Kobe Bryant Injured in Los Angeles Lakers Loss

By Shahab Khan
Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers Injured Atlanta Hawks
Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

The month of March has been an awesome one for the Los Angeles Lakers, and Kobe Bryant’s  proclamation that he would lead his team into the playoffs was looking good so far. Coming into tonight’s road game against the Atlanta Hawks, the team won seven of its last nine and climbed back into the thick of the Western Conference playoff race, all without Pau Gasol. Bryant took the team on his back, and with a resurgent Dwight Howard, there was no limit to where this team could go.

Then the worst happened: with the game on the line, Bryant missed a shot that would have sent the game into overtime, but worse, he came down on Dahntay Jones’ foot and rolled his ankle.

Bryant went in for x-rays right after the incident. While they were negative, the team is calling it a severe sprain and Kobe is out indefinitely. If ‘indefinitely’ means the remainder of the season (or close), the playoffs hopes for the Lakers are done. Their next road game is Friday against the hot Indiana Pacers, which looks to be another loss.

With the Utah Jazz only one game back of the Lakers,  the playoff chances are in severe doubt now. Both the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs can probably breathe a sigh of relief as they won’t have to face Black Mamba’s team in the first round of the post season.

I will never doubt Bryant’s toughness. If it was anything but an ankle, I wouldn’t be too worried. Bryant could score on anyone with one hand, one arm or even one eye. Without an ankle, though, even he can’t do much. Let’s hope for the Lakers sake — and the sake of every basketball fans out there — that Bryant makes a quick recovery. If he doesn’t, the Lakers don’t make the post season.

Shahab Khan is a Basketball and NBA Columnist with Rant Sports focusing on the Toronto Raptors

Follow Shahab on Twittter @SchoolboyShebe

Add Shahab to your network on Google+

 

Share On FacebookShare StumbleUpon

You May Also Like