The Lakers are capable of beating the Suns and Wizards without Bryant, but they need their superstar back before heading out on the road trip.
On March 25, the Lakers travel to Northern California to take on the Golden State Warriors in a crucial matchup of potential playoff teams. They then head to the Midwest to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves (March 27) and the Milwaukee Bucks (March 28). They cap their road trip by returning to Northern California to take on the Sacramento Kings (March 30).
The Lakers need Bryant to make sure they don't drop must-have games.
Out of these six upcoming games, only the Warriors and Bucks are currently playoff teams. The Lakers are currently two games back of the Warriors, who currently hold the sixth seed in the Western Conference. The Bucks are the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 33-32 record.
Five out of the six teams have a worse record than the Lakers. They can't afford to lose to teams of this caliber if they expect to beat powerhouses in the postseason.
Because the Lakers don't necessarily need Bryant to beat the Suns and Wizards, it would be wise to hold Bryant out until the team faces the Warriors. That would give Bryant another week to receive treatment on his ankle.
Throughout the Lakers' surge into the current playoff landscape, Bryant has done a great job driving this team. His leadership skills have been unmatched and absolutely necessary to get the most out of every member of the team.
The Lakers can't afford to get complacent with 14 games remaining on their schedule. Currently a...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
