laker under 205.5 big
Along with the normal rustiness associated with lack of practice continuity during the All-Star break, leading scorers Kobe Bryant and Paul Pierce each spent the weekend in Denver for the game and its festivities. Since then, Bryant has flown across the country to attend a family funeral. He missed the Lakers? practice yesterday.
The Lakers have brought in some new assistant coaches in the wake of Rudy T?s departure as head coach, guys with multi-year ties to the Lakers like Brian Shaw and Kurt Rambis. A change in offensive philosophy is imminent, and without having practiced on Monday, Bryant is unlikely to be The Man in this particular scenario against a non-conference opponent. He is a terrific defender, though, and so is Boston?s Gary Payton when he wants to be.
The Celtics had three guys in Denver overall last weekend ? Pierce, and two rookies, Jefferson and Tony Allen. Jefferson has become a good low-post scorer, but now he is on the radar and teams will run an extra guy at him ? not a good situation for a rookie. Off his head-inflating All-Star weekend participation, once again, not a good situation for him. Very suspect offensive flow for a Boston team that re-united in LA and must play 3,000 miles from home to begin the second half of the season