| Pau Gasol, F, Los Angeles Lakers | Friday 6/13, 7:35 PM CT |
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| The Boston Globe reports that Lakers cancelled their Friday practice a day after lossing a 24-point lead in Game 4 of the NBA finals.
Head coach Phil Jackson said he sent the players home after a brief get-together that included watching some of Thursday night's debacle against the Boston Celtics.
"I told them that the series is not over and we want to force the action," said Jackson, whose opportunity for an NBA-record 10th championship ring as a head coach appears to be slipping away -- at least for now.
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| Matt Harpring underwent successful
scope surgery to remove two bone spurs from his right ankle, this according to The Sports Network.
The report notes that there is no timeline on Harpring's recovery or rehab schedule.
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| Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo aggravated his sprained left ankle which limited his minutes in the second half of the Game 4 win over the Lakers. |
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| Celtics All Star forward Paul Pierce rolled his right ankle in the Game 4 comeback win over the Lakers but was able to remain in the game. |
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| Kendrick Perkins is questionable for the NBA Finals Sunday night game, this according to the AP. The Fathers Day affair is Game 5 of the seven-game series. Perkins strained his left shoulder in Boston's 97-91 victory Thursday night. |
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| Kobe Bryant, G, Los Angeles Lakers | Friday 6/13, 10:29 AM CT |
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| Kobe Bryant commented on the Lakers' Game 4 collapse which let the Celtics escape with a commanding 3-1 lead in the Finals, according to the Star Tribune. The MVP said, "We let a huge opportunity slip away, so I'm upset, hurt, disappointed. It's a huge loss, no doubt about it. We've got to take the good things that we did well in this game, understand what we did wrong in the third quarter and move on from there."
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| Elton Brand, F, Philadelphia 76ers | Friday 6/13, 10:09 AM CT |
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| Elton Brand is being coy regarding his plans of whether or not to opt out of his contract with the Clippers, according to the OC Register. Brand said, "Even if there is an opt-out, it doesn’t mean I’m going to a new team. It’s hinging on my agent saying to me, ‘Here are your options. The best-case scenario is to be here and to get to the championship, in the time that we have, and then everything would be great."
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| Coach Doc Rivers has defended Kevin Garnett's lack of offense in the NBA Finals against the Lakers, according to the Boston Globe. He was averaging 18 points per game in the series heading into last night's Game 4, but was only shooting 35.5% from the field. Rivers said, "I liken him a little bit to Patrick Ewing. Playing for the Knicks, I remember everyone complaining that Patrick Ewing took too many jump shots. used to laugh. Well, he made most them, so why shouldn't he take them?"
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| Zydrunas Ilgauskas will not be allowed to play for Team Lithuania in the upcoming Olympics, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He wants very much to compete in Beijing, but the Cavaliers believe it would be too risky to grant him permission. GM Danny Ferry said, "Zydrunas is an important member of our team and has generally been a higher-risk player due to his injury history. We declined consent for Zydrunas to play in the Olympics when he approached us several weeks ago."
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| Kendrick Perkins left last night's Game 4 with a shoulder strain in the third quarter, according to the Boston Globe. He said the injury is minor and isn't expected to miss Game 5. Perkins said, "It's nothing but a shoulder strain. It was too sore to go back in the game tonight. But on Sunday it will be fine. Any time you strain your shoulder it hurts. For the next three days I will rest and take care of my body."
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