Los Angeles actually got some good performances from players not named Kobe Bryant. Andrew Bynum decided to be a inside factor for the Lakers. When L.A. gets 13 points and more important 13 rebounds from Bynum, it makes them a more balanced team.. Pao Gasol who was rumored as trade-bait a week ago put in 15 points. They got a break when Timberwolves forward Kevin Love could not play due to the flu. Love is one of the top rebounders in the league. The Lakers outscored the T-Wolves 54 to 40 with regard to points in the paint. Basically, those are baskets scored from inside the painted free throw line.
That’s all good but the Lakers still are a one-man show. It was very risky to clear Bryant for action only three days after getting a head injury. Bryant is by far the best player for Los Angeles. He was their lone All-Star representative. We trust the Lakers judgment a little more because Kobe saw two separate specialists, nasal expert Dr. John Rehm and neurologist Dr. Vern Williams.. Bryant went for a CT scan Sunday night, a checkup from Dr. Rehm on Monday, and an MRI and visit to Dr. Williams on Tuesday.
Yesterday, Kobe was tested by Williams in four different procedures. He took a neurological exam which is basically a head analysis to make sure he was not seeing things or misinterpreting information. Then, Williams made Bryant pass a baseline exercise to test his head movements. After that, Kobe performed two physical workouts through riding a stationary bicycle and running up a treadmill. Finally, he actually played hoops, albeit 2-on-2 with trainers watching. At last, about an hour before tip-off, Bryant was given permission to play in Wednesday’s game.
Dr. Williams’ statements to the media seemed reassuring but were concerning. He said about Kobe, “he's been asymptomatic, or symptom-free, as well today. Although he's had a somewhat accelerated step-wise return to play, he has satisfied, to our satisfaction, a step-wise return to play". The second sentence stood out because of Bryant’s “accelerated step-wise return to play”. It’s understandable why Kobe would want to play as soon as possible. The Lakers are much better with him in the starting lineup. However, what happens if he’s hit in the head with the same velocity again? Does he get a bad reaction in the brain?
Sidney Crosby of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins was knocked out of action in January 2011 after a blindside hit by David Steckel of the Washington Capitals. Crosby did not play the rest of 2010-11 season, he returned three months into the 2011-12 season in December 2011. Sidney collided with one of his own teammates and has not played since for a second time in two seasons.
Kobe Bryant admitted, as reported by Dr. Williams to media yesterday, that he was experiencing bad headaches. He told Williams in their Tuesday meeting that he also had trouble with bright lights and loud noises. Watching highlights of last night’s game, Kobe was the same player we’ve seen since 1996-97 except he was wearing a plastic mask. Maybe he likes “The Mask” with Jim Carrey or “Phantom of the Opera”. Bryant went out on the basketball stage and delivered a great performance. Hopefully, the doctor’s diagnosis is correct allowing more Kobe basketball shows like last night..
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