Westhead Passes Memory Lane

The bus carrying the Golden State Warriors on Sunday drove past Loyola Marymount and then came to the Forum.

“That’s two of my lifetimes,” Paul Westhead said shortly after arriving.

This is his newest one. The former coach of the Lakers and Loyola Marymount was back as an assistant coach with the Warriors under longtime friend P.J. Carlesimo, also serving as his return to the NBA after four seasons as head coach at George Mason. His last time in the league was 1991-92, as coach of the Denver Nuggets.

“It is special,” Westhead of being back in the Forum, where he coached the Lakers for parts of three seasons, highlighted by the 1980 title. “For someone like me, it’s the Boston Garden of the West. It’s a place where great basketball has happened.”

Sunday, it was also the place of a reunion. Westhead, fellow Warrior assistant Bob Staak, [cq] Carlesimo and Laker Coach Del Harris all coached in Puerto Rico years ago. Westhead, who still makes his offseason home in Palos Verdes, Staak and Harris even coached the same team, though in different seasons.

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Kobe Bryant is day-to-day after suffering a moderate sprain of the right ankle when he landed awkwardly after going for a twisting layup late in the Lakers’ 132-97 victory. He had to be helped from the court, but X-rays were negative.

Corie Blount suffered a mildly sprained right ankle after his awkward landing following a defensive rebound. The forward who has quickly emerged as a key reserve is also day-to-day.

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Robert Horry had 11 double-doubles his first five years in the pros. He already has two this season, in four games. More impressively, the 13 rebounds in the opener came against Karl Malone and the 10 on Friday were while facing Charles Oakley, another handful. Said Harris: “I don’t know what power forward in the league has got a quicker jump than Robert Horry.”... The Warriors activated Brian Shaw, acquired from the Orlando Magic on Oct. 28, earlier in the day after he had missed the five games because of tendinitis in the left Achilles’ tendon. Dickey Simpkens went on the injured list with a strained chest muscle to create the roster spot.