After struggling against the Miami Heat, Kobe Bryant returned against the Cleveland Cavaliers and set a new career-high with 17 assists. While the Los Angeles Lakers could not come up with a win, it was encouraging to see the five-time champion playing at a high level.
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Following the loss to the Cavaliers, Kobe addressed the possibility of being shut down in the future according to Bill Oram of the Orange County Register:
Kobe on possible shutdown. “That’s a tough one for me. I want to play…I will do what they ask me but it’s very hard for me to miss one game”
— Bill Oram (@billoram) January 16, 2015
After averaging over 35 minutes in the first 27 games of the season, Kobe’s body could not recover as quickly which forced him to rest for six games. Since his return, head coach Byron Scott has limited him to 32 minutes per game while holding him out one game on back-to-back situations.
With the Lakers not in playoff contention this season, Scott said it could become a discussion in March to sit his superstar. Although Kobe wants to play every game he possibly can, the five-time champion will do what management asks of him.
[divide]LeBron James On Kobe, ‘One Of The Greatest’
