Photo. MannionIt’s not an easy question to answer: should Kobe Bryant have surgery immediately to fix the torn ligament on his shooting hand and hope to be back for the playoffs? Or should he move ahead as planned and gut it out until after the Olympics, risking further injury along the way? His grit is admirable, but is it really the smartest course of action?
In today’s Los Angeles Daily News, writer Matt McHale says that Kobe clearly should have the surgery immediately:
As the game’s hardest-driving player, Kobe Bryant knows this better than anyone. He also should know he needs to have surgery now to repair the torn ligament in his right pinky.
There are plenty of tough-guy reasons to wait on the inevitable surgery, most notably to keep the rhythm going on this turnaround Lakers season and make a run at the NBA title.
And there is a noble reason as well. Kobe says he wants to delay the operation until after he plays for the United States at the Summer Games in Beijing.
First things first. If he were to reinjure the finger two weeks from now, he could be lost for the playoffs, where this season ultimately will be judged.
Coming out of the All-Star break, there are 30 games left in the Lakers’ regular season, beginning tonight against Atlanta at Staples Center. There are at least 30 reasons why Kobe should trudge on. A big one is Wednesday’s game in Phoenix, which is expected to be Shaquille O’Neal’s debut with the Suns.
McHale goes on to say:
Even though young center Andrew Bynum is behind schedule in his comeback from a knee injury, he is expected back by the end of March.
Kobe says he can’t walk away from all that.
But with surgery, he can return by the first week of April, fine-tune with some games against conference heavyweights New Orleans and San Antonio and be ready for the postseason.
Stay the course and get hurt again, and the Lakers don’t get out of the first round.
Granted, this isn’t the rough and tumble NBA of Nate Thurmond, Maurice Lucas and Kevin McHale.
But a torn ligament on the shooting hand can get reinjured anywhere, in practice, even on the team bus. There is too much risk.
It is daunting to think about the Lakers without Kobe. How would they do? If they split their final 22 games, they might drop as low as seventh. Right now that would mean a date with the Suns. Whatever Shaq has left, he’d bring it for that series.
All valid points, but put yourself in Kobe’s shoes. With all of the offseason drama and the pleading with management to get him some help, he’s determined to not miss any time if it can at all be helped. Plus, leaving this Lakers team without Kobe and Bynum til right before the playoffs could mean no playoffs at all for Los Angeles. For the next 30 games (if he lasts that long), every time Bryant attacks the hoop or hits the deck or grimaces, Lakers fans know it could mean the end for their team.
February 19th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Myrie says:
Kobe Bryant (to me) is the single best player in the NBA. At the worst, he is the 3rd best (Tim Duncan, LeBron James).
Kobe Bryant is the single reason the Lakers have a chance to win every game they play.
I think he should get the surgery. He’ll miss about 22 games or so. It don’t matter if the drop to the eighth seed. The West is even this year. The deciding factor in a series this year actually might NOT be homecourt. Any team can beat the other.
I bet a homecourt seed would be nervous as all hell to play a game 7 on their homecourt knowing Kobe is going against them. He keeps coaches up at night.
I don’t see LA’s fear in holding off on the surgery. He should just do it now…and come back as soon as possible.
Lakers can hold the fort with their current group and swing a .500 record in his absence.
February 19th, 2008 at 11:26 am
the antoine says:
I don’t think Kobe has a choice, with Shaq and Kidd coming back, two teams on the lakers level just got much better, the west is too tight for the best player on the best team to be out 6 weeks.
February 19th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Kobeef says:
He doesn’t need the little finger - Gerald Green is missing most of his ring finger and can still shoot.
The race for the playoffs is too tight in the west for Kobe to leave.
10 teams are going to have close to 50 wins this season in the West - and only 8 can go to the playoffs….every game is going to matter from here on for all 10 of these teams….which is good for us, but bad for them.
February 19th, 2008 at 11:32 am
dueceduece says:
kobe is obviously one of the top talents, if not the top dog in all of basketball and I would love to see him, shaq, nash, duncan, parker, dirk, kidd, paul, chandler, baron, and every other major superstar in the west healthy to battle it out for western conference supremacy. i also like watching the lakers, and as much as i dont want them to drop to the seventh seed or even out of the playoffs, i think kobe should take the chance… i believe gasol, odom, fisher, and eventually bynum can carry still this team to a top seed…and think of how dangerous the lakeshow would be if kobe came back to have a team full of confident pieces surrounding him…ready to fight just as he is!! getting surgery could be a disaster, but it can also be a blessing in disguise. i wish he would go for it.
February 19th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Drew Wonder aka Optimus Dime says:
Gerald Green can shoot???
February 19th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Myrie says:
on 2nd thought…..who needs surgery. just shoot some HGH into that finger and get back on the court in 2 weeks…LOL!!
February 19th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
dagwaller says:
Ha, Drew, I was thinking the exact same thing.
