Without its team leader in technical fouls in Kobe Bryant, the Lakers have been playing without complaining nor causing any unnecessary ruckus. It could be that Bryant tends to play with an edge unlike any other player that involves high emotion and sometimes frustration gets the better of him. Or maybe this Lakers team is lacking the intensity it needs to win games and get into their opponents.
On the contrary the Lakers seem to have more chemistry this season, and are playing without the outside pressure of championship aspirations. They are all playing for one another and having fun doing it. The whole Lakers team have seem to found positive energy and are cumulating it into high octane basketball and sportsmanship. It seems to have even rubbed off on Mike D’Antoni as nine coaches this season have technical fouls, but D’antoni has none this season.
Or it could be that most players on the Laker’s roster are under one year contracts and don’t want to shell out their pockets for silly technical fouls as it has gotten quite expensive. Your first five technicals will cost you $2,000 each and it just gets steeper. With your 16th technical resulting in a suspension without pay, I doubt any Laker wants to see that chunk of their paycheck missing.
Let’s see if things change when Bryant comes back and maybe change the Lakers attitude towards opponents or officials. Bryant has 162 technical fouls over his career, and over the past 12 years the amount of technicals has been only under double digits once.
Lakers Nation News:
Kobe Bryant Ruled Out For Friday And Sunday
Jordan Hill An All-Star Caliber Player?
Jordan Hill Says Kobe Bryant Is Practicing At 100%
Kobe Bryant Says He Can Play In November
Steve Nash Fully Intends To Come Back This Season
Kobe Bryant “Teammates Have To Bring Their A-Game”
D’Antoni Talks Kobe Bryant After First Full Practice
Lakers News:
Lakers News: Steve Nash Is ‘Absolutely’ Trying To Return; Not Retiring – Examiner
Lakers News: Kobe Bryant Set To Face The Biggest Challenge Of His NBA Career – Examiner
Lakers News: Kobe Bryant ‘Felt Good’ After First Full-Contact Practice – Examiner
Pau Gasol Impressed By Kobe Bryant’s Relatively Quick Return – LA Times
Kobe Bryant Makes Full On Return To Lakers Practice – Sporting News
Bryant, Nash Seem To Be Heading In Different Directions – OC Register
Steve Blake Turning The Simple Into Sublime – Forum Blue & Gold
D’Antoni Nash Eyes Return, Not Retirement – ESPN
NBA News:
Refs Got It Right On Melo’s Waved Off Three – SB Nation
Durant: Smart Is NBA-Ready – ESPN
Hakeem Olajuwan Thinks Dwight Needs A Post Move Reminder – SB Nation
Sixer’s Young Brushes Off Trade-Rumors – Hoops World
Warriors Curry Out With Concussion – ESPN
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VIDEO: Did You See Kobe At Practice On Wednesday?
