Kobe Bryant: Why Mike Brown Was Smart to Bench LA Lakers Star

The Los Angeles Lakers lost 102-96 to the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night and some may feel that Mike Brown’s benching of Kobe Bryant in the fourth quarter played a critical role in that defeat.

That isn’t the case and it’s quite easy to defend the rationale behind the coach’s choice.

Brown removed the superstar from the game with 5:45 remaining in the fourth with his team down 93-79. The oft-ineffective Metta World Peace was substituted in and remained on the court until 1:51 was left on the clock with the score 98-89 in favor of Memphis.

This sub made sense, even though the player formerly known as Ron Artest only hauled in one rebound while on the floor.

Kobe had already played the entire third quarter and shot well during a 15-0 run in that time, but started to fade down the stretch. The Grizzlies rebuilt their lead to 14 with Bryant still on the court during the start of the fourth.

It was time for him to get a breather and even the Black Mamba admitted he would have been hurting if he played the entire second half, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles.

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When Bryant was asked if he would have had any difficulty playing the entire fourth quarter Sunday, he responded dryly, "Yeah, I would have been exhausted."

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Bryant played 52 minutes the last time they matched up with the Grizzlies in a double-overtime victory, but it’s simply not prudent for coach Brown to play the 33-year-old, 16-year veteran for that long with the playoffs just around the corner.

There are 17 games left in the 30 days remaining on the schedule and the Lakers are almost guaranteed a postseason spot at this juncture.

It would clearly be a mistake on Brown’s part if he were to let his best player, who has dealt with various injuries throughout the 2011-12 campaign, risk breaking down yet again in what is a relatively meaningless contest.

Coach Brown’s move to put and leave Bryant on the bench was calculated, smart and will likely pay off in the playoffs.