For fantasy basketball owners this is the most exciting time of the season. This long and tenuous regular season is finally reaching a conclusion. It is my experience that nearly every season for nearly every league, at least one dominant power-house fantasy team falls apart during the last couple weeks before playoffs due to injuries.
The NBA season is unlike that of any other professional sport. The postseason ends in June yet the preseason starts in October. The grind for NBA players is nearly year-round. It is no surprise that in the final weeks of the regular season players simply break down.
Even Bryant is going to struggle with this injury
For fantasy owners who built their teams around Kobe Bryant (severe ankle sprain), Kyrie Irving (shoulder sprain and troublesome knee) and Carmelo Anthony (mysterious knee ailment), these are dark times. All three of these players are absolutely good fantasy team cornerstones but have been decimated by injuries at the most inconvenient of times.
Kyrie Irving owners have it the worst as he very well could be done for the season. This article goes a little further in-depth about just how severe his injury is.
Carmelo Anthony owners have to feel sick (I have been at least) watching their star limp around on the court and show no-explosiveness while also getting no-lift on his patented jumper. It is unclear if Carmelo will return to his prior form having now got his knee drained (I would not bet on it).
Kobe Bryant is as tough as they come. However, this ankle injury is serious. High-ankle sprains are bad enough that even Superman (commonly referred to as LeBron James) would need to take some time off if he suffered one. Kobe has already attempted to play through it, but to no-avail. I expect Bryant to play again but be far more limited. Things like cutting, screening and running in transition will be hard on his ankle.