Gasol Practices, Ready to Play

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>NEW YORK - Although a little tired from flying from Washington on Sunday afternoon to Memphis and then to New York on Monday morning, Pau Gasol practiced that afternoon and is hopeful he can play tonight against the New Jersey Nets.

Gasol has been dealing with a sore back that kept him out of several games with the Grizzlies, but he said that it was under control.

"It's getting there," Gasol said. "Good enough to perform well."

"He wants to play," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "We'll see how it goes."

If Gasol does play, Jackson said he would start at center.

Jackson was on the floor showing Gasol some of the nuances of the triangle offense.

Jackson said he worked with Gasol all the way through practice. Jackson said that his knee was killing him as he leaned against his cane afterward.

But the coach got some unexpected help when Ron Harper, a former Laker and Chicago Bull, "came in and helped us get through it a little bit."

Jackson has said Harper knows the offense better than most.

"I'm still trying to get a feel with the triangle offense and all the options and reads, because there's a lot of reading, which is not as good for me (right now)," Gasol said. "I'm still trying to get a feel and just process it all.

"I don't think it's hard to learn; you've just got to get used to it and get in the flow, that rhythm that all of my teammates are in from being in it and playing in it for obviously longer than I have."

Gasol talked about the trade.

"Last year, I was a little bit more vocal about it, I guess," Gasol said. "Not so vocal with the media, but it got leaked out and it was all a big mess. It was very uncomfortable, all the booing and stuff -- or a little bit of booing, but enough to make it very uncomfortable.

"They didn't really want to go through that. I told them one thing when asked, 'Do you want to be in Memphis?' I said, 'All I want to do is win. And winning makes me happy. So if we're not winning, I'm unhappy. So that should answer all the other questions.' "

Kobe Rests

Jackson kept Kobe Bryant out of practice Monday, but said he will play tonight.

"It's the effects of playing three in four nights," Jackson said. "Actually, three in less than four nights."

Bryant played all but 35 seconds Thursday in Detroit and followed that by playing 43:55 in a back-to-back game against Toronto the next night. He played 35 minutes Sunday against the Wizards.

Willing Passer

Vladimir Radmanovic not only shot well the past two games, but he also has passed well.

Radmanovic had four assists against Washington and five against Toronto.

"He's a willing passer, sometimes to the wrong team," Jackson chided. "But he's willing."</div>

Source: Press Enterprise

 

Can't wait!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brian @ Feb 5 2008, 06:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Wait, is the game going to be on tape delay again?</div>

Yeah it's going to be on tape delay. Game starts at 4:30PM PST

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bynumite @ Feb 5 2008, 06:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Yes!Is he going to start?</div>

Yeah I think he's the starting center tonight for us.

Phil Jackson told Pau he would shave his beard if Pau agreed to shave his. LOL

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (o.iatlhawksfan @ Feb 5 2008, 06:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>LOL he(Pau) needs to shave it.</div>

I was hoping the entire team would grow beards until Bynum returns. That would be great entertainment. I think Radman might look like Teen Wolf though if he was allowed to go that long without shaving.