Will Kobe Sit Against The Thunder?
News out of L.A. today says Lakers coach Phil Jackson is considering holding out Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol from a preseason game or two due to hectic summers stemming from their quest to win the gold for their respective countries.
The Thunder will travel to California to play the Lakers in what will be the final preseason game for both teams on Oct. 24. Will Bryant and Gasol sit out that game? We’ll have to wait and see.
“This week I’m just seeing how they feel, how’s their energy level, and then we’ll adjust,” Jackson said. “I was told not to say that I wasn’t going to play Kobe in exhibition games. So I’m not going to say Kobe’s not going to play in this exhibition game or that exhibition game. But there is a chance they may not play in an exhibition game.”
It’s the second game of a back-to-back for both teams, meaning there is a good chance the regulars will sit it out or play even more limited minutes than usual for the preseason. But, it’s worth noting the game will be televised nationally by ESPN at 9 p.m. central time. I can’t help but wonder whether that will put any pressure on either coach to play their stars. I doubt it.
Thunder coach P.J. Carlesimo will have an added advantage of having the next four days off before opening the season Oct. 29. So the Thunder should be well rested even if the main guys play that last exhibition game. The Lakers open the regular season a night earlier, and Jackson has far less question marks with his team than Carlesimo. So perhaps that Oct. 24 game could be the contest Jackson is eyeing to sit his stars.
-DM-
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Darnell-
You have done a great job covering the Thunder thus far and I always enjoy reading your stories. Have most of the players and coaches found a place to live? Did most of them decide to live in the Edmond area?
(Ryan, from what I’ve been told everyone is settled. I believe most live in Edmond. Soon I’ll post a conversation I had a few weeks back with one of the real estate agents who was selected to help the players with their move. You should find a lot of what he said interesting if not informative. -DM-)