Lakers: 5 Biggest Mistakes From First Half of Season

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Jan 7, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) looks on during the third quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 118-115. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 4 Mismanaging Kobe Bryant’s Minutes.

It was a year ago this month that an exhausted and beat up Bryant suffered a season-ending injury. Byron Scott admitted he made a mistake playing Bryant 35 minutes a game last season. Unfortunately, he did not learn from the mistake.

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This year, Bryant should be playing 20-25 minutes per game at the most. His contemporaries, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, have averaged 15 and 17 minutes per game this year, respectively. Even Tim Duncan is averaging only 26 minutes and when he plays, he is not asked to carry the team. Moreover his team has something to play for. In contrast, until his body started to break down recently, Bryant was regularly playing a grueling 30-35 minutes per game while trying to be the focal point of the gameplan.

Bryant is suffering from shoulder and Achilles ailments. It is January again and, like last year, he is missing games, creating havoc for the rest of the squad. One must seriously question how much longer he will continue to play until he just can’t go anymore. If the team does not shut him down for a while to let him heal, that time may be sooner than we all imagine.

Scott has again mismanaged Bryant’s minutes and the team has been hurt by it. Some argue that he has no control over Bryant, with No. 24 calling the shots. If that is true, it doesn’t say much for Scott as a coach. But assuming it is true, where is the front office?

Next: No. 3 No Brown and Black

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