By Mike Bresnahan, Times Staff Writer
November 17, 2006
Thanksgiving is usually the time Phil Jackson recognizes the identity of his teams, and where they're likely headed for the season.
By Thanksgiving, the Lakers will have played 11 games, but Jackson wants more time to assess his current team, maybe until mid-December, because its injury-riddled training camp set back its big-picture personality.
"It has a little bit, and then we have really a different roster this year," Jackson said. "It's going to take a little while. I'd say that [in] a couple weeks, hopefully, after a succession of games, we'll look at it and see the best features of the team we have out there on the floor."
The Lakers' record is 5-3, with 11 of their next 12 games at Staples Center. After four days off, they assemble again tonight against Toronto.
They worked this week on attacking a zone defense after Detroit frustrated them with one last Friday. The Lakers also worked on a longtime nemesis — screen-and-roll defense. Andrew Bynum is being tutored on the finer points of defending such sets, one of the few problem spots for his predecessor, Shaquille O'Neal.
Most people pegged the Lakers for a slow start after their slew of injuries, but Jackson wanted more victories than they currently show.
"I thought we should have won one more game," he said. "I would have been pleased with a 6-2 record."
Jackson said he thought the team didn't respond well to back-to-back games in Portland.
"We will take what we're doing right now and improve on it, I think, as the season goes on," he said.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day by day, Kobe Bryant feels better, particularly after such a long break between games.
"It's been great," he said. "We've been able to come in here and play hard against each other, compete, get healthy. I feel much better now than I did coming into these four days. I have much better lift."
Bryant continued to field questions about his 81-point outburst Jan. 22 against Toronto, the second-highest individual effort in league history.
He said he had never watched film of the game, in which the Lakers trailed by 18 but won, 122-104. He made 28 of 46 shots that night, including seven of 13 from three-point range.
"It was just a game that we just had to get," Bryant said Thursday. "They jumped out on us early and I was able to turn it up for my team."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Center-forward Ronny Turiaf practiced less than usual this week because of soreness in his hips. He will suit up tonight against Toronto.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/basket...nes-sports-nba
LAKERS REPORT: Jackson isn't ready to pass judgment
Linear Mode
