Kobe (back) plays, leads Lakers: Kobe Bryant scored 26 points despite not attempting a field goal in the fourth quarter as the Lakers beat the Utah Jazz 111-104 on Wednesday night to take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semifinals. Bryant tweaked his back in the opening minutes of Sunday's 123-115 overtime loss at Utah that tied the Western Conference semifinals 2-2 and had been questionable for Game 5. "I just had to pick my spots," he said. "I knew I wasn't 100 percent healthy, so I wanted to get us off to a good start, give us an emotional boost. Then in the third quarter, there were moments where I had to pick it up, and I was able to do that. And in the fourth quarter, Lamar (Odom) and Pau (Gasol) took it from there." (Updated 05/15/2008).
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 5/22/08).
Fantasy Analysis
Kobe averaged 28.3 points while playing all 82 games despite tearing a pinkie ligament in February. That was actually down from the 31.6 average he had a season ago, but he appeared in all 82 games for the first time since 2002-03 and led the Lakers to the top seed in the Western Conference. His MVP award came on the heels of a regular season in which he seemed to mature as a total player, getting others involved and making his team better in the process. Playing alongside the likes of Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum (when healthy) could actually result in a slight decline in his scoring numbers again next season, but a 28-6-5 season isn't too shabby. The NBA MVP will be worth a top-5 pick in all Fantasy formats once again in 2008-09. (Updated 05/15/2008).
Bryant scored all but two of his 27 points after halftime, including a go-ahead, 10-foot jumper in the lane with 23.9 seconds remaining, and the Lakers rallied from a 20-point deficit to beat the Spurs 89-85 on Wednesday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. (Updated 05/22/2008)
Advice
Bryant, who's averaging 32.7 points in the playoffs, didn't quite have his usual dominant offensive effort, but he was the one who couldn't be stopped as the Lakers made their run in the second half.
Kobe (back) plays, leads Lakers: Kobe Bryant scored 26 points despite not attempting a field goal in the fourth quarter as the Lakers beat the Utah Jazz 111-104 on Wednesday night to take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semifinals. Bryant tweaked his back in the opening minutes of Sunday's 123-115 overtime loss at Utah that tied the Western Conference semifinals 2-2 and had been questionable for Game 5. "I just had to pick my spots," he said. "I knew I wasn't 100 percent healthy, so I wanted to get us off to a good start, give us an emotional boost. Then in the third quarter, there were moments where I had to pick it up, and I was able to do that. And in the fourth quarter, Lamar (Odom) and Pau (Gasol) took it from there." (Updated 05/15/2008).
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 5/22/08).
Fantasy Analysis
Kobe averaged 28.3 points while playing all 82 games despite tearing a pinkie ligament in February. That was actually down from the 31.6 average he had a season ago, but he appeared in all 82 games for the first time since 2002-03 and led the Lakers to the top seed in the Western Conference. His MVP award came on the heels of a regular season in which he seemed to mature as a total player, getting others involved and making his team better in the process. Playing alongside the likes of Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum (when healthy) could actually result in a slight decline in his scoring numbers again next season, but a 28-6-5 season isn't too shabby. The NBA MVP will be worth a top-5 pick in all Fantasy formats once again in 2008-09. (Updated 05/15/2008).
