Phil’s Plans for Bryant and Odom

Phil Jackson spent the off-season relaxing at his Montana home, but while the Lakers coach let let last season’s championship loss (to the Celtics) sink in, he was also busy plotting the upcoming 2008-09 season. Jackson, who turned 63 last week, met with reporters on Friday for nearly half an hour to discuss concerns for the upcoming season, such as Kobe Bryant’s playing time (which could be reduced), the possibility of Lamar Odom starting and Andrew Bynum’s health. Bryant also briefly spoke with reporters about his decision to forgo surgery on his right pinkie. The procedure would have required a 12-week recovery time and Bryant told reporters gathered in the players’ parking lot of the team training facility that enough scar tissue had built up to make his finger stable enough to play this season.

Last season’s crushing loss to Boston (131-92) in Game 6 was partly attributed to Bynum’s left knee and Bryant’s right pinkie, but Jackson is starting training camp (which begins tomorrow) with a clean slate. The 6-foot Bynum appears to be in good health, although Jackson said his absence in the last 57 games may hold him back, and his performance at training camp will serve as an indicator of how he will cope once the regular season begins on Oct. 28 (against Portland). As for Bryant, Jackson  told the  L.A. Times that the 30-year-old’s minutes would be shortened “without a doubt” and in reference to Odom, Jackson says that with Bynum at center and Pau Gasol at power forward, Odom will play small forward. (This is Odom’s final year of a $14.1 million season.) Check out the full article here.
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Posted in General on September 29, 2008

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