Kobe calls out Gasol: "Put your big boy pants on"

The Lakers dropped back under .500 (8-9) on Sunday night with a surprising loss to the Magic, and Kobe Bryant's frustration with the current situation seemed to boil over.

"I'll kick everybody's ass in this locker room if it doesn't happen," Bryant said after the game about the team's need to improve. Most intriguing is that Kobe singled out struggling Lakers big man Pau Gasol.

Bryant mentioned that Metta World Peace and Dwight Howard both share the same intensity as himself, but when talking about Gasol he said "Pau has to make some adjustments, obviously, to his game," before adding "Put your big-boy pants on. Come on, just adjust. You can't whine about it or complain about it."

Gasol, who posted just 11 points and seven rebounds in Sunday's loss, has been among the most disappointing players for the Lakers this season. The 32-year-old is averaging 12.6 points and 8.8 rebounds per game compared to career averages of 18.5 points and 9.2 rebounds. In addition, his 42 per cent field goal shooting is a career worst.

To make matters worse for the Lakers, the team will be without point guard Steve Blake for the next six to eight weeks while Steve Nash remains out of the lineup as well.

The Lakers are back in action on Tuesday night in Houston.