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How to Buy Online: If you look close enough, you can actually seen the pain. The frustration. The agonizing disappointment. One thing you don't see is quit. Amazing, because Kobe Bryant is in a can't-win situation ... has been for three years. He has loads of talent -- the kind befitting the best all-around player on the planet -- yet it means nothing without the proper support. And without the proper recognition, which Kobe gets either one of two extremes -- too selfish or that he quits on his teammates when he defers to them -- being the best has its drawbacks then, as well. Kobe Bryant is a competitor amongst competitors. He sets the standard -- yet has failed, in the perception of everyone outside Laker Nation, simply because Los Angeles has failed to get out of the first round in each of the past two post-seasons. Prior to that, the purple and gold didn't even make the cut. After three seasons with the team being solely Kobe's to carry, he's tired. Damn tired. "Do something ... do it now," Bryant said after the Lakers fell prey to the Suns for the second consecutive post-season. The comment, made in the live-feed post-game press junket, was followed by 15-20 seconds of awkward silence. Was that an ultimatum from the pulpit? Or a cry for help from someone that is so frustrated, he has little other direction to turn than toward the cameras? Granted, injuries hampered the Lakers for varying stretches of the season. And it's difficult to pinpoint the few who stepped up in their stead, which is why the Lakers all but backed into the playoffs instead of coming in with confidence and momentum. "I was proud of Luke (Walton) ... I was proud of Lamar (Odom)," praised Bryant. "The way they played through their injuries, I mean they were really hurting. They really did a great job battling through and I couldn't be any more proud of them." Odom was only one tick off Bryant's pace in Game 5 last week, scoring 33 points on what amounted to playing on one good arm and one good leg. Walton's ballhandling came into question several times (two uncalled carries come to mind) because of his hand injury being aggravated. "Lamar was hurting. Bad elbow, bad shoulder ... he battled through it and had a hell of a game," said Bryant. And then there's Ronny Turiaf, who's amazing story is that he's one of the guys on the L.A.squad with the most heart. Ironic, considering he underwent potentially career-ending surgery a little more than a year ago on his heart. Yet last Wednesday night, he was the one tearing up the boards and thunder-dunking the Lakers back from a 16-point deficit to make the waning moments interesting, even somewhat hopeful for Laker fans. "That's another guy I am extremely proud of," continued Bryant. "He came with a lot of effort and a lot of energy, and that's something we can always count on him for. He's always going to give you 100 percent, which is what every professional should do." In essence, the guys with the most heart, earning Bryant's acclaim, were the limping, the hurting, the wounded. Where were the rest? Jordan Farmar has stepped up his game, but is still a raw rookie who would have benefit more from playing time earlier in the season. Smush Parker was a Band-Aid at best and once Farmar began to gain confidence and aggressiveness, we saw him for the scab he truly was. Bottom line, Bryant is absolutely, 100 percent correct. In the best of leaders, with even the best talent levels engrained in them, without the proper support they go nowhere. And they get frustrated along every mile marker of the seemingly never-ending journey. It's not fair to Bryant ... nor any other in his position. That's where the welling begins in the eyes after repetitive losses. That's where perceptions begin to shift from random anomaly to failure. And Kobe deserves better than that, no matter what you may think of him. "It's always tough losing," said a somber Bryant. "It's very frustrating ... extremely frustrating. To me, it's beyond frustration. Three years and we're still at ground zero. This summer's a big summer. We have to see what direction we want to take this organization. Make those steps and make 'em now." With the pull that Phil Jackson has within the upper tiers of the organization, it's difficult to believe that anyone in the Buss family or Lakers organization won't support some aggressive movement as soon as humanly possible with the Los Angeles Lakers. So much for fishing in Montana. Time to cast the line into the free agent waters and the draft pool, or see if the clout that comes with donning the purple and gold still means something to players looking to go to the next level. The Lakers aren't as far away as a couple of first-round ousters might indicate, yet when you look at Bryant's eyes, they're so far away. Bryant has to have faith and realize that the short-term pain will be worth it in the long run. Especially if they can grab an Acie Law, Corey Brewer, or Mike Conley Jr. in the draft. And if they can get a player like Jermaine O'Neal through a well-orchestrated trade. That would seem to be a "now" solution. Laker pride must be restored, and that translates from winning games ... advancing in the playoffs, winning a championship once more. And, for Bryant, the time is now.
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