Kobe Bryant a question mark for Los Angeles Lakers

Jan 10, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers players Chris Kaman (left), Jordan Hill (center) and Kobe Bryant react during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers players Chris Kaman (left), Jordan Hill (center) and Kobe Bryant react during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Since tearing his Achilles late in the 2012-2013 season, Los Angeles Lakers’ guard Kobe Bryant has appeared in just six games. That’s a huge reason the Lakers struggled so much last season and many believe they could be in for another rough season this year.

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Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders sees Bryant as a major question mark.

"The Lakers will be entertaining, but I can’t see them making the playoffs in the West. Kobe Bryant is a question mark since we don’t know how effective he’ll be. I hope he’s the dominant scoring machine that we all know, but who knows how the injuries will affect him? I wasn’t crazy about the Lakers’ offseason. The fact that L.A. is bringing back a lot of the same players from last season isn’t a good sign, since this team really struggled last year. I think Jeremy Lin will do well and surprise people, but I don’t understand the decision to sign Carlos Boozer. Julius Randle was a great pick, but I don’t know how much he’ll play since it seems like they’ll be playing veterans and trying to fight for the eighth seed."

Last season, Bryant averaged 13.1 points, 6.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 42.5% from the field, 18.8% from beyond the arc and 85.7% from the free throw line. In his storied career, he has averaged 25.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 45.4% from the field, 33.5% from three and 83.8% from the charity stripe.

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