Kobe Bryant created it through Friday's observe while not aggravating his injured right wrist, Andrew Bynum had his suspension lowered to four games from 5 and Lakers coach Mike Brown announced Devin Ebanks would begin Sunday.
Some day, huh?
After 2 weeks of non-stop unhealthy news and disappointment, the dark clouds that appeared to be hovering over the Lakers finally lifted as they went through the next-to-last observe of their lockout-shortened 16-day coaching camp.
Of course, they still have problems, beginning with the torn ligament in Bryant's wrist, the actual fact that Bynum should sit out for four games and also the notion that the inexperienced Ebanks is that the best they may do at the tiny forward position.
The Lakers' beginning lineup for the season opener Sunday against the Chicago Bulls are Bryant and Derek Fisher at the guard spots, Ebanks and Josh McRoberts at the forward positions and Pau Gasol at center.
It's unclear how effective Bryant are Sunday, once he injured his wrist during a fall midway through the third quarter of the Lakers' exhibition loss Monday to the Clippers. He did not play in Wednesday's defeat to the Clippers.
"I'm simply extremely ignoring it," he said.
The Lakers' athletic coaching employees can build a special brace to shield him.
"I did not see something completely different," Brown said of Bryant. "He's sensible to travel. He's tough. he is a tricky, tough, tough man. He didn't sit out of something. If he did (make adjustments), I did not notice it. i do not suppose he did. ... He looked pretty much as good as ever."
Bynum are eligible to come back to the lineup for the Lakers' game Dec. thirty one against the Denver Nuggets. He cannot play Sunday against Chicago, Monday against Sacramento, Tuesday against the Utah Jazz and Thursday against ny.
"Hey, hey, thanks to go NBA, yes," Brown said when asked for his reaction.
Brown then gave a fist-pump in case anyone misunderstood his happiness.
"I am greedy," he added. "I would have taken zero, however four is healthier than 5."
Bynum was suspended for clobbering J.J. Barea on a drive to the basket within the fourth quarter of the Lakers' embarrassing 36-point loss to the Dallas Mavericks within the decisive Game four of their second-round playoff series last could.
"The solely reason it had been reduced is as a result of the season is shorter," Bynum said, relating the actual fact that the lockout reduced the schedule from the quality eighty two games to solely sixty six in 2011-12. "It is sensible."
The Lakers' Chicago-Sacramento-Utah slog to start out the season is their solely stretch of back-to-back-to-back games. However, it's solely a part of a grueling begin to the season, once they play six games within the 1st eight days.
McRoberts, a newly signed free agent, can replace Bynum. Gasol can then shift from power forward to center and McRoberts can begin in Gasol's spot. Gasol is adept at filling in for Bynum throughout his frequent absences due to injuries.
McRoberts' accession are a few things new, however.
Lamar Odom typically stepped into the beginning power forward's role whenever Bynum was sidelined. Odom ceased to be an possibility once the Lakers dealt him to the rival Mavericks for a first-round draft decide and a trade exception earlier this month.
McRoberts signed Dec. fourteen and has been taking part in catch-up ever since.
As for Ebanks' move to the beginning lineup, Brown set it slow ago he wished to possess Metta World Peace on the bench to spark the second unit. The competition for the beginning position was between Ebanks and Matt Barnes.
"Rebound, play defense, hit the open shots and run the ground," Ebanks said of his directions from Brown for under his twenty first NBA game.
Ratings bonanza
The Lakers' exhibition losses Monday and Wednesday to the Clippers were the 2 most-watched preseason games in NBA TV history, the network announced. the primary game attracted 509,000 viewers and 556,000 watched the second.
source: lakers news
