Win Streak Hits 11, Kobe's Finger Banged

by DexterFishmore on Dec 11, 2009 11:04 PM PST in Game Recaps Comment 18 comments

Lakerdom's lingua franca added a new medical term tonight: "avulsion fracture." That's what befell the precious right index finger of Kobe Bryant in the second quarter of a 104-92 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. It happened while he was defending Ryan Gomes near the sideline, and it sent him to the halftime locker room early. He returned, with a splint courtesy of trainer Gary Vitti, to play about 18 minutes in the second half, looking more or less OK, but he admitted after the game that it felt "pretty painful." Please commence your candlelight vigils.

The Lakers' effort level was up and down tonight. After opening up an 11-point lead early in the quarter, they let point guard Ramon Sessions engineer a comeback that made it a two-point game at half. L.A. allowed Minnesota to score 1.10 points per possession over the first two quarters, which is just absurd. The Wolves average 0.97 PPP on the season. On the road against a team with the Lakers' length, they shouldn't even sniff the 1.00 mark.

In the third quarter, the Lake Show locked everything down. They forced the Timberwolves to do what they do best - turn the rock over to the other team - and built up an 18-point margin. A key contribution was made by ~~Laker double agent~~ Minnesota head coach Kurt Rambis, who sat Sessions for the first 10 minutes of the third. Sessions was 6-for-6 in the first half, so it was nice of Rambis to cool him off.

There wasn't a lot of flow in the Laker offense tonight. It was one of their worst shooting performances in a while. Pau Gasol, though, put in an evening of solid work: 17 points, seven assists and a career-high 20 boards. Ron Artest was quietly productive (16 points, five assists and three steals), and backcourt reserves Jordan Farmar, Shannon Brown and Sasha Vujacic chipped in 22. Onward to Utah.

Before we go, however, a heartfelt plea to Stu Lantz, wherever he may be: come back soon. I AM BEGGING. Hot Rod Hundley filled in tonight, and I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say his performance was the most tragic event in American history. About 80% of the game he spent mumbling impenetrably. Dude, seriously... you need to speak up and enunciate. You sound like an 80-year-old Boomhauer up past his bedtime. The remaining 20% of the game, we realized how nice things were when we couldn't understand what Hot Rod was saying.

I need my Stu back. I swear, I'm never writing a bad word about him again.

	Poss.	TO%	FTA/ FGA	FT%	EFG%	TS%	Off Reb%	Def Reb%	PPP
Minny	96	18	0.18	75	45	48	32	71	0.96
L.A.	96	15	0.14	77	49	52	29	68	1.08

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I need my Stu back. I swear, I’m never writing a bad word about him again.

Noooiiiiiice!!!!

by altree on Dec 11, 2009 11:41 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Lets not get crazy

Hot Rod is a play by play guy, and one of the best. He was awful tonight but hopefully he’ll adjust and come strong tomorrow.

It’ shouldn’t be that hard to eclipse Stu’s inane rants about fundamentals, flat angled passes, imaginary conversations between players and yelling “that was NOOOOIIIICCCE” before every commercial break.

Hell, even Luke was better than Stu. Lots of insight and he was actually funny, I ended up sitting in the car parked in the driveway after haing to go to the store during the game.

Promote Luke to Color Commentator on TV.

by KobesNIG on Dec 12, 2009 1:02 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I love Stu's imaginary conversations! :P

But yes, I liked Luke, too. Especially when he commented on Sasha jacking up a shot, haha.

by EmmaWK on Dec 12, 2009 4:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Lol Boomhauer

+100

by Hokkun on Dec 11, 2009 11:52 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Dex - I think it's the index finger, not the ring

The ligament tore away from the bone at the first knuckle. This is going to be trickier than the pinky, because it affects the shot so much more.

by Snoopy2006 on Dec 12, 2009 12:00 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Yes, thank you

I’ll fix it.

by DexterFishmore on Dec 12, 2009 12:03 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I think I typed the word "precious" and immediately just associated it with "ring"

Seriously.

by DexterFishmore on Dec 12, 2009 12:04 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

lmao

No complaints. I do like rings.

by Snoopy2006 on Dec 12, 2009 12:05 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The championship kind

I am not a girl.

by Snoopy2006 on Dec 12, 2009 12:05 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Awesome title

And only Ol’ Hot Rod could confuse Artest and Bynum (Rod said that Artest made a nice pass to Gasol, when it was Bynum who did the assisting)

"This is not a game for boys. This is a game for men." - Phil Jackson

by Gils_Keloids on Dec 12, 2009 12:02 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah noticed that too

by 99bc99 on Dec 12, 2009 12:24 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

is kobe going to be ok?

didn’t look to good

by hrghori on Dec 12, 2009 12:15 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Heard it wouldn't require surgery

by 99bc99 on Dec 12, 2009 12:25 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The last two words in the title

Made me think of the Finger Bang South Park episode.

by Tydides on Dec 12, 2009 1:07 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

How many working digits does Kobe have left on his hand? 3? 2?

His fingers are, one by one, being picked off.

Lakers 2009 Road to Redemption: TREVOR, DEREK, LAMAR, PAU & KOBE.
Play the game of which Lakers reminds you of: TA - TI, Shannon Brown - Chris Brown, Pau Gasol - Jesus, Machine - Luis Scola/Russell Brand, PJ with mustache and beard - Colonel Sanders.

by PeanutButterSpread on Dec 12, 2009 1:58 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Ehhh, it seems like Kobe's surgery-required finger didn't matter that much last year

but I wonder if he would’ve played even better last year if he didn’t hurt his finger. But, if he doesn’t need surgery and he doesn’t miss any games(particularly the one against Cleveland) I doubt it will affct his playing ability

Shaquille O'Neal: "Tell him Shaq doesn’t respond to juvenile delinquents without a college degree. Tell him to get his degree, and we can talk. In the meantime, he should call me Dr. Shaq because I’m working on my PhD." (Referring to 17-year-old rookie Andrew Bynum, who compared himself to Shaq…except that he can make free throws.)
(courtesy of www.shaqquotes.com)

by KobeisGod on Dec 12, 2009 8:53 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs