SO YES, IT IS NOW OCTOBER

Bryant-Scott bond goes back a long time.

Bryant won 5 NBA championships

and climbed to fourth place on the NBA's

all time scoring list. Scott recalls seeing "some-

thing special" in Bryant during those early-

morning workouts during the 1996-97 season.

He was much different than anyone I had

ever met, Byron Scott (Laker coach now) said

in an interview with The Daily News paper.

He was already extremely focused on what

he wanted to be in this league. So, Scott says

that they sort of gravitated toward each other.

One quality they both share is that they pave

their way working so hard to achieve and do

remain very focused in practice. They both

know full well what they want to accomplish

and therefore each one sets that tone.

In recent practices it appeared that there

has been a calming presence. Now that the

2014-15 season is nearly here there are

almost conflicting emotions. I suppose that

is because  the fact that last season, due 

to injuries, he played only a short time on court,

namely 6 games total. Granted there is excitement.

But along with that is almost a rage..something

within Kobe that states he is trying to see if he can

prove to himself that he can do the job he is so

trained to do and do it well. I think we all feel quite

optimistic regarding the upcoming games though.

Scott absolutely gushed about Bryant's shooting

accuracy and post-up moves. Also in his rebounding

and passing, even if perhaps he did not get a dunk.

Scott went on to say he is expecting Kobe to play

82 games and to play them well.

The positive vibes lasted all summer long for Steve

Nash. He has been able to train and play basketball

without nerve root irritation flare-ups in his back.

Unlike the past 2 years where he missed a combined

99 games because of root damage with his back

and his hamstrings, Nash practiced all summer un-

scathed. Yes, Nash is well aware that his positive 

spirits and health may sour as quickly as one of 

his nifty no-look passes, and yes, that  certainly

was a bad run with that nerve that he had to be

a bit cautious about but he is forecasting good plays.

More later then about some of the other players

in a future blog. Okay?

Babs Wells