UPDATE (January 21, 2015 at 10:20 AM PST): After being listed as ‘questionable’ against the New Orleans Pelicans, Kobe Bryant will play after a two-game rest according to the official Lakers Twitter account:
Kobe Bryant will start tonight against the Pelicans.
Byron: “Kobe’s good, he said he’s ready to go.”
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 21, 2015
After averaging over 35 minutes in the first quarter of the 2014-15 NBA season, Kobe Bryant has struggled to recover following games. With the five-time champion dealing with general soreness, head coach Byron Scott has implemented a new plan which limits his star to 32 minutes and sitting him out when necessary.
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After a career-high in assists against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 15, Kobe has not played in the last two games and is listed as ‘questionable’ against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday according to Lakers.com reporter Mike Trudell:
Kobe did not practice today, and is meeting the team at the airport; he's questionable for tomorrow's game.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) January 20, 2015
Scott is in the process of figuring out a plan for Kobe that will ‘preserve’ him for next season. With all the issues Kobe has suffered this season at age 36, he recently admitted that retirement has crossed his mind. While early retirement is a possibility, Kobe says he enjoys the process of figuring things out on the basketball court.
With the Lakers suffering their 30th loss of the season against the Phoenix Suns on Monday, the franchise is headed to the lottery for the second consecutive season. However, in order to keep this year’s pick, it will have to land in the top-five of the NBA Draft that will likely feature Jahlil Okafor.
[divide]Lakers Kobe Bryant Discusses Future Possibility Of Being Shutdown