| Lakers Out Of The Gate Authored by Scott Essman - November 3, 2005 - 3:34 pm
After just one game, the prognosis isn't bad. Sure it took overtime and a few miracle shots to keep the LA
Lakers afloat. But they beat a better team.
Thwarting a balanced Denver Nugget attack, in which six Nuggets scored at least 10 points - led by Marcus Camby with 19 - the Lakers got their offense from two primary sources. Kobe Bryant, a man seemingly on a personal mission to revive his team, scored 33 points on 13-28 shooting, including a backbreaking jumper with less than one second left in overtime to give the Lakers the victory.
Then there was plucky 24-year-old guard Smush Parker, a New York City playground legend with scant previous NBA experience. He worked his way into the rotation in training camp and ostensibly fits into the Lakers'
triangle offense. On this night, the system worked for him, as Bryant would serve as a decoy, setting up Parker for open shots - he scored 20 points and made three 3-pointers.
Although he wasn't key in the offense, Lamar Odom grabbed nine rebounds. No other Laker contributed as much as Bryant and Parker, though Devean George scored
14 points as a small forward.
On a night which celebrated coach Phil Jackson's return, the Lakers stole one for themselves in Denver, beginning a season with many questions in on a definitive note. |
