Lakers News and Rumors: Charles Barkley Predicts Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Will Not Make Playoffs
Former NBA superstar Charles Barkley believes that the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant will miss the playoffs again in the upcoming 2014-15 NBA season.
Barkley said in an interview that the Lakers, who finished 14th in the Western Conference last season, won't advance to the postseason despite making roster moves this offseason.
"Kobe Bryant is going to save a lot of money on playoff tickets because the Lakers are not going to make the playoffs," Barkley said in an NBA TV interview via Lakers Nation.
The Lakers acquired Carlos Boozer, Jeremy Lin and rookie forward Julius Randle this summer, while Bryant will return after playing in just six games last season due to a knee injury.
But while the Lakers are expected to become a better team with Bryant's return, Barkley questioned the 35-year-old's capability to stay healthy next season, saying that the 18-year veteran is already feeling the wear and tear of his long career.
"I love Kobe Bryant. He's one of the 10 greatest players ever, but it's over for him and the Lakers," Barkley said.
Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders also had a similar prediction for the Lakers' campaign in the upcoming season, saying that the Lakers will be entertaining to watch, but don't have enough tools to finish within the top eight in the tough Western Conference race.
"The fact that L.A. is bringing back a lot of the same players from last season isn't a good sign, since this team really struggled last year," Kennedy said of the Lakers, who finished with a measly 27-55 record last season.
Kennedy also added that Bryant remains a question mark for next season, saying that his recent injuries -- torn Achilles tendon and knee fracture -- might have a drastic effect on the superstar's performance next season.
"The Lakers will be entertaining, but I can't see them making the playoffs in the West. Kobe Bryant is a question mark since we don't know how effective he'll be. I hope he's the dominant scoring machine that we all know, but who knows how the injuries will affect him?" Kennedy wrote.
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