**Kobe Update**

[BosssPlaya]

Kobe will not have an MRI done on his foot and is going to play Game 5.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/player ... 040&spln=1

This is great news, just hope it doesnt affect his game much .

Lets Go LAKE SHOW !!!

[Jetset]

I guess this means Kobe's confident in the health of his foot. He still should've had the MRI done though so the medical staff knows exactly what they're dealing with.

[notinbtnet]

I don't agree. I think Kobe knows that his foot is BAD. He is the ultimate gamer and is refusing to get these tests done because he knows the staff will force him to sit if Kobe is as hurt as he thinks he is. I just hope by playing Kobe doesn't cause any irreparable damage to himself that further hinders him in the future. Look at his hands. By refusing to take time off when he hurt his fingers, Kobe now has a severely arthritic finger/hands, which has greatly impacted his ball handling abilities. Kobe is the master at not listening to his body, this is a situation where the staff really needs to force Kobe to get the tests done to make sure that he won't cause severe damage to himself.

[blix]

I'm starting to seriously wonder if Kobe plans to hang it up when Phil does. I doubt it, but the thought popped into my head, and the fact that he's possibly gonna go roy hobbs with his ankle is also a concern. There's a difference in knowing what's wrong and playing through pain vs. playing without consideration for the long term health of your body.

[Jetset]

Let's take a deep breath a relax. Kobe will play well long after Phil retires. notinbtnet, that very may well be the case but I don't think Kobe's foot is as severely injured as being reported in various news outlets. J.A. Adande said he could put pressure on it and that the crutches were just a pre-caution.

They just said on TNT that his injury is being described as a ankle sprain and that he'll be ready to go for Game 5.

[Kilroy]

I'm starting to seriously wonder if Kobe plans to hang it up when Phil does. I doubt it, but the thought popped into my head, and the fact that he's possibly gonna go roy hobbs with his ankle is also a concern. There's a difference in knowing what's wrong and playing through pain vs. playing without consideration for the long term health of your body.

I've thought this too... A lot...

At one point years ago some reporter asked Kobe in an interview about his legacy and somehow it got to the length of his career...

He said he was going to retire a lot sooner than anybody thought... He seemed to be saying eventually he wanted to pursue stuff outside of basketball and didn't want to worry about his health.

Frankly, it might be a little late for that now... He's pretty banged up. But that interview has stayed with me and I keep wondering when and if he actually does it...

I think it's kind of funny he doesn't seem to care about Phil's retirement...

And for the last season and a half, he hasn't seemed to care too much what he says to the media either.

[blix]

Let's take a deep breath a relax. Kobe will play well long after Phil retires. notinbtnet, that very may well be the case but I don't think Kobe's foot is as severely injured as being reported in various news outlets. J.A. Adande said he could put pressure on it and that the crutches were just a pre-caution.

They just said on TNT that his injury is being described as a ankle sprain and that he'll be ready to go for Game 5.

Look, I think that's probably right - but you can't ignore the red flags either.

-He's banged up and has been for some time
-Phil is done next year
-There's a lockout looming that, by all accounts, has a pretty decent shot at wiping next season away
-He'll get that 6th title if they win it this year

Now, assuming all of that happens, and if you're Kobe, you have to at least entertain the fact that there's not much left for you to accomplish. I said I doubt it, but you have to at least think about it. that's all I was saying.

[kblo247]

I think he honestly rather break the foot than have people make an excuse for him. Phil said Kobe was annoyed about the finger and knee getting coverage in previous postseasons and his opponents knowing how bad it was and going after them (see Boston hitting him on the hand in 08 and them walking under him last finals on his jumpers). If he gets the MRI the results will be public and he might not want that.

It could be good news but it could also be bad news, or somewhere in between. There would also be an estimate given out loud of how much time he would need to heal and recover, or what will be limited. I think he values this last run with Phil too much to risk being pulled away from it or giving the opposition a direct target

[Jetset]

Let's take a deep breath a relax. Kobe will play well long after Phil retires. notinbtnet, that very may well be the case but I don't think Kobe's foot is as severely injured as being reported in various news outlets. J.A. Adande said he could put pressure on it and that the crutches were just a pre-caution.

They just said on TNT that his injury is being described as a ankle sprain and that he'll be ready to go for Game 5.

Look, I think that's probably right - but you can't ignore the red flags either.

-He's banged up and has been for some time
-Phil is done next year
-There's a lockout looming that, by all accounts, has a pretty decent shot at wiping next season away
-He'll get that 6th title if they win it this year

Now, assuming all of that happens, and if you're Kobe, you have to at least entertain the fact that there's not much left for you to accomplish. I said I doubt it, but you have to at least think about it. that's all I was saying.

