|
| 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.
Jordan Farmar news:
•Rookie Farmar says he's living Hollywood dream with Lakers
• Grizzlies challenge Farmar
• Stars come out at Camp
• NBA considerations distant memory for pair of eager Cats
Kobe Bryant news:
•Kobe Bryant apologizes to Lakers GM
•Kobe Bryant Wins Scoring Title
•Kobe has most popular jersey in USA, China
•Bryant Proves the Best
•Wade beats Bryant for another Skills Challenge win
•Memorabilia Offered by Kobe Bryant and Upper Deck
•Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant Suspended
•Why did Kobe change to 24?
•Kobe Bryant: Won't Play This Week
•Kobe Bryant to Collab with Lil Wayne
•Lakers' Kobe Bryant ready for another run as NBA season nears
•Kobe Bryant Dunk Videos
•Kobe Bryant Videos
•Kobe Bryant Scores the Cover of NBA '07 for PlayStation
•Los Angeles Lakers All-Star Kobe Bryant Scores the Cover of NBA '07
Los Angeles news:
• Los Angeles news
•Los Angeles Concerts news
• Beckham Signs with Los Angeles Galaxy
• Top 10 Most Valuable NBA Franchise
• 10 Ten things to do in Los Angeles
• Lower back spasms from the court.
• Top 10 Los Angeles Restaurants.
• Top 10 Los Angeles Experiences
JR Pinnock news:
• Lakers sign JR Pinnock
Smush Parker news:
• Smush Parker Basketball Camp
Staples Center news:
•Get up to the minute Los Angeles Concert tour news
•Garth Brooks To Play Staples Center Benefit Shows For Fire Victims
•Bon Jovi Staples Center
•Van Halen Staples Center Dec 14th
•Wild try to continue hot start in LA
•Hyundai Returns to X Games 13 Rally Car Racing
• Rumorville Eric Clapton to play the Staples Center
• Grady Brewer wins 'Contender 2' in a split decision over Steve Forbes
• Cirque comes the LA Staples Center
Phil Jackson news:
• Lakers coach Jackson fined US$25,000
• Phil Jackson to have hip surgery
|
Top FAs
of interest for the tough defender, 3-point shooter and respected professional. Miami, New Jersey, Boston, Oklahoma City, the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State could try to sign him. The Grizzlies also could try to keep him. 12. Caron Butler(notes),
Miami Heat Tabbed As Favorites To Win 2012 NBA Title
Here’s the complete list of Bodog’s odds to win the 2012 NBA title: Miami Heat 2/1 Los Angeles Lakers 11/2 Chicago Bulls 13/2 Oklahoma City Thunder 15/2 Dallas Mavericks 17/2
The NBA is back!
the Miami Heat to win the season, with the Toronto Raptors clocking in with the lowest chance. The Los Angeles Lakers, of course, figure into that equation, as do the Chicago Bulls, the San Antonio Spurs, the defending champion Dallas Mavericks, the
NBA Lockout Could Put Players at Risk of Injury, Expert Says
Los Angeles Lakers Magic Johnson and Boston Celtics Larry Bird in Game two of the 1985 NBA Finals at Boston Garden. CREDIT: Steve Lipofsky www.Basketballphoto.com Basketball fans rejoiced on
Megabuck cable deal will make Lakers rich
The Los Angeles Lakers have billions of reasons to be optimistic about the league’s future. Much was made of the owners’ new collective bargaining agreement, which will provide $3 billion in
|
|
|
|
|
LA Lakers news:
• Tell us your Los Angeles Lakers Experience
• Tell us your thoughts on the Lakers/Kobe problems
Lakers May 2011
• Playoff Game 1 Preview: Mavericks vs. Lakers
Lakers April 2011
• Playoff Game 6 Preview: Hornets vs. Lakers
• Playoff Game 5 Preview: Hornets vs. Lakers
• Playoff Game 3 Preview: Hornets vs. Lakers
• Playoff Game 2 Preview: Hornets vs. Lakers
• Preview: Kings vs. Lakers
• Preview: Blazers vs. Lakers
• Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
• Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
