Tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET the Los Angeles Lakers (11-13) will try to notch their second victory of the season with Kobe Bryant in the lineup at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, where the Grizzlies (10-13) await. The game can be live streamed here; Lakers fans can hear the game on 710 ESPN, while Grizzlies fans may do the same on 92.9 ESPN Memphis.
Los Angeles may have turned a corner vs. Atlanta in their last game despite dropping it 114-100, because Kobe shot 8-of-15 from the field and scored 21 points to go with eight rebounds and seven assists.
"The next level of progression is playing these games when you sit back out, get back in, is keeping it loose," said Bryant. "It's just a matter of time. You increase the activity, the ankle gets used to it a little more. I've just got to keep my eye on the big picture and focus on getting better."
Memphis is going to be without center Marc Gasol for the 11th straight game due to a sprained MCL; the Grizzlies are 3-7 in that span. They will likely lean heavily on power forward Zach Randolph with point guard Mike Conley questionable tonight after leaving Memphis' previous contest with a bruised thigh.
Pau Gasol, Marc's brother, will be in action tonight although he's involved in a nasty media spat with head coach Mike D'Antoni about his role in the offense. Pau told The Los Angeles Times ""When I'm not getting the ball where I want to, where I'm most effective, where I can bang guys and utilize my skill, that affects my aggressiveness and overall intensity."
An angry D'Antoni responded with some venom of his own. It's also a nice excuse to not play hard. That's a classic: 'Well, I don't know what I'm supposed to do.' Well, you don't have trouble getting up to the pay stub line. They know what to do there to get the check. So, obviously, you know what to do. They will."
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
