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Philippines, 07 Feb 2025 |
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NBA -- Kobe, Lakers stay optimistic By Leonardo Castro Jr. PhilBoxing.com Thu, 03 Oct 2013  LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Lakers, arguably the NBA's most storied franchise with sweet 16 NBA titles, has had the most challenging past few months in their team's 66-year history. On February 18 this year, when the struggling Lakers were fighting for a postseason berth, longtime owner Dr. Jerry Buss succumb to an intestinal disorder and passed away at the age of 80. A handful of weeks later on April 13, Kobe Bryant, the face of the franchise since he bolted from high school to the pro ranks in 1996, tore his Achilles tendon. The devastating injury ended Kobe's chase for a sixth championship and put his decorated career on doubt. And then in July, free agent center Dwight Howard, a mighty All-Star 6-foot-11 inches tall and 265-pound large, spurned the purple-and-gold and took flight to Houston to join James Harden and Jeremy Lin. Shortly after losing Howard, the Lakers cut Metta World Peace via the league's amnesty clause. Metta's release was purely a business decision that saved the Lakers millions in salary cap space. But in so doing, the team lost a tenacious perimeter defender. Despite all the upheaval brought by immeasurable loss and injury, the Lakers are optimistic for the upcoming 2013-14 season, shooting no less for another NBA title. "It doesn't matter what anybody else is saying, that the goal we have," Kobe, aka the Black Mamba, told the Los Angeles Times, obviously alluding to the Larry O'Brien trophy. When Kobe, 35, blew his Achilles the prognosis was that recovery and rehabilitation will take somewhere in the province of eight to 12 months. But barring any setbacks, Bryant is ahead of schedule thus far and could return sooner rather than later. "It won' take me long to do that," he said of being in game shape. "When I get back out there on the court, I'll be good to go. I don't think I've ever played a season where I was 100 percent. So, like, 78 percent, is fine." Really? Is a 78 percent Kobe, an aging Steve Nash and a worn down Pau Gasol good enough to take the Lakers to the Promised Land? You be the judge. The Lakers' 2013-14 campaign officially begins on October 29 when they wrestle against the vastly-improved crosstown rivals the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center. Stay tuned. (LCJ) Click here to view a list of other articles written by Leonardo Castro Jr..  |
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