If he can not start, expect Nick Young to slot into the lineup. In the process, Los Angeles showed much in the way of Bryant’s usage, missing players and more.
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“The question is why the Lakers would take the older player at the end of his career over the second year player – that’s not how rebuilding teams do things”.
Scott recalled playing alongside Bryant, then an 18-year-old rookie, in the 1996-97 season, Scott’s final season as a player with the Lakers and in the National Basketball Association.
Trailing by 16 points in the first half, the Wolves limited the Lakers to 3-for-20 shooting to start the fourth quarter, during a stretch when the notoriously spotty-shooting Rubio went 4-for-4.
Bryant’s back, ready or not. The willingness to pull the trigger from deep suggests the Lakers are getting more in line with the rest of the National Basketball Association. “He’s still in great great shape his body looks fantastic and he’s been great as far as seeing him running up and down the floor”. It hit the back heel. “That’s a good look for him”.
Bryant has been struggling to strike his supreme form for the last few seasons.
Part of the Los Angeles youth movement includes rookie Larry Nance Jr., who sits behind Julius Randle and Brandon Bass in the rotation at power forward. He wanted to be great the day he got picked up by the Lakers.
Russell finished with four points in 26 minutes of playing time.
Last season, the Lakers had the second worst record of any side in the extraordinarily strong Western Conference, winning only 21 games and losing 61.
Fixable issues remain for the young Lakers.
Both the Timberwolves and Lakers are in a similar situation. “It was about trying to balance the youth and experience on this team”. That they did it against the storied Lakers, which are built a lot like the Timberwolves as they have Randle and Russell as the future of the franchise surrounded by veterans including Kobe Bryant.
The Lakers made 37.6% of their shots from the field and 25.7% (nine of 35) from three-point range, but missed only three free throws in 35 tries (91.4%).
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“I just let (the concerns) go after awhile, man”, Bryant said. Now, if the fact that they pulled out the win could only become a habit? I don’t know if it was first-game jitters or what, but we need to build on what we’re doing. the main thing is we don’t get complacent when we’re up 15, 18 points.
