One of Bryant’s greatest strengths has been his supreme confidence that often borders on delusion.  Even with the Lakers’ ship barley being above water you could bet Mike D’Antoni’s job that Bryant still believed his team was a title contender.

Perhaps that was never a reality given the dire straits the Lakers faced in battling uphill for a playoff spot. However reality hit home last night when all the venom was removed from Mamba’s bite as he discussed an Achilles injury he’d already diagnosed.

Throughout his entire career Kobe has fought through one injury after another. He’s weathered shoulder conditions, broken fingers, bruised ribs, a bum knee and even overcame Dirty Dahnty Jones. But this…this is a beast of a much different nature.

This is the type of injury you don’t tough-out.  This is the type of injury you don’t overcome in a matter of days. This is the type of injury that ends seasons and possibly careers. This is a Mamba we’ve never seen before and could be one we’ll never see again.

Kobe played a scoreless first quarter on Friday before sitting out the rest of the Lakers’ gutsy road win over the Pacers.

With the season in the balance and the Lakers’ playoff hopes still up in the air there is plenty of reason for Bryant to play through the pain. However given the severity of the injury and the likelihood of the Lakers making an early playoff exit it would appear almost fruitless for Kobe to rush back into action.

But such is the nature of one of the greatest competitors the game has ever known. Simply put, if Kobe has a pulse he’s going to play.