The LA Lakers have been able to turn a very mediocre first half of the season and managed to qualify into the postseason. Most of that success can be traced down to one phenomenal player, the veteran Kobe Bryant. He has played many minutes, averaging 35 plus minutes per game in the last few weeks. And because of that, and his ability to score under pressure, the Lakers are now 43-37 for the season. On LA latest win, Bryant had 34 points and 5 rebounds, but even though he pushed his body to it limits, pretty much playing all of the second half with obvious pain in his left leg. But with 3:06 to go in a game where the home team took a 118-116 win over the Golden State Warriors, Bryant Achilles tendon gave in, and he had to be gaffwefda carried out of the court after shooting a pair of free throws with one leg. Before that injury, however, Bryant hyperextended his left knee early Jordan Shoes For Sale in the third quarter. He managed to come back and keep on giving his team a good fight, as the Lakers are fighting it to the end with the Utah Jazz for the last spot in the playoffs in the Western Conference. But in what seemed to be an easy drive into the paint, Bryant went to the ground, holding his ankle. After the game, Bryant could be seen talking to the press, on crutches, as he left the Lakers locker room. Bryant called it the most disappointing injury of his career "by far." He even said that at one moment he tried to put some weight on his left leg, to see if maybe he could walk. It became evident to him right there that this one was going to cost him the rest of the season. "We worked so hard to put ourselves in position and control our fate," he said in an impromptu press conference on his way out of the Staples Center. "I certainly have done a lot of work to prepare myself. It's just bad luck." This is one though player. No one doubts that this is serious. After all, Bryant is the man behind this steam. Cheap Air Jordans He is the man who makes this engine works. Forget the other Lakers stars, truth is that while Pau Gasol and Steve Nash have missed long stretches of play with injuries this season, and while Dwight Howard struggled to recover completely after last year's back surgery, it was Kobe who kept this boat from sinking. Bryant played through a sprained ankle and countless minor woes to keep the Lakers chances of making it into the playoffs alive. They are there now, but without Kobe, they might as well just call it a season when the regular season ends. "MRI, surgery and then recovery," Bryant said to the press before undergoing surgery this Saturday in the afternoon. He is expected to be out anywhere from 6 to 9 months. "I was really tired, man. Just tired in the locker room and dejected and thinking about this mountain to overcome. I mean, this is a long process and wasn't sure I could do it. Then your kids walk in and you're like, 'I need to set an example. Daddy is going to be fine.' I can do it. Work hard and just go from there."
Stephen Cheap Jordans Lars is a prominent sports blogger and currently covers the NBA news, previews and handicaps for the BetIAS' . You may reprint this article in its full content, please note no modifications to it are accepted. d.