Injury-Plagued Kobe Eyes Tuesday Return Vs. Grizzlies

Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant eyes a much-awaited return against the Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday, after missing five regular-season games due to various injuries.
Bryant reportedly attended the team’s practice Saturday for the first time since February 15. Bryant, the 2008 NBA regular-season MVP, remains as the Lakers all-around court leader, averaging 28 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game.
Without Bryant, the Lakers still went 4-1 with forwards Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Ron Artest leading the way.
The Lakers also received quality minutes from reserve guard Shannon Brown, who averaged 15.3 points in the last three games.
Bryant said he felt good at practice and only needs days to get back at full strength.
Meanwhile, Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he’ll evaluate Bryant’s condition to see if the injuries don’t affect his superstar guard.
Bryant will try to reach another milestone in Memphis, as he plays his 1,000th career game.
Last month, Bryant surpassed NBA legend Jerry West to become the Lakers’ all-time leading scorer before the Grizzlies home crowd.
Bryant will undergo a series of physical test Sunday to reevaluate his injuries, but still expects a Tuesday return.
“The ankle should be ready to play Tuesday… If it’s not, I’m firing everybody,” Bryant joked to ESPN. “It’s been long enough.”

source: gantdaily.com

Celtics beat Lakers with Allen's 24 points and stop on Fisher's shot at buzzer

LOS ANGELES — Ray Allen scored 12 of his 24 points in the third quarter and made 10 of his first 11 shots, leading the Boston Celtics to an 87-86 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.

It was the defending NBA champions' first loss in five games since Kobe Bryant went down with a sprained left ankle.

Kendrick Perkins had 13 points and 14 rebounds, Kevin Garnett had 13 points and eight boards and Rajon Rondo added 14 points and 11 assists for the Celtics, who were busy before the game. They acquired guard Nate Robinson and Marcus Landry from the New York Knicks in exchange for Eddie House, J.R. Giddens, Bill Walker and a future conditional second-round pick.

Pau Gasol scored 22 points, and Lamar Odom had 13 points and 14 rebounds for Los Angeles.

Bryant, the league's fourth-leading scorer, remained in the trainer's room getting treatment on his sprained left ankle while his teammates rallied against a defence that came in allowing a league-low 93.7 points per game.

The Lakers had won the previous three meetings with the Celtics after losing the 2008 finals to them in six games. On Jan. 13, they beat Boston 90-89 on the parquet floor, after Bryant hit a jumper with 7.3 seconds left to give the Lakers their only lead of the second half and Allen missed three-point shot at the final horn.

The Lakers went 4:48 without a basket until Odom's layup with 2:26 to play. Garnett missed a 21-footer with 51 seconds left, but the Lakers lost possession on a turnover by Gasol. The Lakers got the ball back and Odom missed a driving layup with 2.2 seconds to go.

The groans from the sellout crowd turned to audible sighs of relief when everyone realized the Lakers had called a time out just before Odom made his move to the basket. But the ensuing inbounds pass from Ron Artest to Derek Fisher resulted in a missed 21-footer by Fisher at the buzzer with Allen's hand in his face.

The Celtics were leading 66-55 when Garnett picked up his fourth foul and went to the bench with 8:27 left in the third quarter. He was replaced by Rasheed Wallace, who received a technical foul from referee Bob Delaney with 3:10 left in the period for shoving Gasol as the two power forwards jockeyed for position.

Garnett didn't return to the floor until 7:53 remained in the game. By then, the Lakers were eight points into a 13-0 run triggered by two layups by Sasha Vujacic and capped by Andrew Bynum's 20-footer. The basket gave Los Angeles an 84-80 lead with 7:14 to play, but Perkins' layup put Boston back in front to stay with 4:24 remaining.

The Celtics shot 55 per cent in the first half to build a 53-48 margin. The Lakers took their first lead of the game, 34-32, when Odom sank a pair of free throws with 9:39 left in the second quarter.

Boston responded with a 15-2 run capped by Allen's fastbreak dunk with 5:09 left in the second quarter, after Rondo stole the ball from Gasol. Rondo received a technical foul for taunting the Lakers after Allen's basket, and Fisher converted the free throw.

Shannon Brown beat the first-quarter buzzer with a three-pointer that trimmed Boston's lead to 29-27. It was his fourth straight start in place of Bryant, after setting career highs with 27 points and 10 rebounds in Tuesday's 104-94 win over Golden State. Read More

source: canadianpress

Watch out for the James and Jamison Gang

There's no doubt that by obtaining the services of Antawn Jamison in a three-team trade , the Cleveland Cavaliers have greatly increased their chances of winning the championship.

