Kobe should suit up against Bulls tonight
Kobe Bryant broke his right index finger last Friday against Minnesota. He continued to play, but the following night in Utah, suffered from stomach flu and needed intravenous fluids before the game and at halftime.
Again, Bryant went out and played, but scored 16 points and hit just 7 of 24 shots as the Lakers saw an 11-game win streak snapped by the Jazz 102-94.
The Utah game was the start of a five-game road trip, but the Lakers returned to Los Angeles and flew to Chicago on Monday. Bryant has not spoken to the media for a few days, but a team spokesman said he is feeling better and expects to play against the Bulls.
The way the Lakers' front line has manhandled the Bulls in recent games, Bryant hasn't needed to do anything spectacular. When the Bulls lost at the Staples Center on Nov. 19, Pau Gasol returned from an injury to produce 24 points and 13 rebounds.
In addition, 7-foot center Andrew Bynum is averaging 17.4 points and Ron Artest is at 12.9. Newly-married Lamar Odom is averaging just 8.3 points this season and the Lakers (18-4) haven't missed his scoring at all.
"They're a great team," Bulls guard Derrick Rose said. "Every position, they've got somebody that's very good. I think we can beat anybody in the NBA if we just put in the effort."
Extreme takeover: Here's more from coach Vinny Del Negro on the topic of whether point guard Derrick Rose should be scoring more and trying to take over games. Rose is averaging 16.1 points on the season.
"We need him to score, we need him to take over games when he has the opportunity," Del Negro said. "He's done that. We need him to score, but also run the team, be aggressive. I think he's done a much better job since he's been healthy the last 10 or 12 games. He'll continue to develop and understand when he needs to get guys shots and also when he needs to take over games.
"If you give guys, especially young guys, too much to think about, it makes their feet slow. You just sometimes just let Derrick go out and play."
Asik on shelf: Center Omer Asik broke his collarbone while playing in a Turkish league game and is expected to be out two months.
The Bulls acquired the rights to the 7-foot Asik in a draft-night trade in 2009 with the thought of signing him next summer when his contract with Fenerbahce Ulker expires.
Before the injury, Asik played in seven Euroleague games, averaging 8.9 points and 6.0 rebounds. In the Turkish league, he's produced 11.1 points and 5.9 boards in eight games. The 23-year-old missed most of last season with a knee injury.