The Los Angeles Lakers have been struggling to stay afloat all season and as they sneak into the playoffs they have lost the leadership of Kobe Bryant.  Bryant suffered a torn Achilles tendon late in a Lakers’ win over Golden State.

The Lakers clinched a playoff spot without Kobe Bryant as Steve Nash and Dwight Howard both stepped up to fill the void left by the 15-time All-Star. However, the road is not easy for the Lakers as they play the San Antonio Spurs in the first round.  In game one, the Spurs looked out of sync, but still defeated the Lakers 91-79.

The veteran Spurs team that consists of All-Stars Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobli will be tough to beat, but Bryant believes that the Lakers can compete.

“I have faith in my teammates. They will come thru,” wrote Bryant in an emotional Facebook post following his injury.

If the Lakers are going to pull off the upset in the series, they are going to have to steal one in San Antonio. The Spurs have only lost six games at home all season. The Lakers have the size advantage down low, so they need to put up points in the paint and have to cut down on costly turnovers. They had 18 in game one.

” Nothing worse [then] watching your bothers struggle and u can’t do crap about it,” tweeted Bryant during the first game.

Bryant’s live-tweeting of the game sparked a lot of conversation among fans and analysts, but Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni said he appreciated the commentary.  Bryant as a fan is just as passionate as the Bryant on the court and his agony in not being able to compete is apparent as he has been using Twitter and Facebook to keep fans up to date.

Bryant is among the greatest basketball players of all time and a fierce competitor. He has won five NBA championships and is known as one the much clutch players in history. The Achilles injury Bryant suffered is a serious one that will keep him out for six to nine months.  Bryant has played 17 seasons, all with the Lakers, and is now 34 years old. His future is certainly cloudy as he comes back from such a devastating injury.

Other NBA greats like Elton Brand and Dominique Wilkins have suffered the same injury and they were able to come back late in their careers and keep playing. The rehab for an Achilles injury is tedious, but it does not mean the end of Kobe’s career.  

“Kobe is the greatest of my era, and if anybody can get close to 100 percent, he will find a way,” said Brand.

Bryant was on Facebook right after the injury and had a late-night rant on the injury and his expectations for the future. He expressed frustration and confusion, but there was one thing he didn’t doubt. That was his will to compete and his faith in himself.

“One day, the beginning of a new career journey will commence. Today is NOT that day,” said Bryant.  

It is easy to say that we can likely expect Bryant will be back and maybe even better than ever.