Lakers fall to Sonics despite previous triumphs

Everything was good for he Lakers, who took advantage of their familiarity with the Suns from the playoffs and preseason to win the opening game.

And then they beat a Golden State Warriors team that either wasn't ready to play or distracted in its home opener.

what's more, they "got away with one the other night" against the Seattle SuperSonics at Staples Center, winning a tough match that was tied with 1 & l/2 minutes to play. That was coach Phil Jackson's evaluation, at least, before his squad faced its first "real test" Sunday.

Despite the previous games, they failed that test, with the Sonics blitzing them for 95 points in three quarters while building a 26-point lead, in a 117-101 loss at Key Arena. So went the Lakers' hopes of opening 4-0 for only the fifth time in the past 20 years.

"They were the aggressor tonight," Jackson admitted, "and usually things happen for the aggressor team."

It's fair to mention that Lamar Odom, who finished with 11 points after coming into the game averaging 28, expressed: "The two E's, the effort and energy, were just bad."

In fact, the Sonics drilled the Lakers at the start of the second and third quarters, hit 12 3-pointers and scored 31 points off the Lakers' 22 turnovers. Ray Allen (32 points), Rashard Lewis (25) and Luke Ridnour (22) did the most damage for Seattle.

At least, Kobe Bryant is back and scoring, with 15 points and he made 4 of 10 shots. This was his second game back from knee surgery. It was fewer points than Bryant scored in 79 of 80games last season, when he led the NBA in scoring at 35.4 points per game.

"It's just kind of getting the flow of the game down a little bit," Bryant claims. "I haven't played in a long, long time. So it's just kind of getting that rhythm back. It felt like my passes were a little bit more sharp than they were the other game.

"And then going forward, it's just working within the offense and getting good looks and things like that. It's step by step."

Los Angeles Lakers trailed 57-49 at halftime, a lead the Sonics doubled in the first three minutes of the third quarter. Bryant tried to assert himself in taking threejumpers, but the Lakers struggled to cover Lewis, who connected on two 3-pointers.

We all saw that Jackson sat Luke Walton and Andrew Bynum in favor of Vladimir Radmanovic and Ronny Turiaf, but the Sonics kept surging out of the timeout and netted 38 points in the quarter.

Allen ran Bryant off a screen, blew past him after catching the ball and scored as part of three-point play. At the other end, Radmanovic drove the baseline, just to lose the ball out of bounds. Lewis buried another 3-pointer, and the Sonics had a 75-55 lead.

Then Jackson chosed to play a lineup without Bryant or Odom at the start of the second quarter. The results were disastrous. The unit of Brian Cook, Maurice Evans, Smush Parker, Radmanovic and Walton gave up 11 straight points in only three minutes.

We msut admit that all Bryant needed to do at the start of the game was pass the ball. He drew the Sonics defense around the lane before dropping passes to Bynum for dunks and finding open shooters for 3-pointers.

In the end, Kobe Bryant had five assists in the first six minutes and was the last of the Lakers starting five to score. The Lakers made their first seven shots and led by as many as 10 points of what started out as an easy night.

Kobe finished with nineassists against three turnovers. Bynum had 13 points but played only three minutes in the second half. Odom knocked down two early 3-pointers and despite that turned down almost all the shots the rest of the match, Jackson expressed.

Kobe might play in season opener against Suns

Kobe Bryant was ahving a hard time trying to heal his knee during the World Championship. And he wouldn’t say yesterday if he’ll play in the Lakers season opener against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night, even when coach Phil Jackson said Bryant has told him he will be available.

The Lakers were on a practice yesterday at Staples Center and Bryant participated in much of the session. Kobe has been recovering from right knee surgery and didn’t play in any of the Lakers’ exhibition matches.

“The player says he’s going to play on Tuesday,” Jackson announced. “There’s a disclaimer that he’s doubtful. I’m sure that he’ll make the correct decision. He came off the floor and he was sore, but he was on the court for a good hour and a half before he came off.”

The last two days the Lakers had said that Kobe Bryant was “questionable to doubtful” for the first encounter of the new season.

In fact, Bryant didn’t give any indication after practice on his plans.

“I don’t know,” Bryant admitted. “I just take it day by day. It’s kind of frustrating, cause every day kind of varies. Today it’s a little sore.”

Coach Jackson said Bryant didn’t go full tilt in practice, but did many of the skill drills. Jackson said the Lakers are prepared whether Bryant plays or not. Maurice Evans is the likely starter if Bryant stays out.

It's important to say that Jackson, who underwent right hip-replacement surgery earlier this month, said he would coach the opener on Tuesday. He missed all the team’s exhibition matches.

He used a cane at the last practice and said he has a ways to go to be mobile and active. In fact, Jackson said it’s possible that he might not make the trip to Golden State on Wednesday for the Lakers’ second clash.

New ball tested

Many NBA players, from Steve Nash to Shaquille O'Neal, are criticizing the new synthetic Spalding ball designed for this season. Lakers Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom aren't thrilled either, though they aren't complaining as loudly or passionately. O'Neal's analysis of the switch from leather to synthetic for reporters in Miami: "It's like touching an exotic dancer and then going and touching a plastic, blow-up doll."

Indeed, Kobe Bryant admitted: "I'm old school, so I love the old-school ball."

Odom added: "By the second or third quarter in the NBA game, guys perspire a lot, and once that (new) ball gets wet, it just kind of slips out of your hand. I guarantee you in the beginning of the season you'll see a match probably lost just by a simple pass or a guy trying to catch the ball or going up for a layup by himself the ball will slip out of his hand."

The NBA made the change in search of uniformity with a ball that doesn't need to be broken in. Players have stated the grip is very different.

