All-round Athlete

Chapter 921 Don't let the Lakers enter the playoffs

"Kobe Bryant said he will return in the playoffs"

"According to the "Los Angeles Observer", Kobe said in an interview that his body has recovered 100% and he is expected to return in the first round of the playoffs."

"Kobe was reimbursed last season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon. Many people are not optimistic about the prospect of his comeback, but he is Kobe, and basketball is his life. On December 9th, Kobe made a successful comeback and returned to the court. Although his level Has not yet recovered, but people still expect him to gradually regain his form and lead the Lakers to recover. However, Kobe’s comeback may really be a bit too hasty. In the battle with the Grizzlies on December 18, his knee was hit by Tony Allen After a while, although Kobe insisted on finishing the game and leading the Lakers to win, this game became his swan song this season. Because of a knee injury, Kobe first announced a truce for eight weeks, and then continued to truce due to slow recovery. He only played in six games all season."

"Kobe's return is obviously good news for the Lakers. Lakers president Bass also said that this is an encouraging thing. Kobe's return can make the Lakers go further in the playoffs!"

...

"But first, we're going to 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 disclose this news now, won’t they force the Spurs to fight us! Are you sure this is our reporter from Los Angeles, and not a mole sent by another team?”

"This reporter probably wants to help boost our morale." Kupchak said with a tangled expression.

"What happened to Kobe? Is he really going to come back?" D'Antoni continued.

"I'm afraid so. As you know, the doctor concluded that if the recovery is good, Kobe can resume training in eight weeks, and it will not exceed three months at the latest. Now Kobe should have fully recovered. " Kupchak paused, and then continued: "Actually, I didn't expect Kobe to choose to come back in the playoffs. When we had a bad record a few days ago, he also went to Europe for vacation. He is not going to play for the season, but he changed his mind temporarily..."

D'Antoni understands the meaning of Kupchak's words. If the Lakers' record is still so bad, Kobe will definitely not come back, and maybe he will continue to find a place for vacation, but now that the Lakers are about to enter the playoffs, Kobe can just press his patience. Can't stop.

This is also human nature. When the team's record is not good, the players will not be motivated to play, and when the team wins in a row, the players will work harder. When the Lakers had a bad record before, Gasol, Nash, and Kaman performed very mediocrely. They had no desire to win at all, and even often expressed discomfort and wanted a truce; Kaman, he was really desperate to play, and Nash kept asking to play.

The same is true for Kobe. Before the team was bad, 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 entering 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 must not 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 wake up and not play in the playoffs", he can only show a confident look, even if his leg injury has not recovered 100%, but he has to pretend to be fully recovered The way he looks, it means that he is ready to play at any time.

Just because he is Kobe!

...

San Antonio, the Spurs' practice facility.

Coach Popovich was on the phone with a reporter who usually has a good relationship with the Spurs.

"Is this news true? Kobe's injury has healed?" Popovich asked, frowning.

"Even if he is not 100% recovered, he should be able to play! Didn't the European media take pictures of Kobe on vacation in Europe last month? It seems that there is no serious problem. And I asked my counterparts in Los Angeles, Kobe He returned to Los Angeles at the end of last month, and has been rehabilitating with Clark."

"Clark? The famous rehabilitation trainer in Los Angeles?" Popovich nodded, and then asked; "How is Nash's situation, do you have any news? It's been more than a month, and Nash has never appeared On the field, is it reimbursed for the season?"

"Probably not. The news given by the Lakers said that Nash is in a state of injury, but in the past month, Nash has been participating in the training of the Lakers. There are several away games, and Nash has also traveled with the team. You should have noticed this It's here. I think Nash may be able to play for more than ten minutes in his current state." The reporter continued.

"That's right!" Popovich frowned even tighter.

"Kobe is back, Nash is back, plus Gasol and Zhang Guan, how can the Lakers come up with a new 'F4'! Back then, Kobe and Gasol were enough to cause headaches. There are two more guys who are equally difficult to deal with. The Lakers in the regular season are a bit rotten, but God knows what they will become after entering the playoffs. Maybe one Kobe can beat the entire team. When we met the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs, we really might not win. No, we must not let the Lakers enter the playoffs, they are too troublesome!" Popovich's eyes flashed with fiery light.

...

On the evening of April 16, the last day of the NBA regular season started one after another.

The game between the Mavericks and the Grizzlies is in Memphis. Memphis is located in Tennessee, which is actually located in the southeastern part of the United States. If you insist on geographical division, the Grizzlies should be counted as the southeastern division. Oklahoma, where the Thunder are located, is an out-and-out state capital in the Southwest of the United States.

The game between the Lakers and the 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 the number one spot in the Western Conference, and the GDP combination started a phased rest as early as a month ago, so many people think that the Spurs will definitely not be the main force in this game.

However, when the Spurs announced the starting lineup, many people were taken aback.

The five starters Duncan, Parker, Leonard, Green and Splitter all appeared on the field, while Ginobili, Belinelli, Mills, Diaw and Jeff Ayers were on the bench. , Corey Joseph, Bonner, Baynes and others also appeared in the list of players, such as Austin Daye, Damai James and others who did not make much appearance on weekdays, were placed in the future. Among the list of activated players, you must know that these few players who usually don't appear on the field often have the opportunity to play during the GDP rotation.

"The Spurs are not willing to let the Lakers go, they want to fight the Lakers to the end!"

"GDP is all on the field, are the Spurs ready to play the playoffs early?"

"The Lakers are in trouble now, maybe they will miss the playoffs!"

The second chapter is delivered, ask for a guaranteed monthly pass.