Which is it? Is he able to still play at a high level at will or is he so frail that he can't even play every 4th game without injuring himself? I Mean really, if he needs to be shut down because he's breaking down physically, not because of any serious or nagging injury, why would anyone think he'll be effective for a whole season next year? I'm not criticizing Kobe here but there's so much talk about tank strategy, is this just part of the ruse?
Telling you..... we're just finding more things that trojan horse Nash did in his time here. Who knows what he was slipping into Bryant's ice baths?
I was just thinking about that game in New Orleans ... and it's not that too long ago. It's so unfortunate that he couldn't play in those playoffs and maybe a year again without those serious injuries. Right now he is just declining fast. Feels so hard to say that for me but maybe that retirement thought should be seriously entertained. Hopefully he gets celebrated a bit more this year at the Allstar Game for his career and have some good games the rest of the season and go out somewhat healthy in his after basketball life. I mean even if we can scratch one of those Allstars this offseason we will maybe have a shot at the 8th spot?! And for that he needs to be at a really high level again and I don't see that anymore. Give him a job in management or so, celebrate his illustrious career the rest of the year, maybe retire #8 AND #24 at the first game next season and move on. I hate to say that but this is just getting worse every week ... At least the tanking and our chances to stay in the top 5 are full on ...
I hope Kobe retires. It's no fun watching an alltime great struggle like this only to have his body break down time after time. His skills are still there, but there's just too much mileage. When he busted his achilles it really was the end, we all just didn't know it/accept it. It's just too tough to recover from something like that considering the age/mileage, and the type of player/position Kobe plays.
I like the way Kobe's trying to play now. He's made the appropriate adjustments with this team. Him being out there playing as a facilitator has to be good development for these guys. I hope he doesn't shut it down for the year because I wanna watch this cat play for as long as he can without getting injured. He can still pull off amazing from time to time too, but even if he couldn't, I still wanna watch him compete. Just keep taking games off as needed and keep that routine next season. We're gonna be in a much better situation next year... Playoffs if nothing else and I wanna watch the Mamba in the playoffs again before he retires. If he decides he needs to shut it down in order to do that ok. Otherwise keep ballin kob!
Kobe apparently hurt his shoulder on a dunk in the third quarter. I was against it before but now I'm fully on board with Kobe shutting it down for the season. Just not worth it. MORNING SHOOTAROUND — JAN. 22 January 22, 2015 · 7:52AM VIDEO: Highlights from games played Jan. 21 NEWS OF THE MORNING Bryant hurts shoulder | Report: LeBron talks Cavs with Allen | Karl wants one more NBA coaching gig |Anthony blasts ‘tanking’ talk No. 1: Bryant injures shoulder, but is worried about Lakers’ free agency — Kobe Bryant has appeared in 35 of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 43 games this season, including last night’s eventual loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. During that game, Bryant suffered what the team termed right shoulder soreness in the third quarter after a two-handed dunk. Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times reports that Bryant will need an MRI on the shoulder, but the Lakers’ star was more worried about the team’s offeseason plan than his injury: Kobe Bryant slung a designer backpack over his shoulders — both of them, it was important to note — and talked about something eminently important to him. He left a game because of a sore right shoulder from a third-quarter dunk, unable to finish in the fourth after firing up two shots, both with his left hand, in a 96-80 loss Wednesday to the New Orleans Pelicans. The Lakers said there would be an MRI exam Thursday, but Bryant didn’t seem concerned. He was more interested in discussing his pitch to would-be free agents in July. “It’s a pretty simple message. It’s the best organization in the world, best brands in the world,” he said, reluctant to name names because of the NBA’s tampering rules. “We win championships. That’s what we do. It would be much more than … Xs and O’s and style of play, things of that nature. There’s no place like winning in Los Angeles, man.” … But Bryant lauded the ability of Lakers General Mitch Kupchak. “It’s phenomenal, so much so that the league had to protest a trade that he made,” Bryant said, referring to the vetoed Chris Paul deal in 2011. “When you pull that off and save money, what other GM could pull that off? You’ve kind of got to lean on the track record of the front office and the decisions that they make. He makes really solid ones.” … Meanwhile, there was a game Wednesday and a baseline dunk by Bryant against a surprisedDante Cunningham. But as Bryant said, “I felt fine when I went up, didn’t feel too good when I came down.” He added that the shoulder “came out a little bit. It’s been bothering me a lot but right now it’s a little achy.” When Bryant re-entered in the fourth, he quickly made a 14-foot turnaround with his left hand but then airballed an eight-foot hook shot, also with his left. He dribbled and passed almost exclusively with his left hand. Bryant walked off the court and straight to the locker room after the Lakers called a timeout with 1:09 to play. He didn’t rule himself out of Friday’s game against San Antonio. “I’ve played with a torn labrum before,” Bryant said, adding he played with a separated shoulder earlier in his career. … Earlier in the day, Bryant filmed a scene for a movie with Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg called “Daddy’s Home.” Bryant shot it with the two stars in his Lakers warmups at the Pelicans’ arena. Later, at halftime, fans were encouraged to stay in their seats as Ferrell came out and made a mockery of a halfcourt shooting contest in two takes. After the cameras turned off, Ferrell, a frequent courtside presence at Lakers games, hugged Jordan Hill and Nick Young before leaving the court.
Nope no ruse. He's older and more prone to small injuries. Sitting him every other game is the tanking strategy. Him getting hurt isn't included in that.
Yeah I buy that. But I still think he's sitting games because he needs it too, not just because it's part of the strategy. What can I say? If he says he feels old I believe him.
I'm sure he feels old because he's playing basketball after 19 years on an awful team that he has no hope of winning with. If the team was half-way competitive I think he'd be feeling magically younger again.
No doubt. So as long as he thinks the team will be good enough to compensate for his limitations, I'm hopeful about watching him play on a better team next year.
Kobe Bryant had an MRI on his shoulder but the Lakers won't release the results until Thursday evening. Source: Mark Medina on Twitter
Mike Trudell ✔ @LakersReporter The MRI on Kobe Bryant's right shoulder showed "a tear of the rotator cuff." Full press release attached:
