Kobe Bryant Return a Fail? Black Mamba Returns in Losing Effort to Raptors

The much anticipated return of Kobe Bryant was, as expected, filled with pomp and pageantry. However, the Lakers star failed to key his team to a win over the visiting Toronto Raptors. In a report on ESPN.com, the man known as "Black Mamba" returned to uncertainty eight months after tearing his Achilles tendon.

Returning last Sunday, Bryant's score line was well below his career averages, with just nine points, eight rebounds, four assists and eight turnovers. Despite the loss, the outlook is very positive as Bryant and the Lakers find a balance to work together with a goal towards the playoffs.

"Mamba", who is the fourth all time leading scorer in the NBA, played 28 minutes for the losing cause. Toronto had the game in control from start to finish, with Bryant playing alongside teammates he has only had drills with in the past few days.

However, while the Lakers were in a state of flux, the Raptors were also reeling from the recent trade of its star Rudy Gay to the Sacramento Kings in a seven player deal.

In the post game interview, Bryant said, "My rhythm was completely out of sync. But this is a start, and I guess a start is good," noted USA Today. He added when asked about how the crowd was at the introductions, "You try to control it as much as you can, but you can't help thinking about the hard work. You try to put it to the side as much as possible and do your work... It makes you appreciate the game, this franchise and this city, and all we've been through."

DeMar DeRozan, who guarded Kobe Bryant throughout the game told ESPN, "He (Bryant) was a little rusty and you could tell because a lot of his shots were shirt. We were going against him his first game back, but he's going to get it going again and he'll be back to the old Kobe."