We should wait until February or March to see how he’s really feeling.
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“When Metta was coming, I thought I was coming out”, Bryant said, “which is what we normally do”. He is averaging just 24.38 minutes per game for a team that does not have an established leader at point guard.
Former basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar attends an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors at the Staples Center on Friday, November 20, 2015, in Los Angeles.
If you liked pretty much every cheesy sports flick ever, you will love the answers that Byron Scott has been giving to the media when it comes to the development of his players, or lack thereof. But in the last two games Kobe has played 36 and 37 minutes respectively which has caused concern that Bryant might get burned out and get injured once again.
Kobe Bryant played 37 minutes in the game, which set a new season high for the 37-year-old, but the grizzled veteran shot down any talk of fatigue or overuse by starting his post-game press conference by stating, “I feel great”.
Kobe Bryant stood just outside the Lakers’ training room barefoot, a towel wrapped around his lower body, his ice bath complete even before his teammates began a practice session he wasn’t going to be a part of on this Saturday morning.
Defeats to the Kings, Warriors and Utah Jazz have all been on the road, and with two more road games on tap, they will want to end their losing streak against the Lakers. DeRozan said. “We looked for him a lot”.
In an extended interview with the Register in September, he said he would “stick to his guns” and hold Bryant to a number they agreed upon.
After the loss to the Raptors, Scott painted a different picture. Look at what he’s averaging. Lowry was selected to the NBA’s All-Star team for the first time in his career last season, and he certainly will be looking to repeat that this year.
But is average the best way to protect Bryant? The team has players in the backcourt that could use more playing time, which would help keep Bryant fresh later in games.
Lowry is at his best scoring when he doesn’t need to serve the competing need of facilitating, something he’s been able to focus on more and more as Cory Joseph carves out a larger role alongside him.
Bryant has already missed three games designated with knee and back injuries. “They don’t come from that season, they’re just traumatic injuries”. The shoulder, the Achilles tear, it’s been there forever.
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Of course, if we’re going to take that tact, isn’t 31 over 28?