I don’t think that he NEEDS it (if he doesn’t think so, that is). He’s still shooting, scoring, passing, etc. just fine.
Furthermore, there’s a real danger of the Lakers not making the playoffs if he gets the surgery. I like Pau Gasol’s game, but there’s no way a team with just Pau and Lamar Odom is going to keep up with T-Mac and Yao, the Warriors, or be competitive in games against the Spurs, Mavs, Hornets, and Suns. Not to mention the Nuggets or the Blazers (how are they doing now - does anyone think that they’ll make the playoffs?
February 19th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
dagwaller says:
Oh yea, and the Jazz. My bust
February 19th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
GEE...this space for sell. says:
“But with surgery, he can return by the first week of April, fine-tune with some games against conference heavyweights New Orleans and San Antonio and be ready for the postseason.”
That is the key right there. Kobe should be smart and get the surgery. Then come back and beast out through the playoffs. We all know how hard Kobe plays and he could reinjure that finger easily. Then too if (and I know it’s dirty but ish happens) I am a dirty player opposite Kobe then I am trying to “accidently” hit that finger.
Trust me when T-Mac was gone, Yao and crew actually pulled it together to win some games. The current crew the Lakers have without Kobe is better somewhat than that crew of Yao and roll players, so they would still win some. Sure they may drop a spot or two but they wouldn’t miss the playoffs. Kobe heals up and comes back and then it’s beware time.
Didn’t Kenny Rogers say you got to know when to hold em?
Kobe gets props for wanting to go on, but he should really get the surgery.
Phil gone be trying to lighten his minutes and all but everytime Kobe winces, all of LA will be collectively holding their breath.
February 19th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
stoned_raider says:
It’s too late to have surgery, if he was gonna have surgery, he should have had it as soon as he found out, not a week or two later. he already made the decision, too much precious time has passed, so he’s just got to do it. And i dont think the doctor would have let kobe play, and only “recommend” surgery if he/she thought it could cause long term damage. Kobe’s knows his own hand bettr than anyone, i thnk he can get through it, but 30 more games is long time to hold ur breath.
February 19th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
dagwaller says:
Really, Gee, as you should well know, the Rockets (9th place) are only 3 games behind the Rockets. You don’t think that Kobe’s only good for 3 games, do you? I don’t see Phoenix being worse with Shaq, the Hornets should hold or else drop a couple spots, Utah’s only getting better since that December, San Antonio’s not going anywhere, Dallas is getting even better, and Golden State and Denver are probably going to keep playing as well as they are now (unless you think that Webber is going to set the world on fire).
In other words, the rest of the West is either going to stay as good as they are now, or else is getting better. The Lakers WITH Kobe are way strong, but if they shut him down, I’m thinking it’s a quick trip to 9th place…unless the Blazers start to surge again, in which case they could be in 10th by the time Kobe gets back.
Then again, maybe T-Mac will decide he doesn’t want to play some more, so the Rockets could slide again…
February 19th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
GEE...this space for sell. says:
Really, Gee, as you should well know, the Rockets (9th place) are only 3 games behind the Rockets.
Um did you read that? Dag you know I had to get you on that lol.
I am gone ignore that Rockets comment at the end, cause I think you are trying to spite me lol.
Granted they would drop but at the same time they are going to win some. It’s not like all those other teams are going to just keep winning all the time especially since they have to play each other often. Basically the Lakers would be safe without Kobe, till he gets back. You all are acting like Pau, Lamar, Bynum when he gets back, Fisher and Farmer couldn’t hold down some games.
With their remaining games they should win
This is what I am thinking without Kobe:
Tue 19 vs Atlanta At home so they should win
Wed 20 @ Phoenix Loss
Sat 23 @ LA Clippers Win
Sun 24 @ Seattle Win
Tue 26 vs Portland At home so a win
Thu 28 vs Miami Win
Fri 29 @ Portland Loss
March Opponent
Sun 02 vs Dallas Loss
Tue 04 @ Sacramento Win
Fri 07 vs LA Clippers Win
Sun 09 vs Sacramento Win
Tue 11 vs Toronto Win
Fri 14 @ New Orleans Loss
Sun 16 @ Houston Loss
Tue 18 @ Dallas Loss
Thu 20 @ Utah Loss
Fri 21 vs Seattle Win
Sun 23 vs Golden S. Loss
Mon 24 @ Golden State Loss
Wed 26 vs Charlotte Win
Fri 28 vs Memphis Win
Sun 30 vs Washington Win
Then Kobe is back. Worst Case they are at 9 or 10 and Kobe is back for them to win rest of the games jump up to 6 or 5 and then it’s beware time.
Kobe should get the surgery. Sans what if he gets hurt and then he is gone for the season. Then what?
February 19th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
dagwaller says:
Ha, crap. I meant behind the Lakers.
