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Daily NBA Fix: Kobe Bryant Still Has Something Left in the Tank

By Ben Gibson

September 28, 2015; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is interviewed during media day at Toyota Sports Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
September 28, 2015; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is interviewed during media day at Toyota Sports Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kobe Bryant is old in basketball years with 19 seasons under his belt and exactly 1,500 games coming into the 2015-16 season. It has been clear the past few seasons that Father Time had wrecked havoc on the five-time NBA champion.

The injuries began in 2013 when Kobe had almost single-handedly willed the Los Angeles Lakers into the 8th seed of the Western Conference. Kobe was playing over 40 minutes in seven straight games when he tore his ACL and then famously knocked down his free throws before leaving the game.

After that you know the story: Kobe gets hurt again and plays only six games in 2014 and misses most of 2015 with injuries as well.

The calls for Kobe’s retirement began to ring out. No one wants to see a great player hobble into retirement a shell of their former self but three years worth of injuries created plenty of doubt. On top of that his large contract hampered some of the decisions Los Angeles’ front office could make to the point people suggested that the Lakers should consider trading him.

It seemed clear that despite Kobe’s determination, blood (literally), sweat and tears, his body wasn’t going to allow him to be anything close to his former self.

Then last night happened.

It wasn’t one of Kobe’s all-time great games by any means but after a slow start Bryant started knocking down his shots and scored 15 points in the first half. Kobe had the Lakers up and the half and he finished the game with 24 points.

Kobe admitted his timing was off (he shot 8 of 24, 3 of 13 from beyond the arc) but for his first game of the season and his first since January 21st he looked fine. If he can improve those numbers (he will) and guide the younger players on the team then the Lakers are going to be entertaining to watch. Kobe was going all the things he’s always done. He shoots with irrational confidence while still keeping his eyes open enough to assist his teammates. His one assist in the game was a timely pass to Lou Williams for a 3-pointer that brought Los Angeles within one in the final minute.

Outside of Bryant the team is young and will ultimately piss away close games especially early in the season but if Kobe can stay healthy and be the surly old man guiding the young talent on the team, then this Lakers squad is going to be fun as hell.

Here’s to hoping Kobe isn’t running on empty and that win or lose, the Lakers are going to be worth watching.

Kevin Garnett is Old as Hell Too

We like to pick on Kobe and his age but let’s not forget he was sharing the floor with another senior citizen of the NBA. Kevin Garnett isn’t young by any means either. We’ll use the closest means to carbon-dating we have. Here’s a shot of Garnett in his video game debut in NBA Live 1996.

So lifelike, so realistic.

Julius Randle Clowns KG

Just going to leave this here.

Ricky Rubio Found His Shot

Ricky Rubio had the best game of his NBA career last night with 28 points and 14 assists. Those points were a career high but perhaps more impressively he did it on 58.8% shooting while going 5 of 7 from midrange.

Considering Rubio is a career 36.7% shooter if he found any semblance of a shot this offseason the Timberwolves might have something special coming together on their young team. It is only one game but it is worth keeping an eye on.

Derrick Rose Still Seeing Double

The Chicago Bulls are 2-0 to start the season but something else is coming in twos that isn’t so great. Derrick Rose is still seeing double thanks to the orbital fracture he received last month according to ESPN’s Nick Friedell.

"Derrick Rose says he is still having problems with double vision. “It’s nothing blurry about it. It’s double for real,” Rose said after scoring 15 points in Wednesday night’s win over the Brooklyn Nets. “[The doctors] said in a couple of weeks it will go down or go away and I’m just waiting patiently.”"

Hopefully it won’t take a couple weeks for his vision to return to normal.

Kevin Durant is Back

In Kevin Durant‘s first game back he looked like he hadn’t missed a game at all as he scored 22 points in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 112-106 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

Durant has plenty of pressure in the final season of his current contract with the Thunder and he’s now dealing with a new coach. Billy Donovan picked up the win in his NBA coaching debut to help keep fans fingers off the panic button in OKC.

Next: NBA Power Rankings: Opening Week

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