A series of setbacks has made the prosecution's case against Kobe Bryant for sexual assault seem like it's on the verge of falling apart.

But as the trial draws near, the odds of a longer-term and tougher criminal case against the star NBA player may quickly change.

"Yes, everything has seemed to break Kobe's way, but any trial lawyer knows it can turn in a minute," said a legal expert with experience in sexual criminal cases.

The case could still be over before it starts during the jury selection phase, especially if the woman's lawyers become entangled in a real dispute with the state trying to convict Bryant.

Abandonment of the case now would be like an admission that the case should never have been brought in the first place.

"In bringing a case like this, you have to have your eye on the ball, and the ball is the truth," the expert said. "The question here is: Did these prosecutors do their prefiling work? You never want to be in the position of being the last to know, and it does seem that the defense has had the prosecution reacting, on the run.  And even when you believe that you know everything, a prosecutor needs to think out of the box, about what happens with this woman after the trial, in five years. Do you tell her there's more than one way to do this, to sue civilly? Can she live with an acquittal, or does she become so traumatized by everything that's gone on that she becomes suicidal?"