Murray Says He Feels Fine
Although Laker Coach Phil Jackson said Friday he believes Tracy Murray hasn’t fully recovered from “pretty major surgery” on his hip in April, Murray said he’s fine, even though he had tried merely nine three-pointers in six games. “I don’t think anybody in this league is 100%, but compared to last year, it’s much better,” Murray said. “My hip is not locking up. I don’t have my explosiveness back, like if I tried to dunk, but I feel great.”
If anything has been difficult, he said, it’s been dealing with the team’s early struggles, not any physical struggles of his own.
“None of us like losing,” Murray said. “We all have to step up. We’ve got to play with the pride and heart of champions. It doesn’t matter if Shaq is here or not. Through difficult times, everybody has got to pull together.
“We can’t point fingers, and we haven’t gotten to that point. That’s what bad teams do. That’s what I noticed -- this team doesn’t do that.”
He also said he can accept a reduced role, if necessary.
“Right now my role’s not very big,” he said, “but if I’m not playing I’m cheering the team. As a 10-year veteran, I understand my role.”
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Forward Devean George, troubled by a painful right foot, underwent an MRI exam and was told by Dr. Philip Kwong he has tendinitis. He was not available Friday, and Jackson said George probably wouldn’t play Sunday against Houston. He will be evaluated on a game-by-game basis.
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Samaki Walker, who sustained a slight sprain of his left ankle in Thursday’s practice, was in the startling lineup. But Jackson said the lineup at the end might not be the same as usual. “I told guys it will be who’s playing well in the ballgame,” he said, “rather than guys we had going down a lot of stretches.”
Walker played 41 minutes, including most of overtime, scored 12 points and had 12 rebounds in the 96-89 win.
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Shaquille O’Neal, targeting next Friday for his return from toe surgery, said he hasn’t had any kind of setback that would change his plans.
