Lakers Practice Report: 11/16/09

Gasol Has “Very Positive” Practice Day
Monday marked the best day in Pau Gasol’s ongoing hamstring rehabilitation yet, as the 2008-09 All Star practiced at full speed and participated in contact drills with teammates.

“Let’s see how tomorrow feels, and if it feels well, I’m probably going to get in another good workout on the floor and do a little more stuff and continue to get ready,” said the Spaniard. “Then the next day I can practice with the team fully, with no limitations, and then hopefully play on Thursday.”

Gasol was more optimistic than he’s been of late, explaining that his right hamstring felt different – in a good way – than it has after previous workouts.

“Very positive day,” Gasol said. “I just hope it will continue.”

Phil Jackson’s comments were a bit more tempered.

“He looked OK,” said the Head Coach. “He was limited. It was kind of light, we went through a half court thing and he got his feet wet. He did some body contact.”

Jackson thought that this week might be too early for Gasol to return to games (L.A. plays on Tuesday against Detroit and Thursday against Chicago), but the team will continue to evaluate Gasol on a day-to-day basis.

“I think he’s going to want to have a little more (time) to play, a little more confidence that he can respond or react to things he has to react to,” Jackson concluded.

Kobe Bryant Practices Fully on Groin
Kobe Bryant practiced without limitation a day after tweaking his right groin in the first quarter of L.A.’s loss to Houston, an injury he originally suffered on Sunday, Nov. 8, against New Orleans.

Bryant said that he treated the injury throughout the night, and took part in each element of L.A.’s Monday session including a five-on-five scrimmage, the end of which was open to reporters.

Long known as one of the toughest athletes in all professional sports, Bryant reiterated his postgame claim that he wouldn’t miss any time.

“I feel OK,” he said. “It’s tight and stuff like that, but it wasn’t enough to keep me out of practice.”

“It means that we've been able to bounce back pretty quickly and stop the bleeding,” said Bryant. We've been pretty effective at it.”

After dropping a Thursday evening road game in Denver and Sunday’s home contest against Houston, the Lakers have no interest in adding another loss when the Detroit Pistons come to town on Tuesday.

“Two in a row means something,” said Jackson. “One game is really a bump in the road for this team and they feel it. Two is an embarrassment. Three we don’t even want to think about.”