On Monday, Kobe Bryant was still suffering from the back spasms that affected him in Sunday's loss to the Jazz, though he did reassure Lakers fans that he'll be in uniform for Wednesday's Game 5: "I'll be ready to play. I can't imagine it being any worse than it was last night."How bad was it on Sunday? As he describes it, the injury completely took him out of his game: "I just couldn't elevate, get enough space to knock down a jump shot," he said. "When you have a back injury, you try not to re-injure it. I rarely hurt my back, I remember one time when I was 21."
In the meantime, he's receiving around-the-clock treatment, and even slept on Sunday night wearing an electric stimulating device. Even if he's not at full strength, I'm guessing Kobe at 75% is better than 99% of the league, and certainly his Utah counterpart, Ronnie Brewer.
And if his balky back prevents him from attacking the rim without abandon, he's proven in the past to be just as dangerous distributing the ball. He's already averaging nearly seven assists per game in the playoffs, but it's not out of the question for him to double that on Wednesday if the rest of his teammates know going in that he's not going to be able to carry the load offensively.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-13-2008 @ 6:50AM
frank said...
I have suffered back problems for years;
Kobe will not be ready for game 5;
Lakers should help this man to recover fully or else;
Forget the playoffs this year is always next year;
If they keep pushing Kobe NOW he will be done for good( rest of career)ask the doctors, guarantee!
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5-13-2008 @ 7:08AM
frank said...
Look at Billups only a torn ligament ( leg) and Detroit decided to give him plenty of time to recover;
Give Kobe a break LA , do not push him NOW!
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5-13-2008 @ 7:18AM
frank said...
Correction : Strained hamstring ( Billups, Detroit) what Kobe has is 10 times over more delicate ( lower back) ask an Orthopedic or a chiropractic or take an MRI and then make a decision but do not put him in the court yes, yet.
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5-13-2008 @ 8:30AM
The Cooler said...
How can you compare your back with a world class athlete's back? You are going to be eating your words as usual. There aren't too many things that will keep kobe out and if he says that he will play, that is usually money in the bank.
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5-13-2008 @ 8:41AM
The Cooler said...
What sport do they play in your country frank? It is obviously not basketball. I can't believe how much you panic at any kind of resistance and how fast you jump off and on the bandwagon. You are not a true fan. You are like a bug, that just keeps on bugging.
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5-13-2008 @ 9:18AM
frank said...
I have been in Sports longer then you have been alive ( grandpa 6 times)look at the face of Kobe can you feel his pain ??
I guess NOT I do like one of my children, so you are WRONG !
Look what they did with Billups in Detroit !
Have a heart cooler!
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5-13-2008 @ 9:25AM
frank said...
By the way I am not eating my words;
I called the game Cavs vs. Celtics last night ( check the time) and it was done!
The way I predicted!
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5-13-2008 @ 9:39AM
The Cooler said...
You obviously don't know the history of kobe. He has an incredible high tolerance for pain and if he can walk, he can play. Simple as that! There is a reason these athletes get paid millions of dollars and they need to earn their money by performing. Just like everyone else.
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5-13-2008 @ 9:51AM
The Cooler said...
Have you played competitive sports? I'm sure kobe is hurting however these athletes compete with pain all the time. As far as billups, I saw how he hurt himself and maybe he has trouble walking or running. And remember these guys are young so they will heal faster than us older people. Finally it has been said 75% of kobe is better than most of the league.
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5-13-2008 @ 1:56PM
Trent said...
Kobe is a joke...He backstabs his team mates when they are losing and is mr nice guy when they are winning....He is a great ball player but in no way has the ability to lead a team to a championship...Shaq is the reason they won their championship before...Wait and see...When the Lakers get knocked out of the playoffs this year...Kobe will have an excuse...and it won't be HIS fault...Kobe is nothing but a wanna be...He even tries to speak like MJ....what a JOKE!
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5-13-2008 @ 2:29PM
The Cooler said...
Kobe was frustrated, he wanted help, someone to step up to the plate. He put pressure on management and they responded, as well as his teammates. If garnett had that kind of guts, he would have won more in minnesota. Look at the stats, shaq only won one title without kobe. With kobe THREE IN A ROW! Kobe is a winner, he has all the heart to win more championships.
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5-13-2008 @ 2:47PM
Trent said...
Yeah..Look at the stats...Shaq won one without Kobe...How many has Kobe won without Shaq??? and by the way...You do not make your team better by backstabbing your team mates...If Bynum had any kind of back bone he would tell Kobe to go ef himself...Kobe is a terrible teammate when the going gets tough...He will not win another championship PERIOD.
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5-14-2008 @ 8:39AM
The Cooler said...
Kobe handled that situation all wrong, but understand it was frustration. Either way that is in the past. Vegas thinks the lakers are going to win, and so do a lot of other people. No team is really making their presence felt. The title is up for grabs. The lakers have as good a shot as anyone else. I don't believe shaq will win any more titles, but I believe that kobe has the drive and team to win at least 2 or 3 more. And by the way all of kobe teammates seem to have bonded together with kobe on and off the court.
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