Maybe that wasn't jet lag...
New Lakers guard Sun Yue looked a little tired yesterday at his introductory news conference, theoretically because of a little jet lag and all the hubbub.
Theoretically.
Turns out, the kid has mono. After becoming ill late Wednesday night, he was taken to an area hospital, where the diagnosis was made. This means he's out for the start of camp. No date for a return was given. Definitely a bummer for Sun. Mono can knock folks out for a while, and while in the long run he should be fine, this will definitely have a negative impact on his rookie season, setting him back on the court and in the weight room.
Press release (it's short) below.
BK
LAKERS GUARD SUN YUE TESTS POSTIVE FOR
MONONUCLEOSIS
Too bad about Sun.
Getting back to ball, the lakers will be better off bringing odum off the bench. The question is though, what toughness or grit do the lakers have at SF? Paul Pierce will dominate again, as will many other SF's in the NBA, without some kind of decent SF for the lakers.
Posted by: BUTLER | September 25, 2008 at 11:53 AM
GODD@@MNIT ARE WE CURSED? Can we ever have a fully healthy team?
Jon K. get down there immeditely and do your BIO. mumbo jumbo.
Posted by: Mamba24 | September 25, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Ariza can play the 3. He seems to be a good defender.
Posted by: Bryan2337 | September 25, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Butler,
You can easily shift Kobe to the Small Forward slot and Sasha in the Shooting Guard slot. Who can backup Sasha at the 2 if Kobe starts on 3? Simple have Kobe go back to being a shooting guard once Sasha sits down to rest. That is assuming Lamar is off the bench as a 6th man.
I doubt we will play much of either Mihm or Mbenga especially in the playoffs. Pau and Andrew will mostly be rotating off each other. I imagine the same will be with Shaq and Amare at the center positions as well (Hence I don't think Lopez will play much with Shaq and Amare rotating off each other).
As for Q damn.....
Maybe he can get some Valaciclovir, from testing it has shown to lower the symptoms of the Epstein-Barr virus. But rest is what is needed for Sun, otherwise if he goes in too soon he could rupture his spleen like Al Harris of the Green Bay Packers did against the Cowboys and that would be worst.
Wish him a speedy recovery.
-blitz
Posted by: thekobebryantblitz | September 25, 2008 at 12:26 PM
Sea Kelp!
Posted by: Mayor of Kobe-Town | September 25, 2008 at 12:26 PM
As a rule of thumb, never EVER kiss journalists. Look what you can catch.
Posted by: cedichou | September 25, 2008 at 12:56 PM
Bummer, it looks like the Sun Also Sets.
Is it gonna hurt mommy, am I gonna die? Is it gonna hurt mommy? I don't wanna die! Spinal menejesus..spinal menengitis got me down.
I love Ween.
Looks like we got Mbenga back, probably as a sparring partner for our bigs, insurance for Mihm, and at best a body to throw at guys liek Amare and Perkins. Too bad about Sun, he might not make the roster and do some D-league playing which should be fine.
Training camp starts Monday, right?
Posted by: Jamie Sweet | September 25, 2008 at 01:01 PM
The Blitz -
Sasha can play SG indeed, but that gives up kobey's D there...scoring won't be the problem, I'm thinking about D on the perimeter. Having Fischer and sasha or farmar at the guard spots leaves the lakers open to attack.
"I imagine the same will be with Shaq and Amare at the center positions as well (Hence I don't think Lopez will play much with Shaq and Amare rotating off each other)."
Actually, Lopez will be getting a ton of minutes this season at C. I think he'll be playing 20-23 minutes per night in the first part of the season. More if Shack goes out at some point. I doubt Amare will see very much time at C unless fouls or injury become issues. Amare exploded at PF after Shack arrived, and that was with 6'9" Brian Skinner (now a Clipper) as backup C.
Posted by: BUTLER | September 25, 2008 at 01:09 PM
BUTLER,
>>>Actually, Lopez will be getting a ton of minutes this
>>>season at C.
No kidding. As soon as Shaq goes down for his mid-season
holiday 20 games in, Lopez may actually get to start.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | September 25, 2008 at 01:53 PM
BUTLER -
"I doubt Amare will see very much time at C unless fouls or injury become issues."
Um, you can pretty much bet on both those things being issues.
Posted by: puddle | September 25, 2008 at 01:54 PM
BUTLER,
As I am sure you have noticed by now, Shaq's MO for the past few years is to tuck into a large Thanksgiving meal and then hibernate until about March. This keeps him fresh enough to energetically blame others for his lackluster play in key playoff games.
