Kobe Bryant Confidently Thinks Lakers Are A Playoff Contender

In a sit down with Yahoo Sports’ Marc J. Spears, Kobe Bryant says he thinks that the Lakers, as they are right now, can make the playoffs.

I guess when you’re one of the greatest of all-time on the hardwood you can say whatever you want, right?

In comments made during an interview with Yahoo Sports, the Lakers’ main man made some of the more interesting remarks you’ll hear all off-season.

And the crazy part is that they aren’t negative comments.

Kobe Bryant didn’t hesitate at all when asked about the postseason perspective for the purple and gold.

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Right out of the gate in response to the question is “absolutely”.

I don’t know about you, but coming from the guy that didn’t even hit up the free agent signings over the off-season, how can he be that sure of such a statement?

Well, I guess the answer is just because he is Kobe.

Looking deeper at the playoff potential for the Lakers, it’s not as far-fetched as other teams would like to think if they can make the most of their younger talent.

Obviously, the expectations for guys like Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell will be pretty high heading into the year while the biggest question marks the Lakers need to figure out revolve around a player entering his sophomore season.

None other than Jordan Clarkson.

Don’t get me wrong, the Lakers made some good draft choices the past couple of times around the torch, but judging just off of what Clarkson was able to do last year, he could easily be the most dangerous asset on the team aside from a healthy Bryant.

As I’ve said in a separate article on Clarkson’s performance, how the Lakers decide to water the garden of talent Clarkson brings to the table will determine their depth as a squad down the road.

And the Spurs have shown us just how far that can go.

To get back to the top, the Lakers need to learn to stand on their knees and be humbled a little bit.

As rough as this whole patch of being a bottom-feeder team for a couple years has been on the fans, there’s nothing you should love or want more than a Los Angeles underdog story.

Plus, if it involves the Lakers, chances are it’ll end with a championship.

Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?

As for the chances of them sneaking into the playoffs, the only way to be realistic about it this season is if they’re able to do it as an eight or seven seed.

With teams like the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs, and others all fighting for the top spot, it’s safe to say that the Lakers will have their tough road to glory set out for them regardless of who they’d face in the first round.

Other teams to consider in the West that will be full grown or healthy and dangerous include the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and possibly even the Memphis Grizzlies.

Bottom Line: It ain’t easy, but it’s possible.

At the end of the day, though, the Lakers are going to have to leave it all on the floor if they want any of this to come true.

Cinderella stories have to start somewhere, right?