LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Kobe Bryant isnt happy about spending Christmas Day on the sideline, unable to help the struggling Los Angeles Lakers. Its a place hes unaccustomed to being on the holiday. Bryant leads the NBA with a record 15 appearances on Christmas Day, but hes out an expected four to six weeks with a fracture in his left knee. "Its strange to be coming in on Christmas and not playing," he said before the Lakers hosted the streaking Miami Heat on Wednesday. "Its a foreign feeling, but Im here to support my guys." LeBron James and Co. has won five in a row; the Lakers have dropped two straight. "We need you tonight," Lakers guard Nick Young told the crowd before tipoff. Bryants injury was diagnosed last week, his second major one of the season. He didnt play his first game until Dec. 8 after nearly eight months away while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. Then he got hurt again Dec. 17 at Memphis while playing his fourth game in five nights. "I was fortunate that it was not a meniscus," he said. Initially, Bryant didnt think he was seriously hurt against Memphis. He went down late in the third quarter, but returned to finish out the victory in which he logged a season-high 21 points in 32 minutes. "I didnt know it was fractured," he said. "I was expecting a bone bruise more than anything else. I thought (the doctor) was joking when he told me." Bryant has been limited to riding a bike; he isnt supposed to put any pressure on his knee. "Its just been slow in terms of laying off it and letting it heal," he said. "When you dont have activity, you got to watch the other parts like nutrition." Typical of Bryants attention to detail, he said hes been reading critical comments that suggest he wont return this season. "Its the same old tune, just being sung a little more loudly now," he said. "These type of things just help me lock in more." Asked if theres any chance he wont be back, Bryant replied, "Not that Im aware of." Los Angeles signed the 35-year-old guard to a two-year, $48.5 million contract extension in November. James, along with other NBA players, tweeted out well wishes to Bryant, although the two superstars havent talked. "Especially games like today, you want to have the best guys out there," James said. After the Achilles injury, Bryant expressed rare self-doubt. He hasnt felt any this time. "The knee is not really a concern to me," he said. "The biggest question was would the Achilles respond to my game. It felt fine. It was strong." Bryant was looking forward to playing against the defending NBA champions as a way to see where he was physically with his Achilles. "This was a really big measuring stick," he said. Instead, he sat at the end of the bench wearing a black suit and print T-shirt. "My spirits are fine," he said. "I feel more locked in now than my entire career." Custom Nationals Jersey . Pettine also retained special teams co-ordinator Chris Tabor from Rob Chudzinskis staff. In addition, Pettine plucked assistants Chuck Driesbach (linebackers), Brian Fleury (assistant linebackers coach) and Jeff Hafley (secondary) off the staff he worked on in Buffalo as defensive co-ordinator. Max Scherzer Jersey .J. Ward has been added to the Pro Bowl roster, giving Cleveland six players at this years game.
http://www.officialnationalsjerseyonlin ... -jersey/.Y
. -- Serena and Venus Williams are not part of the Fed Cup roster submitted by U. Jayson Werth Nationals Jersey . Watch the Senators vs. Penguins live tonight on TSN at 7pm et/4pm pt. The Senators led 2-0 early in the second period, but the Maple Leafs scored six of the games final seven goals to take the tilt in regulation. Toronto winger Phil Kessel capped his fifth career hat trick with the game-winning goal at 14:02 of the third period. Max Scherzer Nationals Jersey .C. -- Coach Mike Krzyzewski is out of the hospital and at practice with No.The Green Bay Packers keep absorbing the hits on the offensive line.But as far as the linemen are concerned, better that they take the blows than quarterback Aaron Rodgers.Front fives dont usually draw much attention. The Packers highlight reel is typically filled with pinpoint passes from Rodgers to receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, and pinball runs by Eddie Lacy.But its difficult to overlook how the Packers front has performed this season, especially with injuries nagging the line.The five that play together practice together each and every week give you the chance to be the most cohesive group, coach Mike McCarthy said. He pointed to a combination of talent, ability and continuity on the practice field as keys to success.They havent all been full participants at practice, though, for about six weeks.T.J. Lang is playing with an ankle injury, while fellow guard Josh Sitton has a left toe injury. Theyve either missed practice, or been limited at times since each player got hurt in the 44-23 loss on Oct. 26 at New Orleans.Right tackle Bryan Bulaga left last weeks 21-13 loss at Buffalo with a concussion. He did not take part in practice Thursday, though he was at least at the practice facility — usually a positive sign that things are going well.Yeah, when (trainers) let him out of the building and go down to the Hutson Center, thats a good thing, McCarthy said.The injuries started in the preseason, when swing tackle Don Barclay, who would have likely been the first lineman off the bench, had a season-ending knee injury.J.C. Tretter was slated to start at centre after last years starter, Evan Dietrich-Smith, signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent. But Tretter injured an ankle two weeks before the season started, forcing rookie Corey Liinsley into the starting lineup.ddddddddddddIt turned out not to be a concern.The Packers have allowed 28 sacks in 14 games, which ranks 13th. But there have been just seven sacks in the six games since the loss to the Saints in late October.Similarly, after a sluggish start, the running game has picked up.Green Bay ran for 179 yards on 30 carries two weeks ago against Atlanta, and 158 on 24 carries last week against Buffalo. They are the two highest rushing totals of the season.The cohesiveness just in the run blocking improves. The course, the footwork and course of the backs, its better, theyre playing a little faster, McCarthy said. All those things — I just think when teams have a chance to continue to work each and every day together, you improve.The fifth member of the starting unit is second-year left tackle David Bakhtiari, who has improved as the season has worn on.Timing is definitely everything, Lacy said about the running game. Its about the way (defenders) angle to the blocks, where the defence flows, and there (are) a lot of different factors.That includes the five beefy Packers on the offensive line.NOTES: Lacy was limited in practice for a second straight day with eye irritation, which McCarthy said wasnt related to football. Lacy said the eye started bothering him this week after taking out a contact lens. Lacy said he plans to wear contacts again on Sunday, but would rather not have to wear goggles. ... Cobb, in the last year of his contract, said he doesnt know of any talks about an extension, that he was focused on helping the Packers secure a playoff spot. Cobb is having a career year with 76 catches for 1,076 yards and 10 touchdowns.___Online:AP NFL website:
www.pro32.ap.org
and
www.twitter.com/AP_NFL
cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '
Statistics: Posted by gdl06285035 — Mon 04 Jan 2016, 09:34