Lakers see a different Kwame Brown
When Kwame Brown played two-plus seasons for the Lakers, he would fumble and bumble when the basketball was passed to him.
When the Lakers faced Brown Friday night as a member of the Detroit Pistons, they saw a different player, a player who at times showed flashes when he played in L.A.
Brown had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. He was 2-for-3 from the free-throw line. He had three assists, one blocked shot and he played good defense against Andrew Bynum.
Yep, that Kwame Brown.
The source for all that inspiration?
Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw took credit for that.
After practice Sunday, Shaw said he may have inspired Brown because he talked so much "trash'' to Brown before the game.
"When he ran down court after he scored, he would yell, 'Yeah, B Shaw,' '' Shaw recalled, laughing.
Said Lakers Coach Phil Jackson: "I thought Detroit used him really well, kept him doing the things he could do best that he could.''
Well, let's see how long Brown does that.
-- Broderick Turner
Photo: Detroit Pistons center Kwame Brown reacts after a last-minute three-point shot in the second half against the Lakers on Friday. Pistons won 106-95. Credit: Gus Ruelas / Associated Press
