What are your impressions of Kobe and the Lakers with Kobe right now?
We’re seeing rust flake off before our eyes, and by “rust” I include everything about making such a comeback – including the confidence Bryant gains in his repaired left leg and the fit he has with a reconfigured Lakers roster. The game in Memphis Tuesday was seen by him and others as a breakthrough (21 points on 9-of-18 shooting, five rebounds, four assists) because he felt physically capable against a rugged defender (Tony Allen). For the Lakers, it’s been an adjustment – they’ve scored 100 points in just two of Bryant’s six games vs. 11 times in 19 before that, and after reaching 40 field goals seven times without him, they haven’t done it at all with him. The offense is catching up with the pecking order, but I’m not worried about Mike D’Antoni gearing up this offense.

Kobe’s doing about what everyone expected — trying to do too much.  Of course, there are added burdens with the injuries to Steve Nash andJordan Farmar, but the poor ballhandling, piles of turnovers, forced deep 3s are as much about ego as the surgically repaired Achilles’ tendon.  Nobody really thought Kobe would ease his way back into things and he hasn’t.  Whatever rhythm and chemistry that the .500-playing Lakers had pre-Kobe has been lost.  The question is how far in the West standings will they be buried by the time he plays his way into peak shape and doesn’t look like a guy wearing two oven mitts.

 His performances are going to fluctuate. He’s played six games. In three he’s scored in single digits. In three he’s scored 20, 21 and 21. Predictably his lift isn’t there on drives to the basket and at times on his pull-up jumper. On top of everything though, to have had to immediately take over as the point guard is a wholly unfair task to ask of him, but it’s not as if he or coach Mike D’Antoni really had a choice considering the injury situation. Kobe’s increased his playing time to 32, 32 and 33 minutes in the last three games. My only fear is that he pushes himself too hard, too quickly.

He is right where it would have been fair to expect — obviously rusty, getting his timing back, but already able, at this early stage, to turn a game. The challenge will be to get to 100 percent in endurance and rhythm without the needle going into the red, to where the workload creates problems with the injury (or injuries, given his history in recent years). That is a very fine line. Same with the Lakers as a whole: about what expected. I thought at the start of the season they would be a .500 team, and that is holding up. Some good moments, some bad moments, a ton of attention on each pendulum swing, good enough to be decent but not good enough to make No. 8.

He’s coming off major surgery and he’s playing out of position, so it’s been a slow start. But he’ll get more comfortable and confident with every game. Offense wouldn’t be my concern, though. Since Bryant’s return, the Lakers have looked atrocious defensively against any offense worth a salt, which really isn’t unexpected given the makeup of their roster. And no matter how much Bryant improves, they’re not going to be very consistent if they continue to play bottom-10 defense.

I’m honestly a bit stunned he’s played as much as he has considering what type of injury he had to battle back from. He’s rusty, of course, but who wouldn’t be after all those many months off? He’s basically a shell of himself right now, scoring 12.4 points a game to go along with his 6.8 assists and 4.2 rebounds and those unsightly six turnovers a night. The fundamentals and muscle memory is there. The explosive ability, the fear factor from the opposition and the desperation we saw in him last season when he refused to let the Lakers miss out on the postseason aren’t there. All that said, it’s simply a part of a recovery process that I suspect won’t end until sometime in late January or early February. All-Star Weekend is about when I expected to the Mamba to rear his head and get back to the business at hand. As for the Lakers, they were a flawed bunch, with or without Kobe back in the fold.

Several times since his return I’ve seen Kobe in a position where a loose ball has popped free near him, and Kobe basically just watched the ball go by him without much more than a token effort. I think it’s obvious that right now Kobe doesn’t have the explosion and fast-twitch fibers that have made him so special throughout his career. But at the same time, as a basketball nerd, I’ve loved watching him survive on guile and institutional knowledge. He may not be able to out-quick anyone or use his athleticism the way he used to use it, but he still manages to string together ball fakes and impeccable footwork to create opportunities and get shots. It may not be KB24, but it’s still Kobe. And for now, maybe that’s good enough.

