Kobe has averaged 22.2 (PPG), 4.2 (RPG), and 4.2 (APG) in the first five games of the New Orleans series. For any regular player these numbers would seem great, but we aren't talking about Marco Bellinelli, were talking about the "Black Mamba."
Now injuries can easily take any player out of his game--even superstars, but that doesn't mean they can't still contribute to a team victory. The disappointment with Kobe hasn't been his mediocre numbers, it has been his stubbornness to take 87 difficult shots while being injured.
There is nothing superstars hate more than watching lesser players perform better than them when being injured or limited. Kobe obviously hasn't learned over the years that his days of going 1-on-5 aren't quite what they used to be, and it has shown in every game.
I don't know about you, but it has been very frustrating to see Kobe shoot one bad shot after another, when there are other players like Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom waiting to get involved in the game. If Kobe continues to play the same way in these following games, this series could easily go 7 games--something the Lakers didn't want to even think about.
But should we be seriously concerned with Kobe's health? I mean, he's still averaging around his usual numbers and he seems to be fine--especially after watching those two dunks in Game 5. There is no easy answer to this, but it's to the point where Kobe's body will never get back to his 100%. This is expected and Kobe will indeed have to play the rest of his careers with weakened ankles and an arthritic finger--which could force Kobe to play at a different level than wha...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
