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After seven games shelved with a shin injury, Kobe Bryant returns to action on Friday against the Spurs. What are the keys to a seamless transition for The Mamba and The Mamba's mates? Along with Kevin Arnovitz (True Hoop, ESPNLA), we chop up matters.

Per Dave McMenamin, Steve Blake was medically cleared to participate in Wednesday's practice and will be a game-time decision for Thursday's game against the Celtics. A return to action basically coincides with the timetable for recovery from a fracture near his ribs.

"I've just been patient with it, trying to let it heal," Blake said during Wednesday's practice. "I really had no preconception of when I was coming back. I didn't know if it was going to be sooner or later. I really had no idea. To me, it's on time...[Practice] felt good. My rhythm is a little off, but that will come with time. Hopefully whenever I do play, I'll be ready to play and able to contribute."

Obviously, Blake's potential availability is a big deal. Not that the bench ran like a Swiss watch with him in the lineup, but he was nonetheless the best second unit play-maker, and by a long shot. That the reserves have struggled to do much in Blake's absence beyond feed the ball to Andrew Bynum or watch Andrew Goudelock generate his own looks is no coincidence, nor terribly surprising. With Blake back, the second unit offense will hopefully run a little smoother, and he'll hopefully add a few buckets to the mix.

In the meantime, I assume Goudelock will assume two-guard duties, allowing him to operate more of a pure scorer, rather than outside his comfort zone as a quasi-point guard. I also imagine Mike Brown will give more minutes to Goudelock than Jason Kapono as a reserve shooting guard, which will hopefully help limit Kobe Bryant minutes. For that matter, Blake on hand should also mean equal Derek Fisher's minutes reduced, which wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Blake and Fisher can also finish games together with Kobe at small forward in games where Metta World Peace and Matt Barnes aren't offering much, which has been too often these days.

Considering the glaring limitations of the Lakers roster, any options gained are a welcome development.

As usual when it comes to Kobe Bryant and injuries, he was a man of few, barely audible, highly impatient words. But as Dave McMenamin reports, he was willing to utter the ones that mattered most.

"I should be fine," said Kobe when asked about his availability for the Christmas Day season opener against the Bulls.

Of course, "fine" isn't necessarily quite sunshine and lollipops. Kobe described his wrist as "swollen and painful," and I'm guessing that won't change by the time Sunday rolls around. The Mamba has a famously absurd tolerance for pain, but I have a hard time believing lacing 'em up on Sunday won't entail enduring an exceptional amount of discomfort.

There's also the question of the effects the injury will have on Bryant as a player. After all, right-handed players tend to use their right wrists a decent amount of time over the course of a basketball game. Plus, that wrist is connected to a hand with some jacked up fingers. Kobe's handle occasionally suffers due to those digits. With the wrist now a factor, it's fair to wonder how Bryant's shot, or ability to create for himself or others could suffer. Even as one of the best athletes I've ever seen playing through injuries, there are limits, especially as you get older.

Predictably, Bryant downplayed the issue.

"If you can play through the pain and you can catch a ball, pass a ball, you should be fine," he said.

For those concerned playing through the injury will stymie the healing process, that's a valid fear. Why? Because Kobe said so himself. However, this is just being viewed as a fact of life, rather than a sticking point to consider.

"It's not really going to heal," Bryant conceded. "I mean, it's gone. The ligament is gone. So there's nothing I can do about it. But I've dealt with so many hand injuries. It should be all right."

The ligament is "gone?" Wowza, that's dark. I'm not even disagreeing with him. I've just never heard an injury framed in such "dust in the wind" terms. Kobe always claims he's not very sentimental. Clearly, he's not kidding.

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Per the Lakers' media relations folks:

EL SEGUNDO -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, who suffered a right wrist injury in Monday night’s game against the Clippers, was examined today by Dr. Steven Shin of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic and underwent an MRI exam. Results show that Bryant has a torn lunotriquetral ligament.

