Kwame and Kobe Lead Lakers over Hornets
Written by john Mbugua
Kobe Bryant Biography & Pictures
The Los Angeles Lakers' fans giving a standing ovation to Kwame Brown?! Definitely not the usual, more like Kobe Bryant and occasionally Lamar Odom.
Brown's 17 points on flawless shooting sparked a 105-94 victory over the plummeting New Orleans Hornets.
Bryant continued his MVP-caliber season with 30 points on 10-of-19 shooting. Odom, his sidekick, also maintained his strong play of late with 23 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
However, it was the play of Brown - who has had his ups and downs since stepping into the league as the top overall pick in 2001 - that fueled the Lakers' fourth straight win and gave the team's playoff hopes a major boost.
"I think I've done whatever they have asked me to do here," said Brown, who was acquired in an offseason trade with Washington. "They wanted me to run, rebound and defend which I know is not the fan-favorite type of work, but now coach is asking me to score a little bit too. I think I've picked up that opportunity and I have been doing a good job."
"It has just been a process for Kwame," Bryant added. "He is stepping up and making plays in the low-post offense, which is extremely beneficial for us. He has been solid all year but now he is putting points on the board."
"He is coming up with some key plays for us," Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson said. "And at the offensive end, he is doing things that help him finish at the basket. When a player plays extended minutes, you fall into that rhythm. Kwame has set himself up to have this sort of success."
"It is just a different mind set," Brown said. "I am just trying to take advantage of the opportunity. Chris is out and we didn't want to have a letdown. I've been working on my post moves all year, but when you come off the bench you are not asked to execute that role of a scorer. Now with Chris out, that is 10-to-11 points that are missing."
"Tonight was a really big game," Hornets forward P.J. Brown said. "We still have a chance for the playoffs even though we are not playing well right now. We play tough at times but we have our inconsistencies in the game, especially our defense which has been our Achilles heel the last 16 games."
"We play hard and really try to do the right things," P.J. Brown said. "But it's the little mistakes, especially on the defensive end. It just takes a team effort to pull through these tough times."
Bryant left the game in the final minute after feeling a twinge in his back. The injury is not considered serious.
"My back was acting up," Bryant said. "So I had to get on top of if right away and take care of it to be ready for our next game (Thursday against San Antonio). I couldn't run, couldn't jump or make any movement at all. But don't worry. I'll be ready."
Written by john Mbugua
Kobe Bryant Biography & Pictures
Kobe Bryant Biography & Pictures
The Los Angeles Lakers' fans giving a standing ovation to Kwame Brown?! Definitely not the usual, more like Kobe Bryant and occasionally Lamar Odom.
Brown's 17 points on flawless shooting sparked a 105-94 victory over the plummeting New Orleans Hornets.
Bryant continued his MVP-caliber season with 30 points on 10-of-19 shooting. Odom, his sidekick, also maintained his strong play of late with 23 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
However, it was the play of Brown - who has had his ups and downs since stepping into the league as the top overall pick in 2001 - that fueled the Lakers' fourth straight win and gave the team's playoff hopes a major boost.
"I think I've done whatever they have asked me to do here," said Brown, who was acquired in an offseason trade with Washington. "They wanted me to run, rebound and defend which I know is not the fan-favorite type of work, but now coach is asking me to score a little bit too. I think I've picked up that opportunity and I have been doing a good job."
"It has just been a process for Kwame," Bryant added. "He is stepping up and making plays in the low-post offense, which is extremely beneficial for us. He has been solid all year but now he is putting points on the board."
"He is coming up with some key plays for us," Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson said. "And at the offensive end, he is doing things that help him finish at the basket. When a player plays extended minutes, you fall into that rhythm. Kwame has set himself up to have this sort of success."
"It is just a different mind set," Brown said. "I am just trying to take advantage of the opportunity. Chris is out and we didn't want to have a letdown. I've been working on my post moves all year, but when you come off the bench you are not asked to execute that role of a scorer. Now with Chris out, that is 10-to-11 points that are missing."
"Tonight was a really big game," Hornets forward P.J. Brown said. "We still have a chance for the playoffs even though we are not playing well right now. We play tough at times but we have our inconsistencies in the game, especially our defense which has been our Achilles heel the last 16 games."
"We play hard and really try to do the right things," P.J. Brown said. "But it's the little mistakes, especially on the defensive end. It just takes a team effort to pull through these tough times."
Bryant left the game in the final minute after feeling a twinge in his back. The injury is not considered serious.
"My back was acting up," Bryant said. "So I had to get on top of if right away and take care of it to be ready for our next game (Thursday against San Antonio). I couldn't run, couldn't jump or make any movement at all. But don't worry. I'll be ready."
Written by john Mbugua
Kobe Bryant Biography & Pictures
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