The guy's been approximately halving in effectiveness every year since 2004. He's approaching Stanley Roberts territory right about now.
Posted by: The D | September 25, 2008 at 02:26 PM
"Actually, Lopez will be getting a ton of minutes this season at C. I think he'll be playing 20-23 minutes per night in the first part of the season. More if Shack goes out at some point. I doubt Amare will see very much time at C unless fouls or injury become issues."
I doubt Lopez will get significant minutes until Shaq becomes injured. Amare is WAY better than Lopez at center and is more suited for Steve Nash to run his offense. Lopez is at best Andy Varejao (except for hopefully the flopping which makes Andy Varejao so annoying, hopefully he stops those stupid flops with the new rules). Diaw will be the power forward and Amare back to center when Shaq gets injured.
"I'm thinking about D on the perimeter"
So am I. That's why you got Kobe guarding the perimeter (can guard both SF and SG positions) and Bynum guarding the post not to mention Pau defending one on one against the power forwards (and not to defend the post). Fisher is solid though not great on defense (averaged 3.5 steals against Deron Williams). Farmar for sure needs to improve his defense and Sasha's defense is solid but not great either.
-blitz
Posted by: thekobebryantblitz | September 25, 2008 at 02:28 PM
u guys always have something negative about shaq. im not defending him, hes a jackass for sure but...the guy is 36 for god's sake... u expect him to stay superman forever. lets see whats dwight howard or amare stoudemire gonna be when they hit their mid 30's.
Posted by: mike | September 25, 2008 at 02:38 PM
If Lopez is consistently getting 20-23 minutes per game, the Suns will be in the lottery.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | September 25, 2008 at 02:40 PM
Happy Birthday, humanomaly!
What do they call Chinese Food in China?
Food.
Posted by: RespectMyAuthoritah | September 25, 2008 at 02:47 PM
The Sun, the mono, and the stars.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | September 25, 2008 at 02:52 PM
"u guys always have something negative about shaq."
Mikey, Shaq's on the Phoenix Suns at the moment, what do you want us to do? We respect what he did for the Lakers but he's not a Laker at the moment. In fact he's on a Pacific Division rival team so should we cheer a Phoenix Sun when they are playing against us? (it was still so unbelievable how New York Knicks, Atlanta, and even Sacramento chanted MVP for Kobe at their home arenas).
-blitz
Posted by: thekobebryantblitz | September 25, 2008 at 02:57 PM
The blitz sez:
"I doubt Lopez will get significant minutes until Shaq becomes injured. Amare is WAY better than Lopez at center and is more suited for Steve Nash to run his offense. Lopez is at best Andy Varejao (except for hopefully the flopping which makes Andy Varejao so annoying, hopefully he stops those stupid flops with the new rules). Diaw will be the power forward and Amare back to center when Shaq gets injured."
BUTLER replies:
Here's what Paul Coro of azcentral sez this afternoon during a chat -
"If Shaq is out, the projection is that Lopez would be able to start some games. They are that high on how he looks and how good he can become. Louis Amundson is also the emergency big with high energy for those moments. Stoudemire is fine with playing some time at the 5. He just doesn't like being THE 5, although it helped make him All-NBA first team in 2007.
Nash already loves Lopez. Lopez is smart and eager and willing to learn and Nash relishes the chance to help young guys like that. Lopez doesn't give Nash as many option in the pick-and-roll game but you definitely can see some Nash-fed alleyoops and fastbreak finishes in the future for Sideshow Rob."
Posted by: BUTLER | September 25, 2008 at 03:26 PM
"If Lopez is consistently getting 20-23 minutes per game, the Suns will be in the lottery."
Why is it that Suns fans think the guy is going to be something special?
That post was awesome, ex.
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | September 25, 2008 at 03:26 PM
Shaq yells "Pay me!" during a pre-season game.
Shaq heals "on company time".
Shaq consistently derides and ridiclues each and every single organization that, in the past, has paid him millions of dollars to do the following 3 things:
1-Be ready for Training Camp if at all possible.
2-Play basketball
3-Be part of a team.
The reason Shaq is such an unpopular fellow here is because he is a jack a$$. Kareem played with effectiveness and poise until he was 40. Mutumbo has played past that. Olajuwan played into his late 30's, same with Patrick Ewing. Of course they were shadows of themselves, and had the humility to conduct themselves as such.