Kwame Brown, who made 54.4 percent of his foul shots last season, has complained that the new ball is harder to shoot. And Odom, although he also has rust from limited play over the summer, has looked as sloppy as ever finishing shots around the basket with the new ball in training camp.

But Bryant and Odom said they've played with all sorts of balls in their lifetimes. Odom talked about playing with a handball or a tennis ball; Bryant said he played with balled-up tape or a sock.

"I played with a sock; I think I can play with this," Bryant expressed. "I don't really think it's that big a deal."

Kobe Bryant on his surgically repaired right knee holding him out of practices: "We don't want to rush it. We're just taking our time, getting stronger with it and letting the scar tissue heal."

Japanese Tour has begun

Kobe Bryant is busy with a promotional tour in Asia. On Monday, he arrived in Tokyo, Japan. The Kobe 81 Tour, named after his record 81 points that he scored in a single game last season, will move to Beijing, China later this week.

And soon after his arrival, Kobe got down to doing what he knows best - playing basketball.

Indeed, a coaching clinic was arranged, and more than one hundred children waited for their star at Yoyogi Park, near downtown Tokyo.

About thirty lucky youngsters were picked for the clinic where Kobe gave an exhibition of his supreme skills that has helped him create many a record in his NBA career so far.

The LA Lakers star started off with a simple message for the kids.

"Have fun first of all, have fun and just enjoy it by playing basketball. I play this because I love to play. It's fun for me. And just on top of that just being creative.": Kobe Bryant.

Kobe's skills were sorely missed by the USA team in the recent World Championship that concluded in Japan on the weekend. A knee injury forced Bryant to skip the tournament and the US 'Dream Team' could only finish with a bronze medal.

Fans however made use of their time with Kobe.

They were eager to find out his favourite move, hoping there would be a secret weapon to the 28-year old's success.

"Normally I don't have a favourite one. I try practicing all of them. So, during the game there is one move I have to use and I need to feel comfortable to use. I do not have any particular one I favour. I just practice it and make it comfortable.": Kobe Bryant.

Bryant will continue on his Kobe 81 tour to Beijing, China later this week.

Kobe in PlayStation game

In a very good announcement, Kobe Bryant and his new, No. 24 Lakers jersey will be the starring attraction for NBA 07, the new PlayStation 2 video game that will be released this fall, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. said Friday.

In fact, the agreement, announced in front of a crowd of youngsters in the gymnasium of the Willowbrook Boys and Girls Club in Los Angeles, means the first new major sports marketing deal for Bryant since sexual-assault charges were brought against him in July 2003, although the charges were dropped in September 2004.

However, financial terms of the sponsorship deal were not released.

Bryant's image will be featured on packaging for the video game, and he will be in television and print ads.

"Kobe was our option from the start, no question," said Sharon Shapiro, Sony Computer Entertainment's senior director of promotions and sports product marketing. Bryant said that the Sony contract "just naturally made sense because we're both trying to have a strong impact on our fields."

The Lakers player said that he is in regular contact with Shapiro to discuss advertising and marketing plans for the game that also will be produced for Sony's portable video game player and the PlayStation3 line to be introduced in November.

It's important to mention that Phoenix Suns star Amare Stoudemire was the featured player in the NBA 06 video game. That game was the ninth biggest seller in the $10.5-billion video games category during 2005, according to NPD Group, a Port Washington, N.Y.-based market research firm.

Video game fans — males between the ages of 14 and 34 buy most of the games — aren't likely to balk at buying a game because of Bryant's high-profile legal problems.

"I'd guess that 81 points speaks a lot louder," said David Carter, executive director of the USC Sports Business Institute, in reference to the Lakers star's single-game performance last season. "The video gamer is much more concerned with his on-the-court performance."

Sports marketers also said that Bryant, who will turn 28 next week, could be an effective spokesman for Sony even though the NBA has steadily added younger stars. Those include LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade, three of the top five NBA draftees in 2003 who were named as tri-captains for the USA Basketball team.

Kobe will be back in October

Lakers' star Kobe Bryant says his right knee is pain free. That's why the player thinks he will be ready to go when training camp begins in October.

The popular basketball player noticed the great evolution of his injury: "By then I should be full bore, completely healed up, strong, ready to go,".

In fact, Bryant has been resting the knee this summer, but continues upper body work and some light work on the exercise bicycle. "With scar tissue, they really want me to let it settle, just let the scar tissue heal before you get out there and start running around," Bryant expressed. "Your scar tissue comes back too quickly, you'll wind up having to do the same procedure again in a year or two."

New Bryant's foundation will see the light

In a really great gesture, Kobe Bryant Thursday announced he is forming a foundation providing assistance to persons who need financial assistance to help make their dreams come true.

In fact, the first project of the Vivo Foundation is Vivo Del Mondo, a program providing an all-expense paid nine-day trip to Italy beginning next week for eight black and Latin college students.

The popular basketball player announced the recipients of the trip Thursday night at a West Los Angeles restaurant.

The goal of Vivo Del Mondo is to provide the students with an international travel experience that will offer them a broader and expanded context to discover and develop their life passions and encourage students to think, question and formulate their own beliefs, according to Kobe Bryant.

It's also good to mention that the students will visit Rome, Florence and Venice between August 8 to 16.

As we said, the students selected to take the trip were affiliated with the Hispanic College Fund and Phase3, which provides college scholarships for black students.

"This is very exiting for us to be able to have the opportunity to do something like this," Bryant said. "(With) me growing up oversees and being exposed to another world, another way of life, to be able to open those doors to somebody else is special."

It's important to keep in mind that Bryant spent eight years of his childhood in Italy while his father Joe was playing professional basketball there.