The Los Angeles Lakers picked up a big win Tuesday night on the road against the Denver Nuggets, marking their tenth victory of the season. Los Angeles enjoyed a comfortable lead throughout the game,and when Denver made it interesting late, the team was able to make plays on both ends of the court.
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The Lakers eventually closed out the Nuggets and walked off the counter winners, 111-103 behind a triple-double from Kobe Bryant. Bryant recently returned to the lineup following a decision to give the star some much needed rest, and he responded in a big way. Kobe recorded 23 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists and the Lakers were able to knock off the Nuggets on the road.
After the game, Bryant spoke to the media and talked about how the time off affected his play on the court, via Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters:
Kobe said his time off also gave him “a chance to reflect…on breaking down [his] game.” “I know exactly where I want to go.” (on TWC)
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) December 31, 2014
The Lakers are a much better team when Kobe facilitates the ball and only dominates on the offensive end when the team needs to score. Ball movement allows everyone on the court to get involved in the system and it helps build confidence for the younger players. When Bryant is playing isolation basketball for most of the game, his teammates are out of rhythm and it ruins the overall flow of the offense.
Los Angeles now stands at 10-22 on the season and ended 2014 on a good note with a solid victory over the Nuggets. The Lakers will be back on the court Friday night against a very tough opponent and Western Conference foe, the Memphis Grizzlies.
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