The Los Angeles Lakers narrowly defeated the Golden State Warriors by your final score of 118-116 on April 12, keeping their playoff hopes alive by the thinnest of margins. But the success came at a heavy price as Kobe Bryant limped off the floor in the next quarter after injuring his left knee and showing to adjust his troublesome left foot in the game's late stages. But then the headlines got much, much worse: The Lakers could actually pull out the win, thanks in significant part to a 50-16 free-throw attempt edge, nonetheless it is safe to assume that they do not desire to find out just how many more important challenges they can win without their finest player. Before succumbing to harm, Bryant had been suffering an up-and-down game. He began badly, going scoreless in the initial quarter and desperate for his rhythm before halftime. But with huge dedication and a few heavy threes, Bryant pulled the Lakers back to the overall game. The information on his injury continue to be unconfirmed, but if the impossible really has occurred and Bryant is going to miss important time, L.A.'s long-term prognosis is totally up in the air. For the time being, however, the Lakers are concentrating on their immediate future. With Bryant sidelined, the Lakers' odds of success are considerably reduced. In fact, if this latest injury proves to function as straw that breaks the Mamba's straight back, the Lakers' remaining agenda could mean they're in real trouble. L.A. has two games left, and neither of them amount to be particularly easy: With the San Antonio Spurs coming to La on April 14 and the Houston Rockets browsing on April 17, the Lakers may finish out the growing season against a set of playoff teams. When they are fortunate, San Antonio will be sleeping the bulk of its veterans. Harry How/Getty Pictures But Houston continues to be pursuing the Warriors, whose lead within the Rockets for the No. 6 seed in the West fell to just a half-game. They've got no reason to take it easy on the Lakers. Theoretically, the Lakers' top-end talent should allow them to persevere with or without Bryant. Nevertheless the whole has been far less than the amount of the high-priced pieces all season long, therefore there is little reason to believe Bryant's lack might somehow trigger the Lakers to instantly realize their potential. The greatest story is actually Bryant's future. If an upcoming MRI reveals he has really suffered a Achilles tendon, his job may well take peril. Without knowing more, it is only reasonable to target on which is immediately ahead of the Lakers. Unfortuitously, without Bryant, the team's short-term prognosis is similarly dreadful. Nobody else on the group will gut out 48-minute stints in the face area of nagging injuries. Nobody else is going to bring the crime as both a scorer and company. And nobody else will strike fear in to opponents on the effectiveness of his reputation alone. Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports Without Bryant, the Lakers may also finish an epically disappointing 2012-13 season without a playoff berth.
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