As long as Shaq keeps insisting that he's the man, I don't see how anyone could be a fan of that clown. He throws his teammates under the bus, backs it up over them and then drive back over them again.
Posted by: Jamie Sweet | September 25, 2008 at 03:33 PM
JSNV sez:
"So even if we did play the injury card, and Spurs fan can play the injury card, what was the Suns excuse for LOSING in the first round?? You had the greatest player of all time on your team with Shaq and Amare along with the greatest coach of all time too!! How does that happen?? hahahahahahahahaha..."
Actually, the SUNS lost Grant Hill for the playoffs, which was huge because Hill was a very good perimeter defender especially after Marion's departure. Hill had taken on Tony Parker in the previous reg season games with the spurs, games the SUNS won.
It's just come out that the reason for his injury was the appendectomy that he had mid-season, it didn't quite heal all the way.
Now of course the SUNS have more perimeter playas to choose from, thanks to the greatest GM of all time Steve Kerr.
Posted by: BUTLER | September 25, 2008 at 03:40 PM
all this Shaq, Robin "GRAB SOME BENCH" Lopez stuff is boring... so... I was scanning the rest of the page and... look at all those blogs the LA Times has now! Jeeeeez... there must be more than 20 of'em...
I really hope Sun Yue didn't kiss Andrew Bynum... maybe Luke Walton, that would be ok but NOT Andrew Bynum, ok? HANDS OFF, DUDE!
Posted by: Stay Thirsty My Friends | September 25, 2008 at 03:48 PM
Mamba24,
We're not cursed. We're fine. Sun Yue, while a very interesting player, will not be spearheading our march to the Championship this year--mono or no mono. This is not that big a deal.
Worst case scenario? We get another interesting player on a series of 10-day contracts until Sun Yue gets better.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 25, 2008 at 03:50 PM
BK,
You didn't kiss Sun Yue, did you?
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 25, 2008 at 03:53 PM
Do you know what is absolutely wonderful? Training camp and pre-season starts soon.
Nothing disembowels a Troll like the Lakers dominating their opponents while a Troll's team self-destructs.
Nothing.
Can hardly wait.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 25, 2008 at 03:55 PM
"Now of course the SUNS have more perimeter playas to choose from, thanks to the greatest GM of all time Steve Kerr."
So the Suns have no excuse this year NOT to win it all, right BUTLER?
Posted by: puddle | September 25, 2008 at 04:00 PM
Doesn't Mono take like a LOOOOONG time to fully recover from?
Bummer. How'd you like to get Mono right after being dropped off in China?
Kid's gotta feel like he's cursed.
--Fearless
Posted by: Fearless | September 25, 2008 at 04:09 PM
Jamie Sweet,
Just to bolster your very well spoken point, didn't Kareem win the MVP when he was 42?
Does anyone think Shaq could do that?
--Fearless
Posted by: Fearless | September 25, 2008 at 04:14 PM
Fearless-
It certainly can, that's for sure. The impact is far worse for Sun than it is for the Lakers, who weren't going to need him this season anyway. But it sets him back, and could wipe out a few months of development. Camp is an important time for rookies, especially those making the sort of transition he is from both a physical and basketball standpoint.
Jon-
No we just shook hands. Fortunately, the kissing of strangers isn't a standard practice of cultural exchange. (haha)
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | September 25, 2008 at 04:31 PM
I hope Sun recovers fast. Is it not the same sickness that Roger Federer suffered from?
Still, I got dibs as Suns number one fan He is cute.
Humanomally,
Happy, Happy Brithday! How do you say it in Chinese? I know Happy New Year is Kung Fat Choi (is that right?)
Posted by: Lakergurl | September 25, 2008 at 04:32 PM
Not to be negative but this is a major bummer for Sun.I once had this illness so badly I was bedridden for three months...on half days at school for another month and missed an entire tennis season AFTER that which literally ruined my junior tennis career.
People get it to various degrees but at worst it could be some time before he's back on the court and in an extreme case that could be next season.The only thing that cures this awful illness is lots and lots of rest for LONG time.Of course theres every chance its relatively mild but even so dont expect to see him being a pro athlete any time soon
I guess he's only just got it or he wouldnt have flown to the states?...did they do a physical or smn- is that how they found out?
bizzare
hope its not too bad....get well soon Sun
Posted by: Kiwi | September 25, 2008 at 05:30 PM
pig sez:
"Why is it that Suns fans think Lopez is going to be something special?"
