After a strong performance against the Denver Nuggets in their first preseason game, the Los Angeles Lakers struggled against the Golden State Warriors in a 120-105 loss on Thursday night.
Following the game, Kobe Bryant talked about the 2014-15 Lakers and the changes he has made to his leadership style according to LakersNation.com reporter Serena Winters:
Kobe on this team: "It's a really good group. It's a very tough group." Says his style is more "nurturing" because the group is so young.
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) October 10, 2014
Playing alongside young teammates, Kobe has taken a different approach compared to years past. The five-time champion has been known to be a difficult teammate at times, but has been more patient as he tries to share his experiences and knowledge with them.
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Heading into the season, there were question marks about Bryant after two consecutive season-ending injuries. However, Kobe has played well in the two preseason games, averaging 14 points and four assists in 22 minutes.
If the Lakers want to exceed expectations and make the playoffs this season, they will need to have a healthy Bryant and Steve Nash to go along with a strong, consistent defensive system.
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