Thread Tools

Display Modes

**Sean** · 11-16-2006, 08:05 AM

...

Quote:

Originally Posted by thestar.com

Does Sam need help?

Another assistant to teach big guys might aid Raptors
Nov. 16, 2006. 01:00 AM
DAVE FESCHUK

When the L.A. Lakers made 17-year-old Andrew Bynum, a 7-footer from New Jersey, the youngest player taken in the history of the NBA draft a couple of Junes ago, they subsequently hired a special assistant coach, Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to tutor the teen. Now that Bynum, who turned 19 last month, has begun his second season as a productive starter, Abdul-Jabbar is getting some of the credit.

"Andrew is getting to work with the master ever day," Lamar Odom, the Lakers forward, has said, "and he's getting better and better."

It begs a question: Wouldn't it makes sense for the Raptors, who play the Lakers tomorrow night at the Staples Center, to seek out a big-man coach to work with their stable of young front-line players, from Bargnani, as important a player as they've ever drafted, to the 23-year-old Bosh, who is still developing?

Quote:

Originally Posted by torontosun.com

Raptors rest and hopefully relax

Stressful times for team

By MIKE KOREEN, TORONTO SUN

SAN FRANCISCO -- It was a perfect time and location for a day off, a much-needed break from the rising stress associated with Raptors basketball.

In the wake of a 110-99 loss against the Golden State Warriors Tuesday night, dropping the team's record to 0-2 on its five-game West Coast swing, Raptors coach Sam Mitchell gave his players their first free day of the season (no practice or game) yesterday in San Francisco. They had a sunny morning to explore the gorgeous oceanside city before boarding a plane to Los Angeles, where the Raptors will practise today in advance of a game against Mr. 81 Kobe Bryant the Lakers tomorrow night.

"Always forget about the losses," said Raptors star Chris Bosh, the only player on the team exceeding expectations. "We'll watch film plenty the next day (today). We'll have a hard workout. We're just going to get away from basketball for a short second and get right back to basketball."

Quote:

Originally Posted by pe.com

Yet to Reflect on 81
11:01 PM PST on Wednesday, November 15, 2006

By BRODERICK TURNER
The Press-Enterprise

EL SEGUNDO - Kobe Bryant said he has yet to reflect on last season's 81-point outburst against Toronto. It was the second-highest point total in NBA history, behind Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game.

Bryant and the Lakers face the Raptors for the first time since that historical night Friday at Staples Center.

"I thought about it because I was asked about it so many times," he said Wednesday. "I haven't had a chance to reflect about it. I haven't had a chance to sit down and watch the game."

These days Bryant is thinking more about getting his surgically repaired right knee back to 100 percent. He wore a sleeve on the knee during practice and may wear it during games.

**Brian34Cook** · 11-16-2006, 10:55 AM

http://www.latimes.com/sports/printe...ines-pe-sports

As the Lakers walked off the practice court Wednesday, Brian Cook looked happy, Sasha Vujacic perplexed and Andrew Bynum frustrated.

Tough day of practice? Nope, tough day after practice for all but Cook.

The daily half-court shooting competition, spiced by a little wagering, had been won by Cook.

Bynum said he had lost $100, but it doesn't seem as if anybody pays up.

"We're not gamblers," Vujacic said. "I'll just win it back tomorrow. It's a friendly game. But it can be so frustrating."

**Bartholomew Hunt** · 11-16-2006, 11:29 AM

Put a game jersey on Sasha and Kwame will beat him in a shooting contest.

Silk D · 11-16-2006, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bartholomew Hunt

Put a game jersey on Sasha and Kwame will beat him in a shooting contest.

**Sean** · 11-16-2006, 04:05 PM

more on the shooting contest:

The afternoon wound down with a half court shooting contest, which appeared to evolve from Sasha Vujacic, Brian Cook and Kwame seeing who could hit the most shots left handed at the top of the key (Judging by the bits I saw, Cookie was your champ, and a couple banks aside, Kwame probably won't be elected president of "Ambidextrians United."). From my understanding of the rules (and this may not be correct, since my lack of range beyond four feet keeps me from being invited to participate on a regular basis), each make nets the shooter compensation* from the next guy in line, unless that player follows suit, which amounts to a push.

Your uber-chuck gladiators were Sasha, Cook, Vlad Radmanovic, Andrew Bynum (that is not a typo), and Kwame, who quickly dropped out, informing us that "Cookie's gonna kill 'em." Brown seems the ideal running mate for a day at the ponies, because he picked the big winner, although Bynum felt he got robbed. "Three of mine were in and out and two went off the back of the net," sighed the youngster. "It was crazy. If I was Sasha, I'd be really mad. He made it three times and Vlade pushed him each time."

Oh, he was mad, Andrew. "Right now, talking about that game makes me so frustrated, I can't even think," said Vujacic, shaking his head. "The guy that was behind me (Vlad) couldn't miss the shot. That makes me sooooo mad that I just couldn't focus on my game." Sasha's plenty confident that he'll soon recoup today's losses. And truth be told, he had a great time competing against his buddies. Hearing him discuss frustrations over shooting-related activities, however, reminded me of the struggles he's encountering during actual games. He admitted this cold spell hasn't been easy, but there's nothing left for him to do but try and correct the problem. "I'm realizing what I did wrong in the first games. Mistakes that I'm learning from." Give the guy credit for keeping his head up.

http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakers...itle.html#more

Thread Tools Display Modes

Thread Tools

Display Modes