Bryant will not play in tonight’s game against the Clippers and his status is day-to-day.

I don't know exactly what a lunotriquetral ligament is. Frankly, I don't even know how to pronounce "lunotriquetral." But a torn "pick any ligament" is never a good thing. The injury, by the way, happened when Kobe took a tumble after getting blocked at the rim by DeAndre Jordan early in the second half. That Kobe continued to play deep into the fourth quarter of a preseason game, wrist injured and outcome already decided, raises the question of whether he should have been on the floor in the first place. As someone who expressed his displeasure at Phil Jackson's tendency to play starters in similar situations, I certainly get that. But in this case, I have no issue with Mike Brown.

Phil used to do this stuff, from everything I've gathered, as a means of maintaining momentum or sending a message, neither a good enough reason to risk injury, in my humble opinion. Brown, however, has two preseason games and a shortened training camp to teach new offensive and defensive systems, figure out floor combinations, develop chemistry and condition his players. Thus, Kobe's time on the floor, even while injured, contained tangible purpose. The setting may not have been ideal, and I wouldn't have blamed Brown if he took the precautionary route with Bryant, but I don't think he deserves any criticism in this case.

It'll be interesting to see how Kobe approaches this injury. He famously grits his teeth through nearly any injury known to mankind, having played with an aching ankle, knee, back and neck, plus that permanently screwed up pinkie. Depending on the severity of the injury (that information is unknown as of now), perhaps this will be present the latest chapter of Kobe gutting it out through pain.

However, this might not be pretty. Kobe's fondness of left-handed shots acknowledged, he's gonna need that right wrist to remain as effective a scorer. And beyond whatever shooting issues could be caused, when you factor in a right hand that's already problematic at times, Kobe's handle in general could be greatly compromised. Whether creating for himself or others, I wouldn't be surprised to see him struggle.

Plus, playing through this injury prevents the healing process from taking effect.

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Pau Gasol's disastrous postseason has already been dissected like a biology class frog, so we'll skip the rehash. The dirty little secret of this wipe out, however, is that his regular season actually signaled what laid ahead, albeit in more subtle fashion. Gasol's 2011 campaign was, by his high standards, spotty. That's not to say Pau played badly, because he didn't. Plenty of big men would be plenty satisfied with his numbers -- 18.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.6 blocks -- in line with the best of his career, much less as a Laker. But one of El Spaniard's greatest strengths is his consistency, and he wasn't nearly as reliable game to game this season.

The inconsistencies are revealed in his splits: December and January scoring averages below 17 points, including a December in which he shot below 50 percent from the field, which is basically unheard of for Pau. The inconsistencies are also revealed in his game log. Seven games with 16+ rebounds, but also pockets of multiple-game streaks with single digit grabs. Even during the Lakers' post All-Star break dominance, there were four consecutive games with just five rebounds. That's a modest haul by Kobe Bryant's standard, much less a seven-footer's.

But beyond the numbers, there was Gasol's general presence, or frequent lack thereof. Too many games where he wasn't effective facilitating in the triangle or displaying his versatility. Too many games with wayward body language or defensive intensity. And too few games imposing his will. Throughout the season, something felt intermittently off. As I noted in a post questioning his All-Star inclusion, there were an awful lot of "what's wrong with Pau Gasol?" questions being tossed around.

Cut to the playoffs, then to the decidedly melancholy exit interview.

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Luke Walton has long carried the perception among detractors (which constitute somewhere between 95 and 195 percent of Lakers fans) of being Phil Jackson's "pet." The coach has affectionately referred to the small forward as "his son," and in the eyes of the Laker Nation, used Walton's triangular acumen as an excuse for minutes far beyond what would be appropriate -- somewhere in the neighborhood of "none."

But this season, similar to David Stern, the fans didn't have The Zen Master to kick around anymore.

