Lakers believe Kobe Bryant suffered a torn left Achilles

[jambr380]

Sucks for Kobe - hope it isn't as serious as keeping him out next season or being career-threatening, but I would be very happy to see the Lakers lose these last two and have Utah slide into the playoffs ahead of them.

[Who]

I think Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard will be capable of shouldering most of the offensive load that Kobe Bryant was carrying.

If they had better backup wings, they could've carried on while barely missing a beat. Unfortunately for them all their backup wings are very limited. Jodie Meeks will probably get the nod.

Oh, Nash is out too. Wow, even weaker on the perimeter. A below average backup PG (S.Blake) as their starting PG, a below average backup SG (J.Meeks) as their starting SG and Earl Clark as their starting small forward. Yikes. Darius Morris or Chris Duhon as backup guards. Yuck. Ron Artest as the backup SF is one of the few bright spots on the perimeter for LA.

The Lakers need Nash back badly.

[scaryjerry]

Tough. he's been giving his everything just to drag that team to the playoffs. Too bad. Anyone who would rather see Utah doesn't want to be entertained

[greg_kite]

My friend (a Laker fan) says Kobe tweeted that he's retiring.

[SHAQATTACK]

Lakers will throw EVERYTHING they have into getting CP3 ....

Lakers need CP3 to keep Howard from leaving.

[Roy H.]

I hate Kobe, but you never like to see this.

[ronaldo943]

Hate to see this happen to anyone

[nickagneta]

Don't want to see it but wasn't he done for the year and then came back in two days earlier this year?

[Adelaide Celt]

I wanted to see the Lakers fail with a full strength team. Wish it hadn't happened like this.

[CelticG1]

Tough. he's been giving his everything just to drag that team to the playoffs. Too bad. Anyone who would rather see Utah doesn't want to be entertained

Yup I couldn't care less about watching the lakers or heat or any team other than the celtics in the playoffs.

I'd be pretty surprised that anyone would be that upset about then nor making the pkayoffs since we've had to watch them in the playoffs every year for the last 20 years

[hpantazo]

How will this affect Howard's decision this summer? Kobe is very likely out all of next season, and maybe for good. Nash is old and hobbled, and the lakers team has struggled all year. Does Howard look for greener pastures now, or is he happy to be "Kobe free"  in LA?

[Snakehead]

You guys are classier than I am.

[Bahku]

I hate Kobe, but you never like to see this.

This.

[fairweatherfan]

I was watching the game last night - about 15-20 minutes (real time) before the injury Kobe was coming up lame from pulling his calf on that leg.  He looked hurt then but kept playing and I think the instability is what ultimately led to the tear.

I don't like Kobe either but the way he's fought the last few weeks just to get into the playoffs is exactly how we'd want our guys to act in that situation.  Dude left it all on the floor.  Still don't like him but I've gotta respect it.

[RMO]

D'Antoni will go down for this.  ESPN is going to shove the minutes issue down our throats.  More than conspiracies I believe in agendas and ESPN needs the lakers relevant and the lakers are more relevant/interesting when Phil Jackson is the coach.  Get ready for a lot of speculation/rumors about this.