"I know he's hurt and I don't what exactly that means. I know he has a bruised foot, but I don't as for daily updates. He's a tough guy and one of the toughest guys I've ever been around."
Brown's cryptic message is probably intentional, but that does nothing to ease the anxiety of Lakers fans who would love to know the full extent of Bryant's injury.
Hopefully Bryant's foot is only a minor issue that a little rest can cure, but what happens if the injury becomes lingering concern?
Have the Lakers acquired enough fire-power to remain among the league's elite teams, even with a prolonged absence from Bryant?
A Lakers lineup featuring Steve Nash, Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol would still be one of the most intimidating in the NBA, but Bryant's absence would magnify an issue that is likely to be exposed later, even if Bryant is healthy for most of the season.
On the surface the Lakers offense would still be potent since the strength of their attack would be centered around Howard and Gasol in the paint. But who else on the Lakers roster besides Nash and Bryant has proved that they can consistently create offense off the dribble?
If opponents prevent Nash's penetration and pack in the middle, it would mean that someone else would need to hit some shots from the perimeter, or create off the dribble.
New Lakers Antawn Jamison and Jodie Meeks are more comfortable catching and shooting the ball, and while Devin Ebanks and Andrew Goudelock have shown some penetration skills, it remains to be seen if they an do it in a consistent manner.
The Princeton-style offense i...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
