Morrison hurt

LA Lakers 113, Charlotte 93

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Vladimir Radmanovic scored 14 points and the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers' bench also made a sizable contribution in a 113-93 rout of the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday night.

Kobe Bryant had six points and four assists in 21 minutes and did not play in the fourth quarter after the Lakers built a 23-point lead. Luke Walton had 10 assists.

Derek Fisher was back in a Lakers uniform in front of the home crowd at Staples Center for the first time since Game 2 of the 2004 NBA finals, when Los Angeles beat Detroit 99-91 for its only victory of the series.

The 12-year veteran, who spent his first eight NBA seasons with the Lakers and helped them win three championships, received a warm reception from the fans during the introductions and scored 13 of the Lakers' first 22 points to help them take a 12-point lead. He played only 9 minutes and sat out the final three quarters.

Gerald Wallace scored 28 points for Charlotte and Jason Richardson added 18.

Wallace picked up his fifth foul with 7:09 left in the third quarter with his team down 74-57, and the Lakers cruised the rest of the way. Their bench held a 73-40 scoring advantage over Charlotte's reserves at the end.

Charlotte was trailing 77-61 when second-year forward Adam Morrison attempted to defend Walton on a drive to the basket and crumpled to the floor in severe pain while clutching his left knee.

Morrison, who averaged 11.8 points in 78 games last season after being taken third overall in the 2006 draft, was helped to the dressing room with 5:23 left in the third quarter and did not return. He finished with four points in 14 minutes.

"I planted, then I felt it pop and my leg locked up," Morrison said. "I was in extreme pain. They don't know exactly what it is yet. The X-ray was fine, but I'm getting an MRI tomorrow, so we'll find out further about what's going on. I'm worried right now. Hopefully I'm lucky and it's just a minor tear or something."

The Bobcats used a 15-0 run to pull ahead by three in the final minute of the first quarter, but the Lakers responded with a 23-3 surge that gave them a 53-30 cushion with 2:46 left in the half. Radmanovic ignited the rally with a 14-footer and a 20-footer 13 seconds apart, and Maurice Evans capped it with a 3-pointer.

 

I was watching the highlites of the game. When the injury occured you could hear him scream in pain. Then he was basically carried off the court. ....didn't look good

 

Eh, its not like he was as good as JJ Redick or anything....no big loss

 

rick bonell is an idiot
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Morrison loss wouldn't be so bad

There’s no way a team is better off losing a player they once chose with the No. 3 overall pick.

But I’d argue if the Charlotte Bobcats must lose a rotation player, then they could compensate for missing Adam Morrison more than most.

Morrison’s left knee buckled late Saturday night, while he was guarding Lakers forward Luke Walton. The initial diagnosis was a sprain, but everyone involved fears worse, based on the "popping’’ sensation Morrison felt and the pain afterward.

Morrison was scheduled for an MRI Sunday, to check for soft-tissue damage.

Losing Morrison wouldn’t be devastating for the Bobcats because there’s a glut at the wing positions. Even if Gerald Wallace plays significant minutes at power forward (and I see that coming again), there are plenty of alternatives at small forward and shooting guard.

Matt Carroll is this team’s best player who doesn’t start. Walter Herrmann might be the most under-utilized player on the roster right now. And rookie Jared Dudley impressed the coaches before suffering a foot sprain that has kept him out of the exhibitions.

So if Morrison, who wasn’t starting, misses major time, there are plenty of alternatives available to coach Sam Vincent.

 

I think he was going to be better this year coming off the bench. He is more suited to that role. If he can come in and score and not have to defend a more athletic player all night then he can be effective. I hope it is not as bad as it sounds.

 

done. sucks.

http://http://www.charlotte.com/209/story/328487.html

 

While I agree with this statement as a whole, he's right about the loss of Morrison. Adam doesn't really fit the current team's playing style... well at least what the new coach is wanting to do. Really the best thing they could do with him is trade him when he's healthy.

 

why would they want to give up on their 1st rounder in his second year? he supposedly making progress. read Bonheads blogs and see that the guy has no grasp on what the team is doing.one week Matt carrolls shot cant fall, now hes the best non-starter.they need size and Mo is 6-10. size mismatch. they have some pieces to fill in but he is still the most clueless reporter covering that team.

edit: in coaches words:

The Bobcats chose Morrison with the third overall pick of the 2006 draft. Although Morrison wasn’t a starter this preseason, Vincent was counting on him as the first or second player off the bench, alongside Matt Carroll. Vincent planned for him to average 20 to 25 minutes and 14 to 16 points.

Morrison would have been particularly useful in the small lineup Vincent was increasingly using. That group moves Gerald Wallace from small to power forward, a position Wallace has played part-time each of the previous two seasons.

“We’ll still look at that small group with other guys’’ at small forward, Vincent said. “But Adam was such a good scorer, he made it deadly.”

 

Morrison is 6-8.

 

Well that sucks. I think he is well suited to be a sixth man. He would have helped this team a lot I think with his offense coming off the bench. Granted he is not one of the top guys on the team but he had some value.