LAKERS NOTEBOOK: HARPER IS MISSED.Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer ANAHEIM - The Lakers didn't need another exhibition-game loss to tell them they're not ready to defend the title. For that, all they needed was to ask 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 . ``Out of shape,'' Harper said, assessing the state of the Lakers before their 78-86 loss to the Phoenix Suns at the Pond on Tuesday. ``We've got a ways to go. . . . Somewhere down the line, we will be a good basketball team.'' How good? The Lakers' team captain assured they will ``play until June again.'' Yet for now, with five exhibition games to go, the Lakers (0-3) remain a bit disjointed. They trailed the injury-riddled Suns - playing without Penny Hardaway Anfernee Deon "Penny" Hardaway (born July 18 1971, in Memphis, Tennessee) is an American NBA basketball player specializing as a point guard and shooting guard. He is currently a member of the Miami Heat[1], who signed him August 9, 2007. and Tom Gugliotta Thomas James Gugliotta (born December 19, 1969 near Huntington Station, New York) is an American former professional basketball player. The youngest of seven children, Gugliotta was a skinny 6'6", 198 pound forward as a high school senior. His two older brothers, Frank Jr. - by as many as 15 points in the first half, despite long runs under the direction of Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (pronounced "shak-KEEL") (born March 6, 1972 in Newark, New Jersey), frequently referred to simply as Shaq, is an American professional basketball player, generally regarded as one of the most dominant in the National Basketball Association (NBA). and 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. . The Lakers had 11 first-half turnovers. It took a late fourth-quarter run by the reserves - Greg Foster Greg Foster may refer to:
After attending San Ramon Valley High School in Danville, California, Madsen, who is a Mormon, served for two years , Emanual Davis Emanual Davis (born August 27 1968, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American former professional basketball player. A 6'4" guard from Delaware State University, Davis was never drafted by an National Basketball Association team, but did manage to play in 6 NBA seasons from , 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 Isaiah Rider - and the late return of O'Neal and Bryant to make a game of it. Of greater concern to Harper, however, is that the Lakers seem dependent on his court leadership. He's played short minutes in the exhibition season, and when he's not running the offense, the offense just doesn't function as well. ``That's sad, ain't it?'' quipped the 36-year-old veteran. ``Let me tell you, that's sad. They think I'm gonna play eight more years? If they think I'm gonna play five more years, they think I'm gonna play after this season, they're mistaken. They need a guy like me who can play like me and knows the game.'' --Disappointment: Bryant is a bit disillusioned dis·il·lu·sion tr.v. dis·il·lu·sioned, dis·il·lu·sion·ing, dis·il·lu·sions To free or deprive of illusion. n. 1. The act of disenchanting. 2. The condition or fact of being disenchanted. with his first season as co-owner of Olimpia Milano, but contrary to reports, he is not yet ready to divest his 50 percent share of the Italian League team. Bryant said he's exploring many options but said it was ``premature'' to say he would sell. Other reports had the Italian League team filing for bankruptcy protection, but Bryant called that ``a last resort.'' ``We're going to try our very best to (save the team),'' Bryant said. ``We've been working on it for a long, long time. Hopefully, we'll be able to work something out.'' Bryant wouldn't discuss details of the team's trouble but said there are differences of philosophy within the organization. ``Obviously, I got into it for the love of it. . . . When your partner doesn't have the same vision that you have and is in it strictly for the business and not really for the love, and the business kind of takes over, it kind of hurts your feelings a little bit,'' Bryant said. ``Unfortunately, it's a decision where I have to weigh in the business aspect of things and not for the love. It's a tough situation.'' --Waive goodbye: Earlier in the day, the Lakers reduced the roster to 17 by waiving forward Andy Panko and guard Shawn Respert. Neither move was unexpected. Tougher decisions lie ahead. Even if the Lakers use all three injured list slots, they must waive two more players by Oct. 31. That leaves four guards competing for, at most, two spots. The candidates: Davis, Tyronn Lue, Cory Hightower and Mike Penberthy. Davis helped himself with a strong fourth quarter Tuesday, including apair of steals. Hightower did not play. --Ouch report: Robert Horry (sore right knee) and Lue (sprained right ankle) were held out of Tuesday's game and are listed as day to day. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: HARPER (Ron Harper) |
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