 I honestly believe Kobe is trying too hard to blend with the group while his teammates are waiting for the old Kobe to explode. He has been committing turnovers because of his eagerness to be a passer but no matter what happens he is a pure scorer and an attacker. He should be more aggressive to attract the defense — then he could facilitate better once opponents know he is back.

Kobe is back. He’s not Kobe Bryant yet, but he’s going to be his old self very soon — before the All Star break, I’d say. The Lakers with this Kobe are worse than they were before he came back. But that is because they don’t have a point guard available, and coach D’Antoni was forced to move Bryant to the PG spot. That is another challenge for a player who still need time to adapt to the game and to his teammates. The Lakers will instantly improve as soon as they got a true PG back from the injury list. (Hey Jordan Farmar, how are you?)

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Another year, another Most Valuable Player trophy for LeBron James.

That is how this season's MVP race is most likely to pan out, anyway, with the four-time award winner on his way to placing another bronze trophy of an awkwardly dribbling guy on his mantle. Whereas the championship chase isn't nearly as boring as haters pretend it is — seriously, the Heat are a couple of bounces away from losing two of the last three NBA Finals — the MVP conversation has been fairly one-sided since 2009.

Derrick Rose deserves our thanks for breaking up the monotony.

Still, it's fun to take a look at the main contenders for the award and see who has the best chance to maybe, possibly slip past James if he stumbles or gets injured. Not every one of the MVP leaders thus far this season is a familiar name to the casual fan, and a couple of superstars might be a bit farther down the list than you would expect.

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The Houston Rockets want to trade backup center Omer Asik before Dec. 19, and according to reports by the Houston Chronicle, they have a three-way deal in place. Houston is waiting until Thursday so it can field more, potentially better offers.

It's been expected that a complicated three-way trade could involve thePhiladelphia 76ers and forward Thaddeus Young.

The Dec. 19 deadline would allow Asik and any other players involved in the trade to be traded again this season before the trade deadline if opportunities arise, as Mark Deeks noted this week. Players cannot be moved after being traded until they've been on the new roster for two months. The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 20, 2014.

Asik didn't mesh with Kevin McHale's team while playing in a starting frontcourt alongside free agent acquisition Dwight Howard, and the emergence of power forward Terrence Jones has given the Rockets a power forward more able to stretch the floor offensively.

Kobe says Pau and D'Antoni are 'like an old couple'Mike D'Antoni and Pau Gasol have gone back and forth before. The Los Angeles Lakerscoach wishes Gasol could spread the floor and play within his offense. Gasol wants post touches and the offense to be run through him.

But Kobe Bryant isn't too concerned over the most recent disagreement between his teammate and coach, according to ESPN Los Angeles.

"That's every year. They're like an old couple," Bryant said dismissively Friday night, when tensions between Gasol and Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni boiled over once again. "That's every year. It's not really anything new. It's not a big deal."

Bryant will be the force to bring his team together. He joked about Gasol's six turnovers after a win against the Charlotte Bobcats, but it also acted as a reminder to Gasol to put his differences with D'Antoni aside for the good of the team.

NBA suspends Leonard, Orton after scuffleThe league suspended Portland Trail Blazers center Meyers Leonard and Philadelphia 76ers big man Daniel Orton one game each without pay after they got into a altercation during garbage time on Saturday.

With Leonard attempting to get post position, the two got twisted up. After Leonard seemingly hooked Orton as they fell to the ground, Orton then swung an elbow and caught Leonard in the face. Here's a video of the incident.

The goal of our weekly Making the Leap watch is to highlight part-time players making the leap to difference makers or unproven young talents ascending to key contributors. Once players have truly made the leap, they will graduate from this running list.

This week's graduate is Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict, who has entered the Defensive Player of the Year discussion in the absence of Geno Atkins.

