LAKERS NOTEBOOK: LOSING THE BENCH BATTLE L.A.'S SUBS SCORE JUST 11 POINTS.Byline: Howard Beck Staff WriterSACRAMENTO - Shaquille O'Neal's statistical line Sunday read like a desperate cry for help: 22 shots, 8 made. His call went largely unanswered in the Lakers' Game 3 loss to the Sacramento Kings. 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. tried, with 35 points. But Glen Rice Glen Anthony Rice (born May 28 1967, in Flint where he played for Flint Northwestern High School, Michigan) is a retired American NBA basketball player. Rice was a three-time NBA All-Star small forward well known for his pinpoint shooting accuracy, ranking 4th in NBA history with came up short, with 13 points, and the Lakers' bench combined for just 11 points. ``For whatever reason, it didn't seem like our energy level was really high,'' said reserve guard Brian Shaw Brian K. Shaw (born March 22, 1966 in Oakland, California) is a former professional basketball player. The 6' 6" Shaw could play both guard spots, but was used primarily at point guard over the course of his 14 seasons in the league. , who finished with three points. ``There were times when they needed us to come in and kind of give us a push, and we weren't able to get it done today for whatever reason. We just have to regroup re·group v. re·grouped, re·group·ing, re·groups v.tr. To arrange in a new grouping. v.intr. 1. To come back together in a tactical formation, as after a dispersal in a retreat. and come out, play with more intensity on Tuesday (in Game 4).'' No Laker reserve scored more than four points, and that came from rookie 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. . The usual sparks were missing - Robert Horry Robert Horry (born August 25, 1970 in Harford County, Maryland) is an American National Basketball Association basketball player. Currently playing for the San Antonio Spurs, Horry is is known for his ability to make clutch shots in big games. scoring just two points, Rick Fox and Derek Fisher Derek Lamar Fisher (born August 9 1974 in Little Rock, Arkansas) is an American professional basketball player with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was with the Utah Jazz but asked to be released from his contract to care for his 10-month-old daughter, who has cancer. going scoreless in a combined 0-for-6 effort. On the other side, the Kings' ``Bench Mob'' sprung to life, with 19 points from Peja Stojakovic to lead a 34-point effort from the reserves. ``I thought (the Kings) identified well, they did a good job on some of our people,'' coach 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. said. ``Our bench obviously wasn't as productive as theirs.'' Neither were the Lakers' other role players - Ron Harper
Ronald Harper (born January 20, 1964 in Dayton, Ohio) is a retired American professional basketball player whose career spanned from 1986 to 2001 with four teams in (7 points), A.C. Green (4 points) and Rice. ``I had good shots,'' Rice said. ``I was able to get into the lane a little bit, the ball just didn't go in. I've just got to remain confident, and I'm sure the next game I can get the same shots, and hopefully they'll go in.'' --Oh, baby: Fox played an ineffective five minutes, and it was understandable if his mind was elsewhere. Wife Vanessa Williams, pregnant with their first child, was expected to go into labor at any moment. Fox left for New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of immediately after the game to join her. A Lakers spokesman said doctors hope to induce labor today and that Fox should be back in time for Tuesday night's game. ``He just has to do what's important for his personal life,'' Jackson said, ``because that takes precedence over your professional life, and attentiveness, taking care of that and responsibility is where our energies will go towards him. Rick's a very responsible person, so we don't have any problem with that.'' Of course, the Lakers had hoped to complete the sweep Sunday, making Fox's absence immaterial. ``We had talked about it being between series,'' Jackson said. ``You're talking about bringing a baby to full term, which is probably the most important thing, is the child itself and how that fits in. ``You know,'' Jackson added with a smile, ``it's important for each child to be born under the sign and the moment, so astrologically these children have a chance to evolve the way they're supposed to.'' --Recovering: Kings assistant coach Pete Carril, who suffered a minor heart attack Saturday night, is in stable condition and could be released from the hospital in the next few days, the team announced. Carril had recovered sufficiently Sunday to talk his doctors into letting him watch the game. --Ouch report: Kings forward Tyrone Corbin suffered a strained left knee in a collision with teammate Jon Barry, and his status for Game 4 is uncertain. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Chris Webber of the Sacramento Kings goes to the basket against the Lakers' A.C. Green. Webber had 29 points in the Kings' win. Associated Press |
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