We will no longer be seeing Steve Nash dashing
about with our Lakers team. At age 40, it looks as if
he will be hanging it up. His back is just too difficult
to deal with but who knows? Perhaps next year
he just may decide to go into a coaching position.
At any rate, the pre-season games have been
fun to watch and now it is the 28th. Our very
first new season game! Granted, new faces
will be there for us to try and negotiate as part
of our team, still our new coach has already
been there and seen it all before. Byron Scott.
It also seems that our Kobe Bryant will be with
us and tackling the courts with his very own
individual manner..sometimes even he has
been known to coach his buddies and he
never ever lets us down with his slam dunks.
Jeremy Lin will be making his first career
start in the Lakers' season opener today
against the Houston Rockets, a franchise that
stripped away his starting position and traded him.
Nick Young will be among the missing for right
now as he is nursing a right thumb injury.
Xavier Henry has an injured right knee.
Ryan Kelly is bothered too, with his right
hamstring and Wayne Ellington suffered a
concussion. Jordan Hill is listed as "probable"
after having a neck strain but Lin may have
showed his true feelings when he paused
for 6 seconds when asked if he thought
Houston offered him a fair shake. He was
not able really to answer that question.
Scott will conserve Bryant's minutes after
the star guard played in only 6 games last
season because of his injuries. The coach
would only say it will fall between 35-40
minutes. This will enable Bryant to play
at a high level, yet still keep him fresh
in March and April. Kobe averaged 26
minutes in the last two exhibitions. He
averaged 38 minutes for the 2 last
seasons but that was before injuries.
Bryant is the Lakers' best hope for a
bright season but he is also fighting
the cumulative wear of 18 NBA seasons.
Kobe is famous for checking himself
into games and playing for however many
minutes he wants. He and Scott have
discussed this aspect at length.
After last years' bitter ending, the Lakers'
are likely to slow things down somewhat.
Scott is implementing a multifaceted
approach with elements of the Princeton
offense which should show all our players
to be able to play at their own strengths.
One thing here to note is Julius Randle. Both
Kobe Bryant and coach Byron Scott shared
he could become an NBA All-Star if he is
willing to mimic Bryant's work ethic.
An article telling us we have lost Wayne McCain,
says at only age 59, he died at a hospital in Urbana
after a brief unspecified illness, losing his life
last Wednesday. He had been a former Illinois assistant
men's basketball coach and standout high school
coach. Bob Knight, Basketball Hall of Fame, just turned
74. And with these announcements we anxiously
Await tonight's' game with anticipation. Go Lakers!
Babs Wells
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