Previous graduates are Harrison Smith, Jordan Cameron, Cameron Jordan, Jurrell Casey, Damon Harrison, Sheldon Richardson, Alshon Jeffery, Josh Gordon and Tyrann Mathieu, all of whom have established themselves as Pro Bowl-caliber players. They've made the leap.

Previous lists: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Midseason Team, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12, Week 13, Week 14.

Without further ado, here is the list of players making the leap in Week 15:

1. Shane Vereen, New England Patriots running back

2. Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals running back

Two of the NFL's premier receiving backs. Assuming Aaron Hernandez's"joker" role in the Pats' offense, Vereen has been a mismatch for linebackers and safeties. Vereen set franchise records for receptions (12) and yards (153) by a running back in last week's win over the Browns. Targeted on a greater percentage of pass routes than any player in the NFL, Vereen will become even more important to Tom Brady with Rob Gronkowski out of the lineup.

Bernard's 4.6 yards per rush in the red zone is the highest by a rookie since Adrian Peterson's 4.8 in 2007. He looked like the best player on the field in the Bengals' 42-28 victory over the Colts.

3. Keenan Allen, San Diego Chargers wide receiver

4. Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers running back

Along with Bernard, Allen and Lacy are in a three-horse race for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Four of Allen's last five catches have gone for touchdowns, as he's shown natural playmaking ability asPhilip Rivers' No. 1 receiver. ... Fighting through an ankle injury, Lacy got more than what was blocked last week en route to 90 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in the comeback victory over the Falcons. He leads the league in rushing yards after contact.

5. Charles Clay, Miami Dolphinstight end

6. Olivier Vernon, Miami Dolphinsdefensive end
No tight end -- not even Jimmy Grahamor Rob Gronkowski -- has morereceptions and yards than "Big Play Clay" over the past five weeks. Check out Marc Sessler's Game Rewind writeup on "The Claymaker's" 97-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Steelers.

Vernon has seven sacks in his past four games, bringing his season total to 11.5 -- good for fourth in the league. With two more, he will set the franchise record for most sacks through the first two seasons of a career.

7. Kenny Vaccaro, New Orleans Saints safety

8. Junior Galette, New Orleans Saints linebacker

Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan showered high praise on Vaccaro last week, suggesting that while Earl Thomas is the best free safety in the NFL, Vaccaro is the best overall safety. No coordinator asks more of a safety than Ryan does of Vaccaro, and the rookie has emerged as a difference-maker since mid-season.

Galette is one of just eight linebackers with at least 50 combined sacks, hits and hurries, according to Pro Football Focus.

9. Cordarrelle Patterson,Minnesota Vikings wide receiver

10. Da'Rick Rogers, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver

Although Keenan Allen has emerged as the favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, Dan Hanzus recently opined that Patterson will have the best career of the rookie wide receiver class. I agree. Patterson isn't as refined as Allen, but he's a big play waiting to happen when the ball is in his hands.

During Friday's "Around The League Podcast," we discussed Rogers' potential impact on a moribundColts offense. Undrafted for character reasons, Rogers drew comparisons to Brandon Marshall, Terrell Owens and Eric Moulds coming out of Tennessee-Chatanooga. Much like Patterson, he's raw but loaded with physical ability.

Cold list: Mike Glennon, EJ Manuel, Case Keenum, Terrelle Pryor, Zac Stacy, Chris Givens, Dee Milliner, Peter Konz, Brian Winters, Manti Te'o, D.J. Swearinger

Watch list: Mike Glennon, Matt McGloin, Le'Veon Bell, Julian Edelman, Marlon Brown, Rod Streater,Justin Hunter, Luke Willson, Lane Johnson, Larry Warford, Chandler Jones, Star Lotulelei, Cameron Heyward, Dontari Poe, Fletcher Cox, Cedric Thornton, Mike Daniels, Kiko Alonso, Jason Worilds, Alec Ogletree, Stephon Gilmore, Desmond Trufant, Jimmy Smith, Eric Reid, John Cyprien, Mark Barron,Will Hill, Sean Richardson

Trainer's room: Jake Locker, David Wilson, Mike James, Dwayne Allen, Ryan Broyles, Jordan Reed, Stephen Hill

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The Oklahoma City Thunder home to annihilate the Los Angeles Lakers122-97. Thunder 5 in a row, durant had a game-high 31 points and eight rebounds 5 assists, steals 4 ,westbrook 19 points 8 rebounds 12 assists, barca 19 points and 10 rebounds.

