The Los Angeles Lakers' play has been inconsistent in this young season, as proven by their pedestrian 10-9 record. Still, the Lakers are expected to benefit from having the league's all-time fourth leading scorer Kobe Bryant back in the fold after the Black Mamba announced he would return playing on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors.
But how would the Lakers play Bryant, who is coming off the worst injury of his 18-year career? Coach Mike D'Antoni said their franchise star will play more point guard this time.
"He's going to have the ball," D'Antoni told ESPN.com. "So, whenever you have the ball you're the point guard."
The idea is for Bryant to provide leadership at the point, especially with Steve Nash and Jordan Farmer both out with injuries.
"It's being able to facilitate and score when the defense dictates it, so it's no difference," Bryant said. "I'd be more of the push man, obviously, just getting up and down. But, honestly it's no difference than how I played my entire career, really. Just handling the ball, getting us into stuff and pushing it."
Although Bryant has been branded as selfish by many of his distractors for the past 18 years, the Black Mamba says he's impressed with the way the young Lakers have played this season which could indicate his willingness to share the ball more with his teammates.
"I love their competitive spirit," Bryant said. "Practices have been really competitive and we've really gotten after each other. It fits very well because they're excellent at moving without the ball and finding cuts and crevices and cracks and have a great deal of speed and athleticism."
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