Lakers head coach Byron Scott and Kobe Bryant have not talked about shutting Bryant down for the season, but it continues to be a game-by-game approach to limit the superstar’s minutes. Friday, January 2, 2015. The Grizzlies beat the Lakers 109-106. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht/Los Angeles Daily News)”

By Tony Ciniglio
Los Angeles Daily News

The Kobe Bryant tightrope walk continued Wednesday.

Bryant’s workload continues to be a major discussion, particularly in light of a poor performance Tuesday against the Miami Heat where he was 3 of 19 from the field and just 2 of 9 from 3-point range.

Bryant missed six of the last 12 games before Tuesday, including the previous two games, to rest his aging 36-year-old body that has 19 years of NBA wear and tear.

Bryant rarely practices. He has a 32-minute cap when he plays, whether there is overtime or not. He is schedule to play against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, then take Friday off against the Utah Jazz as part of the Lakers’ plan to hold him out on the back end of back-to-back games.

But Lakers coach Byron Scott denied there is a plan to shut down Bryant for the season. Bryant is scheduled to make $23.5 million this season and $25 million next season.

“There have been no discussions between myself and Mitch (Kupchak, Lakers general manager). We have come nowhere near that point,” Scott said. “It will continue to be a game by game situation. We will continue to address it. I’m pretty sure if we are nowhere near playoff contention, we might discuss it, but there have been no discussions to this point.”

Scott said he will continue to find ways to “preserve” Bryant and denied that it was taking a toll on the team with his absences.

“It’s not a distraction. It’s just our way of life right now,” Scott said. “This is what we have to do to maintain him getting him where he needs to be at the end of this season and to next season.”

“It’s hard on him physically as well as mentally,” Scott said. “He’s such a competitor and he wants to play. But I’m glad he trusts me enough to determine whether we need him to play or not. He trusts me. I trust him. It’s a process.”

Scott also said that Bryant is not tarnishing his reputation in the twilight of his career.

“This is not going to mess with his legacy whatsoever. His legacy is set,” Scott said. “From a physical standpoint and a mental standpoint, he wants to play. Sometimes you’ve got to save players from themselves. I don’t want to play him 35-36 minutes where at the end of this season or next season he’s spent.

“He signed a two-year deal, and he wants to play those two years out and play at a high level. We want to preserve him as much as possible.”