LAT: Turner: Lakers' Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol to miss another game
$Bill
LAKERS FYI
Lakers' Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol to miss another game
Neither 7-footer is able to practice, and both will sit out Sunday's
game against New Orleans -- Bynum because of an elbow strain, Gasol
because of a strained hamstring.
By Broderick Turner
November 8, 2009
Because the healing process has been slow, Lakers center Andrew Bynum
and forward Pau Gasol will miss another game.
Neither was able to practice Saturday and neither will play tonight
when the Lakers face the struggling New Orleans Hornets at Staples
Center.
Bynum will miss his second consecutive game because of a strained right
elbow.
Gasol will miss his seventh consecutive game because of a strained
right hamstring.
"Hopefully, I can make it back by Thursday, " Bynum said. "It's just a
waiting game, really. I don't know, man. Just doing some treatment,
doing a little bit of things, but it's basically got to heal up."
Bynum said that pain in his triceps is the issue, and because of that,
he's unable to use his forearm to hold off an opponent by using the arm
to push out.
"I can come in real fast, but just to go out [is a problem], " Bynum
said. "But that's my 'hold' position. I've got to box out. I've got
to push people. I've got to do all that stuff."
Bynum has been receiving a lot of treatment, including wearing a
electrical stimulation device to help the process.
Gasol, meanwhile, has been out for nearly a month now.
He has tried to practice on several occasions but can't seem to get
over the hump in order to complete a session, let alone play in a game.
"Pau has been working out, I'd say, to his limits and [Friday] night
felt some residual pain and was concerned about it today so he hasn't
been out on the floor with us today, " Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said.
After tonight's game, the Lakers have three days off before they play
the Phoenix Suns on Thursday at Staples Center.
The hope is that Bynum and Gasol can be back by then.
"We have a three-day break after the game on Sunday and I can't see any
reason why this should be that extended that it would go on past that
time, " Jackson said.
Bryant offense-minded
It's not because Bynum and Gasol are out.
It's not because he doesn't have other teammates who can score.
Kobe Bryant has been scoring more during the early stages of the season
because, he said, that is his mind-set.
"I'm taking it. It's a bit of both, " Bryant said about taking what
the defense gives him. "I'm being really aggressive, trying to put
teams in a situation where they have to make decisions."
Bryant, who has scored 41 points in three of the team's last four
games, is leading the NBA in scoring with an average of 34.5 points per
game.
Odom's birthday
Lamar Odom was not expecting a surprise birthday party Friday night
after the Lakers' victory over Memphis.
Odom, who turned 30, said one of the coolest things about his rooftop
party was to see "Happy Birthday Lamar" on a building across the street
from his party.
latimes.com /sports
Lakers' 50th season in Los Angeles
Starting Monday and running through Friday at latimes.com/sports, our
Lakers beat reporters Mike Bresnahan and Broderick Turner and NBA
columnist Mark Heisler will weigh in on the Lakers' best forwards,
guards, center and head coach and the best Lakers team of the
franchise's half-century in Los Angeles. Check Monday for Bresnahan's
story on the best pair of Lakers forwards.