Here's Jamison's upside:

• He excels at facing up, faking and then driving right from the left side of the court -- aiming to finish at the rim or else unleash a fadeaway jumper.

• He can also drive left, but he'll then usually pull up and shoot.

• He's an excellent in-the-paint scorer with a quick release on a flip shot.

• From the left block, Jamison's right-handed jump hook is a deadly one.

• From the right block, he'll add a turnaround jumper to his jump hook.

• With his feet set, he can nail treys with regularity.

• He's an above-average rebounder.

• He's long, athletic and runs the floor with all his might.

• Having Jamison on the floor virtually prohibits the defense from double-teaming Shaq (as they could when J.J. Hickson started) and also discourages them from two-timing LeBron James.

• He's a terrific third option behind LeBron and Mo Williams, one who can spread the floor and give the Cavs exceptional firepower.

• He gives LBJ another dangerous kick-out target when the defense collapses around LeBron's penetrations.

• Jamison also provides an experienced go-to scorer when he plays on the second unit.

• Given that he's already under contract for two more years, he's less of a flight risk than Amar'e Stoudemire would be. Plus, he's a much more mature individual and a more versatile scorer than Stoudemire.

• Unlike Stoudemire, Jamison won't feel shortchanged and whine when he's not the focus of the offense.

• Using Hickson off the bench will give the Cavs an infusion of aggressive power to go along with Anderson Varejao's quickness and hustle.

On the downside of the deal:

• Several of Jamison's previous coaches have privately, but persistently, complained about his being soft and reluctant to bang.

• Indeed, he will force shots in the low post if defenders ignore his fakes and absorb his lightweight bumps.

• Jamison is an inadequate defender, whose routine lapses will wind up putting extra fouls on Shaq and Varejao.

• Jamison is also a poor passer whose sticky fingers can unilaterally abort the timing and rhythm of the offense.

Sebastian Telfair is strictly a throw-in who, except for dire emergencies, will remain glued to the bench.

Overall, the trade represents a huge boost for Cleveland, leaving no chance for it to be caught from behind by either Orlando or Boston -- and also giving Phil Jackson nightmares. Read More

source:foxnews.com

Kidd replaces injured Kobe; Lee steps in for Iverson

DALLAS, Feb. 11, 2010 -- Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Kidd and New York Knicks forward David Lee have been named by NBA Commissioner David Stern to replace injured West All-Star guard Kobe Bryant (ankle) of the Los Angeles Lakers and East All-Star guard Allen Iverson (personal reasons) of the Philadelphia 76ers, respectively, in the 2010 NBA All-Star Game in Dallas.

Kidd, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time All-NBA First Team selection, will be making his 10th NBA All-Star Game appearance. Lee, in his fifth NBA season, has recorded 30 double-doubles on the season for the Knicks and will be making his first NBA All-Star appearance.

West All-Star head coach George Karl and East All-Star head coach Stan Van Gundy will determine which players will replace Bryant and Iverson in the starting lineup.

The NBA All-Star Game will air live on TNT, ESPN Radio and in 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages worldwide at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 14.

sources:nba.com

NBA Today Feb 21, 2010 Live Stream

NBA TODAY LIVE STREAM FEB 27, 2010 EST
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LAKERS' BRYANT GAME-TIME DECISION FOR WEDNESDAY; BYNUM OUT

Salt Lake City, UT (Sports Network) - Los Angeles Lakers All-Star guard Kobe Bryant will be a game-time decision for Wednesday's contest in Utah.

Bryant has missed the last two games, including Monday's 101-89 win against San Antonio due to a sprained left ankle. He was also absent on Saturday when the Lakers won in Portland, 99-82.

Bryant, who is averaging 28 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists this season, had played in 235 straight games before sitting Saturday. Last week, he became the Lakers' all-time leading scorer, passing Jerry West. Bryant (25,246) is now 33 points shy of Reggie Miller (25,279) for 13th on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

The Lakers also missed center Andrew Bynum from Monday's game. He was sidelined with a bruised right hip. Bynum is expected to sit out Wednesday's game.

Additionally, Lamar Odom missed practice Tuesday to have an MRI/CAT scan on his sore left foot. Both exams were negative, and Odom is probable for Wednesday.

source: TSN