After another embarrassing effort a few weeks ago, Bryant admitted, “I freaking suck”, but coach Byron Scott has said he won’t tell his star to take fewer shots.
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The former NBA MVP went 1-of-14 from the field against Golden State, tallying just four points in 25 minutes of action on court. Pointing out that individual performance is not the main hurdle his team is facing, he cited that they have bigger problems they have to address to. I could have scored 80 (against the Warriors) and it wouldn’t have made a damn difference. I feel okay just pissed, just kinda frustrated w/ what we were doing, it bothered me.
His game has not been what it used to be, but Kobe Bryant is all set to give his career another shot before retiring. “It’s too early in the season”.
However, Lakers coach Byron Scott still believes in the 17-time NBA All-Star, who helped the Lakers grab five championships in 2000-2002 and 2009-2010. Through their first 16 games, the Warriors’ 15.6-point average margin of victory is the NBA’s highest since the 1996-97 Bulls outscored opponents by 16.0 per game. “They just don’t trust each other on the floor”, Scott said, and then attempted to explain how a team could simultaneously not trust each other while still not having chemistry issues.
“But the one thing about KB, he’s willing to do it, whatever I ask him to do. Like I’ve been saying, everybody’s a great one-on-one player, but we’ve got to work on team ball”. I didn’t think the Lakers had a chance at winning, but i at least wanted to see the Lakers put up some resistance vs the Warriors.
Scott told ESPN.com that under no circumstances would he sit the 37-year-old Bryant, who is shooting a career-worst 31.1 percent from the field and 19.5 percent from 3-point range.
“We still understand that this is a process”, Scott said. Unless injuries suddenly hit and Curry isn’t able to play for an extended period of time, the Warriors are going to make history this season. It’d be one thing if this was good Kobe, but with Kobe playing so bad, there has to be a different approach.
Now that the Warriors have beaten the all-time record for most consecutive wins to start a season, it’s time to look ahead for the next milestone, and that seems to be the 1971-72 Lakers’ record 33-game win streak.
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“I’ve got faith in Kobe, OK?”
