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Neither one of them complained when their playing time diminished.
Instead, Shannon Brown and Luke Walton worked harder.
They got to practice early for some extra work and stayed late for more extra work. They came back after practice later in the night and worked again. They came to the games early and worked some more.
The payoff came Sunday night, when Brown and Walton got the minutes they had worked for, both them playing a role in the Lakers' 104-88 victory over the New Orleans Hornets at Staples Center.
Brown played just over 21 minutes. He scored 15 points on six-for-eight shooting and handed out two assists.
Walton also played just over 21 minutes. He scored 11 points on four-for-seven shooting and dished out two assists.
Before Sunday night's game, Brown had averaged 11.8 minutes per game.
"I just try to stay in the gym," Brown said. "I get in there early, get my shots up, get my rhythm going. When we've got practice, I take it seriously. It's all about getting better."
Before Sunday night's game, Walton had averaged 9.8 minutes.
"I've been working my tail off, going in shooting every night with Jordan [Farmar] back in the facility after practice," Walton said. "I've been getting here early, shooting with [Lakers assistant coach Brian] Shaw and some of the other shooting coaches."
Brown did a lot of his work in the third quarter after Derek Fisher picked up his fourth foul with 9:57 left.
Brown had 13 points in the third. He was five for seven from the field, including three for four from three-point range.
"I was particularly proud of Shannon coming off and taking Fisher's spot after a couple of tough calls and getting into foul trouble," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. "[Shannon] was doing the things we see him do and we anticipate he can do."
Brown didn't just stand around looking for the basketball. He worked hard, moving, cutting.
There was a play in which Brown cut to the basket, took a pass from Walton, and in one quick step he left defender Chris Paul in his wake and dunked the ball.
Later, Walton threw a long pass to Brown for another one-handed dunk in the fourth quarter.
"Just coming out and playing basketball," Brown said. "Guys were looking for me in the second half. They were doubling Kobe [Bryant], and I was one of the guys that was open. I just capitalized on the opportunity."
Walton even knocked down shots from long distance, going three for five from three-point range.
"The ball feels good right now," Walton said. "I got a couple of easy looks. When the first couple of ones go down, the game always gets a little easier."
Instead of always looking for an open teammate, Walton has at times looked for his own shots.
"I'm looking to be aggressive," Walton said. "But I'm not looking to go in there to just jack up shots. I'd still rather get the assist than shoot the ball."
broderick.turner@latimes.com
twitter. com/BA_Turner
Instead, Shannon Brown and Luke Walton worked harder.
They got to practice early for some extra work and stayed late for more extra work. They came back after practice later in the night and worked again. They came to the games early and worked some more.
The payoff came Sunday night, when Brown and Walton got the minutes they had worked for, both them playing a role in the Lakers' 104-88 victory over the New Orleans Hornets at Staples Center.
Brown played just over 21 minutes. He scored 15 points on six-for-eight shooting and handed out two assists.
Walton also played just over 21 minutes. He scored 11 points on four-for-seven shooting and dished out two assists.
Before Sunday night's game, Brown had averaged 11.8 minutes per game.
"I just try to stay in the gym," Brown said. "I get in there early, get my shots up, get my rhythm going. When we've got practice, I take it seriously. It's all about getting better."
Before Sunday night's game, Walton had averaged 9.8 minutes.
"I've been working my tail off, going in shooting every night with Jordan [Farmar] back in the facility after practice," Walton said. "I've been getting here early, shooting with [Lakers assistant coach Brian] Shaw and some of the other shooting coaches."
Brown did a lot of his work in the third quarter after Derek Fisher picked up his fourth foul with 9:57 left.
Brown had 13 points in the third. He was five for seven from the field, including three for four from three-point range.
"I was particularly proud of Shannon coming off and taking Fisher's spot after a couple of tough calls and getting into foul trouble," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. "[Shannon] was doing the things we see him do and we anticipate he can do."
Brown didn't just stand around looking for the basketball. He worked hard, moving, cutting.
There was a play in which Brown cut to the basket, took a pass from Walton, and in one quick step he left defender Chris Paul in his wake and dunked the ball.
Later, Walton threw a long pass to Brown for another one-handed dunk in the fourth quarter.
"Just coming out and playing basketball," Brown said. "Guys were looking for me in the second half. They were doubling Kobe [Bryant], and I was one of the guys that was open. I just capitalized on the opportunity."
Walton even knocked down shots from long distance, going three for five from three-point range.
"The ball feels good right now," Walton said. "I got a couple of easy looks. When the first couple of ones go down, the game always gets a little easier."
Instead of always looking for an open teammate, Walton has at times looked for his own shots.
"I'm looking to be aggressive," Walton said. "But I'm not looking to go in there to just jack up shots. I'd still rather get the assist than shoot the ball."
broderick.turner@latimes.com
twitter. com/BA_Turner
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