Kobe Sleepwalks Through Game, Has Season-High 13 Assists
Sleep specialist Dr. S.A. Pnea explains: When a person is in a sleepwalking state, it is much easier to pass a basketball than to get the necessary power and lift to shoot a jumpshot.
Unfortunately, this didn’t stop Kobe from making 13 of his 14 free throws. People who doubted whether Kobe could really make free throws in his sleep have now been silenced.
I wonder how Kobe would do if he played against the Wolves while in a coma?
From Jerry Zgoda of The Star Tribune:
Back in the city where he played his college ball, Love on Friday talked about those same forces without running anywhere before his team stayed close — and even led by a bucket — until a 12-0 Lakers run ended the third quarter and decided the game. The Wolves committed five of their 19 turnovers in those quarter-closing four minutes.
“It has nothing to do with coaches,” Love said about his mounting frustrations recently. “It has nothing to do with teammates.”
It is, he said, an inner issue in a season when he has been moved to a sixth man’s role and where his playing time recently has ranged from 12 to Friday’s 36 minutes a game.
Trailing by 10 at halftime, the Wolves went on a 12-1 run to take their first lead, 68-66, at the 4:30 mark.
The Lakers responded, scoring 15 unanswered points. Their rally hinged on defense as they forced six Minnesota turnovers. For the game, the Wolves turned the ball over 19 times, which led to 26 points for the Lakers.
“They just went on a little run,” said Jonny Flynn, who had a team-high 20 points, of their brief lead. “We fought so hard to get back in the game and that kind of took a little bit out of us.”
The Wolves, who have now lost 12 straight, including 18 of their last 19 games, had solid contributions from their big men. Kevin Love finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Darko Milicic had a season-high 16 points and 12 rebounds, which tied a season high. Al Jefferson chipped in with 14 and nine.
From Mark Heisler for The Los Angeles Times:
Coming into Friday’s game with a four-game winning steak and a high probability of making it five against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Human Snooze Alarm (“Let me sleep a little longer, OK, Ma?”), the Lakers blew a 13-point lead, found themselves trailing in the third quarter and lost Andrew Bynum, who left because of a strained Achilles’.
Oh, the Lakers won, 104-96, to make it five in a row, after all, so no harm was really done, assuming Andrew’s back by the playoffs.
Coach Phil Jackson said afterward they’re a “a little concerned,” about Bynum, noting, “He’ll probably miss a little time.”