Image courtesy of Keith Allison/Flickr.
Baller Mind Frame’s No Layups brings you the hottest NBA stories on the web mixed with personal opinion from our very own Aaron Lanton. Check it often and absorb the knowledge we’re dropping on you!
The words are about to become official.
Kobe Bryant, out for the season.
The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to declare Bryant out for the rest of the 2013-14 season later this week, according to team sources. Bryant is not accompanying the team on its trip to Oklahoma City and San Antonio, staying back to be reexamined by team doctor Steve Lombardo. And considering where Bryant’s level of discomfort remains with the fractured lateral tibial plateau in his left knee, barring an unforeseen change, the team will finalize the decision that Bryant will not play again this season.
After his highly anticipated recovery from his torn left Achilles tendon suffered 11 months ago, Bryant played just six games before hurting his knee Dec. 17. He was encouraged by his performance in that final game, a victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, unaware at the time that what he thought was a hyperextended knee was much more significant.
Although the Lakers’ original estimate was that Bryant would miss approximately six weeks, he is now expected to miss the final 17 weeks of the season. He said at the All-Star break he was frustrated by the slow recovery with his knee and noted, “It’s not the mind that wears down, it’s the body.” Bleacher Report
The last two seasons for the Lakers have been disasters. Almost every move was made with short-term goals in mind: trading for Dwight Howard without an extension signed, hiring and firing coaches for the wrong reasons, rushing Bryant back, etc. It’s also hard to ascertain why Pau Gasol wasn’t traded for assets before this season’s trading deadline since the team was not going to make the playoffs.
If we are to believe all of the unnamed sources, a lot of decisions appear to be made for non-basketball reasons. This current skid of fail will continue until the team starts making winning its number one priority again. – AL
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