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Kobe Out With Back From Knee Injury

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UPDATE #3: Kobe was back at the Lakers practice facility today, walking around fine, and even expects to play tomorrow night in the rematch against the Bobcats. According to Lakers.com, he did not practice today and Phil Jackson described the knee as “a little sore.” If this were the regular season, he’d play. Preseason, Phil may well sit him. But, what really matters is Kobe should be ready to go next Tuesday when it matters, and at 100%.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled, over-reactive post.

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The headline is scary, but the incident itself did not look that bad. He walked off the floor, limping, but walked. The Lakers list him as day-to-day, but with a re-evaluation today (Wednesday). It was not severe enough for the team to schedule an MRI today.

After a Sun Yue miss with 3:10 left in the second quarter, Kobe leapt for the rebound on the weak side, while Powell spun and went for the ball as well. Kobe bumped knees and seem to come down on Powell’s foot, apparently hyperextending his knee. He instantly winces and pulls his leg up under him, then puts it down, signals to the bench he is coming out. He sits for a second with Vitti, then they head to the locker room.

According to WebMD, hyperextension of the knee can mean injury to the ACL, but the extent can vary widely. We’ll update the situation today as news of the re-evaluation comes out.

UPDATE #1: Kevin Ding makes a very good point in the OC Register:

You can be sure that Bryant wouldn’t have been chilling out there on the court in his Gucci sneakers for the second half if there was even a remote threat of serious injury. Bryant is maniacally diligent in getting treatment, believing especially in the importance of treating injuries as soon as possible. He also wouldn’t have been sitting there cracking jokes with Sasha Vujacic to the point that Vujacic was literally falling out of his chair … hair flying everywhere.

UPDATE #2: Nothing to due with Kobe, but the roster has been set at 15. Joe Crawford and CJ Giles have been waived, while Coby Karl keeps his spot on the roster. The fast becoming a favorite of mine Mike Trudell at the Lakers.com team blog wonders if the injury to Sasha and the tweak of Kobe is the reason Karl got the nod. Maybe. I thought Karl looked far better in Summer League, but as we were not in the practices we’ll have to trust the coaches’ decision.


Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kurt says

    Wanted to get this in there, hansoulfood was at the game and posted this in the last thread, just as I created the new one.

    I just came back from the game. I had to find out from my Mom (watching kcal in LA) that Kobe was injured. I was curious why Ariza started the second half and Kobe never came back. I saw him later with jeans and a sweater and thought, he doesn’t look injured. I seriously have the worst luck with the Lakers. I attended the Sactown game at staples and they lost. Then I bet the Lakers to win the championshp with my boss and they lose. I attend the preseason game today and Kobe gets injured….I hate myself right now.

    Some notes on the game:

    The second quarter was really ugly to watch. How many bad passes can you make? I was really surprise at several moments in the second and find our team losing only single digits. I guess that’s why they were the Bobcats.

    Remember Farmar missing the tech FT in the first half. During halftime, he was only practicing his FT after coming out the tunnel. He even got two practice shoots in moments before Matt Carroll had to shoot the tech to start the second half. That’s the attitude I like from Farmar. He went on to make all his FTs in the second half.

    Wallace was like kangaroo out there. He was just hoping all over the baseline. A few nice throwdowns to wow the crowd.

    DJ Augustine looks pretty good out there.

    Farmar is a straight out STUD on the floor. He looks so confident on the floor. Every play, you can see he wants it. Even with d-leaguers on the floor, he is able to take over and win the game. I was screaming when he ripped the ball from the double team and got the and 1. That was the turning point of the game.

    Morrison looks like Zorro.

    Bynum still looks a little out of it. I don’t know if it’s he’s timing, but he doesn’t look as comfortable as he can be. I hope he gets his groove back.

    I’m trying to root for a fellow Chinese guy, but Sun Yue looked terrible. Maybe in a couple of years? The crowd wanted him so bad to make at least ONE FT from that one three pointer foul. It was pretty sad.

    Kobe better not be hurt that badly. I just drafted him for fantasy.

  2. Karl says

    A, C, and L are three letters I wish to never see together on this website. I hope it doesn’t turn out to be too bad, because it didn’t look like it.

  3. Warren Wee Lim says

    ESPN has this on headlines and there is also a closeup vid on the incident. Knowing Kobe he would tell you its fine…

    Although its looks a little concerning, it doesn’t “feel” as bad to me. I hope I’m right.

  6. the other Stephen says

    it may not have looked that bad, but then again, the bynum injury didn’t look that bad to me either. i’ll just shutup and wait, i guess.

  7. wondahbap says

    Seriously. Would it hurt to get an MRI? We’re talking about the preeminate star of the NBA on team with a very good chance of beng back in the Finals. The medical staff should take all precautions and GET THE DAMN MRI ANYWAY. No one wants to see a headline weeks later that he actually hurt himslef worse then thought and is going to be out more, because they misdiagnosed or underestimated another injury. I hate to sound like one of those over concerned fans, but I have no faith in this medical and training staff. We’re so luck to have Kobe, T-Mac missed a bunch of games with a hyperextended elbow. Where’s Mamba24 to co-sign me?

  8. wondahbap says

    Oh by the way. Kobe should’ve had them take him away in a stretcher, then break dance back to the bench, just to one up Paul Pierce and and steal PP’s upcoming Oscar in “Overdramatic Overacted Injury” category.