Walton averaged a career-low nine minutes, and unlike last season, when his 29 game appearances and 9.4 nightly minutes were in part due to recurring back problems, Walton was relatively healthy. That he entered 54 games was more about Matt Barnes (and perhaps even Devin Ebanks) getting injured than PJ's desire to play him. All things being equal, the guy was buried in 2011.

The situation didn't sit well with Walton, despite PJ's explanation of a desire to push tempo with the second unit, which obviously isn't Luke's strong suit. Thus, after a season of playing the good soldier, his exit meeting turned into an old fashioned Festivus celebration.

"I felt like I had to get some things off my chest that had been bothering me for most of the season and the postseason. But all in a very respectful way," Walton said. "I told [Jackson] he means the world to me. Just so we can have an open conversation, I had to get some stuff off my chest and tell him how I felt about some things. He gave his opinion on what he thinks I should be doing in the future and he was proud to see me fight my way back through that back injury and get to a place where I could continue to play. And then he left the room and then Mitch and I talked a little bit about the future of the team and that stuff.

"You know, most times exit meetings are about what they want you to do in the summer. What kind of work outs. Where you're gonna be. Who you're gonna be working out with. But obviously with Phil gone and who knows what's gonna happen next season, it wasn't that kind of talk. It was more just about this past season and that type of stuff.

"I respect him too much to hold any anger towards him. He's been unbelievable to me and I told him that. Like I said earlier, it hurt not being able to help my teammates this year. I felt like I could have helped this team succeed and with him retiring and probably going back to Montana, I didn't want to not see him and still have these thoughts of, 'Dang!' It hurt not letting me be a part of this thing down the stretch. I felt like if I could get that off my chest it would just be better for our relationship and the way I feel towards him."

So what to make of this heart to heart?

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I am an admirer of Phil Jackson as a coach. I like the triangle. I like the defensive adjustments he's helped implement over the last few seasons. I like his "big picture" approach to coaching. I like the way he empowers players and assistant coaches through massive amounts of trust. I like the way he tries to understand his players on intellectual and spiritual levels. Yes, his tweaks through the media will occasionally backfire (see: Artest, Ron) and there will be the odd substitution pattern now and then. But these are minor gripes, as any coach observed game in and game out would offer. In the grand scheme of things, PJ doesn't get my dander up about much on a regular basis.

Except one recurrent issue, which presented itself during Thursday's win over the Hornets.

With 5:22 remaining in the game and a 19 point lead, Phil Jackson decided to empty his bench... of starters. Ron Artest, Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher and Pau Gasol took the floor to relieve Andrew Bynum and The Killer B's. Jackson has a curious habit of using starters late in games iced by any reasonable standard. Sometimes it's a matter of leaving them to play excessive minutes another team's scrubs. Other times, like Thursday, he'll actually go out of his way to put them back on the floor. But whatever the methodology, as I noted on Twitter, it never fails to drive me insane.

Predictably, several tweeps sent responses along the lines of "After 11 rings, you can't possibly question Phil Jackson's judgment."

Actually, yes I can. For that matter, so can you.

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During our ESPN LA.com Media Day broadcast, there may have been no more interesting -- and potentially controversial -- exchange than one involving Andrew Bynum. By then, it was old news his offseason knee surgery revealed more damage than expected and his anticipated absence during the preseason could extend into the regular season. Bynum is targeting late-November for his return. Delaying surgery until mid-July to accommodate an overseas vacation was endorsed by Phil Jackson and the front office alike, as all signs pointed towards a relatively minor procedure and rehab.

But we wondered, knowing what Bynum knows now, if he would have altered his time line? He said he wouldn't:

"Nope. I had to have the surgery when I was ready for it. I was coming off the emotional high of going out and winning your second championship. I just kind of needed a little me time. Me and the family. I just took it from there. I went to go see the World Cup, it was a great time for me, one of the best of my life. I got to stay on safari. And then when I got back home, I took care of business."

This unfiltered wasn't what either of us expected to hear. We debated the issue the following day during a Sunday broadcast of ESPNLA.com On Air, my brother somewhat undecided on how he felt and me okay with the decision. Since then, Brian has expressed unhappiness with Bynum's call.

