LA Times wrote:Looming Reunion With Wizards Puts Brown Into the Spotlight
It's only an exhibition game against the Washington Wizards, one that would matter to the Lakers mainly for triangle-offense continuity if Phil Jackson had been the only off-season acquisition.
But because Kwame Brown was also picked up over the summer, there's added intrigue, between a player and his former team.
Drafted No. 1 overall by the Wizards in 2001, Brown was unloaded in August, sent west for Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins, who will both get quality time this season for the Wizards.
Brown will be a starter, and a story line, Tuesday in Bakersfield.
He recently acknowledged he ditched practice during last season's playoffs because he feared he would physically harm All-Star teammate Gilbert Arenas, who told Wizard Coach Eddie Jordan not to insert him into a playoff game, according to Brown.
Brown was suspended for the rest of the playoffs, effectively ending his four-year stay with the Wizards.
Tuesday, there will be Arenas, Brown, Jordan, and the lingering concept of expectations gone asunder.
"No ill will," Brown said Sunday. "I'll go shake [Arenas'] hand. I'll go shake the whole team's hand. Regardless of how some of the players might feel about me or I feel about them, we're professionals."
The Lakers could play the Wizards again Friday if both teams win games Thursday as part of a four-team exhibition tournament at Staples Center.
"I'm kind of glad it came early," Brown said. "Sometimes you can get overzealous against a team that you've been traded from and it can work in reverse. You want to do so well that it doesn't happen for you. I just want to go out and try to stay calm and stay patient."
The Lakers and Wizards play a game that counts Dec. 16 at Staples Center, during which time the Lakers might still be digesting the concept of the triangle.
"We don't have our timing right," Brown said. "Everybody's just looking for Kobe [Bryant], including myself. That would be tough on him, for us to ask him just to run the whole offense and score between three people like he sometimes has to do. We've got to be able to flow."
Brown, who averaged 7.7 points and 5.5 rebounds through four pro seasons, is trying to do some adjusting of his own.
"This is such a learning experience for him," Jackson said. "He's still in a situation where he's in a learner's mode, so things instinctively, he's not doing. He's still trying to figure out if he's in the right spot at the right time. We see some essence of what he can be."
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The Lakers finished practice Sunday without running extra sprints, without Jackson walking off the court in disgust and without Bryant booting a water bottle in frustration.
"Today we did a much better job of zeroing in and retaining information," Bryant said. "It was a little too loose [Saturday], more loose than I like it to be. Today we got back on track."
Press-Telegram wrote:Pippen gone
The Lakers' coaching staff looked a little less legendary , with Scottie Pippen returning home from his job as training-camp consultant. It has not been decided if Pippen will return later in the season, but Jackson said his former player enjoyed his work.
Asked if he could see Pippen working somewhere as an assistant next year, Jackson added: "If he wants to. I think he'll have opportunities to do a variety of things, color commentating or coaching."
Instead, Odom rallied the team to return and practice free throws, with the exception of Kobe Bryant, who walked off the court after kicking a water bottle.
"This is such a learning experience for him," Jackson said. "He's still in a situation where he's in a learner's mode, so things instinctively, he's not doing."
magius wrote:i know this is unrelated, but if artest can play offensively for a whole season the paul peirce-like way he was playing before the 'incident', i honestly would take him over bryant.
Indy wrote:magius wrote:i know this is unrelated, but if artest can play offensively for a whole season the paul peirce-like way he was playing before the 'incident', i honestly would take him over bryant.
Interesting point. You lose 4-5 points with the switch, but you get more of a lockdown defensive guy...
Very interesting...
EGarrett wrote:Considering I was at a club Saturday and Lamar Odom was there trying to pick up a table-dancer and gawking at her like a little boy...I doubt he's really that focused on basketball.
Yeah, he should go to that club and stare at a basketball the whole time (or at Jumaine Jones?) or better yet stay in the arena running laps for Phil all day.EGarrett wrote:Considering I was at a club Saturday and Lamar Odom was there trying to pick up a table-dancer and gawking at her like a little boy...I doubt he's really that focused on basketball.
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