“You don’t have to worry about me”, Bryant recalled before the Lakers played the Golden State Warriors on Thursday at the Oracle Arena.
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Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant, right, shoots as New Orleans Pelicans forward Dante Cunningham defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016, in Los Angeles. The Lakers visit the Golden State Warriors on Thursday. Lakers trainer Gary Vitti suggested Kobe be shut down a few weeks, but the 20-year veteran is hoping to play as many games as possible in his last season.
It is not a surprise that the Lakers have a losing record, but no one predicted it would be this bad. “I had an opportunity to meet a 17-year-old kid who had the dream to be one of the greatest players of all time”. With a relatively young core, the Kobe Bryant squad has been expected to struggle in finding their footing the National Basketball Association season. “Steph, you can see when he gets it, and he wants it, which is the exact same as Kobe”. All-Star games. Even though that people look at this and say what an fantastic player you are, I’m not so sure that they understand the enormous desire and this incredible fuel that drove you to be the person that you became.
Scott adds, “My biggest concern is I want that man to finish the season standing up on the court and getting the respect he deserves”. “I think we’re going to turn the corner”. “Maybe if it was a playoff game, we’d stick him out there, but I just don’t see a reason to risk anything or for him to overcompensate for something”. Bryant’s status for the game is still uncertain. I know when I left the game, I could have played more.
Curry congratulated Bryant, who offered his own kind words.
New Orleans then take a slender advantage into the final moments, but Lou Williams makes the jumper to put the home side back in front 91-89.
If the Lakers can play the Warriors like they did the Thunder for the whole game they will have a greater chance of winning – and beating the Pelicans give them confidence heading into the game they might not have otherwise.
Gentry fumed about the Pelicans’ performance, but he was more upset that his players seemed unfocused and even cavalier throughout the game. “He’d start talking afterwards, ‘What do you think of that?’ I said, ‘I thought that’s pretty good”.
Rookie D’Angelo Russell pitched in 13 points and the Lakers won for the ninth time this season despite hitting just 32 of 87 shots.
The smile formed on Bryant’s face when a reporter brought up the NFL’s Rams relocating to Los Angeles.
Evans’ 3-point attempt with 6.9 seconds left missed the mark, and Randle followed by making one of two free throws to seal the win.
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Bryant received many a hug at midcourt from the Warriors prior to the opening tip and again after the final buzzer before walking through the tunnel to roars from the crowd.