I remain okay with the decision.

Before I present my opinion, I want to make clear my expectations of being in the minority, along with my awareness of the legitimate reasons for displeasure with Bynum's statement. The Lakers are attempting to keep this championship train rolling, and Bynum is a big piece of the puzzle. These missed games could affect the team's overall record, which could jeopardize home court advantage throughout the playoffs. Bynum has already missed considerable time due to injury throughout his career, which has possibly affected his growth as a player and without question limited his comfort level playing alongside Pau Gasol. These are legitimate issues.

Plus, for many fans, there is a principle involved. Yes, Bynum isn't even 23 yet, and most folks have a lot of growing up to do at such a tender young age. However, they're typically not offered an eight figure salary as an incentive for rapid maturity. Players making $14 million are expected to be accountable professionals, which in this case means exhibiting a thorough concern for the team employing them. At face value, I understand why fans might label Bynum's willingness to delay the surgery, even in the face of games missed, as something showing questionable dedication to the Lakers.

But looking deeper, I'm reminded of Bynum gutting through the playoffs on one leg last season. And I'm compelled to examine Bynum's words explaining himself; how he needed to be "ready" for the surgery, how he expressed a desire for "me time" after coming off an "emotional high," and talked about the importance of being with family and about taking "care of business" once he returned home.

I'm sure Bynum felt a World Cup and European jaunt would be a unique and fun experience, but I wonder if the trip may not have been about indelible memories as much as it was about what he needed to forget:

Basketball.

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And hopefully, a look ahead as well.

It feels like about 1976 since Kobe Bryant last missed a game due to injury, but in reality, it's been a still-impressive Dec. 8, 2006. And upon returning -- oddly enough, from a sprained ankle-- in a 106-99 win over the San Antonio Spurs, Kobe barely missed a beat over 39 minutes.

34 points on 13-of-25 shooting. Eight rebounds. A quartet of makes from behind the arc. Three steals. An assist. Very little to sneeze at it.

For that matter, his teammates' contributions required no "Gesundheit."

Lamar Odom fell one assist shy of trip-dubbing 18 points and 11 rebounds. Luke Walton scored 17 points. Double-digit scoring was spread out among the remaining starters, as Kwame Brown chipped in 11 while doing his part to limit Tim Duncan to just nine shots and Smush Parker added another 10 (plus three steals). A very young Andrew Bynum notched six points and eight rebounds and a rookie Jordan Farmar dished four assists, both playing off the bench in under 20 minutes. And as described in our postgame report from the "old" blog, terrific D all around, highlighted by a third quarter Odom deemed "the best defensive quarter that I've ever played as a Laker."

Also impressive? The 106-95 win against Atlanta two days prior sans the Mamba's services, also secured through team-wide contributions.

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ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher reports Kobe Bryant won't be suiting up.

The news represents a shift in developments presented yesterday by the L.A. Times. Kobe, unavailable to the media after participating in practice, didn't provide a personal thumbs up, but Phil Jackson thought 24 would be able to play, even though his ankle wasn't back to peak strength. As Lakers.com BasketBlog's Mike Trudell shares, however, the team was disappointed today by how the ankle responded to activity, which explains Mamba's status downgrade.

To the best of my knowledge, nothing has changed in regards to Andrew Bynum, who said on Monday he'd try to give tonight's game a whirl despite being "limited."

It's been a while since Ron Artest has provided some choice copy and I was beginning to worry the insanely quotable (pun intended) small forward may have been losing his touch. Or worse, was losing interest in this highly entertaining skill. Well, anxiety quelled, because last night's win over the Spurs provided not one, but two Ron Ron goodies.

First, his response to 710 ESPN's own Beto Duran about how good it felt to have Kobe Bryant stick around Staples Center for the game, despite not being able to participate. After all, some players just leave the building, and the man has some primo options at his fingertips.

