Glenn
11-10-2006, 08:57 AM
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview;_ylt=AoaeUmqAx34RSkbq3vmwC.m8vLYF?gid=2006 111013
Detroit (2-3) at LA Lakers (4-2)
Game Info: 10:30 pm EST Fri Nov 10, 2006
TV: ESPN, FxW
By KATE HEDLIN, STATS Writer
Still hindered by a knee problem, Kobe Bryant struggled to regain his scoring touch after missing the first two games of the season.
The Los Angeles Lakers superstar can show his most recent performance was a sign that his offensive game is coming around when the Lakers host the Detroit Pistons on Friday.
Though the Lakers (4-2) lost 101-90 to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, the good news was Bryant looking more like the player who was the league's top scorer last season as opposed to one working his way into playing shape.
Bryant led the team with a season-high 32 points, hitting 12-of-19 from the field. It was his fourth game back in action after sitting out the opening two contests while still rehabbing from offseason knee surgery.
"The knee felt pretty good," said Bryant, who was held under 20 points in each of his previous two outings. "It's getting better and better every game ... My explosion felt really good tonight. It's coming."
Bryant, who averaged 35.4 points last season, has not been creating as many opportunities for himself while playing a bit more cautiously as he tries to strengthen the knee. He's taken only 51 shots from the field through four games after leading the league with 27.2 per game last season.
Bryant averaged 39.5 points in two meetings with Detroit in 2005-06. The Lakers had lost three straight to the Pistons before Bryant scored 40 in a 105-94 win on March 4 at Staples Center in the most recent matchup.
The Lakers have split four games since Bryant's return after opening 2-0. However, they have yet to lose at home, shooting 52.2 percent from the floor in three games at Staples Center.
The Pistons (2-3) are trying to get back on track after losing the first two games of a four-game West Coast road trip. Two days after a 103-101 loss to the Utah Jazz, Detroit fell 99-86 to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.
In both games, the Pistons were held below 42 percent from the field. They were outscored in the paint for the fourth time in five games on Wednesday, and were outrebounded 50-35 by the Kings.
"Right now we're not a very good basketball team," said Chauncey Billups, who led Detroit with 25 points on Wednesday. "We've got a long way to go. We're having too many breakdowns. We're not starting off with the urgency we need. We need to get the lead and step on people."
Billups has shot 35.6 percent from the field and 6-of-26 from 3-point range for the Pistons, who have been one of the league's worst shooting teams this season at 43.3 percent.
Rasheed Wallace missed all nine of his shot attempts on Wednesday as he went scoreless, but says the Pistons can't let their struggles make them hesitant.
"Just keep playing and keep shooting," Wallace said. "You can't stop shooting. ... You can't shoot well every night. You're going to make some -- it's just part of the game."
Detroit (2-3) at LA Lakers (4-2)
Game Info: 10:30 pm EST Fri Nov 10, 2006
TV: ESPN, FxW
By KATE HEDLIN, STATS Writer
Still hindered by a knee problem, Kobe Bryant struggled to regain his scoring touch after missing the first two games of the season.
The Los Angeles Lakers superstar can show his most recent performance was a sign that his offensive game is coming around when the Lakers host the Detroit Pistons on Friday.
Though the Lakers (4-2) lost 101-90 to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, the good news was Bryant looking more like the player who was the league's top scorer last season as opposed to one working his way into playing shape.
Bryant led the team with a season-high 32 points, hitting 12-of-19 from the field. It was his fourth game back in action after sitting out the opening two contests while still rehabbing from offseason knee surgery.
"The knee felt pretty good," said Bryant, who was held under 20 points in each of his previous two outings. "It's getting better and better every game ... My explosion felt really good tonight. It's coming."
Bryant, who averaged 35.4 points last season, has not been creating as many opportunities for himself while playing a bit more cautiously as he tries to strengthen the knee. He's taken only 51 shots from the field through four games after leading the league with 27.2 per game last season.
Bryant averaged 39.5 points in two meetings with Detroit in 2005-06. The Lakers had lost three straight to the Pistons before Bryant scored 40 in a 105-94 win on March 4 at Staples Center in the most recent matchup.
The Lakers have split four games since Bryant's return after opening 2-0. However, they have yet to lose at home, shooting 52.2 percent from the floor in three games at Staples Center.
The Pistons (2-3) are trying to get back on track after losing the first two games of a four-game West Coast road trip. Two days after a 103-101 loss to the Utah Jazz, Detroit fell 99-86 to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.
In both games, the Pistons were held below 42 percent from the field. They were outscored in the paint for the fourth time in five games on Wednesday, and were outrebounded 50-35 by the Kings.
"Right now we're not a very good basketball team," said Chauncey Billups, who led Detroit with 25 points on Wednesday. "We've got a long way to go. We're having too many breakdowns. We're not starting off with the urgency we need. We need to get the lead and step on people."
Billups has shot 35.6 percent from the field and 6-of-26 from 3-point range for the Pistons, who have been one of the league's worst shooting teams this season at 43.3 percent.
Rasheed Wallace missed all nine of his shot attempts on Wednesday as he went scoreless, but says the Pistons can't let their struggles make them hesitant.
"Just keep playing and keep shooting," Wallace said. "You can't stop shooting. ... You can't shoot well every night. You're going to make some -- it's just part of the game."