Take that, Kobe Bryant.
   
Andrei Kirilenko rejected coach Jerry Sloan's theory that the Laker guard's 40-point night against Kirilenko's defense two weeks ago was lingering on his mind and sapping his confidence.

...

Karl Malone can't understand why Shaquille O'Neal and Kevin Garnett are not jumping at the chance to play for the United States at the 2004 Olympics.
   
"You can't make people play. You wish they would, but you can't make 'em play. But if guys know what's at stake here and they don't want to play, there's something wrong with them, basically," Malone said.