The Lakers showed heart and didn’t quit on Friday night, as they surmounted a 20 point deficit to leave Charlotte with a much needed victory. Coming off a blowout loss in Boston by the Celtics, it was crucial to get a win not only for record purposes, but for their mental state as well.
Despite overcoming a 20 point deficit, Kobe Bryant remained frustrated with their level of performance for most of the game. After the game, Kobe talked to the media and shared his feelings of their overall play, proving that there is always room for improvement.
Despite the rally, Kobe was “very irritated” with Lakers: “It was really about us and the type of energy that we brought.”
— KEVIN DING (@KevinDing) February 9, 2013
With an absolute massacre of a game that the Lakers played in Boston, the team should have come out with a statement last night, especially against a severely struggling Bobcats team, even though Charlotte tends to give LA trouble in their meetings. The defense was very sluggish in the first two and a half quarters, but tightened up in the second half of the third and the fourth quarters.
---- Kobe Bryant has evolved over the years. Check this wallpaper of the Black Mamba! ----
After the Lakers trailed 71-51, things began to turn the Lakers way, as Kobe Bryant came alive on offense with the help of Jodie Meeks, Antawn Jamison and Earl Clark. Dwight Howard got off to a good start offensively in the first half, but stepped up his interior defense in the fourth, as the Bobcats were held to just 15 points in the fourth quarter.
The Lakers now have a 9-17 road record on the season, which must improve for a playoff push. The Lakers travel to South Beach next to take on the defending champions, the Miami Heat. To compete in this game, the Lakers must play all 48 minutes like they did in the fourth quarter of last night’s game.
