Bryant Well Enough to Play Three Minutes

Kobe Bryant returned to the Lakers on Sunday afternoon, sort of, and they managed to win anyway.

His first appearance after missing two games because of flu, which prompted the Seattle SuperSonics to strongly suggest Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones in particular and the Lakers in general are playing better without him, was really just a cameo. Bryant played three minutes, didn’t take a shot, and bolted afterward, his body still weary but apparently coming along enough to where he should be able to practice today.

“He was huffing and puffing, as one would expect,” Coach Del Harris said. “But it helped. I actually needed him those minutes, and he did a good job.”

Said longtime friend Eddie Jones, who sits next to Bryant in the locker room: “He seemed ready to go. I didn’t hear that grimy voice when you’re sick.”

Bryant began the day listed as doubtful, to where Harris hadn’t planned to use him, but he said he was feeling better. When Rick Fox picked up his third foul with 6:03 remaining in the second quarter, and with Robert Horry having just gone out for his first rest of the day, Harris decided to use Bryant at small forward. With 2:54 left, he exited in favor of Horry.

The bigger test could come when Bryant returns in reality, possibly Tuesday night at Seattle for Game 5 as the Lakers try to clinch the series. Even Harris is worried that his reserve swingman might be too pumped up after comments by the SuperSonics.

“It’s possible,” Harris said. “His tendency is to want to do anyway. His normal responses are very aggressive, overt. But he’s a very intelligent young man.”

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Horry’s supporting role?

Maybe not so supporting.

“I think Horry is the MVP of the series so far,” Seattle Coach George Karl said. “I think he’s playing very well.”

The starting power forward, playing more at his former small forward spot with Bryant’s illness, got another 13 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots in Sunday’s 112-100 victory. That puts him at 12 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.75 blocks and 60% for the series--all better than his regular-season numbers.

“We’re running different plays than we ran in the regular season,” Horry said. “I don’t think that they [the SuperSonics] really know how to change their defensive schemes to match our plays.”

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The Lakers have shot 48.7%, 43.2%, 57.1% and 53.8% in the four games, pushing them to 3-0 in the playoffs and 36-0 including the regular season when they make at least half their attempts. Dating to last season, the streak is 45 in a row when they shoot 50% or better.