Five early observations from Lakers camp
- From: VicXnews <news@xxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 06 Oct 2005 00:44:04 GMT
Updated: Oct. 5, 2005, 3:59 PM ET
Lakers expect triangle to flow, hide lack of point guard
By Ric Bucher
ESPN The Magazine
Archive
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/trainingcamp05/columns/story?columnist=bucher_ric&id=2181401&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2ftrainingcamp05%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dbucher_ric%26id%3d2181401
Five early observations from Lakers camp:
1. Health of Kobe and Phil: The most overlooked reason to believe they'll
get along better is that neither comes into this season plagued by
physical pain.
Kobe Bryant had a full summer to train for the first time in several years
and it is showing. While everyone dragged themselves off the court after
the first practice session, Kobe didn't look as though he'd broken a
sweat, despite repeatedly bringing the ball up against pressure.
"He was competing as if we're playing regular-season games, so you can
tell he's kind of antsy to get started," said Luke Walton, who was part of
a regular full-court run at the Lakers' training facility for most of
September.
Phil Jackson, meanwhile, almost looks comfortable moving around the court
and was active enough to work up a sheen of sweat on his forehead. Anyone
who remembers him hobbling around as though one leg were several inches
shorter than the other -- nearly a candidate for Monty Python's Department
of Silly Walks -- will be astounded at how tall he actually is. (He was
6-foot-8 as an NBA player three decades ago.)
Jackson hinted that he had to be sure his health could endure a full
season before he accepted the Lakers' job, and everyone assumed it was the
heart problems he had two years ago.
Wrong. The spinal fusion he had as a player was the real threat to his
comeback. The combination of deteriorating discs and the awful ergonomics
of team benches, team buses and hotel beds have taken their toll.
After Lakers VP (and Jackson's girlfriend) Jeanie Buss suggested he buy a
Segway to get up and down the court, Jackson got into action and began a
rigorous physical therapy routine that includes a lot of ab work. He
credits athletic performance coordinator -- I swear I'm not making these
titles up -- Alex McKechnie for the workout routines that have him walking
upright.
2. Still Looking To Deal: The Lakers were disappointed about Eddy Curry
going to the Knicks because they were sure they made a better offer to the
Bulls.
have to be an insider to read the rest of the article :-(
.
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