EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Los Angeles Lakers center Kwame Brown will be sidelined approximately three to four weeks because of a bruised rotator cuff and bursitis in his right shoulder, meaning he will miss the start of the season. Lakers spokesman John Black said Thursday that Dr. Neal Elattrache, a shoulder specialist, examined Brown a day earlier and made the diagnosis. Brown, 24, hasn't played since colliding with Andrew Bynum during practice Saturday. His shoulder bothered him last season as well. Brown, the No. 1 pick in the 2001 NBA draft by the Washington Wizards, averaged 7.4 points and 6.6 rebounds in 72 games for the Lakers last season -- his first with the team. He became the team's starting center after Chris Mihm injured his right ankle March 12. Mihm played only one game after that and is still recovering from offseason ankle surgery. "Chris won't be ready by opening night," Black said. "We really don't want to put a timetable on it other than to say it's going to be more than two weeks." The Lakers open the season Oct. 31 against the Phoenix Suns. With Brown and Mihm sidelined, possible options at center to start the season are the 18-year-old Bynum, Ronny Turiaf and Brian Cook. Bynum was the team's first-round draft pick last year and Turiaf was the second-round selection. Neither played much as rookies, and Cook is a natural forward. "It's a coaching decision," Black said. Defending NBA scoring champion Kobe Bryant, recovering from offseason knee surgery, hopes to be ready for the season opener, but he hasn't played in the preseason. "Our hope is he'll get to play in at least one preseason game," Black said, adding that Bryant was "probably doubtful" for Sunday night's game against the Suns in San Diego. The Lakers have one preseason game after that -- against Denver next Thursday night in Anaheim. The Lakers have several other injured players, including Vladimir Radmanovic (sprained ligament in his right hand); Shammond Williams (abdominal strain); Aaron McKie (disc irritation and inflammation), and Von Wafer (bruised left heel). Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who had hip replacement surgery Oct. 3, has been working part time and is expected to be on the bench for the season opener. espn.com
I really hope that when the season starts, all these injuries will start going away. I mean, this has been ridiculous so far. It's just one injury after another
They should just pick people up off the street to play for the team. I mean damn, how many more injuries do we need? Well this might be Ronny's chance to shine in the PF, and since Mihm is out maybe Bynum's too.
This f-in sucks. You know what will have happened with Kwame when he comes back? He will have lost any confidence he had, he will be avoiding contact because of his shoulder, which will screw both his offensive and defensive game up. He'll probably end up playing worse than last season.
Well, you aren't missing much since its Kwame Brown. Ronny Turiaf will probably end up doing better anyways.
<div class="quote_poster">CLos Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Well, you aren't missing much since its Kwame Brown. Ronny Turiaf will probably end up doing better anyways.</div> Um, okay. You obviously don't know what you are talking about. Brown really improved in the latter part of last season. Although he may never live up to being the number 1 overall pick, he certainly isn't a bad player. This is a huge blow for this team.
<div class="quote_poster">CLos Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Well, you aren't missing much since its Kwame Brown. Ronny Turiaf will probably end up doing better anyways.</div> Kwame is our best post defender, and with Mihm also injured, the Lakers will miss him. Ronny Turiaf has been great, but he still has a tendancy to pick up fouls in bunches and doesn't have Kwame's size. I just hope the combination of Turiaf/Bynum can step up his game and be a defensive force on the inside until Kwame comes back.
Turiaf will step in and Andrew Bynum will do fine. Kwame Brown picks up a bunch of fouls as well so I mean what are you guys talking about?
<div class="quote_poster">CLos Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Turiaf will step in and Andrew Bynum will do fine. Kwame Brown picks up a bunch of fouls as well so I mean what are you guys talking about?</div> My question to you is, have you seen Kwame play in the second half of last season? The obvious answer is no
<div class="quote_poster">CLos Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Turiaf will step in and Andrew Bynum will do fine. Kwame Brown picks up a bunch of fouls as well so I mean what are you guys talking about?</div> Kwame was the best post defensive player in the 2nd half of the season including the playoffs. I dont know what Lakers games you've been watching, but obviously it wasn't last seasons. Kwame will be missed when the season begins. Hopefully he'll return soon..