Lakers March 2011
• Preview: Mavericks vs. Lakers
• Preview: Heat vs. Lakers
• Preview: Hawks vs. Lakers
• Preview: Bobcats vs. Lakers
Lakers February 2011
• Preview: Clippers vs. Lakers
• Preview: Blazers vs. Lakers
• Preview: Hawks vs. Lakers
• Preview: Celtics vs. Lakers
• Preview: Spurs vs. Lakers
Lakers January 2011
• Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
• Preview: Mavericks vs. Lakers
• Preview: Thunder vs. Lakers
• Preview: Nets vs. Lakers
• Preview: Cavaliers vs. Lakers
• Preview: Hornets vs. Lakers
• Preview: Pistons vs. Lakers
Lakers December 2010
• Preview: Heat vs. Lakers
• Preview: Kings vs. Lakers
Lakers November 2010
• Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
• Recap: Bulls 91, Lakers 98
• Preview: Pistons vs. Lakers
• Recap: Timberwolves 94, Lakers 99
• Preview: Timberwolves vs. Lakers
• Preview: Raptors vs. Lakers
Lakers October 2010
• Recap: Rockets 110, Lakers 112
Lakers June 2010
• Finals Game 7 Recap: Celtics 79, Lakers 83
• Finals Game 6 Preview: Celtics vs. Lakers
• Finals Game 4 Recap: Celtics 96, Lakers 89
• Finals Game 3 Preview: Celtics vs. Lakers
• Finals Game 2 Recap: Celtics 103, Lakers 94
• Finals Game 1 Recap: Celtics 89, Lakers 102
• Finals Game 1 Preview: Celtics vs. Lakers
Lakers May 2010
• WCF Game 4 Preview: Suns vs. Lakers
• WCF Game 1 Preview: Suns vs. Lakers
• Playoff Game 4 Recap: Jazz 96, Lakers 111
• Playoff Game 2 Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
Lakers April 2010
• Playoff Game 6 Preview: Thunder vs. Lakers
• Playoff Game 5 Preview: Thunder vs. Lakers
• Playoff Game 2 Recap: Thunder 92, Lakers 95
• Preview: Clippers vs. Lakers
• Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
Lakers March 2010
• Preview: Thunder vs. Lakers
• Preview: Spurs vs. Lakers
• Preview: Timberwolves vs. Lakers
• Preview: Kings vs. Lakers
Lakers February 2010
• Preview: 76ers vs. Lakers
• Preview: Mavericks vs. Lakers
• Recap: Celtics 87, Lakers 86
• Preview: Spurs vs. Lakers
• Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
• Recap: Bobcats 97, Lakers 99
• Recap: Grizzlies 95, Lakers 93
• Preview: Grizzlies vs. Lakers
Lakers January 2010
• Preview: 76ers vs. Lakers
• Recap: Pacers 96, Lakers 118
• Preview: Knicks vs. Lakers
• Preview: Clippers vs. Lakers
• Preview: Mavericks vs. Lakers
• Recap: Blazers 107, Lakers 98
• Preview: Blazers vs. Lakers
• Recap: Clippers 102, Lakers 91
• Preview: Rockets vs. Lakers
Lakers December 2009
• Recap: Bucks 106, Lakers 107
• Preview: Bucks vs. Lakers
• Preview: Timberwolves vs. Lakers
• Recap: Jazz 77, Lakers 101
• Preview: Heat vs. Lakers
• Recap: Hornets 99, Lakers 110
• Preview: Hornets vs. Lakers
Lakers November 2009
• Preview: Warriors vs. Lakers
• Recap: Knicks 90, Lakers 100
• Preview: Knicks vs. Lakers
• Recap: Thunder 85, Lakers 101
• Recap: Bulls 93, Lakers 108
• Preview: Bulls vs. Lakers
• Recap: Pistons 93, Lakers 106
• Preview: Pistons vs. Lakers
• Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
• Preview: Suns vs. Lakers
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Diagnosed w/ Leukemia
• Preview: Grizzlies vs. Lakers
• Preview: Rockets vs. Lakers
Lakers October 2009
• Recap: Hawks 100, Lakers 118
• Preview: Mavericks vs. Lakers
• Recap: Clippers 92, Lakers 99
• Preview: Clippers vs. Lakers
Lakers July 2009
• Lakers Sign Ron Artest
Lakers June 2009
• Lakers Win 2009 NBA Championship
• NBA Finals Game 5 Recap: Magic 86, Lakers 99
• NBA Finals Game 4 Recap: Magic 91, Lakers 99
• NBA Finals Game 3 Recap: Magic 108, Lakers 104
• NBA Finals Game 3 Preview: Magic vs. Lakers
• NBA Finals Game 1 Recap: Magic 75, Lakers 100