The lakers suffered three defeats, Bryant instead of black as the starting point guard, 23 minutes had four points and 13 assists and seven turnovers, Nick Yang scored a team-high 17, pau gasol had 14 points and 7 rebounds, 3 assists. Is worth mentioning in the fourth quarter, Bryant returned to the locker room left the field alone.
Technical statistics

The lakers (10-12) three losses for the first time this season, kobe Bryant comeback after a win is not made, he had to four points today, but with 13 assists. Pau gasol had 14 points and 7 rebounds, Wesley Johnson 13 points. Substitute Nick Yang 17 points, Xavier Henry 15 points.

The thunder have won five straight 18 (4), unbeaten at home. Kevin durant scored 31 points in 31 minutes, eight rebounds and five assists, closer to the three pairs of brooke Russell Wisconsin, scored 19 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds, sergi barca – Iraq 19 points and 10 rebounds. Substitute reggie Jackson 19 points, Jeremy lamb 11 points.

Kobe Bryant‘s back, brought hope to the lakers, but he is looking for a feeling. The lakers of bad news again, Steve Blake elbow injury, at least six weeks of rest. This means that, Bryant again small forward to the shooting guard.

His comeback game, Bryant just 2 of 11 shots, the second improved, 6 of 11 shots, but the lakers two wars. Today Bryant to play for the third time, he shoots are very few, many assists teammates, but lake soon bogged down.

The opening is good, there are 7 minutes and 39 seconds of the first quarter, a 3-pointer by meeks one scored five straight points, they lead to a 13-7. After suspension, durant breakthrough dunk also with color, followed by kobe passes, durant shot again, thunder scored eight points in 1 minutes, quickly came to a 15-13.

Kobe Bryant in the first section to only once, or from the fast break. In this section, there are 3 minutes and 48 seconds, he steals from lamb, rushing to the front, have no defense, but kobe Bryant didn’t dunk, but easy layups, the lakers 20-25 lag behind. 3-pointer, two teams have since the first quarter after the thunder to 38-28 leading by double digits.

Lam hit a 3-pointer, thunder begins with a wave 6-0 in the second quarter, will lead to 16 points. Thunder shot down, since the lakers a chance to a 3-pointer after Johnson, they also to attack wave after 10 to 0, only 38-44 lag behind. The lakers offensive failed to hold out for long time, then failed to score in four minutes, the thunder to 56-38 gap away again.

Before the competition starts, kobe Bryant and pau gasol and reunited “old fish” fisher hug, very warm and affectionate, but in the field, the two sides a bit uppity. With 4 cent cent 34 seconds in the second quarter, when fisher defend kobe, but was Bryant turned into the basket, he didn’t sell, led the ball to pau gasol, the latter a dunk. Then Bryant backDerek fisher, again pass, Williams shooting at close range. In 70 seconds, Bryant sent three times pass, fisher’s defensive toothless, but the lakers still lag behind the double digits. In the first half to 51-66 at a disadvantage.

Durant and Westbrook were successful, the thunder began again scored six points in the third quarter, with a 72-51 made 21 points advantage. Meeks although also with a three points, but just a drop in the bucket. Kobe Bryant is still in the recovery process, scoring desire is not strong, can only continue to help teammates score. This section more than half, Bryant tackling achievements, immediately attack, had not passed half, he throws the ball, Henry gliding dunk, the lakers trailed 64-64. Bryant three assists in double, but the lakers trailed 74-74.

