Kobe Bryant will have to avoid trash talk, too

March 27th, 2008, 12:01 am · Post a Comment · posted by KEVIN DING, OCREGISTER.COM

LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant has been able to navigate since the All-Star break without opponents taking any extra liberties in hacking at that torn ligament in his right hand. Now Bryant will have to be careful not to be lured into any verbal altercations that could result in double-technical-foul precautionary calls by referees the rest of the regular season.

Bryant had done well in holding his tongue the previous eight games after drawing his 13th technical foul and saying publicly: “I’m not concerned.” Now, though, one more this regular season and he’ll be suspended a game.

Giving Bryant’s uncanny determination, I think he’ll be able to refrain from dogging referees to the point of a technical foul for a few weeks. That’s why I bring up the possibility of him maybe getting one by being lured into a spat with another player.

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