Feb. 08 2010, the headline news is that Lakers Star Kobe Bryant will be sitting out a 2nd consecutive game this season due to a left ankle injury, this news doesn't sit well with fans, but it does have a a news of hope for the aging but re-emerging San Antonio Spurs. To them they see this as an opportunity to snatch an easy win from the 2009 defending champs, little did they know that there was a storm brewing at the heart of the Staples Center in L.A. this didn't put a dapper the spirits of the Lakers none the least, at the stadium things proceeded as any normal day of work.
Kobe pulls up to the parking lot, hops out of the car and proceeds to the locker room as if it were just another day at the office. He was a game time decision but obviously he was in no shape to play. This season has had the Lakers star riddled with injuries ranging from a torn ligament in his shooting hand to his sprained ankle. The Lakers have dealt with injuries of other players as well, Artest sat out after a concussion, Gasol sat out due to a strained hamstring, and Luke Walton was sitting out because of back spasms it seemed like it would be a long journey for the defending champions.
San Antonio themselves have been dealing with injuries, specifically with point guard Emmanuel Ginobili (Manu) and Tony Parker. The team however took it all in stride and managed to do well with their 2 stars sitting down on the beach. But as the years go on you need to realize that the Spurs aren't getting any younger. Duncan's slowing down, Jefferson isn't exactly what they thought he was when they brought him over in a trade and its taken a while for the rookies to get settled into their rolls. Lets face it the spurs don't look like contenders to the next playoff run. To add insult to injury they lost to a Laker team that didn't start their 2 highest paid players. Andrew Bynum and Kobe Bryant both sat out on Sundays game due to various injuries.
Though they both sat out it was still a fight to the end of the 4th quarter. Lacking the games best closer and arguably one of the best skilled bigs the Lakers still managed to win through pure speed and sheer power in the post. the team finally utilized its preached triangle offense to the best of its abilities. The Lakers have won 2 consecutive games with their best players sitting, it is amazing to think that they managed to beat 2 very good teams with the best closer sitting on the bench, this run with out Kobe is a true testament to the game.
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"Kobe is the real deal" claims Lakers Forward Ron Atest, "he came into the locker room as if it was just another day at work and went through his pre game routine as if he was going to play, that shows leadership to me." Kobe could have easily stayed at home and relaxed his ankle but he choose to come into the locker room with his team and prepare for the game at hand all the while staying mum about his injury. He was the first one in there at half time and the last one to leave after the game like he normally is so its no surprise that he is the team captain of this star studded LA team.
If the Spurs cant beat an LA team with two huge forces on defense and offense sitting on the bench then they have lost their claim to being a power house team. They have lost their contender ship to the title for the year, this is a loss that ou cant just recover from by playing another game this is a loss that peculates in your mind and stays with you for the rest of the season and well on into the next one. I think its a safe bet to say at this point that we will not be seeing the San Antonio spurs in the playoffs unless they start to pick up the pace on their offense; and such will happen when all their players settle down into their assigned rolls. For now lets keep an eye on the Lakers and see if that they can make it through this run with out Kobe.
