Update: According to an Associated Press report, Lakers coach Phil Jackson does not expect Bryant to be ready for the regular season opener. "He's stalled out a little bit on his rehab and on coming back," noted Jackson...Full Story<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=rotowire-oberyantotxpectedack&prov=rotowire&type=lgns" target="_blank"> </a>
On the radio today, they quoted Kobe saying he will definitely be ready for the opener on Tuesday. He had a full practice with the team yesterday.
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">On the radio today, they quoted Kobe saying he will definitely be ready for the opener on Tuesday. He had a full practice with the team yesterday.</div> Awesome! Only Kobe knows if he will be ready and it's nice to hear it out of his mouth! If we beat the Suns w/ Kobe in the game and beat the Suns with their starting line-up and Amare, I think it'll boost our confidence and we will start off to a good start. This first game is crucial for us in my opinion.
I don't want him back for the opener if it's too soon. I want him to be healthy all year, and if coming back too soon will ruin that, sit a little longer.
<div class="quote_poster">TheBlackMamba Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I don't want him back for the opener if it's too soon. I want him to be healthy all year, and if coming back too soon will ruin that, sit a little longer.</div> Agreed, I don't want Kobe rushing back and getting injured for two months. Raja Bell is a dirty defender and cheapshot artist, so you know he will do all he can to test Kobe's knee. Plus the Suns pace is grueling and Kobe probably isn't satisfied with his conditioning just yet. It sounds like Kobe could be a game time decision at this point.
being the competitor that he is, he'll say things like "I'll be ready", but I agree that they shouldn't rush him back.
I'm so confused....I hear someone tell me he will be back....someone else says different...make up your damn minds media.
He shouldn't rush it. I've heard that he said that his knee feels even better that 5 years ago. He's just taking his time so that he will be able to take his game to a whole other level (yeah it's hard to imagine to be better than last season, but with Kobe anythings possible)
If Kobe feels ready, than I'm ok with him going for it. However, I don't want him to force himself back just because he feels he needs to and not necessarily that he feels he's ready to come back. I don't want him to risk damaging his knee and his season just to come back for the season opener. If he's not ready, I don't want him to be on the floor.
Like most said, Kobe should take it easy. If he feels he is ready to go, then suit up. If not, he should just stay on the bench and rest up his knee. There's no need to rush back in the very first game of the season.
