"Kobe Bryant said he will come back in the playoffs"
"According to the Los Angeles Observer, Kobe Bryant said in an interview that his body has recovered 100% and is expected to return in the first round of the playoffs."
"Kobe was reimbursed last season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon. Many people were not optimistic about the prospects of his comeback, but he is Kobe, and basketball is his life. On December 9, Kobe successfully returned to the court. Although his standard He has not recovered yet, but people are still looking forward to him gradually regaining his form and leading the Lakers to recovery. However, Kobe's comeback may have been a little too hasty. During the game against the Grizzlies on December 18, his knee was hit by Tony Allen. After a while, although Kobe insisted on finishing the game and led the Lakers to win, this game actually became his swan song of the season. Because of his knee injury, Kobe first announced an eight-week truce, and then continued to truce due to his slow recovery. He only played six games all season."
"Kobe's return is obviously good news for the Lakers. Lakers president Buss also said that this is an encouraging thing. Kobe's return can help the Lakers go further in the playoffs!"
…
"But first, we have to enter the playoffs!" D'Antoni pointed to the contents of the newspaper and continued: "Which idiot published this report at this time? Why didn't he wait another day until we entered the playoffs? Publish this news again in the playoffs! If they reveal this news now, won’t they force the Spurs to fight with us! Are you sure this is our Los Angeles reporter and not a traitor sent by another team?”
"This reporter probably wants to help us boost our morale." Kupchak said with a confused look.
"What happened to Kobe? Does he really plan to come back?" D'Antoni continued.
"I'm afraid so. You also know that the conclusion given by the doctor at the time was that if the recovery was good, Kobe could resume training in eight weeks, and it would not exceed three months at the latest. Kobe should have fully recovered now. ." Kupchak paused and then said: "Actually, I didn't expect Kobe to choose to come back in the playoffs. When our record was bad a few days ago, he went to Europe for vacation, which made it clear that this was the case. He was not going to play during the season, but I didn’t expect that he suddenly changed his mind... "
D'Antoni understands the meaning of Kupchak's words. If the Lakers' record is still so bad, Kobe will definitely not come back and may continue to find a place for vacation. But now that the Lakers are about to enter the playoffs, Kobe can just wait and see. Can't stand it anymore.
This is also human nature. When the team's record is not good, the players have little enthusiasm to play, and when the team has a winning streak, the players will work harder. When the Lakers had a bad record before, Gasol, Nash, and Kaman performed very mediocrely, with no desire to win at all, and even often expressed discomfort and wanted to take a truce; and look at Gasol and Kaman now. Kaman, he really worked hard when he was playing, and Nash kept asking to play.
The same is true for Kobe. Before the team was going to be in ruins, Kobe didn't have to come back and work hard. He might as well continue to cultivate. Anyway, he signed a two-year contract with the team at the beginning of the season, and Kobe didn't have to worry about next year's contract.
But as the Lakers' record got better and better, and gradually approached the threshold of the playoffs, Kobe finally couldn't sit still. Especially after April, Kobe, who was still on vacation, calmed down and began to recover. Training, he is really preparing for the playoffs.
For Kobe, if he really has the opportunity to play in the playoffs, he definitely can't miss it.
Just at this time, another reporter came to interview and asked about Kobe's playoffs. Kobe definitely can't say "I'm going to give up and not play in the playoffs." He can only show a confident look. Even if his leg injury has not recovered 100%, he still has to pretend to have fully recovered. means that he is ready to play at any time.
Just because he is Kobe!
…
San Antonio, the Spurs' training facility.
Coach Popovich was on the phone with a reporter who was usually close to the Spurs.
"Is this news true? Kobe's injury has healed?" Popovich asked with a frown.
"Even if he is not 100% recovered, he should be able to play! Didn't the European media take pictures of Kobe Bryant on vacation in Europe last month? It seems that there is no serious problem in his movements. And I asked my colleagues in Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant He returned to Los Angeles at the end of last month and has been undergoing rehabilitation training at Clark's place."
"Clark? That famous rehabilitation trainer in Los Angeles?" Popovich nodded, and then asked; "How is Nash's condition? Do you have any news over there? It's been more than a month, and Nash has never shown up. On the field, is the season canceled?"
"Probably not. The information given by the Lakers said that Nash is injured, but in the past month, Nash has been participating in the training of the Lakers. In several away games, Nash has also traveled with the team. You should have noticed this. Here we are. I think with Nash's current condition, he might be able to play for more than ten minutes." The reporter continued.
"That's right!" Popovich frowned even more tightly.
"Kobe is back, Nash is back, plus Gasol and Zhang Guan, how can the Lakers come up with a new 'F4'! I think back then, Kobe and Gasol were enough to give people a headache, but now they are still There are two more guys who are equally difficult to deal with. The Lakers were a little bad in the regular season, but God knows what they will be like in the playoffs. Maybe one Kobe can defeat an entire team. If it is in the season When we meet the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs, we really may not win. No, we absolutely cannot let the Lakers enter the playoffs, they are in too much trouble!" Popovich's eyes flashed with a fiery light.
…
On the evening of April 16, the last day of NBA regular season games began one after another.
The game between the Mavericks and Grizzlies was held in Memphis. Memphis is located in Tennessee, which is actually in the southeastern part of the United States. If we insist on dividing it geographically, the Grizzlies should be counted as the Southeastern Division. Oklahoma, where the Thunder is located, is truly the capital of the southwest region of the United States.
The game between the Lakers and Spurs will be held in San Antonio. San Antonio and Memphis are more than a thousand kilometers apart. Normally, the Memphis game might start earlier than the San Antonio game, but today is the last day of the regular season. To be fair, the two games are scheduled to start at the same time.
The Grizzlies want to advance, and the Mavericks don't want to meet the Spurs in the first round. These two teams will definitely fight hard.
The Spurs have secured first place in the Western Conference, and the GDP combination began a period of rest a month ago, so many people feel that the Spurs will definitely not be the main force in this game.
However, when the Spurs announced their starters, many people were surprised.
The five starting players of Duncan, Parker, Leonard, Green and Splitter all appeared on the bench, while on the bench, Ginobili, Belinelli, Mills, Diaw, Jeff Ayers , Corey Joseph, Bonner, Baynes and others also appear on the player list. For example, Austin Daye, Damai James and others who do not usually appear on the field have been placed in the future. Among the activated player lists, you must know that these players who do not usually appear on the court have a chance to play during the GDP rest period.
"The Spurs are unwilling to let the Lakers go. They want to fight the Lakers to the end!"
"GDP is all on the court. Are the Spurs preparing to play in the playoffs early?"
"The Lakers are in trouble now. They might miss the playoffs!"
Chapter 2 has been delivered, please give me a guaranteed monthly ticket.
(End of chapter)