GOING EXTRA MILE LAKERS GO TO OVERTIME IN OPENER.Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer DENVER - They came to the perfect place to start the climb back to the playoffs, if that is indeed where they are headed, a building where Kobe Bryant Kobe Bean Bryant (born July 23 1978) is an American All-Star shooting guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. , Phil Jackson
Philip Douglas "Phil" Jackson (born September 17, 1945 in Deer Lodge, Montana) is the current coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, an American professional basketball team. and the rest of the Lakers could stare at the Rocky Mountains Rocky Mountains, major mountain system of W North America and easternmost belt of the North American cordillera, extending more than 3,000 mi (4,800 km) from central N.Mex. to NW Alaska; Mt. Elbert (14,431 ft/4,399 m) in Colorado is the highest peak. if they just took one step outside. The Lakers have 82 games to reach the summit, to put the memories of last season's 34-48 disaster behind them, and judging from Wednesday night's opener against the Denver Nuggets Nuggets can refer to several branches of interest:
The Lakers led by as many as seven points late in the third quarter, even as Bryant battled foul trouble and turnovers, Lamar Odom Lamar Joseph Odom (born November 6 1979, in South Jamaica, Queens, New York) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward (also plays both forward spots and is a "point-forward") for the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Lakers. struggled to get in rhythm and maintain his composure and Kwame Brown never got started in his Lakers' debut. The Lakers play their home opener tonight against the Phoenix Suns, the defending Pacific Division champions, and face the Nuggets at Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. on Sunday night Sunday Night, later named Michelob Presents Night Music, was an NBC late-night television show which aired for two seasons between 1988 and 1990 as a showcase for jazz and eclectic musical artists. . Bryant picked up his fourth foul with 4:37 left in the third quarter and went to the bench with the Lakers leading 60-59. Where Jackson often voiced concern about Bryant shouldering too much of the Lakers' load, his teammates had to keep things in control without him. They scrapped, both figuratively and literally. Devean George Devean Jamar George (born August 29 1977 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA. He typically plays small forward but because of his athleticism and defensive activity, can defend many shooting guards as well. and Carmelo Anthony Carmelo Kiyan Anthony (born May 29,1984) is an American professional basketball player at the small forward position for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association and the USA National Team. went to the floor fighting for a loose ball and squared off when they came to their feet. After both teams were sent to their benches, George struck back with a 3-pointer. His shot put the Lakers in front 68-61 but things quickly unraveled. Anthony scored along the baseline and Chris Mihm lost the ball to Greg Buckner, who fed ahead to Earl Boykins for a layup. Mihm compounded the mistakes with an ill-advised jumper. Anthony connected from the corner and the Lakers were left with a 68-67 lead to take into the fourth quarter. Mihm, meanwhile, ran into Jackson's extended arm on his way to the bench and the whole unit was lectured. Odom missed his first six shots and was just 2 for 10 after three quarters. He also was called for carrying the ball and traveling. When the inevitable miscues happened Wednesday, they were evident to everyone. Denver's Eduardo Najera was left open under the basket on an inbounds in·bounds adj. 1. Basketball Involving putting the ball into play by passing it from out of bounds to a teammate on the court. 2. Sports Within the designated boundaries. play. Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic fumbled the ball into a backcourt violation. The stars were aligned for the Lakers coming in, even with Jackson admitting 90 minutes before tipoff that he was a bit apprehensive in his return to coaching. The Nuggets were absent coach George Karl, who was serving a suspension, and playing the second of back-to-back games. They also learned earlier in the day that forward Nene Nene (nēn, nĕn) or Nen (nĕn), river, c.90 mi (140 km) long, rising in the Northampton Uplands, central England, and flowing NE past Northampton, Oundle, Peterborough, and Wisbech to the Wash. would be lost for the season to a knee injury. It also was a return for the Lakers to the scene where their low point in a disastrous season occurred. Back on March 24, interim coach Frank Hamblen accused the Lakers of quitting in 117-96 loss that effectively ended their playoff hopes. In the first quarter, Bryant looked fresh after a six-month offseason. He hit a pull-up jumper over Voshon Lenard and drilled a tough post-up jumper. Bryant also threw down a ferocious fastbreak dunk in the second quarter. He had 14 points by halftime but his headstrong head·strong adj. 1. Determined to have one's own way; stubbornly and often recklessly willful. See Synonyms at obstinate, unruly. 2. Resulting from willfulness and obstinacy. play got the best of him. Bryant plowed his way into two offensive fouls on the fastbreak in the second quarter and had three fouls at halftime. They were just two of the Lakers' 13 turnovers in the first half. Jackson used his bench as if it were an exhibition game, sending out nine players in the first quarter and making seven substitutions. Everybody except for forward Slava Medvedenko played in the first half, including teenage center Andrew Bynum. The Lakers went into halftime trailing 50-48 and got quality minutes from guard Smush Parker in the starting lineup and guard Laron Profit coming off the bench. Parker knocked down two 3-pointers early and posted up Earl Boykins for a basket in the second quarter. Profit hit two nice jumpers and sneaked in to strip the ball out of Marcus Camby's hands in the second quarter. Forward Brian Cook also got hot for a stretch and had six points. Ross Siler, (818) 713-3610 ross.siler(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos, boxes Photo: (1 -- color) The Lakers' Kobe Bryant drives to the basket past Denver's Voshon Lenard, left, and Marcus Camby. (2) Phil Jackson guides the Lakers in his return to the bench after a one-year hiatus. David Zalubowski/Associated Press Box: STORY LINES |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion