Kobe & Practice

[crazy8ights]

Not sure if posted already if so delete!

This week has been a virtual love fest for Los Angeles Lakers All-Star Kobe Bryant, as we've noted that he has entered the NBA's top 10 all-time in scoring and is tops in the NBA's current All-Star voting.

Bryant has been extremely durable during his NBA career, playing through pain so many times we often assume he is indestructible. But in an interview with the New York Post, Bryant offers a bit of a jolt concerning his health, confirming that he has not practiced all season because of the condition of his surgically repaired right knee.

“Because I have very little cartilage under my right knee cap, it’s almost bone on bone.”

Bryant has undergone three operations on that same knee, one this past offseason, after having it drained several times during last year’s playoffs.

If that phrase "bone on bone" sounds familiar, it's because another Western Conference All-Star, Brandon Roy of the Portland Trail Blazers, used the same phrase to describe the condition of his knees earlier this season, before the team announced that he was out "indefinitely."

Bone on bone isn't necessarily a death sentence, as many players have reportedly played on knees in that condition for a long period of time. But it does require extra monitoring, can be painful and could hasten a decline in athleticism. Bryant tells the Post the lack of practicing this year was part of a preemptive strategy to protect the condition of his knee after he had to have it drained during the playoffs last season.

“Until I got it drained the first time during the opening round against the Thunder I could not bend that knee at all,” he revealed. “It was swollen as hell and it hurt like hell. Luckily things got a lot better once I had the procedure.”

“So, in order to protect my knee and avoid a situation like last year, we decided before the season to sacrifice the team’s intensity by minimizing wear and tear as much as possible.”

So far, that extra attention seems to be working. Bryant's numbers have dropped this season, but just a touch, more in line with general aging than a falloff you might expect from someone with a troubled knee. The greater concern, obviously, is long-term for Bryant.

Source: http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entr ... 4/26896745



seems to be more written about it here

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_spo ... UGNwrPfK/1

[SniperHawk10]

He then vowed to get more involved in practice and his knee is swelling as a result.

worried about this.
Also, I'm more worried about how this will affect kobe not just later in the season, but later on in his career.

[iamworthy]

Loved this part of the article.

A team player, Bryant provided me with a perfect segue for my second question. I’d heard he berated Gasol twice for being too easy on Andrew Bynum.

The first time it happened, according to someone in the gym, Gasol, who matched up against Bynum in scrimmages, alerted Andrew there were three seconds left on the shot clock and then let him drive in and lay it up.

At a subsequent practice, Bynum finished a difficult move with positive results and Gasol patted him on the butt and told him, “Great shot.”

Kobe went off on Gasol, I’m told. “[Bleep] you! That’s how you act when someone scores on you! ‘[Bleep] you!’ ”

“What happens in our practice, stays in our practice,” Kobe underlined, refusing to confirm or deny.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_spo ... z1ASxcOMFA

[Pablo Escobar]

It's not bone on bone if it was he'd look as bad as B-Roy was looking before he shut it down

[stunnar0b]

this certainly explains kobes terrible defense as of late. doesnt have that explosive lateral quickness to close out and stay in front of his man. match that up with derek and it explains why our defense constantly keeps getting broken down. hopefully kobe can kick it up another notch when the games truly matter

[crazy8ights]

The article pretty much solidifies my view on him as a bad ass mofo... less mpg avg 25.1 ppg still with bone on bone and no practice.

[VotedForYourSis]

good thread