The Los Angeles Lakers have been lacking a player that can close out games for them so far this season. They have had chances to take the lead late in games and that was the case again when the Lakers hosted the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.
At the start of the fourth quarter they were up by three, with less than two minutes remaining they were down by one and when the final buzzer hit the Lakers lost 89-86. Kobe Bryant is the closer the Lakers need right now and he recently had his first practice since rupturing his Achilles.
The Lakers and their fans are waiting for Bryant to return with the team now 4-7 in their first 11 games of the season. Tonight the Lakers will try to bounce back against the Detroit Pistons, a team that has been having a tough time on the road.
What do the Lakers need to do to win against the Pistons? What do Bryant’s teammates think about him returning to practice?
What LAL are doing well offensively through 11 games, per D’Antoni: shooting 3’s (above 40%). Not? Getting layups/a thrust to the basket.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) November 16, 2013
[For the keys to a Lakers’ victory tonight click here.]
Kobe Bryant returned to practice today for the first time in his recovery from Achilles surgery. It was a light session (5 on 0 drills).
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) November 16, 2013
Steve Blake on Kobe: “He looks like Kobe to me, basically. He’s moving well, right back to his old self.”
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) November 16, 2013