Bryant Return Muted By Loss to Gay-less Raptors
Kobe Bryant’s return couldn’t bring the Lakers victory against Toronto Sunday, despite the Raptors trading Rudy Gay to Sacramento the same day.
Eight months after suffering a season-ending Achilles tendon tear, Kobe Bryant made his return to the NBA Sunday, taking to the hardwood at Staples Center as the Los Angeles Lakers battled the Toronto Raptors.
While fans might have daydreamed about the Black Mamba’s return being accompanied by the type of offensive onslaught that saw him hang 81 points on the Raptors back in 2006, Bryant’s return actually proved to be a low key affair.
In 28 minutes of play, the 18-year veteran made just 2 of 9 shots from the field, tallying nine points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals. He also accounted for eight of the Lakers’ 19 turnovers, which the Raptors jumped on.
Bryant looked rusty in his return, as was to be expected after a 239-day layoff. Thanks to the timing of the injury, Bryant missed just 25 games during that period. It was obvious that there’s still a lot of work to be done when it comes to getting into not only game shape, but Kobe Bryant game shape.
The Lakers went on to lose the game 106-94.
“I failed miserably at [avoiding turnovers],” Bryant told the press after the game.
“That was really the biggest thing for me, just trying to take care of the basketball because I know I’m going to be in charge of making some decisions out there.
“My rhythm is completely out of sync in terms of being able to read passing lanes and judge the timing of players in between those lanes and so forth. But I guess it’s a start. I guess a start is good.”
Bryant’s rusty performance was by no means the only reason the Lakers dropped the game. No starter scored in double digits and had it not been for a hardy performance from the Lakers’ bench, this game would have gotten out of hand much quicker.
Five bench players – Xavier Henry, Jordan Hill, Jodie Meeks, Shawne Williams and Nick Young – scored in double digits, with Young leading the team with 19 points.
The absence of Steve Nash – absent with a back injury since November 10 – and Jordan Farmer leaves the Lakers with a hole at the point guard position, which was apparent on Sunday night. Nash’s return remains in limbo while Farmer (hamstring) is expected to miss four weeks.
Bryant can expect to take on some of the ball handling duties as he makes a staggered return from injury. Head coach Mike D’Antoni confirmed he hopes Bryant will play 25-26 minutes a game as he returns to game shape. The temptation though will be to let the perennial All-Star play longer, but that is at least part of the reason Bryant – who averaged 38.6 minutes per game last season – succumbed to injury back in April.
Even with Bryant’s return, D’Antoni may well find himself waiting for the cavalry to return again, something that has bookended his time in Los Angeles.
The Lakers’ loss came despite Toronto being undermanned.
On Sunday it was announced that the Raptors had traded forward Rudy Gay to the Sacramento Kings in a seven-player deal, pending player physicals and league approval.
Gay is expected to join the Kings on Monday alongside Quincy Arcy and Aaron Gray. All three were absent from Sunday’s game.
Toronto will receive Chuck Hayes, Patrick Patterson, John Salmons and Greivis Vasquez in return.
Gay, who is contracted through this season and has a player option for the 2014-15 season, has averaged 19.5 points and 6.8 rebounds in 51 games since arriving in Toronto as part of a three-team trade back in January. But with the Raptors looking to cut salary, the nine-year forward out of UConn appears to have become expendable.
Gay will bring experience and leadership to a young Kings side that features DeMarcus Cousins, Isaiah Thomas, Jimmer Fredette and Ben McLemore.
The Kings (5-13, 3-9 home) are scheduled to host the Dallas Mavericks (13-8, 4-6 road) on Monday night (10:00 p.m. ET).
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