  10. chris h says

    yeah Jones, I remember those days, and I was also very pissed at Malone, it was unforgivable to me, not only did he take away the lakers fans hopes that year, think of how any other player might react if they ever came down with HIV. would they go public? never, so the results created a atmosphere of fear and ignorance in the NBA. I really respected Magic for the way he handled all of this, from retiring, to the comeback, and eventual retire again.
    also, Coangelo acted in a similar fashion, and in my opinion it was just because they knew that the Lakers with Magic were going to go all the way that year, so it was purely for their own NBA status in the league for that year only, the damage was much more long term, I was really pissed about that whole time, no doubt.
    and as you say, when malone became a Laker, it was very hard for me to accept that, and when he went down, I couldn’t really have any sympathy for him, not after that business with magic.
    Bumpkin is right.

  11. kwame a. says

    Hope Kobe is o.k.

    Farmar has looked GREAT the last two games…but still has problems staying in front of speedy pg’s on defense.

    Vlad Rad, Walton and Ariza all have been showing they bring something to the table. I think they should be put with who they excel with. For Vlad that is the starting lineup because he gets open looks and has Bynum to protect him on defense. For Trevor it is with Jordan becuase they can change tempo and turn defense into offense. For Walton its Lamar and Pau becuase of the interior passing abilities of the three. I think Phils knows all this, he has been deploying them all well.

    If we had not signed Powell, I’d honestly have kept Giles over him, Giles seems to have more upside…and he didn’t hurt Kobe

    I think it is a no brainer if it comes down to Karl or Crawford, Joe has earned the spot and may actually turn into a contributor in the future.

    Kurt-the shirts are great, and I know Chick would be rockin one with pride

  12. Kurt says

    First Kobe update in the post. Kevin Ding of the OC Register makes a good point: Kobe was on the bench relaxing and joking during the second half of the game. Knowing Kobe, would he have been doing that if this were serious at all?

  13. chris h says

    I agree with Kwame a. I was going to say basically the same thing, I like the way PJ is building the rotation patterns. LO coming in with the starters makes him feel like he’s still a part of them, them bringing in Trevor and Farmar means it’s time for the Minute Men! or bench mob as Jordan likes, but whatever they call it, it’s “Speedy Gonzalez…yeeehaaa, andelaaay, andelaay, andelaaayyyy!!!”
    off to the races.
    love the way they are disrupting the perimeter passing…
    but not liking the turnovers, gotta reign that in.
    ‘drew needs to hustle some more, on occasion, like if he gets a block, then you see some fire in his eyes, but for my 2 cents, he seems to be doggin’ it.

  14. chris h says

    what I meant in the above was LO coming off the bench, as the first one off the bench, and basically playing a bit with the starting unit.

  15. jodial says

    I was bitter for a long time about Malone’s treatment of Magic, and it was always hard for me to root for the Mailman in his one season as a Laker.

    But, now that Magic’s career has had time to age like a fine wine, I don’t really think about any lost opportunities from the early 90’s. Magic did it all and did it with style, and his continued good health and phenomenal post-basketball success just adds to the glow of his Showtime-era highlight reel.

  18. Kurt says

    17. Because the injury is apparently so minor as to not even bother. The more I look at this the more I think it is no big deal, and frankly the more disappointed in myself I am for the headline and the overall tone of this post. Because it’s Kobe and because of last year we’re all a bit jittery, but if you look at the signs this is not worth getting worked up about.

  19. Kurt says

    News Update:

    Nothing to due with Kobe, but the roster has been set at 15. Joe Crawford and CJ Giles have been waived, while Coby Karl keeps his spot on the roster. The fast becoming a favorite of mine Mike Trudell at the Lakers.com team blog wonders if the injury to Sasha and the tweak of Kobe is the reason Karl got the nod. Maybe. I thought Karl looked far better in Summer League, but as we were not in the practices we’ll have to trust the coaches’ decision.

  20. Lakersfan88 says

    I think Kobe, Vitti, Phil, et all will figure out the best way to handle this. Worse comes to worse he’ll miss a few games to start the season, but that might not even be the case. As long as everyone is healthy from March-June we’re all good.

    If you don’t mind getting off topic for a sec, what does everyone here think about the Bynum negotiations and how they’re progressing, or I guess not progressing?

  23. Kurt says

    Kobe was back at practice today, walking around fine, and even expects to play tomorrow night in the rematch against the Bobcats. According to Lakers.com, he did not practice today and Phil Jackson described the knee as “a little sore.” If this were the regular season, he’d play. Preseason, Phil may well sit him. But, what really matters is Kobe should be ready to go next Tuesday when it matters, and at 100%.

  24. PeanutButterSpread says

    Sorry, I have a question that might seem really stupid, but

    What does it mean when the Lakers waive Joe Crawford and CJ Giles?

    I know they aren’t on the Lakers roster, but since Crawford is a draft pick, does it mean the Lakers have renounced his rights? Or does it mean they will sign him (and Giles) to the D-League like they did with Coby Karl last season?

  25. Kurt says

    24. Not a stupid question at all. With this move the Lakers renounce their rights both, including Crawford even though they drafted him. Those guys are now free agents.

  27. PeanutButterSpread says

    ooh thanks Kurt!

    That’s too bad, because I thought both Joe Crawford and CJ Giles showed a lot of promise and I was hoping they’d be signed to at least the Laker’s D-League.

  28. Coop-A-Loop says

    CJ Giles was not looking that good last night. In addition, since the Lakers shrewdly picked up Josh Powell, he was irrelevant, even as a third option. I’d really like to put Crawford and Giles on a D-League roster, but, that all depends on Crawford and Giles signing a D-League offer.

  30. cahuitero says

    So Mbenga also stays? Would’ve liked to see the Lakers keep Giles around since his potential seems higher than Mbenga and Mihm looks healthy enough to make keeping another big unnecessary (especially since DJ is really the fourth string center behind Bynum, Gasol and Mihm).

    I think keeping Karl will pay off down the road when he plays more relaxed and confident.

  31. Paul says

    Kobe, don’t play tomorrow. It’s preseason for god’s sakes. Get some rest, you overwrought champion.