You can read all over the internet on what the risks are of not treating the pinky finger. The most common/likely from what I remember reading is deformation of the finger.

They did not get Pau to become a rebounding and defensive specialist. He was to be and has become the reliable second offensive option on the team. Actually they had Pau cover Aldridge in the second half because Aldridge was shooting over Lamar, and he had trouble doing that against Pau.

I guess we cant be getting too greedy though… Luke’s struggles coupled with Radman’s new injury has only opened up more time for Sasha.

“Because of the severity of the injury, doctors have advised that Kobe needs surgery now. Kobe, in turn, has decided to keep playing, which is his way of advising doctors that if they don’t like the risk he’s taking with his pinkie, he has another digit two spots over that may convey the message more clearly.”

To me, that shot was obviously one that he took for himself. He was having an 0-fer, and was testing the waters more than he was thinking “open up the lane” (did the Lakers even have issues with an open lane off the break last night??). I’m cool with that shot, too, maybe if Sasha takes it, or obviously if Kobe takes it. That being said, it’s one of those things where you’re down a few scores and considering Portland had us down consistenly 9, 11, 9, 7 for the majority of the third… if you make it, you look brilliant, if you miss it, there’s a thousand other better decisions you could’ve made. I think I speak for every Lakers basketball fan when I say that – as much as we all love Kobe and would have no other player in that position – he’s made some terrible decisions pulling up to early for a bad shot in a close game over his career.

I like any guy that’s got the confidence to pull the trigger, but there’s also certain circumstances in-game that demand basketball savvy over confidence. Portland dominated the first 10 minutes of the third quarter. You’ve got to be looking to get your game back. I’d go out on a limb and say the Lakers won that game in the fourth more because the Blazers collapsed than the Lakers beat them. Point is, Fish is the not the guy to take that shot, that’s all I’m saying, especially in that position. Hell, Kobe hasn’t even been gunning like that as of late.

Am I the only one who believes that taking those quick, low percentage shots is a good thing sometimes? It’s essentially the same thing Kobe’s been doing since he got in the league. It keeps the defenses from relaxing and opens up the lane for future fast breaks.

I admittedly was a little shocked when Fisher started doing that this year (I don’t remember much of that in his earlier Laker years), but with him shooting lights out this year from distance, I don’t have a problem with a few of those per game.