Andrew wrote:Articles like that were certainly on the mark in predicting great things for Kobe, but at the same time I think all that gushing turned a lot of fans against him from the get-go.
The Los Angeles Lakers are cruising without their gimpy big man, and they might have to limp along longer than expected.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson said that Pau Gasol, who is trying to rehabilitate a sore hamstring, might not return until Christmas, the Los Angeles Daily News reported on Wednesday.
"I find that hard to believe, that it's gone backwards. ... Right now, he's capable of doing only so much and nothing else," Jackson said, according to the newspaper. "But it is mysterious, no doubt about it."
The defending champion Lakers are 6-1, and Gasol is expected to miss his eighth straight game when Los Angeles hosts Phoenix on Thursday.
Asked if he knew when Gasol would practice or if he had a target date for his return, Jackson said: "No. We're starting to look toward Christmas, though. Some time out there."
The Spanish forward missed just one regular-season game last year and was the Lakers' second-leading scorer while averaging 18.9 points, a team-leading 9.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
Jackson was asked why Gasol's injury is mysterious.
"Yeah, because with most hamstrings you see bleeding or bruises or holes in the hamstring," the coach said. "His has been one of those things wasn't a big concern to us, but has turned into a month-long injury."
Andrew wrote:Headed up by Kobe, the Lakers have enough talent to keep winning until then but it remains to be seen whether that will burn Kobe out a little and whether the rest of the team grow accustomed to standing around and watching him take over, as I think there's been at least a shade of that going on with Gasol out of the lineup and Kobe picking up the slack. Then of course there's the enigma that is Ron Artest and the possibility he'll do something incredibly stupid without warning, but I'd say so far so good even if it isn't the ideal situation with Gasol on the sidelines.
Andrew wrote:I wouldn't be surprised if he's looking to assert himself as a more individually dominant player again, having proven that he can win a championship without Shaq. He'd really need to be destructively selfish and the rest of the Lakers would have to completely collapse for him to seriously jeopardise their title hopes though, so unless it reaches the point where his teammates are taken out of the game or he burns out early, they'll be in good shape come playoff time.
Sit wrote:Will be interesting to see him against Phoenix today on One HD.
Andrew wrote:Sit wrote:Will be interesting to see him against Phoenix today on One HD.
Rub it in.Actually, I expect I'll be picking up a new set top box in the near future so I'll be able to take advantage of it.
Lamrock wrote:Pau's not a superstar, he's merely a star. A sidekick. When healthy, Bynum is almost as good as Pau. It would have really sucked for them if they had traded him for Jermaine the Drain.
dare019 wrote:8 points in the 3rd ..![]()
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I think Kobe give up in that game scoreless in the 2nd half![]()
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Carmo wrote:dare019 wrote:8 points in the 3rd ..![]()
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I think Kobe give up in that game scoreless in the 2nd half![]()
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You think wrong, he tried his ass off in that third quarter. Then when the game was already won by three quarter time, the bench came on and Kobe didn't come back in.
Carmo wrote:I know. I'm just saying he didn't give up. You can play shit without giving up.
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