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Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash are healthy

By Andrew Melnick

Mar 6, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) is congratulated by guard Steve Nash (10) after a basket during the second half at the New Orleans Arena. Los Angeles defeated New Orleans 108-102. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) is congratulated by guard Steve Nash (10) after a basket during the second half at the New Orleans Arena. Los Angeles defeated New Orleans 108-102. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports /
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The biggest reason for the Los Angeles Lakers’ poor 2013-2014 was the rash of injuries, specifically to their future Hall-of-Fame back court of Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash.

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The Lakers obviously need to be healthy if they plan on returning to the postseason and according to Lakers’ general manager Mitch Kupchak, they are.

“I think everybody’s healthy right now,” Kupchak told Lakers.com. “Kobe, I’ve watched throughout the summer. I’ve been going to watch him work out down in Orange County, and he’s been up here several times. He looks really good, says he feels great. No ill effects on either injury.”

“Steve Nash says he feels the best he’s felt in a long time. He’s been working out, playing every day. He’s been in the facility here. Obviously, with Steve, he felt good last year, also, prior to the season but couldn’t really put it together and play back-to-backs and get through the season. So I think we’re a little bit more apprehensive with Steve, naturally, because of what we went through last year and his age. But he says he’s felt the best he feels right now. And he has played back-to-back days here. He’s played in the morning. He’s come back at night. So I think we’re much further along with Steve this year than we were last year, as well.”

Making the playoffs may still be a reach but with Bryant and Nash healthy, they will at least have a chance.

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. Last season, Nash played in just 15 games, averaging 20.9 minutes per game. He averaged 6.8 points, 5.7 assists and 1.9 rebounds per game while shooting 38.3% from the field, 33.3% from beyond the arc and 91.7% from the free throw line. In his 18-year career, the 15th-overall pick of the 1996 NBA Draft has put up 14.3 points, 8.5 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game while shooting 49.0% from the floor, 42.8% from three and 90.4% from the free throw line.

Be sure to check FanSided’s official NBA page to keep up to date on the latest news and rumors from around the league as we get you ready for the start of the 2014-2015 season.

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