Walton Out Two To Six Weeks

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">HONOLULU - For the second consecutive October, Lakers forward Luke Walton is facing an early season setback, this time after suffering a severe hamstring strain with three minutes left in Tuesday night's exhibition opener against Golden State.

Walton, who struggled to find a place in then-coach Rudy Tomjanovich's rotation last season after spraining his ankle in training camp, is expected to be sidelined two to six weeks. If he is out six weeks, Walton could miss 10 regular-season games.

Playing in the backcourt, Walton went to take a return pass from Brian Cook off a back-door cut when he came up limping and grabbing the back of his leg. Walton said afterward he never has had a hamstring injury before in his career.

"Last year didn't really work out for me very well," Walton said. "I'm going to take it a day at a time rehabbing it. I'm not going to come back early. I don't want this thing to linger. Whenever I can get back out there, I guess that's when I'll start trying to make up lost time."

After re-signing with the Lakers this summer, Walton was expected to be a primary player off the bench for coach Phil Jackson. His injury underscores the Lakers' lack of depth, with a bench that probably ranks in the bottom third of the NBA right now.

Walton's value comes in his ability to play multiple positions, complemented by his passing skills. When he suffered the injury, Walton was directing the triangle offense, much as a guard would, one of the many roles Jackson envisions for him.

"I would think I made a lot of progress this whole offseason," Walton said, "which is kind of why it's so frustrating to get hurt in the first game. ... It's just going to be a slower start for me."

Mixed results: The Lakers were left trying to figure out what to make of their 101-93 victory over Golden State, a game in which their starters were steamrolled in the opening eight minutes, falling behind 24-8 and giving up a 14-0 run at one point.

The starting five, with Smush Parker in the backcourt, recovered and outscored the Warriors 17-10 to start the second half. Jackson said before the game that he would try different players as starters during the preseason.

The Lakers looked every bit like a team trying to play together after only 12 practices while Golden State looked like the team that went 18-10 after acquiring guard Baron Davis (UCLA) last season. Both teams finished with identical 34-48 records a year ago.

Kobe Bryant forced the issue in the second quarter, scoring 16 of the Lakers' 32 points, and finished with a game-high 28. Bryant frequently posted up Warriors guard Jason Richardson, once spinning past him on the baseline before a spectacular reverse dunk.

Lamar Odom, playing in the backcourt as expected, added 16 points and scored nine in the last 2:10. Odom was stripped once by Davis in the first quarter but excelled in the fourth, driving to the basket one possession and posting up on another.

"One thing about the triangle," Odom said, "you can learn the offense - where you're supposed to go, where you're supposed to cut - but learning how to catch the ball in striking position, that's another thing. You have to learn where to find your aggressive spots."

New look: Entering a crucial season, Cook had a good game, proving equally capable of posting up and popping out to hit a jumper. He finished with 10 points and five rebounds and reported afterward that he is both stronger and lighter this year.

"I feel a lot quicker," said Cook, who is down to 245 pounds, 15 pounds fewer than last season. "I think it will help me play D and stay in front of my man a lot better. I think it's also going to help me pressuring the ball up top, too."

Grant in aid: The news that Phoenix forward Amare Stoudemire could miss four months after undergoing knee surgery could prompt some revisiting of the Lakers' decision to waive forward Brian Grant in a luxury-tax saving move.

The Lakers still are searching for a big man and Grant could wind up playing major minutes in place of Stoudemire. Grant averaged only 16.5 minutes last season after arriving from Miami in the Shaquille O'Neal trade.

Jackson called the decision "purely financial" and raised doubts about how much Grant could play "unless he's had remarkable healing." Grant has battled chronic tendinitis in his knees for several years.

"I called up Brian Grant and told him how disappointed I was," Jackson added, "because he's one of my favorite guys in the NBA that I've known since he's been a younger player."</div>

LA Daily News

 

Whoa. Shawn Kemp. A name I haven't heard in a long time. I still remember when Kemp and Payton were the 1-2 punch in Seattle.

 

I thought Rodney Rogers was with Philly?

I'd take Googs out of all of those guys, he can still ball and he's a good leader, he'd be a good fit for the lakers.

 

big man from up north

kemp would seem like the most obvious choice for the lakers since they really have finally cut a lot of their "nonsense" players or their "baggage" personel. and this goes back in years for them. having the ONE player that they took a gamble on and more often than not, lost with. payton and floppy divac being their most recent mistakes. gary did okay over here... but the guy is a cancer in the locker room. time and time again it has been a known fact about the guy. and vlade?! i don't know if i have ever been as frustrated with laker management and their spending technique as i was last year with what they locked themselves up with in divac and grant. total wastes of cash. i think kemp or rodman joining the team this year would seem the most fitting unless they are finally ready to break this trend.