<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">LOS ANGELES -- Lakers star Shaquille O'Neal sat out Sunday night's game against the Clippers because of a strained right calf, and Karl Malone was placed on the injured list for the first time in his career. O'Neal left Friday night's 111-109 loss at Seattle in the second quarter because of the injury and did not return. Lakers coach Phil Jackson said a decision will be made Monday as to whether O'Neal will travel for games at Minnesota and Denver on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Malone must miss those games, as well as home games against Atlanta on Friday night and Cleveland on Monday night, making it a minimum of nine he sits out due to a sprained ligament in his right knee.</div> Full Article I saw someone post in another topic that Malone avoided the IL, but now it is official that he will be placed there. Jamal Sampson has been activated, and it is reported that Fox isn't quite ready to come off the IL yet.
That sucks. Cause that puts more pressure on Kobe. Despite GP bein' there, the Lakers lack consistency on the offensive end not including Kobe. Sure, Payton can score 20, but not every night. And considering LA's loss to the clippers, the bench isn't playing well either. Hopefullu Shaq will get back ASAP, and Malone.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Depth:</div><div class="quote_post">That sucks. Cause that puts more pressure on Kobe. Despite GP bein' there, the Lakers lack consistency on the offensive end not including Kobe. Sure, Payton can score 20, but not every night. And considering LA's loss to the clippers, the bench isn't playing well either. Hopefullu Shaq will get back ASAP, and Malone.</div> Yep, GP won't deliver consistent scoring every night, because his job to get the Lakers to still play like a team despite our frontcourt being injured. But I agree, we need more help on the offensive side, GP will have to be a shoot first type player, Kobe can't do everything on the offensive side, because he will be doubled. They need to get used to it now, because this isn't the only time Shaq is going to be hurt throughout the season, we need George to really step up his play, for for GP to start playing some real basketball. If you let Doug Overton be a threat on the offensive side, and lock you down on defense, something is wrong.