It's not just SUNS folks, pig - check out ESPN'S NBA page and you'll see Lopez along with Mayo, Beasley and Rose as featured rooks to watch...
You might even like his 'view and what he says about Magic.
Posted by: BUTLER | September 25, 2008 at 06:07 PM
Happy belated B-Day Humanamoly.
And for Sun, dit da jow your way back to a speedy recovery!!
Come ONNNNNNNN LAKERS!!!
Posted by: JohnnyP | September 25, 2008 at 06:33 PM
The Blitz sez:
"Mikey, Shaq's on the Phoenix Suns at the moment, what do you want us to do?"
Become SUNS fans and improve your life immediately.
Posted by: BUTLER | September 25, 2008 at 06:44 PM
This is obviously being done by Mitch to set up a mid-season trade. He realizes how good Mbenga is, how he would have made the difference against Boston in the Finals. All the other teams that wanted to sign him for majot bucks this season, but who missed out because of his loyalty to the Lakers, will be calling constantly begging to get him.
Mitch will package him with Vlad's and Luke's contract, which the other teams will be glad to take because Mbenga is such a difference-maker, and bring back a $15M superstar.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | September 25, 2008 at 07:01 PM
"Mikey, Shaq's on the Phoenix Suns at the moment, what do you want us to do?"
Moment I become a Suns fan or even remotely cheer for the Suns is when the Oakland Raiders play against the Suns in basketball. (Get the Sarcasm)
-blitz
Posted by: thekobebryantblitz | September 25, 2008 at 07:37 PM
"No kidding. As soon as Shaq goes down for his mid-season
holiday 20 games in, Lopez may actually get to start."
Beer came out my nose, not good.
But funny.
Posted by: Badfinger | September 25, 2008 at 10:16 PM
"Become SUNS fans and improve your life immediately."
I'd rather lick wet paint.
Substitute "improve" for "end" and you're on to something.
Posted by: Badfinger | September 25, 2008 at 10:22 PM
Badfinger sez:
"Substitute "improve" for "end" and you're on to something."
Well, if you really want to apply that word change. But stick around at least for the first LA game in which SHACK plays for the SUNS.
And you'll find orange substituting for gold in your heart.
Posted by: BUTLER | September 26, 2008 at 12:32 AM
Mononucleosis.
Looks like he's going to be out from six weeks to three months.
http://tinyurl.com/3y4th6
This means he misses training camp and falls woefully behind in conditioning and then has to play catch-up for the rest of the year.
So... Sun Yue is basically written off for the year, realistically speaking.
Meaning, we're going to not only have to sign a 15th man, but put Sun Yue on the inactive list and sign someone else to 10 day contracts for a while.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 26, 2008 at 08:17 AM
So I did a little research on a "mononucleosis cure"... there really isn't one. Basically, Sun Yue needs to take vitamin supplements (especially vitamin C) and get himself to a Chinese herbalist for some detoxifying herbs. (While he's at it, he might want to pick up a jug of high quality Dit Da Jow for his teammates incase any one of them gets dinged up during training camp.)
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 26, 2008 at 08:22 AM
Thanks, Johnny P...
...."What do they call Chinese Food in China?
Food.
Posted by: RespectMyAuthoritah"
If I goofed it was the rum, not moi, sorry.....
hopefully being a fit although self admitted, noy quoting not as strong as others, athlete....uggghhhh....waking up...hopefully this wll keep his bounce back time to a minimum, definitely, will give him time to study tape, playbook ("hmmmmm...where's the chapters about defense?...maybe they forgot to give me the other book")....will give him time to get used to lifestiyle, learning the language like most do, by watching TV, getting repetiive motion syndrome from playing PS3 (I did when I was sick and out of work for 5 moonths, not from mono, something that hurt lots more, i lost 45 lbs, went down to 115 lbs,... no more food talk, but around Olympics time, I did get an e-mail of some great food pix...will look for it, had us gagging....at least Sun can avoid rookie hazing, he'll probably have "a lost in translation moment" when he does catch up to his teammates and they tell him to carry the bags....watch, he'll have them carrying his bags....glad Mbenga's back, he seemed productive, but gets those foul calls like Mihm, both still carrying the Scarlet Letter which the refs look for....(IMHO)...
h.
h,
Posted by: humanomaly | September 26, 2008 at 08:58 AM