"Lakers rotation will need to adjust to loss of Nick Young
The Lakers were dealt their first significant setback of the 2014-15 season on Friday, when Nick Young was ruled out for approximately eight weeks after tearing a ligament in his right thumb.
Through a number of training camp scrimmages, Young served as a primary scorer at small forward on the Lakers' second unit.
With opening night less than four weeks away, Coach Byron Scott is going to need to figure out a workable rotation without Young.
by Mike Trudell
Lakers Reporter
Posted: Sep 30, 2014
What if Steve Nash can become Steve Nash again?
How much fun would it be to watch the NBA's oldest player, newly-freed from crippling nerve pain for the first time in two years, do the things that made him so great for one final basketball ride en route to his inevitable spot in the Hall of Fame?
Two seasons ago in Phoenix, the two-time MVP was still "himself," which on the court translated into 10.7 assists per game and 53.2 percent shooting, not to mention teammates exceeding their own expectations thanks to an excitement to be on the court next to the then 38-year-old Canadian.
Fast forward to Oct. 31, 2012, Nash's second game as a Laker, when he broke his leg in Portland. That crack...
"When Kobe Bryant first approached Nick Young about working out together in the summer, Young admitted he was nervous.
But when they started watching video of past games with the Lakers and Bryant began to explain the nuances of basketball, Young said he started to become a student of the game.
“I was a little nervous at first,” Young said Monday at the Lakers’ media day. “I didn’t know what he was going to talk about. But having one-on-one time with Kobe is crazy. I got comfortable and just learned a lot from him.”
Young led the Lakers in scoring last season, averaging a career-best 17.9 points in 64 games.
He shot 43.5% from the field, 38.6% from three-point range.
But Young said Bryant wants more out of his starting forward this season with the Lakers, who start training camp Tuesday.
"
To hear everybody talk, Kobe Bryant was 26 years old, not 36. He was merely coming off a bruised thigh and scratched elbow, not a torn Achilles' tendon and fractured knee.
The Lakers didn't do any scrimmaging Tuesday, but Bryant made an impact while practicing for 2 hours 15 minutes, his first official action since playing only six games last season.
He had to be asked to leave the court. For his own sake.
"Basically, I had to ask Kobe to, you know, 'Why don't you shut it down? We've got another one tomorrow,'" Lakers Coach Byron Scott said, encouraging Bryant to sit out end-of-practice conditioning.
Bryant said he felt like himself, adding, "and that's a good thing."
He also gave Scott quite a distinction after the coach's first training camp began with the Lakers.