• NBA Finals Game 1 Preview: Magic vs. Lakers
• Lakers Advance to 2009 NBA Finals
Lakers May 2009
• Playoff Game 6 Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
• Playoff Game 5 Recap: Nuggets 94, Lakers 103
• Playoff Game 5 Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
• Playoff Game 4 Recap: Nuggets 120, Lakers 101
• Playoff Game 4 Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
• Playoff Game 2 Recap: Nuggets 106, Lakers 103
• Playoff Game 2 Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
• Playoff Game 1 Recap: Nuggets 103, Lakers 105
• Playoff Game 1 Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
• Playoff Game 7 Recap: Rockets 70, Lakers 89
• Playoff Game 6 Recap: Rockets 95, Lakers 80
• Playoff Game 6 Preview: Rockets vs. Lakers
• Playoff Game 5 Recap: Rockets 78, Lakers 118
• Playoff Game 5 Preview: Rockets vs Lakers
• Playoff Game 4 Recap: Rockets 99, Lakers 87
• Playoff Game 3 Preview: Rockets vs Lakers
• Playoff Game 2 Preview: Rockets vs Lakers
• Playoff Game 1 Recap: Rockets 100, Lakers 92
• Playoff Game 1 Preview: Rockets vs. Lakers
Lakers April 2009
• Bynum Ready to Bounce Back in Round 2 of Playoffs
• Playoff Game 5 Recap: Jazz 96, Lakers 107
• Playoff Game 5 Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
• Playoff Game 3 Recap: Jazz 88, Lakers 86
• Playoff Game 3 Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
• Playoff Game 2 Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
• Playoff Game 1 Recap: Jazz 100, Lakers 113
• Playoff Game 1 Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
• Recap: Jazz 112, Lakers 125
• Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
• Recap: Grizzlies 75, Lakers 92
• Preview: Trailblazers vs. Lakers
• Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
• Recap: Kings 104, Lakers 122
• Preview: Kings vs. Lakers
• Recap: Clippers 85, Lakers 88
• Preview: Rockets vs. Lakers
• Preview: Bucks vs. Lakers
Lakers March 2009
• Preview: Bobcats vs. Lakers
• Preview: Nets vs. Lakers
• Preview: Pistons vs. Lakers
• Recap: Thunder 89, Lakers 107
• Preview: Thunder vs. Lakers
• Recap: Warriors 106, Lakers 114
• Preview: Warriors vs. Lakers
• Recap: 76ers 94, Lakers 93
• Preview: 76ers vs. Lakers
• Preview: Spurs vs. Lakers
• Recap: Blazers 111, Lakers 94
• Preview: Blazers vs. Lakers
• Recap: Grizzlies 89, Lakers 99
• Preview: Grizzlies vs. Lakers
• Recap: Suns 118, Lakers 111
Lakers February 2009
• Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
• Preview: Suns vs. Lakers
• Preview: Thunder vs. Lakers
• Recap: Timberwolves 108, Lakers 111
• Preview: Hornets vs. Lakers
• Recap: Warriors 121, Lakers 129
• Preview: Warriors vs. Lakers
• Preview: Hawks vs. Lakers
• Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
• Preview: Thunder vs. Lakers
• Recap: Cavaliers 91, Lakers 101
• Recap: Celtics 109, Lakers 110
• Preview: Celtics vs. Lakers
• Preview: Raptors vs. Lakers
• Recap: Knicks 117, Lakers 126
Lakers January 2009
• Recap: Grizzlies 98, Lakers 115
• Preview: Timberwolves vs. Lakers
• Preview: Bobcats vs. Lakers
• Recap: Spurs 85, Lakers 99
• Recap: Wizards 97, Lakers 117
• Preview: Wizards vs. Lakers
• Preview: Clippers vs. Lakers
• Recap: Cavaliers 88, Lakers 105
• Preview: Cavaliers vs. Lakers
• Recap: Magic 109, Lakers 103
• Preview: Magic vs. Lakers
• Recap: Spurs 111, Lakers 112
• Recap: Rockets 100, Lakers 105
• Preview: Rockets vs. Lakers
• Preview: Pacers vs. Lakers
• Recap: Warriors 106, Lakers 114
• Preview: Warriors vs. Lakers
• Preview: Hornets vs. Lakers
• Recap: Blazers 86, Lakers 100
• Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
|
| |
| |
|
|
