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jk9999990
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Post subject: Lakers' Walton Limping Through Challenging Season
 Posted: Jan 08, 2008 - 04:36 AM PST
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Big-Time Laker Fan
Joined: Aug 04, 2007
Posts: 775
  
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EL SEGUNDO - Some days, Luke Walton said, his right ankle feels 90 to 100 percent healthy. Other days, the ankle feels 60 to 65 percent.
He just carries on, knowing that he is limited.
"It's fine enough to play," said Walton, who tweaked the ankle again almost 2½ weeks ago and hasn't been the same since.
"It's definitely not where I want it to be. But it's something I'll probably have to deal with, hopefully not the rest of this season, but hopefully it'll calm down in a week or so."
Walton said he has bone spurs in the ankle that can cause it to flare up at any time, and he takes pain medication.
"We have him out there because he's knowledgeable about what we do," Coach Phil Jackson said. "He keeps everybody footed in our offense. I've been very pleased he's been able to perform the way he has under the limitations that he's got."
Walton, who had a career year last season and was rewarded with a $30 million deal, has started 14 of his 28 games and is averaging 7.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists.
He seems to play better when he is in the starting lineup, and his numbers reflect that.
So does he prefer to start or come off the bench?
"I like them both," he said. "I love starting, but I love playing with the second unit. Wherever Phil wants to play me, that's what I'll do.
"Obviously I think this year I've played better in the starter's role than when he was bringing me off the bench. I don't think I was being as productive as I was when I was starting."
Winning When They Should
Last season the Lakers lost too many games against teams with losing records. But this year they're making the most of those opportunities.
The Lakers are 11-2 against teams with losing records, with the only losses coming to teams (Cleveland and New Jersey) that have since improved.
The Lakers are in the middle of a stretch in which six of the seven teams they face have losing records. They won the first two games handily, and today they get 10-23 Memphis.
"A little bit of it has to do with our awareness with how much we struggled with teams under .500 last year," Walton said. "It has to do with us growing up and maturing. Plus having D. Fish (Derek Fisher) back was huge for us.
"He's a great leader. He's one of the guys that when we start getting out of line, he really, not in a negative way, but kind of settles everyone down and makes sure that we know how important each and every game is."
A Look at the Road Ahead
The Lakers have a two-game road trip beginning tonight in Memphis and then ending in New Orleans.
The Grizzlies have struggled this season but have given the Lakers fits in past years.
Memphis was 22-60 last season, the worst mark in the NBA. But the Grizzlies managed to split the four-game series against the Lakers.
The Hornets are one of the surprise teams in the NBA, posting a 23-11 record, tied for third best in the Western Conference. They have already beaten the Lakers this season, and Wednesday's game will be the second of back-to-back games for LA.
"You want to win a ballgame on this trip and you want to be able to challenge for both," Jackson said, and added, "Back-to-back is always the most difficult of the two, but our difficulties have been getting ready to play a team like Memphis and being able to play 48 minutes when we travel."
http://www.pe.com/sports/basketball/bre ... 7fc98.html |
Last edited by jk9999990 on Jan 08, 2008 - 04:48 AM PST; edited 1 time in total
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Krispies13
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Post subject: RE: Lakers' small-forward positions gets overlooked
Posted: Jan 08, 2008 - 04:37 AM PST
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Big-Time Laker Fan
Joined: Oct 21, 2007
Posts: 555
votes: 6
Status: Offline
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| Double posted buddy. But good read! |
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