I get that but thinking Kobe will retire after this season is pretty wild.

-It's true he's getting older, but as long as he wants championships he's going to have to deal with the strenuous length of the regular season/playoffs/finals.
-Ok? Phil Jackson isn't what made Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant made Phil Jackson, same with Jordan.
-I don't think we'll lose the entire season. And even if we do it's nothing but a positive. Of course Kobe is another year older, but at least he'll be healthier than he's been in years.
-You think Kobe would rather settle at the level of Jordan, instead of trying to top it? He's in a great situation right now. He has the chance to tie Jordan and win his 6th ring, not only that he knows that this team is in the perfect position to get Dwight Howard and extend the championship window a few years. Kobe knows he has a chance for 7+ rings and it's difficult to see him settling for just his 6th one.

I can't see Kobe retiring without being the All-Time Scorer or at least ending up second on the list, and ending up very high on other various lists.

[blix]

I have to leave to go see a show, but a couple things:

Saying Kobe/Jordan made Phil is ridiculous - they made each other to a degree, but Phil has more titles without them than they have without him. Phil is quite possibly the greatest coach ever. It's amazing the lack of respect he gets in certain situations.

All of the other stuff about wanting to win more titles, pass Jordan, etc sounds great, but the reality is that he has a lot of wear and tear on his body simply because he was drafted out of high school and has consistently made a deep run into the playoffs. We think passing Jordan is important to him, and it probably is, but at what cost? That's the million dollar question that nobody but Kobe can answer.

[stunnar0b]

if you still had 90 millions dollars coming your way after this year would you retire and give all that up?

but as far as the topic I believe if the staff saw the mri report on that ankle, it would make them strongly advise kobe to sit out but knowing the competitor that he is that aint going to happen... we're just going to have to wait/see how productive he can be

[Jetset]

I have to leave to go see a show, but a couple things:

Saying Kobe/Jordan made Phil is ridiculous - they made each other to a degree, but Phil has more titles without them than they have without him. Phil is quite possibly the greatest coach ever. It's amazing the lack of respect he gets in certain situations.

All of the other stuff about wanting to win more titles, pass Jordan, etc sounds great, but the reality is that he has a lot of wear and tear on his body simply because he was drafted out of high school and has consistently made a deep run into the playoffs. We think passing Jordan is important to him, and it probably is, but at what cost? That's the million dollar question that nobody but Kobe can answer.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. This may not be popular, but I think to a certain extent Phil Jackson may have become slightly overrated. I'm not knocking him at all, he's a spectacular coach with a brilliant mind but I think some people get caught up with the teams he's coached and the success he's received that they forget that he's had the luxury of coaching the greatest player to play the game and the arguably the 2nd greatest SG to ever play. I'll somewhat agree that they have contributed to each other, but I believe both Kobe and Jordan have given Phil that "legendary mystique" that he possesses.

While I wasn't alive to witness Red Auerbach, just going back watching documentaries and reading articles and looking at numbers would lead one to form their own opinion on who's the greatest NBA coach of all time.

Kobe has nothing left to prove anymore, he's already a 1st ballot Hall of Famer, all he's doing now is trying to cement his legacy high atop the list of greats. If his aspiration wasn't to keep pushing himself, to not beat his idol Michael Jordan and just settle for the stats quo then he'd quit now. But ask yourself, does that really sound like Bryant? Bryant will play until he cannot physically play anymore. If that is a concern to you then so be it. But to me it's the drive, determination, dedication and will power of one of the greatest to ever play basketball.

[Father Time]

Even if he does play on this, don't expect any pretty stat lines. Get ready for some even uglier shooting percentages from Kobe. Frankly, I'm not sure we can win if he continues to give 15-20 points on 35-40 percent shooting.

[RocketPower23]

Kobe not getting an MRI is a huge red flag. For one, Kobe knows that it's bad and an MRI test will just verify that and the Laker staff will pressure Kobe to sit out. Or two, Kobe just doesn't want New Orleans to know how bad his injury really is. Sucks either way. If Kobe can't get any lift on his jumpers, Trevor's length is going to cause him some serious issues. Hopefully Pau finally comes to play and ideally we blow them out and Kobe plays as little as possible.

[blix]

I have to leave to go see a show, but a couple things:

Saying Kobe/Jordan made Phil is ridiculous - they made each other to a degree, but Phil has more titles without them than they have without him. Phil is quite possibly the greatest coach ever. It's amazing the lack of respect he gets in certain situations.

