The Los Angeles Lakers were dealt a massive blow when it was announced that Kobe Bryant had torn the rotator in his shooting shoulder. Though it is unknown how long Kobe will be out, the Lakers will sorely miss their superstar.
— Have You Seen These LIMITED EDITION “Try Me” T-Shirts? —
While Bryant aggravated the shoulder with a dunk against the New Orleans Pelicans, Byron Scott apparently blamed himself for the injury and apologized to Kobe according to ESPN’s Baxter Holmes:
Byron is blaming himself for playing Kobe too much early on, wondering if that led to this injury. Byron said he apologized to Kobe.
— Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) January 23, 2015
Whether or not Scott is in any way responsible for Kobe’s injury is debatable, but the thought is sure to remind fans of Kobe’s tear of the Achilles tendon at the end of the 2013 season. In a push to get the Lakers in the playoffs, then-head coach Mike D’Antoni allowed Kobe to play over 40 minutes in each of his last seven games, including 47 or more in four games, and had yet to rest in the infamous game itself.
With Kobe sitting out many games recently, Scott admitted that he had played Kobe too many minutes early in the season, and given him too large of a workload. Scott would scale back Kobe’s minutes in recent outings and Kobe adjusted to more of an all-around game, averaging 14 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists in the month of January.
[divide]Lakers Kobe Bryant Tears Rotator Cuff