Laker Linkage – 10/14/09
October 14th, 2009 | by Garrett Wilson |- The Story: Luke Walton and Pau Gasol both missed practice on Tuesday. The Fire Says: Well, Phil jinxed it by saying yesterday that he Walton was having a successful camp by virtue of the fact that he is healthy… and now he has a back spasms, great. Gasol has a tight hamstring, but both injuries are believed to be minor.
- The Story: Tex Winter is planning to attend the opening night ring ceremony. The Fire Says: Winter is still recovering from a stroke he had earlier this year, but it would be great to see him if he is healthy enough.
- The Story: Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown are proving to be a good backcourt combination. The Fire Says: It is an interesting idea to pair the two as it gives the Lakers an athletic backcourt, which could be a useful change of pace at times, especially if the team slide Kobe to small forward, Ron Artest to small forward and Odom or Gasol at center. The more versatility the better.
- The Story: Phil Jackson specifically doesn’t want the Lakers to aim to win 72 games this year. The Fire Says: Phil is worried that the Lakers will burn themselves pushing to win that many games and he is probably right. Setting a regular season record would be nice and all, but not if it hurts their chances at repeating.
- The Story: Can the Lakers become the top defense in the league? The Fire Says: Artest could help them get there as will a healthy Bynum, but there will also be an adjustment period integrating Artest into the fold. Either way the Laker defense should be strong even if it isn’t the best.
- The Story: Silver Screen and Roll doesn’t think complacency will be a issue for the Lakers. The Fire Says: Well, I’m glad that they are so certain because I am not. The Lakers are focused right now, but the season is a marathon, not a sprint.
Tags: Andrew Bynum, Daily Links, injuries, Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton, Pau Gasol, Phil Jackson, Ron Artest, Shannon Brown, Tex Winter
