When Kobe Bryant left Tuesday’s loss against the Kings with a “lower left leg contusion”, Byron Scott noted he was not concerned and him not returning to the game was precautionary. Kobe proceeded to miss Thursday’s practice and, still, Byron was not concerned. Kobe did some light shooting on Friday, but really did not practice, is still sore, and there’s still swelling. Byron is not concerned, but with a game on Saturday, well, you know the drill.
Kobe Bryant (lower leg contusion) did not practice today and will not play tomorrow in San Diego.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) October 16, 2015
I cannot say I’m surprised Kobe is going to sit out. Nor am I overly concerned. Kobe’s 37 years old and if there’s soreness or swelling there’s no need to force him into action in a preseason game. Is it still a bit strange to hear Byron quotes and then have them be contrasted against Kobe actually not playing? Yes, especially after last season and the recent history of injury reports coming off as benign and then being decidedly not.
Not all the injury news is bad, however.
Marcelo Huertas (hamstring) did practice today and he's listed as "probable" to play tomorrow in San Diego.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) October 16, 2015
Huertas hasn’t played to this point in the preseason, so getting him into a situation is important and timely. While I expect Huertas to make the team, that will still be dependent on a full evaluation — which will include game action. Byron Scott has since backed off the idea cuts will happen this week, and if you’re like me, my first thought was that this could be to get a look at Huertas before determining how to proceed with releasing any players.
In any event, the Lakers will take the floor with everyone but Kobe available on Saturday. This is as good as it will likely get and it should give all the perimeter guys a chance to get some good run in roles that should mirror what they will face in the regular season.
J C says
Excited to see Huertas. I think he’ll surprise people initially and then regress to his norm.
Kobe out means some more Clarkson at the 2.
Be nice to see him paired w Huertas.
Baylor Fan says
“not returning to the game was precautionary” is an absurd statement. Treatment for a contusion (bruised muscle) is rest, ice compression, and elevation. Kobe is a human being and not a cyborg who is immune to injury. He needs to recover just like other humans. It is not a surprise that ignoring treatment and trying rushing back is not working.
bleedpurplegold says
@baylorfan: while i fully agree with you, we have seen him play with that broken knee in regular season for a full half….so i guess he would’ve come back if that game actually meant something
BigCitySid says
-11 days to meaningful Laker b-ball
rubenowski says
Gotta agree with you on the podcast with Nate, Darius. I’m also very high on Randle. The Lakers have always been high on him, as well. I think they chose Russell because of this. Had they chosen Okafor, he would’ve taken away touches from Randle and slowed his growth.
Mid-Wilshire says
If D’Angelo Russell starts and Anthony Brown continues to start tonight, then the Lakers will have 2 rookies in the lineup — Russell and Brown — and two 2nd year players — Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle — plus, of course, Roy Hibbert.
Their ages, from youngest to oldest, would be 19, 20, 22, 23, and 28.
The average age: 22.4.
Wow.
Clay Bertrand says
With Kobe out and with Huertas finally gettin’ a little run, we SHOULD see Russell and his new headband look starting this game tonight. As Mid-Wilshire points out, this could be a really shockingly young First unit. Assuming Huertas gets the bulk of his minutes with the Bench group (although I expect BS will give him some time with the starters too) Russell will have his BEST opportunity of the entire preseason to put his stamp on the game. It’s quite a tall order for sure against Curry and Co. and the W’s D is really very good.
We get to HOPEFULLY see Russell at the Point with the ball in his hands orchestrating and getting the ball to the right place at the right time. Kobe has been pretty good about NOT being Kobe i.e. NOT monopolizing the ball so far but he, Skip-To-My-Lou, and Swaggy No D all make Russell look useless when he’s on the court with them (Kobe to a much lesser degree). Its ridiculous. While these guys do need the ball in their hands for chunks of the shot clock to be effective, so does Russell if he is to become a true point guard.
The Key is that a TRUE POINT GUARD monopolizes the ball for the good of the TEAM and not simply to play ISO ball or create a shot for HIMSELF. I’m all for the SPACE AND PACE game of ball movement a la Spurs, Warriors etc. That said, great point guards need to have the ball in their hands to be great. They need to have that authority on the court to direct the offense.
Last game was joke with Russell watching Lou and Nick play George Costanza Chucker Ball. He was only used as a means to bringing the ball into the front court where he rarely saw it again while with the Second unit. He just stood there in the corner waving his arms for passes that never came and this happened repeatedly.
The Ball needs to be in Russell’s hands more than any other player for him to be the effective PG he was drafted to be and for the team to be better. Further, he needs to be a PG and not some kind of COMBO GUARD that he keeps being touted as. Steve Nash could shoot/score and pass and he was not called a COMBO GUARD. Magic with his size could guard 2s 3s and even 4s and he could even operate in the post but he wasn’t called a COMBO GUARD. Why does Russell have to be a freakin’ COMBO GUARD??!!! Let him develop playing the POINT. Period. If he becomes a PG that fills the stat sheet so be it. He will be a great PG on the modern game IMO. He certainly is NOT a shooting guard just because he has a nice stroke.
Hope everyone stays outta foul trouble tonight too (RANDLE. RUSSELL, especially). Russell wants to be Steph Curry. Tonight will be his first taste. I hope he brings it!!! The Ws are PERTY gooooooood.