http://www.nba.com/nba_news/bryant_finger_080213.html Hmmm... IMO he really should back out of the 3 - pt shootout since it would really put a toll in his finger (since he needs to practice for it and stuff). Regarding the All - Star game... if he really needs to rest then he should, too bad for his streak though LOL!!! What he could do is opt tp play but tell the coach to play him for a minimal amt of time (5 - 8 mins lol) and let the other players play instead of him, after all, it is the ALL STAR game lol Thoughts?
Didn't Kobe play through a more a shoulder and elbow injury in the '01 game saying he owed it to the fans for voting him in? Going back on that would be hypocritical now and hurt his rep. No one can blame him if he sits out though because he definately needs it, but like you said, I don't see the harm in playing a few minutes just to be out there.
This is all assuming he's not healthy by then. There's still a couple days before All Star festivities begin, so his pinkie could be fine by the time the weekend rolls around.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shapecity @ Feb 14 2008, 05:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I hope Baron Davis replaces him if Kobe backs out.</div> I actually hope he doesn't. It pisses me off that he got snubbed but it feels worse that they give him (and the Warriors by association) no respect then when Kobe can't play they reluctantly let him in by technicality. Its like they said he didn't deserve it and then basically HAD to let him in. Hes already got plans to go to Disney World with his family but I suppose those could be easily scrapped so he can get in there. I think Baron is the type of guy who would tell them to fugg off since they didn't want him originally. but the Warriors organization would probably put pressure on him to go. Then again theres also Ginobili, Deron Williams, Camby, etc. who could get in before him. Who picks the replacement? I think its Stern but if its the coach (Byron Scott) then theres no way in hell Baron gets in. Even if Stern does make the choice, the fans in NO don't like Baron and Stern always gives the Warriors backhanded compliments when he talks about them (he was mad that when we were beating the Mavs last season).
They said that Dirk Nowitzki is replacing Kobe but I think it would be better if Kobe did sit out of the three point contest. He should get some rest.
Lakers trying to convince NBA to let Kobe skip All-Star Game <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Los Angeles Lakers are hoping that Kobe Bryant gets clearance from the league to miss Sunday's All-Star Game in New Orleans after announcing Thursday that Bryant has a torn ligament in his right pinkie. But Bryant doesn't yet have that clearance -- and may not get it. A league official confirmed Thursday night that the NBA is not looking for potential replacements to fill Bryant's spot on the Western Conference squad. That's because the league office still expects Bryant to start and play for the West, even if it's only for a brief cameo, after he played for the Lakers all the way through to their final game before the All-Star break Wednesday in Minnesota. Bryant scored 29 points in 35 minutes in Wednesday's 117-92 win at Minnesota. Bryant sat out the fourth quarter and had the finger X-rayed after the game. The Lakers, according to team sources, are trying to convince the league that Bryant should be excused after a visit Thursday to hand specialist Dr. Steven Shin revealed a ligament tear. Bryant is expected to make that plea personally once he arrives in New Orleans on Friday after Shin recommend that Bryant undergo surgery that would likely sideline him for six weeks. Bryant also announced in a statement Thursday that he will bypass the surgery recommendation to try to play through the injury, as he did for much of a nine-game, 15-day road trip that the Lakers -- already missing injured center Andrew Bynum -- just completed with a sparkling 7-2 record. He has been replaced in Saturday's Long Distance Shootout by Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki, but the NBA's longstanding policy on these matters would require Bryant to take some part Sunday because he did play Wednesday and since he's planning to play Tuesday against Atlanta in the Lakers' first game after the break. Boston's Kevin Garnett and Washington's Caron Butler have already pulled out of the East lineup with injuries. Bryant suffered the injury -- initially described as a dislocated pinkie -- on Feb. 5 against New Jersey. The Lakers disclosed Thursday that the damage was more extensive than first thought, with Shin's examination revealing a complete tear of the radial collateral ligament and an avulsion fracture, in which a small bone fragment had been pulled off by a tendon. Said Bryant: "My current thinking is to give my finger some treatment and rest for a few days and hope I can still continue to compete at a high level after that rest. I would prefer to delay any surgical procedure until after our Lakers season, and this summer's Olympic Games. But this is an injury that myself and the Lakers' medical staff will just have to continue to monitor on a day-to-day basis." The injury was caused when Bryant's pinkie got bent back against the arm of New Jersey's Jason Kidd when Bryant tried to steal a pass. He aggravated the injury in Wednesday's victory over Minnesota when Bryant went for a rebound and took a hit from Wolves guard Rashad McCants. Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he'd prefer Bryant not play in the All-Star Game. "We'll do everything we can to get him the rest he needs," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak told the Los Angeles Times. "We support [Bryant] in his decision. But a week or two down the road, if it gets hit again or if it just doesn't work, it doesn't mean he won't have surgery." Bryant's injury is merely the latest in a string of health setbacks for the Lakers, offsetting the excitement in L.A. generated by the acquisition of Pau Gasol on Feb. 1. Bynum (knee) and Lakers swingman Trevor Ariza (foot) are expected to be sidelined until at least mid-March, while center Chris Mihm is expected to miss at least six weeks after undergoing surgery Wednesday to remove a screw in his surgically repaired right foot. "All we can do is forge ahead," Kupchak told the Times. "As often as we've had these types of [injury] reports this year, it's part of what we do. General managers always use the phrase, 'If everyone stays healthy . . . ' but it's true."</div> http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/allstar2008/...tory?id=3246576
If Kobe doesn't play, it should be Baron Davis, it's a crime that there's no Warriors represenation in the All-Star game after they captivated and shocked the basketball world last season. Kobe also could potentially miss 6 weeks because of that finger so he needs to sit back and play it safe.