Kobe Bryant rest in the last quarter, the lakers just coasting, both sides gap is widening. Fisher in this section a 3-pointer, began shortly after the thunder to a 99-74 lead for 25 points. The gap of most of 30 points, the outcome early no suspense.

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The brooklyn nets at home against the Los Angeles clippers. Brooklyn when the most 15 points behind in the first quarter, after come back in the second quarter and will lead to the end of the game, 102-93 will be the clippers to sink.

The game is Kevin garnett and Paul Pierce after big deals this summer for the first time officially in the face of former coach doug - rivers, for two veterans have different meaning.

Pre-game, doc rivers was asked about the relationship between teacher and pupil, said: "the recent talk about this problem has been too much too much, don't want to talk more, they are all great players, I only hope that we can focus on the game, I only care about the two of them can play well. I also believe that they will focus on will have a good play."

Conference garnett admitted after the game in the face of rivers still feel a bit odd, "there is a little strange, I told the truth (Pierce) feel good strange, we also discussed the problem, but in my heart always keep a special location for rivers. He not only helped me become a better player, also let me become a better person when I was a young man. He not only teach us how to play, also teach us philosophy."

"He is a good example, no one is perfect, but I think he is close to perfect." He then said, "I really appreciate his presence in my life and have so a memorable experience to him."
The end of the game three teacher and pupil hug and encourage each other, not too many words, but when you say nothing at all.

NBA regular season continues, the Golden State Warriors 95-93 home win over the Dallas Mavericks , Mavericks 2 end even negative .

Warriors David - Lee two pairs of 15 points and 11 rebounds , 33 points and 10 assists Curry two pairs , Harrison Barnes 17 points, Andrew Bogut 6 points and 18 rebounds ;

Mavericks side, Dirk Nowitzki 21 points, seven rebounds , Ellis 21 points , Jose Calderon 18 points , Shawn Marion 12 points and nine rebounds .
Technical Statistics

The face of the Mavericks , the Warriors defense today also . The first section of the Warriors to 16-23 behind, but they repeat the second quarter , the Mavericks continuous onslaught. In this section there are 2 minutes 19 seconds , Dirk Nowitzki hit consecutive one-third , the Mavericks 52-34 lead. Thompson before the end of this section also hit three in a row , the Warriors will recover as the score 44-55 .

The second half the Warriors to strengthen the defense , and gradually narrow the gap after three , they only 66-72 behind.

Midway through the fourth , third consecutive hit Stephen Curry , Warriors to tie it 82-82 . Nowitzki cast lesson , one scored 4 points, the Mavericks again lead.

Curry turn the tide pointer with 1 minute 16 seconds , his third hit and cause foul , even scored three points with a fine cast . Barnes then steals succeeded, Green also hit the third, the Warriors 93-92 lead. Warriors Ellis Jiujiang sudden strong foul , but missed the first , 46.8 seconds in the game , the two sides battle 93-93 .

Curry crucial moment layup, Ellis got the rebound , but the frontcourt also missed shots . Warriors pointer with 23.8 seconds before the control key attack, Curry exhausted after a time , in the game there are 3 seconds in the cast hit the Warriors to 95-93 lead.

Mavericks did not pause, Calderon last moment not in the third , fall short.

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The Kings reach an agreement to get forward Rudy Homosexual from Toronto inside a multiplayer industry, a person acquainted with the offer said Weekend night. The individual, who talked on situation of anonymity since the trade continues to be pending NBA authorization, said the offer is likely to be recognized Monday following players move physicals.

The actual Raptors may receive Greivis Vasquez, Meat Patterson, Steve Salmons as well as Chuck Hayes. The Kings will also acquire Aaron Grey and Quincy Acy.

Toronto had been playing in the Los Angeles Lakers upon Sunday evening. All 3 players active in the trade for that Raptors weren't in uniform from the Lakers.

Raptors trainer Dwane Casey could not specifically talk prior to the game concerning the trade since it was not really official however, but he or she praised Gay's contributions towards the team.

