Despite Los Angeles players making up four-fifths of the West All-Star starters, three-fourths of them haven't been suiting up lately*. Blake Griffin, who had a consecutive games streak stopped at 197, missed two but is expected back Friday, as is Chris Paul, who's sat out nine straight. The news isn't nearly as nice for the Lakers, since Kobe Bryant, who's been shouldering the load all season, has no sympathy for Dwight Howard's suffering shoulder. By challenging his center to play through the pain, arguing that the tenth-place team, who learned on Wednesday it will be without Pau Gasol for at minimum a month following a faulty foot, Kobe intends to motivate, not aggravate. Even if it means he has to be the heel, by pointing out that the Lakers can't wait for Howard to heel.
So far, Howard won't hear it, "That's his opinion...he's not a doctor^." Whether Howard's being hard-headed or hesitant, it goes back to his back. "Last year I wanted to prove and show people I can play through injuries...I don't want that situation to happen again." There's a distinct divide in their designs for the season: Kobe is chasing a championship, while Howard is chasing a cash-crammed contract. You can earn the latter without the former. This is why Kobe's called a winner, whereas Dwight's considered a whiner.
*And that, readers, is fractions in action. Just don't make us show our work.
^There's your cue to intervene, Dr. Shaq.
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