Toronto Raptors forward Terrence Ross shoots as Los Angeles Lakers… They were still in Minneapolis.
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This has been the concern with the Lakers, and it gets lumped onto Kobe’s plate far too often. So for the most part, I’ve been playing 30, 32 minutes.
As the Golden State Warriors steamrolled Los Angeles Lakers to a historic start on Tuesday, aging star Kobe Bryant sank to a new low in a trying season expected to be his last.
The Los Angeles Lakers managed edge out the Detroit Pistons and clinch a victory on Sunday, but the purple and gold superstar Kobe Bryant was left dealing with a pivotal pain in the bottom line. He finished with nine points and six rebounds. D’Angelo Russell showed an assertive side with 17 points and three assists. The short version could be summed up in two words: tough love. They’ll get Kobe the ball on the block and Jordan Clarkson has essentially earned a green light at all times, leading the team in total field goal attempts.
“I’m barely standing up”.
Coach Scott needs to do a better job of watching Bryant’s minutes, especially if he chooses to play him heavy minutes in the fourth quarter. Yet Scott and the Lakers front office seem to have made no effort to use him in a way that allows the rest of the team to develop. It’s just if my body feels OK, I’ll play more. “I thought it was one of his better all-around games”. There is “Zinsanity” in NY as Kristaps Porzingis has the Knicks’ faithful regretting their boos on draft day. Then he had a nice little move on the right side, getting Lowry to back off with a head fake and driving past him before pulling up for a 10-footer.
It hasn’t panned out, but more than anything one has to think the factor Bryant wants to see change is his usage.
“I tried to be everywhere, a ball-seeker”, he said. If I’m not doing something I’m supposed to be doing, I can get called out as well.
Toronto has a winning 6-3 record this season when it gives up under 100 points in a game.
“He’s an All-Star”, Russell said.
Now they will try to catch the Raptors off-guard and beat them at home. From his perspective, it never looked like he was forcing the issue. Against Portland Sunday night, Kobe took 10 shots in the first quarter of the game, making just three.
But Scott added, “I worry about him now. Both of them could shoot it, could drive it, could pass it. That’s what you’re seeing here”.
That ’72 title was the only one for that era Lakers, a bit of a surprise considering the insane talent on that team – Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, even Riley himself – but you can thank the Bill Russell Celtics and the Willis Reed Knicks for keeping that number at one.
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This cross-conference match is their first of the season and the two teams are scheduled to meet again next month in the seventh of December.
