NBA | Lakers 118-G. State 116 Farewell to Kobe Bryant

Of all the dramatic ways to win the game the Lakers signed the most painful of all. A free kick from Dwight Howard 1.5 seconds left sealed the Lakers victory over the Golden State Warriors (118-116), but there were no celebrations. Just minutes before, Kobe Bryanthad left the track between visible wince. In the absence of medical evidence, fear that a torn Achilles tendon has put an end to the season escort. The danger was there. In recent weeks, the Lakers had too much rope tensioning a player who has 17 years active, literally half of his life. As much as Kobe Bryant can boast an extraordinary work ethic, was expected to average more than 45 minutes in the last two weeks passed bill. It was not expected, however, that out of a tragic way. The team of Mike D'Antoni suffered to defeat Golden State. Just 40 seconds earlier, Bryant (34 points) had dispatched one of his cold-blooded shots to tie the game. Above another. And so even as the Lakers needed. But just over three minutes left, down face change.Hands to the heel, the ankle, in the face. Feeling pain and fearing a fatality. Kobe endured to sign two free throws, but had to be escorted by two people to leave the floor. In case anyone returned to the locker room waiting for a miracle, the words of the escort destroyed any hope. "It's broken. I can not even walk.'ve Tried to do a bit of pressure on the heel, but there's nothing there. The feeling is that I have no tendon," he confessed. Only know the time is low. "Now it resonance, operation and rehabilitation," he lamented. If it is a complete tear of the Achilles tendon, downtime in other cases - Chauncey Billups the most recently has ranged from ten months to a year. A brutal blow for a man of 34 years. Also for granted for a team that has completely depended on him to keep alive until the end playoffs options. Since Pau Gasol returned from his last physical, the Lakers had recovered the style book of the last two rings. Kobe-Pau, Pau-Kobe. They boasted of being "unstoppable" in the words of the escort, and the truth is that the aspect of the team was much better. With two games, Bryant's injury leaves them eighth in the West, but pretty hopeless in a hypothetical playoffs.

Triple-double of Pau, Curry display

Kobe Bryant's misfortune left in the background above, it was not little. Pau Gasol had certified a triple-double (26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists) the enormous benefit that he supposed the change of discourse in Lakers. They had returned the ball to the low post, the set of two for two at the top of the bulb. The plays that exploit their strengths and not to reinvent your figure. It is now in an uncertain future, perhaps with a responsibility that he had not in this new project. "Kobe has been an example to us all. Has proven character, has shown heart and that's what we need from here on out." In his last service, Bryant allowed the Lakers to overcome another of those magical nights of Stephen Curry . They met too many conditions. The problems of the Lakers to defend the opponent's base and sniper special Akron grudge against them. 22 points in the first quarter, 32 break, 47 at the end of the night. A brief mechanical and innate self-confidence. He and another illustrious son, Klay Thompson (25 points) had the Mike D'Antoni against the wall for most of the night. Little more, but the Lakers lost battle on the rebound, inside game against a depleted-clearly did enough. For the last time in this course, the Lakers "abused" the desire to Kobe Bryant, tightened the epic. Upon the outbreak of the second part, a blow to the left knee had given the scare, but nothing comparable to what would come later. Beyond affect the team's options, the tear in the Achilles heel puts a huge black spot at the end of a legendary career. Few doubt his return, but to see it may have to wait a year.