Kobe Bryant Injury: Visit to Specialist Highlights Lakers' Need for Depth

The Los Angeles Lakers have been trying to add to their roster for some time now. It is universally accepted that their dumping of Lamar Odom was a mistake, and they've desperately been looking for more depth ever since.

They've counted, far too much, on the production of Kobe Bryant this year and it will leave them in trouble if they continue to do so.

Kobe took an unusually hard foul from Dwyane Wade in the All-Star Game and suffered a broken nose because of it. According to Mike Bresnahan of the L.A. Times, Kobe is heading to an ear, nose and throat specialist to make heads or tails of his latest injury.

He also reportedly has a concussion.

The superstar guard is averaging the most points he has in five years is playing four more minutes per game than he did last year. He rarely misses games and he plays through pain and injuries more than anyone else.

The Lakers are only 20-14 this season even though Kobe's the league's leading scorer. They're averaging only 93.1 points per game, good enough for 22nd in the league.

If Kobe was to miss extended time this team would fall apart instantly.

They have no legitimate point guard play and they still cannot trust Andrew Bynum to be a consistent offensive contributor. Kobe, Bynum and Pau Gasol combine to average 61.7 of the Lakers' 93 points—that won't get it done.

Nobody expects Kobe to miss time, but they can't expect him to continue playing at a high level, injury after injury, the way he has this season.

The Lakers should take this latest injury as a warning shot and realize they need to stop chasing just Dwight Howard and work towards making this team better.