I know it is very very early but it feels like a year which a lot of guys are gonna be in n out due to to injury and that it will be late in the year that we can all be together. This is early but i just have a bad feeling about are health.

I hope the Lakers never have to play them in the playoffs!

Think KB24 would be playing Friday night! Duhhh, yeah! He's had illness, broken fingers, doesn't matter, suit up and he does!

AK, BK,

Do you get the sense that Phil and Pau aren't on the same page when it comes to recovery time from his injury? I ask this because it's being discussed over at Kurt's site, and looks like whatever is going on is pretty apparent - yet I don't see you mentioning it...

I don't think Kobe would sit out if it's only a strained right elbow. Needless to say sitting out 2 games in a role. This is not the way to become an "all-star". He is still just a baby with a big body!

Posted by: Ed | November 05, 2009 at 03:54 PM

-------------------------------

I think both Pau and Drew could learn something from Kobe. The guy has played with a broken finger on his shooting hand, a torn tendon in his shooting hand, and numerous ankle and foot ailments. Really, it is not that Kobe doesn't get injured. Kobe simply plays through his injuries and still produces.

I am not saying these guys should risk greater injury. I'm just saying Kobe would not sit even if he had both of their injuries at the same time.

What.... no Bynum also??? Man, we are getting more than our share of injuries, that too this early into our season.

So, does this mean DJ is going to be our starting C?? If its the case, then it would be very awful, because Mbenga is simply NOT a back-up C. He is only a hustler, or one who can let the starters legs rest for 3-4 min. And yeah, if DJ is our starting C, then who is the back-up C?? (Wait, we do not have one)...

Or will PJ play LO who is close to 7' as the starting C, and make the starting line-up as Fish(1), Brown(2), Kobe(3), Artest(4) and Lamar(5), or will it be Fish(1), Kobe(2), Luke(3), Artest(4) and Lamar(5)??

I think Option#2 with Kobe at SG looks better than Kobe at SF... what say?? If its the scenario of DJ at center, then we are deeply in trouble...Is Mitch going to pull some trade tonight?? (and we see Marc Gasol starts as our center than as Memphis' center) :-)

KB Blitz -

You accuse Farmar supporters of focusing on one game when discussing his potential, when that's really unfair and untrue. In fact, it's you who is conveniently ignoring the great year he had in 2007-2008. That year, here were his averages:

82 Games Played
20.6 MPG
46.1% FG
37.1% 3FG (1.7 per game!)
67.9% FT (ugh)
9.1 PPG
2.7 APG
2.3 RPG
.9 SPG
.1 BPG
1.3 TO/G

If he were to play 35 MPG, starters minutes, these would have been his averages...

46% FG
37% 3
68% FT
15.47 ppg
4.59 apg
3.91 rpg
1.53 spg
.17 bpg
2.21 to/g
2.89 3s/g

You're telling me you wouldn't be thrilled with these #s out of our starting PG? Of course you would. And this was as a 20 year old kid in his 2nd NBA year. So you can see why some of us were excited about young Jordan Farmar and why we're reluctant to completely give up on the 22 year old. There's talent there. Unfortunately, something happened to him over the course of the last year. Since he's not physically ailing, one has to believe it's mental. The hope is that at some point he can somehow get over that hump.

As I've mentioned before, I unfortunately don't think he'll get over that hump in a Laker uniform and think that a change of scenery would do him wonders. It's just unfortunate because his trade value is the lowest it's ever been, so the best the Lakers can do is hope that he figures it out this year. Of anyone on the bench, I believe Farmar is the one who has the most potential to turn it around. I just won't be holding my breath.

Would I consider Bynum accident prone? Yes.
Would I consider him prone to injury? No.

Not yet at least. If he's had 2 or 3 injuries to the same part of his body, and they are related in nature, then I would consider that part of his body prone to injury. But being the center of attention that he is, playing in the mosh pit that is the NBA paint, you're gonna get hit and hit good once in a while.

So far its been both his knees, but never the same knee, and now an elbow. I've had the pleasure of hyperextending my elbow during a rousing and meaningless game of tackle football. Hurt like a mother father, and it lasted for a couple of weeks. However, it never hurt after that ever again.

Injuries like that happen to anyone who plays contact sports. They just happen.

First off, I liked the team's effort last night. 2nd night of a back to back, after having won the first one in OT no less, it must have been tempting to mail that one in last night. But, they didn't. Winning another one in OT. Good start to the road schedule.

Should be interesting tomorrow night without Gasol or Bynum. I'd go with a small line-up and kind of rotate LO, Powell, Artest and Luke through the 4/5 spots. Use Kobe, Sasha and UPS at the 2/3 spots as needed. I'd keep DJ on the bench where he belongs.

