Basketball - Lakers Struggling Against All Odds

Kobe Bryant was suspended for one match after he intentionally hit Manu Ginobili during a game against San Antonio Spurs. As a result, he could not be with the Lakers when they started their road trip to play successive games against New York Knicks and Boston Celtics.

Lakers lost the game against New York Knicks by a slender margin, going for 99-94. However, Bryant was back to play the Celtics and the Lakers won convincingly defeating them 111-98.

Los Angeles Lakers and Bryant himself also have refused to accept that the act was intentional. According to NBA rules, whenever any player intentionally hurts another player above the shoulder during a game, the player is ejected. The league can also review the videotapes and hand the player a suspension if the referees fail to observe the incident during the game.

Bryant was not fouled during the game and it fell upon the NBA to take action which decided to suspend him for a game. According to video, Bryant moved his hand rapidly backwards with the intention of striking Ginobili. Although Bryant has vehemently denied this and put it down to an accident. The league chose to think otherwise.

Bryant has the rights to appeal against the suspension and in case he wins his appeal, the only benefit will be that Bryant will be getting his salary for the suspended game but it would not be able to change the fate of the game with Knicks that the Lakers had lost. Lakers are currently placed sixth in the West and the league. At the moment, they are behind Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz by one and half games.