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Seeing the news Pau won't play tonight really eats at me. It's deeper than the yes/no decision of playing or not.

Hear me out, I don't even want him to play tonight.I agree that we don't need to make a statement, worry about January games, etc. I understand that all and agree with it.

It's obvious our team is struggling right now and we DO ALLOW OUR PLAYERS TO PLAY HURT IF THEY WANT to. Case in point, it's a given the organization would most likely want Kobe to sit for a few games if they had their choice. They also know under no circumstances will Kobe sit out a game unless like he said, he can't walk. Kobe let's it be known he has zero "pussy" in him and he is going to put his body through hell for his teammates and organization.

My point is this: Even if the organization has told him no, if this is Phil's decision, the training staff's decision, Buss's decision, etc. I wish we could know if Pau see's the pain his teammates are playing through and if he is willing to play through a sore hamstring. I want to know if he is WILLING. WOULD he play through it if called upon?

I find it very interesting that Phil has quietly thrown jabs at him in the media with comments like, "It's up to him". It's my belief Pau is able to play, at atleast 85-90%, or Phil wouldn't have made that comment.

Make a stand Pau, that's all I want. Show us it's not your choice and you're just listening to your employer. Let it be known you have that fire inside of you that the contract and championship haven't killed any desire you had previously.

I'm sorry folks but 15+ rebound games don't show complete heart and desire. At some point, I want to see Pau play hurt, play through pain, play through injury, show this Laker team how invested he really is in these next 3-4 years.

Again, as a fan I could care less how we look tonight in the big perspective minus Pau because we are a completely different team, and while I still obviously want to see how the team responds in these adverse situations, it's not going to keep me up at night until we start losing games at full strength. All I'm asking is to see if Pau has that heart we all love in Bean Bryant.

We can argue/debate/analyze Kobe's decision to play through injury until the apocalypse. We really can. There is no easy answer. What I can say for a true definite is that Kobe Bryant is the model of heart, courage, desire and will. As a Laker and basketball fan, I will always respect him for that and will truly miss that when he is gone in 6-7 years. I just wish I could say the same about another man making 17+ million a year and being called one of the 3-4 best big men in the league.

We see Garnett and Duncan with the DESIRE to play through injury and we know they would if allowed. Prove it to us Pau. Just once, tell us /show us how much you want this.

At this time in the season, I'll leave it in Pau's hands to make the right decision. After all, the last time I checked, the calendar still says "January" and that's not what the Los Angeles Lakers play for.

You never want to get that complacent, Shaq-esque attitude, but Pau's a smart enough player where he knows his body, his limits and just how far he can push himself. If it was May and he was on the sidelines, I would be totally in agreement with this.

.. But not yet.

I see your point but doesn't everyone else playing through injuries kind of sound off an alarm, like Hey Pau, were not at 100% either, we need what you can give us for now?

laka4life wrote:I see your point but doesn't everyone else playing through injuries kind of sound off an alarm, like Hey Pau, were not at 100% either, we need what you can give us for now?

I think what happened to yao and other players really made players to take it more carefully, i appreciate what kobe did for the team, and believe only the players know what is best for the team and his own career. just hope no more injury to the team and other teams in the league

I think you need to look at the worst case scenario - kobe's finger(s) was about as bad as it could or would get, and his back spasms aren't something that could tear such as a hamstring injury that Pao has. I am fine with him sitting because I would rather he heal up and feel 100% physically but more so mentally so he doesn't play with inhibitions. Also this is a good chance for AB to regain his confidence, and gives the bench some more playing time.

first off i doubt there is anyone in the game today with the heart to play through pain like kobe. with that said i am fine with pau sitting. we still have the best record in the league,and we gutted out a tough win tonight in dallas. we need pau for may and june,and i kind of look forward to him being out because for some reason bynum blossom's when he is out. hopefully bynum can play a full season and continue his play once pau get's back...