Well as I suspected the Lakers came out flat like they usually do after a few days off rest. At times they resembles the team that lost to the Cavs and the Bobcats. Lakers played catch up virtually the whole first half. Kobe Bryant was fighting his ankle injury appearing very slow against the young Wes Johnson. Johnson scored a career best 29 points ( although he score 20 on the Lakers last time ). Kobe described it as having " Bambi legs" out there. He hadn't practiced with the team or even shot a ball in about 4 days. His ankle was bothering him so much he stayed in the locker room after half time whole Shannon Brown started in his place. Kobe reemerged with 6:18 left in the quarter. The Lakers didn't miss a beat without him though. Shannon scored 14 points...yeah his jumper was actually falling!! As if things weren't already bad for Kobe he got a hard hit from Webster at the 5:57 mark of the 4th quarter. As Kobe was going for the steal Webster gave him a shoulder to the chin. He stayed on the floor for several minutes while fans and teammates stared in anticipation. When asked by trainer Gary Vitti if he was ok he didn't answer. Vitti said he thought Kobe had whiplash. Kobe got up, sat on the bench, listened in the huddle and went back out on the court without a word. Just and angry scowl followed by a 18 footer. Don't shake that tree or the mamba will fall out!!!! Kobe held his neck while talking to the media often times flexing and at times looking dazed. When asked if he would play Sunday against Portland he said " Ill be ready. I promise you that. Ill be more than ready." DUHHHHH! Kobe finished with just 18 points going 6-17 from he field (YUKK). Ill cut him some slack because hes hurt.
In other news Andrew Bynum continued his double double streak ( 5 and counting) finishing with 10 points and 14 boards before being ejected in the 4th quarter. Bynum was called for an offensive foul under the Lakers basket after trying to create room for himself against the Wolves defense. I think he got fouled a few times but fortunately for the Wolves I wasn't refereeing that game. :) So next time down Michael Beasley gets gut checked. Its just good play off style basketball right??? But,clearly was no play for the ball and Beasley went down like a sack of trash. He then got up jaw jacking at Matt Barnes and Lamar Odum and got a Technical Foul. They labeled Bynums a Flagrant 2 and he was ejected. The NBA defines a fragrant foul 2 as " unnecessary and excessive contact committed by a player against an opponent" and it constitutes and automatic ejection. The league will review the foul as they do with every flagrant and will determine today whether Bynums action warranted a suspension. Bynum, Phil ,and a few other teammates don't think he will be suspended. He had a similar scenario in 2009 when he hit Gerald Wallace. Wallace was sent to the hospital and out for weeks with a collapsed lung. No suspension was given. So, I like his chances. We will sure need him against a small but very hot Portland team. Teammates think it was just a hard foul in the heat of the game. Beasley even said " They are gearing up for the play offs, it was a good hard foul, it happens all the time." Beasley shot his 2 free throws and then limped off the court with what reporters are describing as a bruised hip before x rays. Beasley didn't seem to be having a good night. He was heckled by Ron Artest the whole first half. Ron Ron at times cupped both hands over his mouth for a makeshift bull horn yelling at Beasley. At one point Beasley shot a 3 pointer that didn't even draw iron. Ron Ron led the " Aiiiiirrrbaaalll" chant along with he 19,000 fans at Staples before he was slapped with a Tech.
All in all the game was a lot closer than it should have been. If not for Paus 25 and Shannons 14 it may have went a different way. Kevin Love did get a quiet 15 points and 13 boards, but Bynum and Kobe were the big story. Stay tuned tomorrow for a preview of Lakers vs Portland. Tip off at 6:30 pm
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