Shaky season for LA?

["Stephen Beauregard" <sb@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Shaky season for LA?

Bryant could miss games to go on trial

By Shira Springer, Globe Staff, 7/20/2003

he NBA community continues to discuss the possible consequences of Kobe
Bryant's actions on the night of June 30 at a Colorado resort. The Lakers'
five-time All-Star guard was charged with one count of felony sexual assault
Friday afternoon.



It appears the case will go to trial, which could force Bryant to miss part of
the season, which runs from October to June, if the Lakers advance in the
playoffs. Bryant's first day in court will be Aug. 6, when he will be
arraigned and have bail set. The prosecuting attorneys have not speculated on
when a trial would take place.

Before Bryant was charged, the Lakers faced high expectations for the upcoming
season with the free agent signings of Gary Payton and Karl Malone. Now, the
distraction created by Bryant's legal problems must be factored into the
equation.

When asked what effect it would have if Bryant missed a significant portion of
the season due to a trial, the Celtics' director of basketball operations,
Danny Ainge, said, ''It's devastating. The Lakers, now with Gary Payton and
Karl Malone coming along, it's going to be a lot less significant than it
would have been. But from a basketball standpoint, it's still you're not with
your full team and that's never fun, especially when it's one of your best
players. But again, the Lakers have a boatload of talent there, so they can
overcome times without Kobe for a period of time.''

The Lakers will not be the first team to encounter distractions brought on by
a star player. Ainge was in Phoenix two years ago when Jason Kidd, then with
the Suns, was arrested on a spousal abuse charge and spent a night in jail.
Ainge saw how the story was played over and over in the media. ''Jason
addressed the problem and it became an issue between Jason and his wife that
had no bearing on the team, but it became national news. And it became a
continuous discussion on talk radio and in the newspapers and everywhere
else,'' said Ainge. ''It became an issue. So, the very people that criticize a
person for his behavior and how it can distract a team are in fact the ones
that are distracting the team. I find that very ironic.''One of Bryant's
attorneys, Pamela Mackey, told the Orange County Register that the ''minimum
time frame for a trial is four to six months'' so it will be hard to have it
done outside the NBA season. The NBA has said it will allow Bryant to play
while the case is being determined.

Meanwhile, the Register also reported that the alleged victim, according to a
friend, overdosed on pills at her home and was rushed to a hospital two months
before making her allegation against Bryant.

Thanks,

Steve
sb@xxxxxxxxxxxx

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