"Rudy is really a prince of the guy. He is an sports, dynamic side player, he reaches the container at will and may shoot the actual ball as well as handle the actual ball, inch Casey stated. "We had been using him inside a drag scenario, a pick-and-roll scenario because he or she could see within the defense, and he or she was developing into which role as well as he had been doing a more satisfactory job. That was another role with regard to him to achieve that. He had been bringing the actual ball down the ground, breaking stress. So that is what he designed to us. inch

Yahoo Sports activities first documented the industry.

The move may be the second main one for that Kings already this year as these people begin repairing under Ranadive. Sacramento delivered Luc Mbah the Moute in order to Minnesota with regard to Derrick Williams upon Nov. twenty six.

Sacramento (5-13) experienced lost 6 straight video games until defeating the NBA-worst Ut Jazz upon Saturday evening. The Nobleman are wishing Gay can offer immediate assist while persuading him to remain long phrase.

Gay is actually making $17. 8 million this year. He retains a $19. 3 zillion player option for that 2014-15 period but is actually widely likely to opt from his agreement and check free company.

Gay, who had been traded through Memphis in order to Toronto final season, is within his 8th NBA period. He's averaging eighteen points, 5. 9 rebounds as well as 2. 1 aids in their career.

The industry is undoubtedly the greatest and boldest below first-year Raptors common manager Masai Ujiri, who caused new Nobleman GM Pete D'Alessandro within Denver formerly. Sending Homosexual to Sacramento storage sheds salary and provide Toronto long term financial versatility.

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For that second amount of time in three weeks,Houston Texans quarterback Case Keenum be yanked in support of Matt Schaub.

Using the Texans trailing 24-10 late within the third one fourth of Thursday's online game versus the actual Jacksonville Jaguars, trainer Gary Kubiakcreated another quarterback alter.

Schaub arrived on as well as immediately drove along the field for any 7-play, 77-yard rating drive in order to pull inside one landing.

Keenum had been 16 associated with 29 with regard to 159 back yards, one touchdown and something interception for any 68. 0 passer rating as the undisciplined Texans experienced the motions in most three phases from the game.

As was the situation in The fall of, this seems to be a coach's decision instead of an problems for the beginner.

The book has gone out on Keenum. He's vunerable to too numerous three-and-outs simply because he does not handle blitzes nicely.

If Kubiak does not trust Keenum following developing him for any year . 5, there's small chance how the next Texans training staff may install him since the starter.

Duel To RememberDec. 4 -- For all the talk about this being a disappointing, underperforming rookie class, it sure is an exciting one.

And Tuesday night in Philadelphia may have been one of the most thrilling rookie duels in recent memory.

It certainly was historic.

In their second matchup in the last seven days, Michael Carter-Williams and Victor Oladipo put on a show, each tallying triple-doubles in the Sixers' 126-125 win in double-overtime.

According to Elias Sports Bureau it was the first time opposing rookies have had triple-doubles in the same game.

-- Carter-Williams' line: 27 points (11-for-19 FG, 1-5 3FG), 12 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals in 47 minutes.

-- Oladipo's line: 26 points (8-for-18 FG, 0-for-5 3FG), 10 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals in 52 minutes.

"Clearly, there's a competitive side to it," Carter-Williams said of his matchup with Oladipo. "But this is a team game. It's not me versus Oladipo. It's Sixers versus Orlando."

MCW might have said all the right things after leading his team to the win, but the two clearly get up for their matchups and this could turn into a nice little rivalry this year -- they play again Feb. 26 in Philly and March 2 in Orlando -- and for years to come.

"Those are two young, talented players," Sixers coach Brett Brown said afterward. "Competitive, went at each other."

Get used to it.

-- Drew Packham

Dropped out: Steven Adams, Nate Wolters, Mason Plumlee

Just missed the cut: Adams, Plumlee, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Wolters, Cody Zeller


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