The success of the Los Angeles Lakers this season will undoubtedly be tied to the health of both Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash. If both veterans are healthy and performing at a high level, it increases the Lakers’ ceiling.
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With both coming off major injuries and advancing in age, the Lakers will have to manage both players, something that GM Mitch Kupchak spoke about via Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters:
Kupchak says there will be management of players & injuries (i.e. back to backs, other options), but says that will be up to Byron Scott.
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) September 26, 2014
Not only will the Lakers have to watch each player between games, but Kupchak also notes that both player’s minutes will be monitored during games as well according to Mark Medina of the LA Daily News:
Mitch said "there will be" minute restrictions on Kobe & Nash
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) September 26, 2014
Kobe has long been one of the iron men of the NBA, consistently being near the top of the league in minutes played. He has always been able to play however long he needs to play in order to ensure a Lakers victory.
With he and Nash seeing a decrease in minutes this season, both will have to be much more efficient during their time on the court. Maximizing their production in shorter minutes will be key, and the Lakers will have to rely on the rest of the team to pick up the pace as well.
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Both players have looked great this off-season so them playing well, even in limited minutes, could turn the Lakers into a very dangerous team this year.
[divide]Kobe Bryant’s Big Drop In Sports Illustrated’s 2014 NBA Player Rankings