The trade deadline has come and gone and Lakers general manager was true to his word and did not deal center Dwight Howard. He retained Steve Nash and Pau Gasol as well, keeping the core of a team with title aspirations heading into the season intact. With the rumors behind them, and a strong performance from Howard in a win over the Celtics recently, Kobe Bryant essentially guaranteed the Lakers will earn a playoff berth.
The Lakers are three games under .500, (26-29) and three and a half games behind the eighth-seeded Houston Rockets. That doesn't mean much to Bryant however. In an interview with Sports Illustrated Bryant said, "It's not a question of if we make the playoffs. We will. And when we get there, I have no fear of anyone -- Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Denver ... whoever. I have zero nervousness about that."
Despite the lofty expectations, myriad injuries and media circus surrounding this team, Bryant has managed to maintain a high level of play, averaging 26.6 points, 5.6 assists and 5.3 rebounds while adjusting his style of play several times to fit the teams needs and the offensive style of head coach Mike D'Antoni. During a three-game stretch at the end of January, Bryant averaged 13 assists.
Howard is having a down season by his standards, but he's been hampered by shoulder and back injuries. Against the Celtics on February 20th, he flashed the kind of ability he showed with the Orlando Magic, dropping 24 points on an overmatched Boston team to go with 12 rebounds.
In addition to assuring the basketball public that they will see the Lakers in the postseason, Bryant said "And when we get there, I have no fear of anyone -- Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Denver ... whoever. I have zero nervousness about that."
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