Kobe's injury and what it means for the Lakers

Kobe’s shin injury could spell trouble for the Lakers. That statement on its own is pretty obvious because losing Kobe for any period of time is always a problem for the Lakers, as would losing a superstar for any other team. This year, however it is an even bigger problem. The Lakers currently hold only a half game lead on the Clippers for the division and the 3^rd spot, however they hold the tie breaker which means the Clippers are essentially a game and a half back. The Lakers are also 2 games ahead of Memphis, who are currently in 5^th, behind the Lakers and Clippers, and are the hottest team in the League right now. They have come off of wins to Oklahoma City, Miami and Dallas in the last WEEK. This year the Lakers need to get a top 4 spot this year more than any other year. If Kobe is out for a week or more, they could drop down to 5^th and lose home court in the first round. They have struggled mightily on the road and currently have a 12-16 road record.

One thing not on the side of the Lakers is their schedule. Of those 3 teams, the Lakers have the most difficult schedule. They have 3 games left against the Spurs, 2 of them in San Antonio, and 1 game against the Mavs, OKC and Denver, all at home. Their only 2 “gimmie” games are away games at Sacramento and Golden State, which can both be difficult places to play at. The Clippers have 6 of their remaining 10 against playoff level opposition, 2 of which are against OKC, and another 2 against teams that they have had trouble with (Phoenix and Minnesota). The Grizzlies have the easiest schedule for the rest of the year, with only 3 games left against current playoff teams. The remaining schedules could mean a battle of LA first round playoff series. Now all of this doesn’t matter if the Lakers win out, or at least find a way to stabilize. But a team without its leading scorer and superstar is almost always going to struggle (who thought the Bulls would play so well without Rose?). This leaves the major possibility that the Lakers end up in the 5^th spot.

If the Lakers do drop into 5^th, they would most likely play either the Clippers or the Grizzlies. If the Clippers drop down to 4^th then the Lakers would essentially be playing at home for the entire series, which could benefit them. If they end up playing the Grizzlies, this could be a problem. The Grizzlies would have home court advantage and they have already shown that they can win at Staples. While the Lakers have won in Memphis, their road record over the whole season does not help their cause. They would have to win all their home games, and try to pull off at least one away win, which will be very difficult. While I would never doubt most Lakers teams, this one just doesn’t have the same attitude as previous teams. A big part of it is probably the coaching change. Phil Jackson was always able to get the best out of his players. More importantly he had the respect of his players, which is something Mike Brown does not currently seem to have. Playing on the road is mostly mental, and Brown has been unable to coach his team past the mental aspect.

The Lakers will make the playoffs. Kobe will be back for the playoffs. The question is, where will they be, in the comforts of their home? Or under the lights and roars of opposing fans? It’s time for the rest of the Lakers to step up and show that they can at least hold the fort down for a week or two. They need to show that they are capable of winning without Kobe. Or they may end up with a first round exit.