Sincerely hoping all your players come back soon, and healthy.
We learned last year how tough it is to repeat. It's still tough to play in 82 games. Bryant (who is in great shape, and is known for his toughness) has played in 82 only 3 times in his career. Ron Artest has made it over 70 only a few times. As someone who wants to meet you in the Finals, take heed.......jackson is known for this and he should rest his players more......forget 81-1 and forget 73-10....get ready for the playoffs!! I highly doubt Kevin Garnett will play over 35 minutes per game all year. He has played about the same number of NBA minutes as Bryant................just sayin'.

Get ready for Mbenga's audition. This will be in the sports highlights in the Congo.
Or Pau can play as long as his little bro - Marc Gasol is on the floor. The boys' mom can just say, " Marc, if you hurt your brother, you won't get a Christmas present."

Man up Bynum! Kobe would still play with the swine flu and 2 broken legs. He'd probably still score 40 too!

They've been letting opposing bigs wail on Bynum this season. It seems rough down in the paint this year. But I'm glad to hear he'll be back soon. Better safe than injured.

I don't think Kobe would sit out if it's only a strained right elbow. Needless to say sitting out 2 games in a role. This is not the way to become an "all-star". He is still just a baby with a big body!
Posted by: Ed
AHH.......ED he's only going to miss ONE game, he played last night, he did not sit out, he won the game with free throws at the end!, and what does missing one game, have to do with being an all star? Pau just missed 5 games and in my book he is definitely an all star! Lighten up, he's producing 20 points and 10 rebounds a game, only four other Centers in the league put up those kind of numbers. Gasol will be back in a couple of games, Drew will miss one, DJ and Powell, along with Lamar can hold down Center, Artest can play some PF, were good, Grizzlies are going down!

p ang and others on here,

p ang, don't even start because I can see that we're going to be going at it all season long about Bynum. For those on here that are griping about Bynum possibly missing a game or two due to a sprained right elbow(his shooting are no less), try having someone swipe your shooting arm very hard and see if you're able to shoot the next day or so.

When you watch the play again, you'll that Chuck Hayes swung pretty hard at Bynum's arms while he was fully extended. It's like having a badly hyperextended elbow. While I give much props to Kobe for being able to play with messed up fingers, at least he still has the full range of motion in his arm so he can adjust his shot even with a messed up finger. It's different and more difficult when you're talking about the elbow or shoulder.

Bynum just seems to have bad luck when it comes to injury. He will continue to become dominant as the season goes on.

Bynum is down for a game or two?? No problem!!! Imagine how Houston Rockets are trying to pull maybe a whole season without T-Mac and Yao... We should be fine. Kobe knows what Dirk just did dont ya all think?!!

KL Beast,

Man, it has been a while. Great to see you post again. I agree with you that Kobe's post up game is sensational and he's only going to get better as the season goes on. You can already see the various moves he's developed in the post as a result of working with Hakeem Olajuwon during the summer. They on his footwork, post moves, dream shake, spin moves and baseline fadeaway(becoming more and more, dare I say it??? Jordanesque).

The scary thing is Kobe is looking like MJ did later in his career in the post, especially with the fadeaway jumper. That's why last night Shane Battier who played Kobe pretty tough in the playoffs last year was no match at all for the new post up Kobe as Kobe just tore him up. Kobe's footwork was just amazing and all his post up moves has just added to an already potent offensive arsenal. Opposing defenders must be shaking their heads, thinking to themselves that Kobe was already near unstoppable and now he's come back even better. Regardless if people hate him or love him, no one can question Kobe's passion for the game and willingness to always add another dimension to his already incredible game.

The Lakers are off to an exciting start. It feels like the playoffs!

I knew we would regret cutting Michael Fey.

Seriously, I went into camp with three questions:

1) How did playing all summer affect Pau?
2) Can Bynum stay healthy?
3) How will Artest fit in?

I'm still an optimist on all fronts, but none of these questions has really had a great answer so far. Pau will recover, and so will Drew. #3 remains the big question.

I assume Powell will start tonight, and DJ will get to play some minutes if he resists the urge to shoot more than Kobe on a bad day.

Is it just me or did the Lakers find a convenient excuse not to play Bynum against Memphis? *wink*wink* LOL

"Here we go again! Bynum needs to learn how to play and not get hurt. "

What? Did you see that shot he took? Nothing he could do about that. Same as when Kobe chop blocked him. Nothing you can do when someone else hurts you.

2PHATT is 2FUNNY