With their loss to the Clippers yesterday, the Lakers have zero margin for error in order to make the playoffs. They trail Utah by a half-game for that 8th and final playoff spot and Utah owns the tie-breaker. Basically, the Lakers need to win their remaining games and hope everything else falls their way.
All of this means that Kobe Bryant will have to play a ton of minutes during these games if the Lakers have any shot.
Even if the Lakers got there — a serious question after they were exposed again by a better Western Conference team — what would Bryant have left to give?
Despite his claims to the contrary, he looked fatigued Sunday, making only six of 19 shots. He had 25 points, 10 assists and four turnovers.
“That’s the risk that we’re running with Kobe,” Lakers CoachMike D’Antoni said. “His legs, we’re playing a little bit with fire and we wouldn’t like to. But we’re putting ourselves in a position where we have to.
H/T: LA Times
