Kobe Bryant misses the Dallas Mavericks game; Vows to be back in the playoffs – NBA News
Kobe Bryant missed Sunday night’s game against the Dallas Mavericks, but the Los Angeles Lakers were still able to steal an overtime victory. Bryant missed his 5th consecutive game with an inflammation on his left shin.
When asked about his injury, Bryant said that he is feeling a lot better and will definitely be able to come back before the playoffs.
“I'll definitely be back well before the playoffs. It's important to kind of get a rhythm and try to get things in sync a little bit and find a little groove" said Bryant.
Bryant said that he would have played on Sunday night were it a playoff game, but needed to rest his shin as it was causing him a great deal of pain. He added that he played with the injury for a week and in the third and fourth quarters of the games, he could barely walk. Hence, he decided to rest it so he is ready for the playoffs.
Lakers coach Mike Brown said that it was a blessing in disguise that Kobe was not playing these games because it would help him rest and be fresh and ready for the playoffs. The lock-out shortened season has been very vigorous and tiring, and Kobe had been playing nearly full minutes for the Lakers in each game he started. A break here would give him the much needed rest before he comes back and leads the Lakers into the playoffs.
“(Winning) doesn't put as much pressure on us to try and get him back, but in the same breath, we've obviously made the playoffs. So if it were a case where he needed to come back and it had something to do with him not being as healthy going into the playoffs, even if we took it on the chin a couple of times we'd still sit him out."
Kobe’s absence has been a good omen for the Lakers team as well. After starting off with a few bumps, the Lakers have now won their last 4 games without their talisman. His absence has given the team an opportunity to face their biggest fear and rise above it. It has also given the team some much needed confidence and proven to them and others that this team has the depth that is required to win playoff series.
In Bryant’s absence, Metta World Peace has been averaging 16.75 points per game, almost double his season average. Reserve forward Matt Barnes has also been having a good time on the court, averaging 7.6 points per game. The Lakers defense has also been top notch in Bryant’s defense, with Pau Gasol bringing his game to another level so as to cover for Bryant’s absence.
With 28.1 points per game on average, Kobe is the leading scorer in the NBA at the moment and a key component of the Lakers team, no matter how well they play without him.
His absence has exposed a new dimension to the Lakers playing style and it is now up to coach Mike Brown to take the lessons learned from the games and add them in the game plan and strategy for when Kobe does start.
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