LAKERS LED BY KOBE INTO SEASON OF UNCERTAINTY
Los Angeles Lakers 119 @ Philadelphia 76ers 96
Oct 29, Philadelphia - A rare sight was beheld on the floor of the Sixer's hometurf as the Lakers had the following rotation on the floor. Slava Medvedenko at Center, Brian Cook at Power Forward, Luke Walton and Kareem Rush at the wings and rookie Sasha Vujaivc calling the plays.
The Lakers were winning by 21 at the start of the fourth quarter.
Los Angeles were led by Kobe Bryant into the 2004-05 season, a season which many NBA experts believe will be tough for the team from Hollywood. One of the most recent statements made in the media was by ESPN analyst Marc Stein stating that if LA wanted to win, they would have kept Shaquille O'neal. This sparked and fuelled Kobe Bryant into a frenzy, a week after Bryant was criticised by Seattle Guard Ray Allen.
"I'm going to prove everyone wrong this season," Bryant released in a statement, "If everyone thinks I'm selfish, so be it." He certainly proved his critics wrong for one more day with a triple double performance and great leadership. His 32 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists paced Los Angeles to an easy victory.
"His leadership has been outstanding so far," New coach Rudy Tomjanovic said, "I see Bryant conducting weights training everyday and he comes to practise and shootarounds early, earlier than everyone else." Tomjanovic, a winner of two championships in 94 and 95 was signed as the Lakers new head coach over the busy off-season and succeeds Phil Jackson.
The Lakers who lost the core of their dynasty three-peat teams kept the one player who they believe is a main piece of their puzzle to be a dynasty for the future. However, Bryant has been surrounded with significant depth. Lamar Odom scored 22 points and 7 rebounds, Caron Butler 12, 5 and 4 while Brian Grant grabbed 13 rebound off the pine. All of them were acquired in the Shaquille O'neal trade. Shaq's replacement in the middle, Chris Mihm had a solid debut scoring 5 points, grabbing 6 rebounds and blocking 4 shots.
The Lakers came out on fire and ran out to a 15-0 lead before the Sixers took their first timeout. The teams came out with Philadelphia trying to get back into the game and the Sixers went on an 8-0 scoring run. However, any hopes of a comeback faded when Chucky Atkins hit back-to-backs threes, Rush added two of his own and Bryant stole the ball at midcourt to complete and emphatic dunk and the home crowd started to boo Allen Iverson.
Iverson scored 27 points, the USA co-captain from the Athens Games did struggle int he first half against Kobe Bryant's defence. Shooting 2-14 in the first half was one of the main reasons why his team trailled by as many as 30 points throughout the game. "I don't know what happend but I just let Bryant get to my mind too much. When I scored 13 in the third quarter, the Lakers had already done so much that I couldn't single handedly turn the game round."
Bryant led five scorers in double digits and all of the players on the team scored. "It was a great team effort," Veteran Chucky Atkins said post game. Sixers Forward Kyle Korver sat out due to an upset stomach and made an observation of Bryant that not many have made. "He's bulked up quite alot and it seems Kobe's really focusing on helping his teammates win ball games."
A startling contrast to any comments made about Bryant outside of the Lakers orginaisation.
NOTES
Kobe Bryant has complained of a sore left leg recently... The Lakers held a 20 rebound advantage over the smaller Sixer's team... Philadelphia forced Los Angeles into 23 turnrovers... Former Laker Shaquille O'neal's Heat lost to Boston after former Laker Gary Payton hit a buzzer beater to win the game 95-94... The Lakers have appointed a new General Manager who will be presented when the Lakers host Portland tommorrow night...
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