Lakers vs. Bulls Preview: Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol say goodbye

Expect him to play and take on his typical workload in his last ever game in Chicago.

Refusing to succumb to the injury, the five-time champion showed all of his determination and grit by coming to the sidelines and getting the troublesome finger popped back into place.

Bryant is retiring at season’s end with the Lakers way out of the playoff picture at 11-45. And Bryant raised his bandaged middle finger afterwards.

D’Angelo Russell is averaging 12 points per game, about 4.5 more per game than Kobe Bryant averaged his rookie season.

With or without Jimmy Butler, the Bulls really shouldn’t have any problem beating the Lakers by double digits, but looking at the form guide, I have to say that I’m leaning towards the Lakers to cover yet another spread as they’ve done in their last six games overall.

To that extent, he even told Bryant to be ready for reduced playing time to make way for the Lakers’ youth. “Come on. No”, Bryant said.

Leonard is the defining talent on San Antonio, though somewhat humble are his numbers. The reduced time will have to wait.

Jordan still managed to outduel Bryant with 36 points, and got the win in the process, 104-83.

“JR, right now, is the least of my worries”, Scott said. “There will be some of those games where he’s not on the floor”.

“I tried everything under the sun to convince him to stay, but you know Pau is such a prideful person and when he felt like he was being disrespected with all the continual trade talks despite the success that he had”, Bryant said before Sunday’s game. “By his announcing that this is his last season in the league, there’s no doubt that has created enormous interest in every single one of his games for the remainder of the season”.

For Bryant and the Lakers, the third quarter provided yet another example of the bits of magic that Bryant still possessed. Forward LaMarcus Aldridge had 16 points and eight rebounds, guard Patty Mills added 15 points and seven assists and forward Tim Duncan chipped in with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Jordan Clarkson, who participated in the Rising Stars Game this past weekend, had 20 points and 6 assists. But overall this is bad for the addition of another lottery pick next year will not solve the problem of the young players not being able to develop properly this year or felling comfortable playing for this coach next year.

“It’s just like raising your kids”. Now go and get yourself a great night of rest because the National Basketball Association is back from the break and there for the taking. Sure, his skill set are more congruous with the abilities of a shooting guard, and he isn’t known as a consistent court general (however, he did contribute a respectable six assists in the game).

“It’s not five-on-five at the ‘Y, ‘” he said.

Of course, Bryant still caught almost everyone’s attention.

Meanwhile San Antonio, Bryant’s long-time competitive muse, improved to 46-9: while running their sterling road record to 18-9.

It went beyond magnum size, much larger than imperial size.

“I don’t think (Bryant) carries his team like Jordan carried his team and made everybody on his team better”, Pollard continued.

Vino for the player sometimes nicknamed “Vino”.