Is Kobe's Pinkie Finally A Problem?

It's easy to take the fact that Kobe Bryant has done everything he has over the last 6 months with a torn ligament on his right pinkie. He's not wearing a significant brace, he doesn't clutch it in pain, he's not talking about it in interviews.

But with his performance in the Olympics being described somewhere between "disappointing" and "borderline-sucking," you have to wonder if that injury is starting to finally catch up with him. Bryant's started to improve over the last couple of games, but his shot still doesn't look s silky smooth as it has. To be fair, Kobe's still shooting 42% and averaging 12.5 points per game. But even the staunchest Kobe supporters will admit that he hasn't looked like the Mamba we're used to seeing, even if he's more than made up for it with leadership and defense.

Bryant had several weeks for the finger to stiffen when he was in-between the Finals and Team USA practice. He's played more basketball than anyone in the last year, and the injury's required surgery from the get-go. That Bryant has continued to play is a testament to his commitment both to the Lakers and Team USA, but considering the marked differential in his play, it's at least reasonable to wonder if the pinkie is causing an issue, rather than just an extended "slump" (in Kobe-terms. If half the players played like he does in a slump it would be a breakout.) And the discussion of it reminds us of just how incredible he was last season, all with a bum pinkie.