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| Ronny Ronny Ronny |
Ronny Ronny Ronny
Ronny Ronny Ronny
Kobe Bryant returns to the Lakers lineup, but Ronnie Turiaf's late spree keys their victory. BY KEVIN DING
The Orange County Register
LOS ANGELES-A victory in the first days of November isn't supposed to mean much when
Kobe Bryant has so many of them from the (NBA) Finals days of June. But this first victory of the 2006-07 Lakers season with Kobe Bryant in action - boosting the Lakers to a 3-0 start for the first time since 2003 - came in a much different manner than most.
It ended with Bryant fist-pumping time after time not in celebration of his own shots dropping, but because so many of his teammates succeeded. At the heart of the 118-112 Lakers victory over the Seattle SuperSonics on Friday night was unlikely hero Ronny Turiaf - the Lakers' second-round pick in his second NBA season who can best be described as a cross between Dennis Rodman and a Laker Girl.
"I really thought that they were chanting 'Ko-be,'." Ronny Turiaf said of Staples Center fans' "Ron-ny" chant in the final moments.
Ronny Turiaf dominated the fourth quarter after surprisingly ruling the second half Sunday night in Oakland. This time, he delivered nine points, six rebounds and three blocks in 10 fourth-quarter minutes - and he wound up the star even though Lamar Odom (28 points on 7-of-12 shooting, six assists) was the leading scorer again and Kobe Bryant (23 points on 8-of-15 shooting, six assists) was good in his first game after July 15 right-knee surgery.
Ronny Turiaf, who finished with 13 points, deferred the individual praise afterward - which only drove home the fact that he epitomizes the team attitude that has been in evidence for the Lakers in their strong start.
"Really, honestly," Ronny Turiaf said, "I don't think about anything else but helping the team."
Ronny Turiaf overcame sore hips late in training camp and has nicely applied the tweaks to his shooting stroke that Lakers coaches gave him, too. The result has been not just cheerleading from the bench, but production on the court - coming with Ronny Turiaf's energetic flourishes and dances.
"My way of wanting it is just different than everybody else," he said. "I express my feelings a little bit more."
The Lakers also got a career-high 20 points from Luke Walton, who has stepped up big to start when free-agent signee Vladimir Radmanovic's hand injury was supposed to hold back the offense. Walton also had eight rebounds and five assists.
The Lakers roared out from the start, riding the energy in the building from Kobe Bryant's season debut. Once public-address announcer Lawrence Tanter got as far as "No..24.." in the pregame introductions, the fans leapt to their feet to celebrate their star's return to health.
Kobe Bryant proceeded to play a team game - executing Phil Jackson's game plan of penetrating and passing.Phil Jackson excused Kobe Bryant's six turnovers as "good turnovers" because he was thinking of teammates and overpassing.
NO KNEE KNOCKS
After what he called "three good days" with the right knee that underwent July 15 surgery, Kobe Bryant is ready to move forward with his 11th NBA season.
"Hopefully we're in the clear," he said before the game. "Feels like we are."
After a game in which he noticed he was able to use his right leg to elevate when he couldn't late last season, Kobe Bryant said: "The rhythm was a little off, the timing was a little off - but that'll come back the more I play."
Jackson said before the game he would talk to Kobe Bryant throughout the game to gauge his health and stamina, and the open dialog between the two is such that Jackson was able to smile as he said he and Kobe Bryant have become "pen pals."
Asked if that was electronic mail, Jackson nodded. But even as many of Jackson's philosophies as Kobe Bryant has adopted lately, Jackson said he doesn't want a yes-man.
"You really do want to have a person who is creative and looking for other areas and avenues to work for a team," Jackson said. "And he's always going to be doing that, because Kobe's always looking for another angle."
NOTES
Smush Parker (sprained left pinky) joined the Lakers' long injury list, but wasn't limited in an 11-point game. Kwame Brown (bruised right rotator cuff) probably will return to practice next week and maybe play Nov..12 vs. Memphis. .
The Lakers' interest in developing Devin Green - and preparing him for a 10-day contract this season, if necessary - was reflected in their minor-league affiliate, the D-Fenders, making Green their first-round pick in the NBA Development League draft.
Seattle will host the Lakers Sunday.
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