Getting better, also it seems that him missing some time in training camp may be a present in disguise:
Quote:
The Lakers aren't sure when Jackson or Bryant will be back to work. Bryant reported Monday there has been more healing in his knee.
"I feel it getting better, getting stronger," Bryant said.
Bryant missed the end of training camp in 1999 with a broken hand, and Jackson believes that time without Bryant helped the Lakers learn the triangle offense for the first time without using Bryant's creativity as a crutch. Rambis is hopeful something similar is happening now while Bryant sits out practices.
"So many times last year in ballgames, guys would throw Kobe the ball and then stop going through with their cuts, and they would just stand around and watch him," Rambis said. "And that was not only not good for us, but it would frustrate Kobe because he's expecting guys to continue through with things. Hopefully this working without him out there on the floor will get them moving the basketball and understanding the offense better."
Said Odom: "Kobe's so good that you can't help - especially your first time playing with him - to pass him the ball and move out of his way. He's that good."
Bryant said his recovery is "right on schedule," and he is determined not to have his knee cause him problems when the season begins.
"When the season gets going, you don't have that window you can let something heal," he said.
So the question came up on Monday at practice, to Kurt Rambis, Odom and Kobe himself. Is there a benefit to having the Mamba on the sidelines...just for now?
L.O.: "Kobe's so good that you can't help, especially when it's your first time playing with him, to pass him the ball and move out of his way. He's that good. So hopefully this will make our team stronger, playing without him. It's important. He needs the rest, of course for his injury and of course during the year. It's important for us to play well when he's not on the court."
Rambis: "Hopefully that will help us and we'll turn that into a positive instead of a negative. Other guys will learn to run the offense without Kobe. So many times last year in ballgames guys would throw Kobe the ball, and they would stop going through with their cuts, and they'd just stand around and watch him. Which was not only not good for us but it would frustrate Kobe too, because he's expecting people to go through with things. Hopefully, working without him on the floor will get them moving the basketball and understanding the offense better so when he does come back, he just fits in.
We can't wear Kobe out and expect him to carry us through entire ballgames. Obviously we're going to use him in crucial situations to help us out, but we want to see the offense and we want to see the team work together and then Kobe just kind of plug himself in so he can sustain himself for an entire season and be extremely fresh for the playoffs."
Kobe: "No, I'd rather be out there. I think it's just a matter of us understanding the offense. It doesn't really matter whether I'm out there or not, honestly, because you're still going to have to go through the same sequence of options anyway. But I'd much rather be out there. This way we can start building our flow right away, but you've got to do what you've got to do."
Kobe: "No, I'd rather be out there. I think it's just a matter of us understanding the offense. It doesn't really matter whether I'm out there or not, honestly, because you're still going to have to go through the same sequence of options anyway. But I'd much rather be out there. This way we can start building our flow right away, but you've got to do what you've got to do."
Kobe is never going to believe that he should not be on the court! He's a tru warrior!
Anyone knows:confused: if Kobe's good enough to play some minutes on Sunday against Phoenix or Tuesdays game against the Queens (provided he's never missed a game in Vegas) or if he's just gonna continue on his rehabilitation.
Anyone knows:confused: if Kobe's good enough to play some minutes on Sunday against Phoenix or Tuesdays game against the Queens (provided he's never missed a game in Vegas) or if he's just gonna continue on his rehabilitation.
Update on Bryant
