It’s Still All About Points in New York
NEW YORK — First there was 81.
Then came 22 and 13.
It had been eight days since Kobe Bryant sprung for 81 points against Toronto, but the two dozen reporters at Laker practice Monday in Manhattan had a single topic in mind.
Bryant was asked 22 questions about puncturing the Raptors and the aftereffects of it, and Laker Coach Phil Jackson was asked 13 ways about 81 and his own thoughts on record-setting numbers.
Bryant was asked just about everything related to his evening with the Raptors, including whether he ever might “wake up at night thinking about 100.”
Bryant laughed again at the notion of breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s single-game scoring record and repeated his desire to do whatever it takes to win, although he did reveal that he received a congratulatory phone call from former Laker executive vice president Jerry West.
“He brought me into the league and really mentored me when I first came in,” Bryant said. “It felt really good to hear from him. He said it was the one of the most entertaining games he had ever seen. He congratulated me on my play and said to continue doing what I’m doing.”
Jackson was asked six direct questions about Bryant’s big night and seven more on peripheral topics such as what “magical” sports numbers stood out in his youth. (His answers: Babe Ruth’s former home-run record of 60 and the four-minute mile.)
He also was asked whether there would ever be another 100-point scorer.
“No, I don’t anticipate seeing that,” he said.
In the end, the media even asked about the media, wondering how Bryant felt about the stir he had caused.
“I’m a little embarrassed, to be honest with you,” he said. “I think it’s exciting for the game and exciting for us as an organization because of all the buzz, but personally, it’s a little embarrassing.”
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Forward Lamar Odom, who has committed 15 turnovers in the last two games, acknowledged he was in a “little slump” and said he would improve.
“I played horrible,” he said of a nine-point, seven-turnover game Sunday against Detroit. “It’s bad. It happens in sports, especially in an 82-game season. It’s going to happen, you’re going to have a couple bad games in a row.”
Odom needs to stop forcing passes because teams are now playing the passing lanes when he drives, he said.
“I probably look for my teammates a little too much,” he said. “Just let the assists come, don’t try to force them.”
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Jackson met with Knick President Isiah Thomas a couple of times last summer to discuss coaching the Knicks, but he took the Lakers’ $30-million offer instead.
“Right or wrong, I just had to make a decision that seemed right for me and this is the right one for me,” said Jackson, who spent most of his 12-year playing career with the Knicks and coached five previous seasons with the Lakers. “Whether it will turn out to be correct historically, I don’t know.”
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TONIGHT
at New York, 4:30 PST (5:30, Channel 9)
Site -- Madison Square Garden.
Radio -- 570, 1330.
Records -- Lakers 23-20, Knicks 14-29.
Record vs. Knicks (2004-05) -- 1-1.
Update -- The Knicks are struggling in the weak Atlantic Division and have lost eight of their last nine games.
