Kobe Bryant Guarantees Lakers Are Playoff Bound

Kobe Bryant isn’t worried. Despite the fact that his Los Angeles Lakers are currently sitting in 9th place in the Western Conference (the top eight teams make the playoffs), Bryant says his team is headed to the postseason.

The 26-29 Lakers are having one of their worst seasons in recent memory despite a talented roster that includes Dwight Howard, Bryant, Pau Gasol, Steve Nash, and Metta World Peace.

No one seems to be quite sure why such a talented team is struggling. Its possible there simply isn’t the chemistry there this year.

Whatever the reasons for the struggles, Kobe Bryant believes the team will be able to shrug them off. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Bryant told Jack McCallum that he isn’t nervous about missing the playoffs saying:

“It’s not a question of if we make the playoffs. We will. And when we get there, I have no fear of anyone — Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Denver … whoever. I have zero nervousness about that.”

As Deadspin reported, the Lakers have been playing better lately. Two days after a player’s only meeting was held, the team began a run that has seen them go 9-4 over their last 13.

Bryant added that he was not the only person on the Lakers who has confidence in their chances of getting to the playoffs. Bryant said that the entire team is still quite confident that they’ll be in the NBA postseason.

The losses piling up have been far from the only things causing trying times for the Lakers. The team just recently lost their long time owner, Jerry Buss, to a battle with Cancer.

Despite the struggles, the Lakers are just 3.5 games out of the final playoff spot with 27 games to go. That’s hardly insurmountable.

Kobe Bryant seems to feel that, despite all the trials and tribulations, the team can still gel and make a run. Do you?