Mamba in the Morning: Nash on minutes restriction, Shaq owns the Queens?
By Jacob Rude
Another day, another step closer to the NBA season. We’re now 35 days from the regular season beginning and the inevitable drama to follow.
On Monday, head trainer Gary Vitti sat down with Mark Medina for an insightful interview. Some of the highlights: Vitti suggests the Lakers put Nash on a minutes restriction; Kobe’s first words to Vitti after rupturing his Achilles? “Maybe I can run on my heel.” You can’t make this stuff up.
Shaq shocked the basketball world when he bought a minority stake in the Sacramento Kings. During the early 2000s, the heated rivalry between the Lakers and Kings led to some great one-liners from Shaq, including calling them the “Queens” and also dropping this freestyle, one of my personal favorites.
Over at ESPN, Dave McMenamin looked at 10 reasons we should care about the Lakers this year. For the devoted Lakers fans, we’ll care regardless of the team’s result. But he brings up many points, including how the team does with a full training camp under Mike D’Antoni, which players make the team, and if Phil Jackson’s role with the team will ever be defined.