Newz Forum: BASKETBALL: Kobe down for a while

Kobe Bryant could be sidelined up to a month with a sprained right shoulder, the same injury that kept the Lakers' star guard out for six games two months ago.

He also had offseason surgery to repair torn tissue in the same shoulder.

"We try to be optimistic, but it looks like he could be out for a while," Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson said Saturday after practice.

Bryant doesn't believe this injury is as bad as the one that kept him out earlier, and he apparently doesn't expect to miss a month.

He was optimistic when he came in this morning, which is a very good sign," Jackson said. "He felt that he would be back in a few games, so he thought it was nothing like the last time when he had to sit out."

Jackson said Bryant will be re-evaluated after the Lakers' next road trip, which begins Monday in Utah and ends Saturday in Chicago.

If Bryant has to miss a month, he still would be back before the NBA playoffs begin April 17.

well that was a pretty quick recovery...he didn't shoot very effectively tonight ( 18 points, 4 for 16) but he got to the free throw line a bit and got 10 assists.

he had a massive shoulder pad on

his presence pretty much just lifts this team, specifically in terms of hustle plays and ball sharing.



[Edited on 04/10/03 by Cannon]

your right it is all about his presence on the court and it seemed as though his team-mates played better with him on the ocurt.

Do you think coming back from his shoulder injury so quick may not be the best decision for him and his team? He could easily reinjure it because he did not rest it long enough and he could be out a longer period of time, maybe even extending into the playoffs. If his shoulder is reinjured around playoff time then I feel the Lakers chances of winning a title this year are much lower than expected.

Well Malone is supposed to be back in the line-up soon as the Lakers staff mis diganose him and that was big cause he missed an extra month cause of that and do you think that the Lakers did the same to Kobe, who knows?

But KObe back helps he doesnt have to shot just his presence helps

Originally posted by Ben
Well Malone is supposed to be back in the line-up soon as the Lakers staff mis diganose him and that was big cause he missed an extra month cause of that and do you think that the Lakers did the same to Kobe, who knows?

Karl Malone played against the Timberwolves in a losing effort last night.

how did he do

Originally posted by Ben
how did he do

13 points in 21 minutes.

not bad at im sure that having him in the lineup is a big boost