Live discussion: What does Kobe Bryant’s ankle injury mean for Lakers?

Join Times Lakers writer Mike Bresnahan at 12:15 today for a live discussion of Kobe Bryant’s ankle injury.

[Mobile viewers: click here to view this chat in another window.]

As Bresnahan wrote after Bryant injured his ankle at the end of the loss to Atlanta on Wednesday,

“Kobe Bryant was unhappy.

“Fuming, actually, as he talked about a severely sprained left ankle that would keep him out “indefinitely,” according to the Lakers.

“Bryant suggested that Atlanta Hawks swingman Dahntay Jones caused the sprain by purposely sliding his foot under Bryant while Bryant was still in the air on an 18-foot fadeaway jumper with 3.9 seconds left.

“Bryant missed the shot and stayed down on the court for about a minute, limping to the locker room for X-rays that showed no broken bones after the Lakers’ 96-92 loss Wednesday at Philips Arena.

“First and foremost, I think the officials really need to protect shooters,” Bryant said. “Defensive players, you can contest shots, but you can’t walk underneath players.”

“It’s just a very, very dangerous play, especially if I’m fading away. There’s no rhyme or reason why I should come down anywhere near somebody’s foot.”

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