"He could have easily went home and left. Left in that beautiful car and went to that beautiful home. Probably have some chef cook him hor d'oeuvres or something. He'll get his feet rubbed down or back massages or all type of things. But he stayed."

And when Vic "The Brick" Jacobs later mentioned the terrific ball movement and triangle adherence over the last two games, Artest smiled, then lobbied for imbalance and Iverson-ian offense:

"I'd still rather see Kobe take 45 shots."

Cue VTB laugh.

During yesterday's practice, Phil was naturally asked about Pau Gasol's injured hamstring, which naturally led to the whole "How did it happen?" issue. A pretty standard line of questioning, but Phil's response was oddly clandestine:

"It happened before the game, in a very unusual way, and I'll let Pau explain that to you when you see him."

Pressed further, Phil insisted we'd have to ask Gasol, the only hint provided was it being "something that's not related to exercise, in this regard ("regard" presumably meaning "basketball-related")."



Okay, I can't be the only person curious about this injury's shadowy back story. What off-the-grid activity was El Spaniard engaged in while triggering a mild-to-moderate hammy strain? Downward dog accident? An ill-fated attempt to recreate moves from the masters while getting his swerve on at the club? Indian leg wrestling with Michael Fanter over the rights to his likeness? Seriously, what's so unusual Phil isn't willing to risk a game of "telephone" muddying the exact details? Pardon my radar popping up, but that's just goofy.

Vexed, I open the floor to the fans. Toss around some ideas, will ya? Have fun and be creative, just make sure it's all "safe for work." Maybe one of you can help get to the bottom of this mystery.

So reports Lakers.com's Mike Trudell, who says Ron Artest completed ten minutes of walking on a treadmill this afternoon, but remains prone to dizziness. Artest, for the benefit of Lakers fans who follow the team from under the rock they call "home," has been sidelined ever since sustaining a Christmas Day concussion after a tumble on his stairs. (You can watch RA address the media during halftime of yesterday's 124-118 win over the Warriors). As we speak, he hasn't been cleared to play this Friday against Sacramento, nor is there any hint in Trudell's report about the likelihood of availability.

Look, I'm no doctor. I didn't take a single class as a pre-med student before switching my major to "blogging." Frankly, I was pretty terrible at high school science, which makes me anything but a reliable opinion when it comes to the human body, so my thoughts should be taken with an entire lick of salt. However, my gut feeling tells me if Ron Ron is experiencing issues after a stroll on a treadmill, 36 hours isn't likely enough time for a recovery suitable for action. Maybe I'm wrong, and I hope I am. But between those details, the often dicey nature of concussions, and the necessary cautiousness in treating them, I just don't have a good feeling about this.

What I'm absolutely certain about, however, is that the Lakers miss Artest. A lot.

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Just got word from the Lakers Media Relations Department:

"LAKERS FORWARD RON ARTEST SUFFERS INJURY AT HOME

EL SEGUNDO- Lakers Forward Ron Artest was injured last night at his home when he tripped over a box and fell down a flight of stairs, suffering an injury to his head and left elbow. Artest received treatment at the emergency room at UCLA Medical Center, where he was released after undergoing a series of tests, including a CT scan. He received stitches to the back of his head and to his elbow. Artest did not accompany the team to Sacramento this morning and is not expected to play in tonight’s game against the Kings. Artest will be examined today in Los Angeles by a neurologist and after that examination, an update will be given with an estimate as to when Artest will be able to rejoin the team."

Safe to say, this hasn't been the merriest of Christmas's for Artest. But on the plus side, this development does provide folks with something new to stew over instead of dwelling on yesterday's loss. Always gotta try (or strain) to find the bright side, right? It's like back in the day when I used to bartend (often while miserable), and would start a new gig slinging drinks after getting burned out at a previous establishment. My standard line was, "I'll hate it here, too, but at least it's something new to hate."

We'll be sure to provide more updates, should any surface.