Lakers Practice Report: 2/22/10

Bryant Set to Return in Memphis

After missing the previous five games due to a strained tendon in his right ankle it appears that Kobe Bryant is ready to return to action when the team travels to Memphis on Tuesday night.

"He practiced like he was going to go through it and play. I thought his movement was good," said head coach Phil Jackson. Bryant himself spoke in more decisive terms, declaring the ankle, "good to go" and saying, "I feel fine, feel good, like a gazelle."

The Lakers managed a 4-1 record in his absence, but that success had no bearing on when he would return to the lineup. "Just when it's ready. That's always been my stance--When it's ready to go I'll play," Bryant maintained.

A scheduling quirk coupled with the All-Star break has given Kobe a full 18 days to rest the injured ankle between appearances. That time off has given the ankle time to get back to playing shape, but it's not back to normal quite yet.

"Where I'm at now I feel confident about playing and while I play it getting to 100%. It's probably about 80-85% right now. The rest of the percentage is just made up just from strength," said Bryant.

The Lakers now embark on a stretch of games where they'll only play at STAPLES Center six times through the end of March, beginning with this back-to-back series against Memphis and Dallas.

"They know what it's like to go out on the road," affirmed Jackson. "We lost a couple close games the last time out on the road. We want to win those type of games."

For Bryant these two games will give an idea of how ready the ankle is. "That's always the ultimate test. To see how it develops and holds up to the stress of travel and playing in back-to-backs. That's always a huge test. We just have to see how it does."

30+ For Bynum

It's been two games since Andrew Bynum returned from a bruised right hip and Phil Jackson is still easing his big man back into the regular routine.

"I'm still limiting him a little bit in practice just to kind of keep him going," said Jackson. "Hopefully we can get some 30-minute games out of him in this stretch."

Bynum has averaged 17.5 points and eight rebounds in just under 29 minutes per game since returning.

Since Last We Met

The Lakers concluded their season-high eight game road trip with Ron Artest missing a three pointer that gave the Memphis Grizzlies a 95-93 win. Since that February 1st meeting the Grizz have struggled, winning just two of their next eight games and falling 2.5 games behind the final Western Conference playoff spot.

"I think we'll be ready to play. We've got a mindset about who this team is. They've changed a little bit since the start of the season when we beat them here," said Phil Jackson. "They beat us on their home court the last time in a close game and we've got ourselves prepared for it."