A Case for Kobe Bryant as the Los Angeles Lakers’ Sixth Man

An odd thing happened at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon last night. The Lakers beat the Blazers for the first time in the Rose City in nearly five years. Stranger yet, LA did it in convincing fashion...without superstar Kobe Bryant in the lineup (okay, in fairness, Brandon Roy sat for Portland as well—point made.)

Anyone who watched the game or highlights, witnessed a fired up Lakers team; the key word being team. LA played team ball for the first time in many games. Nearly everyone participating in the win. Even Bryant, by being absent.

As Kobe nursed a bad ankle and mangled digit, Ron Arte...

Read Complete Article at Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
Article is property of BleacherReport.com