I think that the Lakers would be respectable, probably the 3 seed in the East. But if they’re holding onto the 3 spot, and are only 3 games ahead of the Rockets to stay in the playoffs, there’s no way they can stay there. Think about it. What you just did is a pretty fair rundown of how the rest of the season will go. Except that the teams behind them will be winning some of the games that the Lakers are losing. Put it this way: if the teams behind them become better (through trades) than the Lakers (who will be worse minus Kobe), how many games is that worth? I don’t think that the 3 game cushion will be enough.
February 19th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
GEE...this space for sell. says:
It’s all a gamble. I think you have a better chance with him getting surgery. I am saying it would be different if he was a fade away jump shooter like Vince (lol couldn’t resist), but Kobe is just short of Wade with his reckless abandon going to the hole (granted Kobe has more control to me). Considering the type of injury (we not talking about a sprain) he can get re-hurt if you will, easily.
I would just rather see dude miss a little time then a lot.
He is gonna play though, thank goodness he has a smart coach who should monitor that time carefully.
3000 don’t do it!
February 19th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Myrie says:
…Did anyone hear that the NBA is going to do an OUTDOOR preseason game next year? Any truth to that? Can anyone confirm? Where will it be and which teams?
February 19th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
nick says:
the outdoor game is gonna be in phoenix i believe. suns are playing but not sure who the other team is.
February 19th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Mike says:
Kobe is the heart and soul of the Lakers. If he misses 22 games, there is a very good chance they will slip to the 9th or 10th seed, and then they will have to fight just to make the playoff.
Kobe is a dire hard competitor, but he isn’t stupid. If his finger was that bad, he would get the surgery. I am sure a dozen of the world’s greatest finger doctors helped him come to that decision, too.
February 19th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Chaos Rob says:
Kobe should have the surgery. even though its the pinky it will continue to effect his shooting stroke. after he injured it he had the lowest point i have seen out of him in a while. yes he can still do the other things like pass and defend but to contend for a title they need him one hundred percent. i think Gasol, Odom, Bynum, Walton, Fisher, Farmar and even Ariza and Vujacic can hold down a .500 record from now until april and be a decent playoff seed. it will give the team to get their confidence up and and gel as a unit and not have to depend on kobe to do as much as he does. when kobe comes back and tunes up his game and gets his wind, just think how good they will be with a confident team plus the best player in the world. also there is the upcoming olympics where not only kobe but the rest of the US team has something to prove. we know D-Wade will get rest because he not going to the playoffs but kobe being as competitive as he is will want to be one hundred percent to show the world what they been missing since this is his first olympics. for that its a matter of pride
February 19th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
jay says:
i am torn…i think he should get surgery…it is a pinky..how long is rehab?? i understand this is not a knee or something but if he bangs it again…it is over…than again if he opts for surgery now…they might not make the playoffs…damn…this is a hard call. my gut is with kobe…not yet!
February 19th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
GEE...this space for sell. says:
Ok lets wait like 2 games cause we don’t want to get to deep in the season. I am going to say if he is off the next two games. GET THE SURGERY QUICK! If he still giving you what you need to win. Then handle ya buis. Still if that finger gets done the wrong way. Adios Lakers!
February 19th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Kudabeen says:
If I’m Lamar Odom, I’d have to go to Kobe and be like. Get the Surgery and I’ll take this opportunity to hold our team down. Lamar and Pau should be able to keep the team a float, but it comes down to heart. If I was Phil I’d be looking at Lamar like, hey if we are going to make a serious Chip Run, then Kobe needs this surgery ASAP and you need to step up and be the playmaker.
Not going to happen though. I have to see a big game from kobe first. He has been coasting as a distraction…
February 19th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Jonny G says:
I think a lot of you guys forgot that the lakers just got Gasol! Even with Kobe out, Gasol, Odom, Fisher and Farmar are still an OK team, good enough to at least keep the Lakers afloat. Yeah, they will fall to a lower seed may even have to struggle to get back into the playoffs. But like what other people are saying, what if Kobe’s hand gets worse 2 or 3 weeks from now? Then Kobe’s gotta sit out the rest of the season and the Lakers get bounced in the first round!
It’s tough but Kobe has gotta rest…and this will force Gasol and Odom and the rest of the team to learn how to carry the team so that in the playoffs the Lakers can trust those 2 to make plays when the game is on the line!
February 19th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
dagwaller says:
The more I think about it, the more I feel like the Lakers could respect the team that they have even without Kobe to try and stay in it. They’re essentially replacing Kobe with Gasol, which obviously won’t get it done, but once March hits, they’ll still have a killer frontcourt of Bynum, Gasol, and Odom. Do they have enough players to fill out a roster? Will they have to dip into the D-League?
February 20th, 2008 at 5:29 am
skywarp says:
I can almost hear kobe whining if only my fingers where 100% during playoff time gives him another reason why he didnt win it all..