All of the other stuff about wanting to win more titles, pass Jordan, etc sounds great, but the reality is that he has a lot of wear and tear on his body simply because he was drafted out of high school and has consistently made a deep run into the playoffs. We think passing Jordan is important to him, and it probably is, but at what cost? That's the million dollar question that nobody but Kobe can answer.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. This may not be popular, but I think to a certain extent Phil Jackson may have become slightly overrated. I'm not knocking him at all, he's a spectacular coach with a brilliant mind but I think some people get caught up with the teams he's coached and the success he's received that they forget that he's had the luxury of coaching the greatest player to play the game and the arguably the 2nd greatest SG to ever play. I'll somewhat agree that they have contributed to each other, but I believe both Kobe and Jordan have given Phil that "legendary mystique" that he possesses.

While I wasn't alive to witness Red Auerbach, just going back watching documentaries and reading articles and looking at numbers would lead one to form their own opinion on who's the greatest NBA coach of all time.

Kobe has nothing left to prove anymore, he's already a 1st ballot Hall of Famer, all he's doing now is trying to cement his legacy high atop the list of greats. If his aspiration wasn't to keep pushing himself, to not beat his idol Michael Jordan and just settle for the stats quo then he'd quit now. But ask yourself, does that really sound like Bryant? Bryant will play until he cannot physically play anymore. If that is a concern to you then so be it. But to me it's the drive, determination, dedication and will power of one of the greatest to ever play basketball.

all good points. and the auerbach/jackson debate is a good one - hence the 'possibly' the greatest coach ever. people continually knock jackson for always winning with a superstar, ignoring the fact that all great coaches that have made consistent finals/championship parade appearances have had HOFers on the roster. It's a hater mentality. I'm not suggesting you make the same argument - honestly - but going back and looking at rosters under Phil, Red, and others - it reads like a greatest-players-ever list.

My main point about Bryant is that we don't know what's going on in his head, we can only assume based on his career. And you're exactly right, retiring after this season doesn't sound like Kobe - but he's set financially and has kids that I'm sure he'd love to play with and see more often. Id' be surprised if he hung it up, but stranger things have happened. Your priorities shift as you get older, it's just a fact of life.

[Slava]

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant has a sprained left ankle and is officially listed as day to day, a team spokesman told reporters on Monday.

"He says he'll play," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said of Bryant's status for Tuesday's pivotal Game 5 with the Lakers' first-round series tied 2-2. […]

Bryant spent Monday undergoing extensive treatment on the ankle, according to Jackson, including icing, electrostimulation and massage.

Bryant declined to undergo any further examination of the injury through X-rays or an MRI, going against the wishes of the Lakers front office.

"Right now, he's not," Jackson said. "We're trying to convince him that it might be a good idea."

When asked what the Lakers' medical staff thought of Bryant's injury, Jackson said, "He won't let them deal with it."

Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/21 ... z1Kb8tlfvK

I'm not sure why he's refusing an MRI though. Seems too stubborn for his own good.

[KB24TBOTB]

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant has a sprained left ankle and is officially listed as day to day, a team spokesman told reporters on Monday.

"He says he'll play," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said of Bryant's status for Tuesday's pivotal Game 5 with the Lakers' first-round series tied 2-2. […]

Bryant spent Monday undergoing extensive treatment on the ankle, according to Jackson, including icing, electrostimulation and massage.

Bryant declined to undergo any further examination of the injury through X-rays or an MRI, going against the wishes of the Lakers front office.

"Right now, he's not," Jackson said. "We're trying to convince him that it might be a good idea."

When asked what the Lakers' medical staff thought of Bryant's injury, Jackson said, "He won't let them deal with it."

Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/21 ... z1Kb8tlfvK

I'm not sure why he's refusing an MRI though. Seems too stubborn for his own good.

Maybe something more serious?

[Pablo Escobar]

Those low top shoes he's wearing need to go

[kblo247]

Kobe has missed more time with ankle sprains in high tops than low tops ... try again

[H00PDREAMS]

Those low top shoes he's wearing need to go

Word, I have been saying that since the first ankle roll he had with those low tops.

kblo247
Kobe has missed more time with ankle sprains in high tops than low tops ... try again

You got stats to back that up cos I don't seem to recall this injury happening with this kind of frequency. I am not calling just you out but everyone who keeps saying the shoes aren't the issue.

Nike has to do better. That shoe is ugly and terribly made.