The Los Angeles Lakers are 0-5 for the first time since the 1957-58 Minneapolis Lakers. This is a first for Kobe Bryant.
Bryant played 44 minutes in the Lakers 112-106 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Friday. His 39 points (on 37 shots) and 9 rebounds weren’t enough to bring the Lakers their first win of the season. Due to the Lakers having four days of rest till their next game, Lakers head coach Byron Scott decided to push Kobe’s minute restrictions, but Bryant doesn’t think he could shoulder that load on a consistent basis:
Whether I can shoulder the load of these minutes consistently? Probably not. But every now and then it will be necessary.”
Unlike the Bryant the media saw after their loss to the Los Angeles Clippers last Friday, this Kobe wasn’t up-beat after the loss. Bryant’s words of encouragement after the game were simple:
Just get a damn win.”
In our video above, Bryant also stresses the importance of his teammates understanding what it’s like to play relentlessly. Bryant singles out Jeremy Lin as a player with tremendous talent that needs to adjust to playing the game with a relentless attitude.
The Lakers will have Wednesday off from practice. Their next game is scheduled for Sunday evening against the Charlotte Hornets.
[divide]Lakers Vs. Suns Post-Game Report: Kobe Bryant & Byron Scott Not About Moral Victories