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Gasol practiced Thursday but Bryant didn't, leading to more questions about his immediate future.

He did electro-stimulation treatment and a bandage covered his hand Thursday. Bryant said he would play tonight against Orlando -- "It gets better every day," he said -- but sounded less hopeful when asked about his availability for All-Star weekend.

When asked if he might miss the All-Star game or the shooting contest, he answered, "Maybe."

"We have to see how it goes. You've got to do the right thing. If I can't play, if I can't go out there, I won't. Can't do anything about that."

Bryant, who was injured in a season-low six-point effort Tuesday against New Jersey, had 11 points on four-for-16 shooting Wednesday against Atlanta. He also had a late turnover in which he said he couldn't feel the ball.

"You're used to using these fingers here, especially to handle the ball and shoot and all of a sudden, you're playing like this," he said Thursday. "It's tough to handle the ball."

Bryant said he would probably not tape his pinkie and ring fingers together tonight.

Gasol also stepped back a bit with 12 points and seven rebounds in 37 minutes against Atlanta after collecting 24 points and 12 rebounds in his Lakers debut Tuesday against New Jersey.

"He got run out of his position a little bit, pushed off the blocks a few times," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. "He did fine [overall], though."

Gasol can hardly wait for a four-day rest period over the All-Star break, but there's that little problem of four more games until then.

"I'm looking forward to winning every single game [left] on this road trip and then take my break," he said. "It's definitely needed."

Jackson, on his two injured starters: "Neither one of them have volunteered to sit. They seem to want to play."

Kobe has never sit out an All-Star game his entire career. All-Star weekend is 9 days away.

Oh dear Jesus, please heal Kobe soon!




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OC Register

Bryant reported improvement in his right pinky finger as a result of nonstop treatment with pads, ice or electro-stimulant since the Lakers' loss in Atlanta on Wednesday night. He said he would play Friday against Orlando without taping the injured finger to his ring finger.

"I have to," he said. "I just can't handle or shoot the way I want to (with the tape)."

Bryant joked that he could have picked up "a couple more fans" by continuing to wear the tape that made his hand resemble the "Star Trek" Vulcan greeting. But he acknowledged the injury might result in him skipping the Feb. 17 All-Star Game and the 3-point contest the previous day.

"Maybe," he said. "We'll have to see how it goes."

as much as i want to see kobe in the all star game i think it will be great for him to get rest and get healthy for the second half. I would rather watch him in the finals than the all star game

I'd love to see him sit out the AS BS. He needs to heal that injury immediately. As far as I'm concerned, he should sit out tonight.

Posted this yesterday in the Bryant Injury thread

Does anyone else not really care about the All-Star game when we have a team that could contend?

*raises hand*

I would prefer he plays when it means wins. If he needs to rest his finger then no perfect time them the AS weekend. I coudl care less about all that...

However, I dont see Kobe backing down from playing in the season or the AS game.

But W's are what matter.

Agreed.

Kobe's got 2 all-star game MVP's and is widely known as the best player in the league.

There's nothing for him to gain by playing.

Take four days off, rest your body, let your finger heal, come back and dominate the last 30-something games.

Sounds like Pau's back was more than Carter-itis eh?

blix wrote:*raises hand*

He should defenately sit.
I hope we can convience Gasol and Kobe to sit in the olympics as well.

if he sits out
sasha should replace him in the 3 point shoot out

kobe's using the "philosophy of attention" (as if he doesnt have all the attention already)...but hes just saying "maybe" hes gona have to sit....i doubt it.
allstar mvp 2008:....................................................kobe bryant

I think Kobe will play. Just wants to get some people wondering if he'll play or not. But if he really is in need of some resting, i would rather have him sit out and rest for the games that really matter.

Kalel24 wrote:He should defenately sit.
I hope we can convience Gasol and Kobe to sit in the olympics as well.

As much as I'd like for Kobe to not play in the ASG, I think he will still play. His reasoning is that he wouldn't want the old schoolers like MJ and Harp to give him **** sbout not playing because of his pinky finger... He aint no Bron

hermes wrote:if he sits out
sasha should replace him in the 3 point shoot out

hell yeah, i'm up for THE MACHINE to enter that...a dark horse. wait, excuse me i mean WHITE MAMBA

Watching the ORL game now... and Kobe's hand looks much better, it looks pretty good.

He's still wearing tape on his fingers but he just went for a two-hand dunk and almost got a steal for his 18th point in the 2nd qtr and shooting over 50%.

If his hand isn't healed by then I hope Kobe does the right thing and sits out. Getting healthy for a championship push is more important right now.