Kobe Not Quite at Breaking Point Yet

Kobe Bryant appeared headed to the injured list Thursday night after being diagnosed with a strained left ankle, the same injury he has played on for a month.

The Lakers will make the announcement before tonight’s game against the Washington Wizards, barring a change of heart or a particularly compelling appeal from Bryant. Brian Shaw is expected to replace Bryant in the starting back court.

The move would keep Bryant off the floor for a minimum of five games over nine days, with a return in time for an April 1, Sunday afternoon game against the New York Knicks at Staples Center. He then would have nine regular-season games to strengthen and prepare his ankle for the playoffs.

Guard Mike Penberthy is most likely to be activated. The club also is considering activating forward Slava Medvedenko, who has spent all but 10 games on the injured list.

Bryant strained his left ankle Feb. 18 in Indianapolis while taking--and missing--a final shot against the Indiana Pacers. Two nights later in Dallas, he rolled his right ankle when he stepped on teammate Shaquille O’Neal’s foot.

Since, Bryant has fought a near nightly battle to stay in the lineup, maintain his offense and toughen his defense. After many games, he has appeared emotionally exhausted and physically taxed, usually while bathing both feet in a bucket of water and ice.

The latest episode came at the end of the Lakers’ 107-100 loss in Milwaukee on Wednesday night, when Bryant came down hard on his left ankle. He could not finish the game, and on Thursday he was examined by Dr. Phil Kwong, who diagnosed soft tissue inflammation--a sore left foot. Bryant underwent an MRI and X-rays.

Bryant has played 63 of the Lakers’ 68 games, sitting out three games in late February because of the right ankle injury and two in mid-March because of a viral infection. The Lakers are 4-1 in those games.

Stricken by a handful of injuries--a sore shoulder, hip and knee among them-- and illnesses, Bryant’s fifth NBA season has been his most challenging. He has averaged 29.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists, all well above his career marks. He also has been criticized for taking too many shots, most notably by Coach Phil Jackson and O’Neal, and for playing outside of Jackson’s triangle offense.

Bryant’s absence would come when the Lakers are straining to establish home-court advantage in the coming playoffs, and with J.R. Rider, their only other proven backcourt scorer, having fallen out of the regular rotation. In four games since his suspension was lifted, Rider has played five minutes, and not at all in the last three games. His last meaningful playing time came on March 6.

The Lakers are fourth in the Western Conference, 3 1/2 games behind the San Antonio Spurs for the top seeding. They are 1 1/2 games behind the Sacramento Kings in the Pacific Division. If he goes to the injured list, Bryant would sit out two games against the Kings and one against the Dallas Mavericks, who are two games behind the Lakers in the conference standings.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Cold Streak

How the Lakers, who lost their second in a row Wednesday night, have fared after losses this season compared to last:

*--*

1999-2000 2000-01 Losses 15 23 Record after loss 11-3 16-6 Scored after loss 101.6 101.4 Allowed after loss 92.1 96.1 Losing streaks 2 (3 times) 2 (6 times)

*--*

*

LAKER RECORD

WITH KOBE

41-22

LAKER RECORD

WITHOUT KOBE

4-1

PPG

WITH KOBE

100.8

PPG

WITHOUT KOBE

105.8

PPG ALLOWED WITH KOBE

97.9

PPG ALLOWED WITHOUT KOBE

104.2

ALSO

Jeff McInnis scored 23 points and Lamar Odom had his fifth triple-double as the Clippers defeated the Houston Rockets, 97-92. D9