lakers

 

[lakersrule]

What I like is that his been working out a lot with Swaggy P during this off season.

That's pretty cool for Swaggy to be able to work out with his idol and be on his favorite team. Hopefully he learns some good things.

 

[Retroram52]

Lakersrule, you raise another key component. Again this year, everyone, including the coaching staff, want to be Lakers and the battle of developing chemistry is already half won.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

Lakersrule, you raise another key component. Again this year, everyone, including the coaching staff, want to be Lakers and the battle of developing chemistry is already half won.

There's already better chemistry amongst this team almost two months before training camp than there was the entire season Dwight was with us.

 

[Inimical]

Nice vids guys. Like the optimism. Hopefully we see Kobe return to form. Who knows, time will tell.

 

[Retroram52]

There's already better chemistry amongst this team almost two months before training camp than there was the entire season Dwight was with us.

Spot on Shaqdaddy!!

 

[Inimical]

There's already better chemistry amongst this team almost two months before training camp than there was the entire season Dwight was with us.

Maybe Dwight didnt like being talked to the way Kobe would. He couldnt handle criticism or someone being better then him. Or maybe he couldnt forget Kobe dropping 40 in game 1 of the finals and getting his ass handed to him in 5. Maybe.

 

[Inimical]

Via LA TIMES

TO hear everybody talk, Kobe Bryant was 26 years old, not 36. He was merely coming off a bruised thigh and scratched elbow, not a torn Achilles' tendon and fractured knee.

The Lakers didn't do any scrimmaging Tuesday, but Bryant made an impact while practicing for 2 hours 15 minutes, his first official action since playing only six games last season.

He had to be asked to leave the court. For his own sake.

"Basically, I had to ask Kobe to, you know, 'Why don't you shut it down? We've got another one tomorrow,'" Lakers Coach Byron Scott said, encouraging Bryant to sit out end-of-practice conditioning.

Related story: First-year Lakers Coach Byron Scott will have to make tough decisions
Related story: First-year Lakers Coach Byron Scott will have to make tough decisions
Mike Bresnahan
Bryant said he felt like himself, adding, "and that's a good thing."

He also gave Scott quite a distinction after the coach's first training camp began with the Lakers.

"It's probably the most running I've ever done in an NBA practice," Bryant said. "Actually, it is for sure. I've never run this much."

Bryant seemed fine with it, hoping to make everyone forget he missed the first 19 games last season while recovering from his Achilles' injury and the final 57 because of his knee.

"You can tell he's excited, fired up, motivated and he's going to get better and better," Steve Nash said.

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The key dates will slowly start to align: Bryant's first scrimmage will be Wednesday, the Lakers' first exhibition game next Monday against Denver and the season opener Oct. 28 against Houston.

Other Lakers players were prepared for Scott's approach, hearing whispers ahead of time he could be more disciplinarian than friend.

"It was definitely a different experience," Jeremy Lin said. "A lot of defense, running, old-school drills."

The Lakers worked mainly on — here's a change — defense, spending about 98% of practice on it, Lin said.

Byron Scott
Lakers Coach Byron Scott smiles during media day at the team's practice facility on Monday in El Segundo. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Not a bad instinct to hammer at a concept that was a distant second to offense under Mike D'Antoni.

Plenty of it had to do with injuries, but the Lakers were 29th of 30 NBA teams in defense last season, giving up 109.2 points a game. They can thank Philadelphia for allowing 109.9.

It might not be glamorous, but this defense-first thing will continue for a while.

"Every day until I get to the point where I don't think we need to. And I don't think that's going to happen," Scott said. "I know in my years of playing and coaching that that's something that wins championships."

cComments
Who cares what Steve Nash ever says. Steve needs to answer every question like, "I've never won anything of merit, so ask Kobe."
JAY-N-LA
AT 9:08 PM SEPTEMBER 30, 2014
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The running might not stop for a while either, though Nash joined Bryant in skipping the end-of-practice sprinting that left plenty of players huffing and puffing, with some even laying down or leaning against the basketball hoop support.

"I want to be a great-conditioned team," Scott said. "The thing that I told our guys is we're going to lose some games this year, but it's not going to be because that team's in better shape … and we ran out of gas in the fourth quarter."

Related story: Kobe Bryant says love for game keeps him motivated
Related story: Kobe Bryant says love for game keeps him motivated
Broderick Turner
Nash, who will be 41 in February, practiced for about 90 minutes before heading to the sideline for some rest. Scott said he "was in great shape" after playing only 15 games last season mainly because of recurring nerve damage in his back.

The bigger deal these days is Bryant's return to the court. Even Bryant acknowledged it.

"I think the Achilles' injury just ignited a new challenge for me personally to see if I can do this, right?" Bryant said. "Because you don't know. So it's a challenge that presented itself to see if I can make this a successful comeback. "

Coach Bryant?

Earlier in his career, Bryant was called uncoachable by Phil Jackson in one of Jackson's books.

But would Bryant make a good coach?

"No. He's too tough," Scott said. "He would probably be a whole lot more demanding than Pat Riley and myself and guys like that.

"Plus he would expect guys to play like him, to have that type of passion that he has for the game … and guys these days just don't have that like he does. He's a dying breed."